Device and method for heating using rf energy

Abstract

A method of heating a load in a cavity of an apparatus for heating objects by transmitting to the cavity electromagnetic waves may include determining, for each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), a dissipation ratio indicating a proportion of power dissipated in the load to power transmitted into the cavity, wherein each MSE is a set of one or more values of variables, each controllable by the apparatus, that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity. The method may further include selecting one or more MSEs from the plurality of MSEs based on the dissipation ratio determined for each of the plurality of MSEs, wherein each of the selected one or more MSSEs is associated with a corresponding dissipation ratio that is lower than a threshold and applying RF energy to the load at the selected one or more frequencies.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method of heating a load in a cavity of an apparatus for heating objects by transmitting to the cavity electromagnetic waves, the method comprising:
 determining, for each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), a dissipation ratio indicating a proportion of power dissipated in the load to power transmitted into the cavity, wherein each MSE is a set of one or more values of variables, each controllable by the apparatus, that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity;   selecting one or more MSEs from the plurality of MSEs based on the dissipation ratio determined for each of the plurality of MSEs, wherein each of the selected one or more MSSEs is associated with a corresponding dissipation ratio that is lower than a threshold; and   applying RF energy to the load at the selected one or more frequencies.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein each MSE includes a value of phase of a transmitted electromagnetic wave. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining the dissipation ratio for each of the plurality of MSEs by sweeping the plurality of MSEs; and   applying the RF energy to the load by sweeping the selected one or more MSEs to apply the RF energy to the load.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of energy to be transmitted at each of the selected one or more MSEs.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein
 the one or more MSEs are selected based on the determined dissipation ratios and at least one of an input from a machine readable tag, a reading from a sensor, or information received from a user interface.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 after applying the RF energy to the load for a period of time, determining, for each of the plurality of MSEs, an updated dissipation ratio;   selecting an updated set of one or more MSEs based on the updated dissipation ratios, wherein each of the one or more MSEs in the updated set is associated with an updated dissipation ratio that is lower than the threshold; and   applying additional RF energy to the load at the one or more MSEs in the updated set.   
     
     
         41 . An apparatus for heating a load in a cavity by transmitting to the cavity electromagnetic waves, the apparatus comprising a processor device configured to:
 determine, for each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), a dissipation ratio indicating a proportion of power dissipated in the load to power transmitted into the cavity, wherein each MSE is a set of one or more values of variables, each controllable by the apparatus, that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity;   select one or more MSEs from the plurality of MSEs based on the dissipation ratio determined for each of the plurality of MSEs, wherein each of the selected one or more MSEs is associated with a corresponding dissipation ratio that is lower than a threshold; and   control a source to apply RF energy to the load at the selected one or more MSEs.   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein each MSE includes a value of phase of a transmitted electromagnetic wave. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the dissipation ratio for each of the plurality of MSEs by controlling the source to sweep the plurality of MSEs; and   apply the RF energy to the load by controlling the source to sweep the selected one or more MSEs.   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine an amount of energy to be transmitted at each of the selected one or more MSE.   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 select the one or more MSEs based on the determined dissipation ratios and at least one of an input from a machine readable tag, a reading from a sensor, or information received from a user interface.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 after controlling the source to apply the RF energy to the load for a period of time, determine, for each of the plurality of MSEs, an updated dissipation ratio;   select an updated set of one or more MSEs based on the updated dissipation ratios, wherein each of the one or more MSEs in the updated set is associated with an updated dissipation ratio that is lower than the threshold; and   control the source to apply additional RF energy to the load at the one or more MSEs in the updated set.