Microwave processing systems and methods

• US 8,927,913 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Jung, Edward K. Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): ATKISSON, JIANYING CUI
• Application Number:
  US12/587,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 219/702, 219695-697, 219709-711, 219715-717
• US Class Current: 219/702
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2206/045 Microwave disinfection, sterilization, destruction of waste...
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6447 Method of operation or details of the microwave heating apparatus related to the use of detectors or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6455 the sensors being infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/688 for thawing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/705 using microwave tuning

Abstract

Generally and not exclusively, a method for controlling a process condition of at least one item within a microwave chamber may include receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber, applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber, remotely monitoring a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams, and estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least partially on the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

Claims

1. A method of estimating a process condition of at least one item within a microwave chamber, comprising:

controlling a radiation emitter array having at least a first plurality of emitters disposed on a first side of a microwave chamber and a second plurality of emitters disposed on a second side of a microwave chamber, the first and second pluralities of emitters configured for emitting radiation in different dimensions within the microwave chamber, the emission of radiation from one or more emitters of the radiation emitter array responsive to a beam array controller operable to move two or more emission beam paths to a plurality of locations within the microwave chamber;

sensing, using a radiation sensor array having at least a first plurality of sensors disposed within the microwave chamber opposite the first plurality of emitters and a second plurality of sensors disposed within the microwave chamber opposite the second plurality of emitters, at least two radiation shadows formed behind the at least one item in the microwave chamber, the at least two radiation shadows formed by the two or more emission beam paths at least partially blocked by the at least one item;

estimating one or more of a size or geometry of the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the sensing, using a radiation sensor array, at least two radiation shadows;

receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber;

applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber, wherein at least one microwave energy beam power level is based at least in part on the receiving one or more initial values of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber;

remotely monitoring, via the radiation sensor array sensing at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams, a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams; and

estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the estimated one or more of the size or geometry and the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for at least one item of food or drink in the microwave chamber.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber from at least one of a package, a label, a bar code, or an RFID tag associated with the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

scanning the microwave chamber using at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams to detect the one or more initial values of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

monitoring at least one of a microwave or IR emission.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

receiving an input from a user of the microwave chamber indicative of the one or more initial values of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

monitoring a mass of at least a portion of the item.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

monitoring a geometry of at least a portion of the item.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

at least one of intermittently, continuously, or periodically applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber in accordance with a predetermined application schedule.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

dynamically adjustably applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

dynamically adjustably applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least partially in response to remotely monitoring a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on a user-specified input.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

applying one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber after receiving one or more initial values of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein remotely monitoring, via the radiation sensor array sensing at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams, a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams comprises:

remotely monitoring a spatial variation of a spectral emission of the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein remotely monitoring a spatial variation of a spectral emission of the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties comprises:

remotely monitoring a spatial variation of a spectral emission at one or more microwave or infrared wavelengths.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein remotely monitoring, via the radiation sensor array sensing at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams, a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams comprises:

applying probe radiation and monitoring at least one of an absorption or a scattering of the probe radiation by the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein applying probe radiation and monitoring at least one of an absorption or a scattering of the probe radiation by the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties comprises:

applying at least one of electromagnetic probe radiation or ultrasonic probe radiation.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein applying probe radiation and monitoring at least one of an absorption or a scattering of the probe radiation by the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties comprises:

transmitting ultrasonic probe radiation to the at least one item through a base contacting the at least one item or through a gaseous space at least partially surrounding the at least one item.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein applying probe radiation and monitoring at least one of an absorption or a scattering of the probe radiation by the at least one item in the microwave chamber to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties comprises:

applying a spectrally varying probe radiation and spectrally monitoring at least one of an absorption or a scattering of the probe radiation by the at least one item.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein remotely monitoring, via the radiation sensor array sensing at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams, a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber at least one of simultaneously with or following the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams comprises:

remotely monitoring spatial variation of a response of the at least one item in the microwave chamber to the applying of the one or more microwave energy beams to infer the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the estimated one or more of the size or geometry and the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

at least one of extrapolating or interpolating the process condition based at least in part on the remotely monitoring a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

23. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the estimated one or more of the size or geometry and the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

performing a table lookup of the process condition based at least in part on the remotely monitoring a spatial variation of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises a first item and a second item in the microwave chamber, and wherein estimating the process condition for microwaving the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the estimated one or more of the size or geometry and the monitoring of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

estimating a first finishing time for microwaving the first item in the microwave chamber; and

estimating a second finishing time for microwaving the second item in the microwave chamber.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

dynamically adjusting at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams so that the first finishing time and the second finishing time are approximately equal.

26. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of detecting or identifying the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of detecting or identifying the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

scanning the microwave chamber using at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of detecting or identifying the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

imaging the item in the microwave chamber using at least one digital imaging device.

29. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of detecting or identifying the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

receiving a signal from at least one of a packaging or a labeling associated with the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

30. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of detecting or identifying the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

recognizing the at least one item in the chamber using at least one of the one or more microwave energy beams.

31. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication of the estimated process condition of the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

32. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

ceasing the application of the one or more microwave energy beams at a time correlated with an estimated finishing time.

33. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises a first item and a second item in the microwave chamber, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a first indication of a first estimated process condition of the first item in the microwave chamber; and

providing a second indication of a second estimated process condition of the second item in the microwave chamber.

34. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a history of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

35. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a spatial profile of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

36. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises a first item and a second item in the microwave chamber, and wherein the method further comprises:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a history of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the first item in the microwave chamber; and

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a history of one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the second item in the microwave chamber.

37. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a time history of the one or more microwave energy beams.

38. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a spatial profile of the one or more microwave energy beams.

39. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a time history of a power level of the one or more microwave energy beams.

40. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of indicating or providing or displaying a time history showing a correlation between one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber and a power level of the one or more microwave energy beams.

41. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein estimating one or more of a size or geometry of the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the sensing, using a radiation sensor array, at least two radiation shadows comprises:

estimating a relative 3-D position of the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part upon the sensing, using a radiation sensor array, at least two radiation shadows; and

wherein applying, via the beam array controller controlling one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber, wherein at least one microwave energy beam power level is based at least in part on the receiving one or more initial values of the one or more dynamically variable heatability properties for the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises;

applying, via the beam array controller determining one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array based at least in part on the relative 3-D position of the at least one item in the microwave chamber, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein applying, via the beam array controller determining one or more emission beam paths of the radiation emitter array based at least in part on the relative 3-D position of the at least one item in the microwave chamber, one or more microwave energy beams to the at least one item in the microwave chamber comprises:

determining one or more emitters of at least one of the first or second pluralities of emitters of the radiation emitter array to turn on or off, the determining one or more emitters to turn on or off responsive to the estimated relative 3-D position and at least one of the estimated size or estimated geometry of the at least one item in the microwave chamber.

43. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein estimating one or more of a size or geometry of the at least one item in the microwave chamber based at least in part on the sensing, using a radiation sensor array, at least two radiation shadows comprises:

distinguishing multiple items in the microwave chamber based at least in part on one or more spacing threshold parameters, the one or more spacing threshold parameters selected relative to a spacing of sensors of the radiation sensor array.

44. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein distinguishing multiple items in the microwave chamber based at least in part on one or more spacing threshold parameters, the one or more spacing threshold parameters selected relative to a spacing of sensors of the radiation sensor array comprises:

estimating respective 3-dimensional sizes and shapes of at least two items in the microwave chamber based at least in part on one or more spacing threshold parameters, the one or more spacing threshold parameters selected relative to a spacing of sensors of the radiation sensor array.