KR101637880B1 - A cooking apparatus using microwave - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microwave-assisted cooking appliance. The microwave-assisted cooking apparatus according to the present invention includes a microwave generating unit for generating and outputting a microwave for heating an object inside a cavity, and a microwave generating unit for disturbing the microwave frequency to output a plurality of microwaves into the cavity Frequency disturbance section. This makes it possible to uniformly heat the object inside the cavity.

Cooking equipment, microwave, frequency, disturbance

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus using microwave,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a microwave-assisted cooking device, and more particularly, to a microwave-assisted cooking device capable of uniformly heating an object inside a cavity.

Generally, a microwave cooker receives food and closes it. When the operation button is pressed, a voltage is applied to the high-voltage generator, and a commercial voltage applied to the high-voltage generator is boosted to supply power to the magnetron generating microwaves And the microwave generated by the magnetron is transmitted to the cavity through a waveguide or the like.

In this case, the microwave cooker is used to heat the food by frictional heat generated by vibrating the molecules constituting the food by 2.45 billion times per second by irradiating the microwave generated from the magnetron to the food.

Such microwave-assisted cooking devices are widely used in general households due to various advantages such as easy temperature control, saving cooking time, and convenience of operation.

However, when the food is cooked using the microwave, there is a problem that the temperature is not uniformly heated due to the surface deviation of the food or the like, and a temperature difference is partially generated in the food. In addition, there is a problem that the temperature deviation during cooking varies depending on the type of food stored in the cooking appliance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a microwave-assisted cooking device capable of uniformly heating an object inside a cavity.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a microwave cooking device including a microwave generating unit for generating and outputting a microwave for heating an object in a cavity, To disturb the frequency of the microwave.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of microwaves can be output by disturbing the frequency of the microwave outputted from the microwave generating unit, thereby enabling to uniformly heat the object inside the cavity.

Further, since a plurality of microwaves are irradiated to the inside of the cavity to calculate the heating efficiency for each, and the frequency disturbance is performed according to the heating efficiency, the uniform power can be transmitted to the heating object inside the cavity.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a microwave oven according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cooking apparatus of FIG. 1.

The microwave cooker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a door 106 having a cooking window 104 attached to a front portion of a main body 102, And an operation panel 108 is coupled to one side of the front surface of the main body 102. [

The door 106 opens and closes the cavity 134. Although not shown in the drawing, a filter unit (not shown) for shielding microwaves may be provided inside the door 106. [

The operation panel 108 includes an operation portion 107 for operating the operation of the cooking appliance and a display portion 105 for displaying the operation of the cooking appliance and the like.

The interior of the body 102 is provided with a cavity 134 having a receiving space of a predetermined size so that the object to be heated 140, for example, food is received and cooked by microwaves.

A microwave generator 110 for generating a microwave is installed on the outer surface of the cavity 134. A microwave generated by the microwave generator 110 is supplied to the output side of the microwave generator 110, And a microwave transfer unit 112 for guiding the microwaves to the inside of the cavity 134 are disposed.

The microwave generator 110 may include a magnetron or a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) using a semiconductor. The solid state power amplifier (SSPA) has the advantage of occupying less space than the magnetron.

On the other hand, the solid state power amplifier (SSPA) includes a hybrid microwave integrated circuit (HMIC) having separate passive elements (capacitors and inductors) and active elements (transistors, etc.) The active devices can be implemented as monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) implemented as a single substrate.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the microwave generating unit 110 can generate and output a plurality of microwaves. The frequency range of such microwaves may be in the vicinity of approximately 900 MHz to 2500 Hz. In particular, it may be within a predetermined range around 915 MHz or within a predetermined range around 2450 MHz.

The microwave transmitter 112 transmits the microwave generated by the microwave generator 110 to the cavity 134. The microwave transmitting unit 112 may include a waveguide or a coaxial line. In order to transmit the generated microwave to the microwave transmitting unit 112, a feeder 142 may be connected as shown in the figure.

The microwave transmitting unit 112 may be formed as an opening having an opening 145 in the cavity 134 as shown in the drawing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an antenna may be coupled to the end Do. The opening 145 may be formed in various shapes such as a slot shape. Through the opening 145 or the antenna, the microwave is emitted into the cavity 134.

Although the opening 145 is shown as being disposed on the upper side of the cavity 134, the opening 145 may be disposed on the lower side or the side of the cavity 134, . The same applies to the case where they are coupled through the antenna instead of the opening 145.

A power supply 114 is provided below the microwave generator 110 to supply power to the microwave generator 110.

The power supply 114 may include a high voltage transformer that boosts the power supplied to the cooking appliance 100 to a high voltage and supplies the power to the microwave generator 110, And an inverter for supplying a high output voltage of about 3500 V or more to the microwave generator 110.

