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Microwave oven multiview silhouette volume calculation for mass estimation

  • US 9,420,641 B2
  • Filed: 03/31/2014
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A microwave heating apparatus comprising:

  • a cavity arranged to receive a load;

    at least one microwave generator configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity;

    at least one image-capturing device; and

    a control unit adapted to;

    obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, wherein the control is adapted to convert the information recorded by the image-capturing device into a plurality of two-dimensional silhouette images of the load and combine the plurality of two-dimensional silhouette images of the load to determine the load volume information;

    obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load;

    determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information;

    determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information; and

    control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.

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