A cooling fan (not shown) for cooling the microwave generator 110 may be installed around the microwave generator 110.

Although not shown in the drawing, a turntable (not shown) for rotating the heating object 140 may be installed inside the cavity 134. Inside the cavity 134, A stirrer fan (not shown) may be created, and a cover (not shown) may be provided to prevent damage to the stirrer fan (not shown). The stuttering fan (not shown) can be regarded as a kind of the above-mentioned antenna.

The above microwave cooking apparatus 100 is configured such that the user opens the door 106 and puts the heating object 140 in the cavity 134 and then moves the operation panel 108 ), Particularly, by operating the operation unit 107 and pressing the cooking selection button (not shown) and the start button (not shown).

That is, the power supply unit 114 in the cooking apparatus 100 boosts the input AC power to a high-voltage direct current power and supplies the boosted power to the microwave generation unit 110. The microwave generation unit 110 generates the microwave And the microwave transmitting unit 112 transmits the generated microwave to the cavity 134 to emit the generated microwave. As a result, the heating object 140, for example, the food inside the cavity 134 is heated. The overall operation of the cooking apparatus 100 can be performed by a control unit (not shown). The control unit (not shown) will be described with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram briefly showing the inside of the cooking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the cooking apparatus 100 includes a microwave generating unit 110 and a frequency disturbing unit 320. In addition, the cooking apparatus may further include a microwave transmitting unit 112.

The microwave generating unit 110 may include a magnetron. The frequency of the microwave by the magnetron may be, for example, 2450 MHz.

Meanwhile, the frequency disturbance unit 320 disturbs the frequency of the microwave generated by the microwave generation unit 110. For this purpose, the frequency disturbing unit 320 may be attached to the microwave generating unit 110 to have a vibrating unit that generates vibration.

The frequency band of the microwave disturbed by the vibration may be within a predetermined range around 2450 MHz.

On the other hand, the cooking apparatus 100 may further include a control unit (not shown) although not shown in the drawing. The control unit (not shown) calculates the heating efficiency for each of the plurality of microwaves based on the microwave reflected from the inside of the cavity of the inputted microwave, and controls the operation of the frequency disturbing unit 320 Can be controlled. This will be described later with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig.

In addition, the microwave generator 110 may include a directional coupler (not shown). A directional coupler (not shown) outputs the generated microwave and can provide a microwave to the controller (not shown) without being absorbed by the object in the cavity 134.

4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the inside of a cooking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a cooking apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a microwave generation unit 210 and a frequency disturbance unit 420. The control unit 310 may further include a microwave transmission unit 212.

The frequency disturbance unit 420 disturbs the frequency of the microwave generated by the microwave generation unit 210. For this purpose, the frequency disturbing unit 420 may be attached to the microwave generating unit 210 to have a vibrating unit that generates vibration.

The frequency band of the microwave disturbed by the vibration may be within a predetermined range around approximately 915 MHz or within a predetermined range around 2450 MHz.

Meanwhile, the microwave generator 210 may include a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) using a semiconductor, as described above. Accordingly, the microwave generator 210 includes a frequency oscillator 332, a level adjuster 334, and a widening unit 336. The microwave generating unit 210 may further include a directional coupler 338.

The frequency oscillating unit 332 oscillates in accordance with the frequency control signal from the control unit 310 to output a microwave of the corresponding frequency. The frequency oscillator 322 may include a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The voltage control oscillator (VCO) oscillates at a frequency corresponding to the voltage level of the frequency control signal. For example, the greater the voltage level of the frequency control signal, the greater the frequency generated by the oscillation in the voltage controlled oscillator VCO.

The level adjuster 334 oscillates in accordance with the power control signal from the control unit 310 to output the microwave at the corresponding power. The level adjuster 334 may include a voltage controlled attenuator (VCA). According to the voltage level of the power control signal, the voltage control attenuator VCA performs the correction operation so that the microwave is output at the corresponding power. For example, the greater the voltage level of the power control signal, the greater the power level of the signal output from the voltage control attenuator VCA.

The amplifying unit 336 performs an amplifying operation so as to output through the frequency oscillating unit 332 and the level adjusting unit 334 at the set frequency and power. As described above, the amplifying unit 336 may include a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) using semiconductor devices, and may include monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) using a single substrate . Thus, the amplification unit 336 can be easily controlled by the control unit 310, and its size can be reduced, so that the devices can be integrated.

The directional coupler (DC) 338 transmits the microwave amplified and amplified by the amplifying unit 336 to the microwave transmitting unit 212. The microwave outputted from the microwave transmitting unit 212 heats the object in the cavity 234. [ On the other hand, the microwave that is not absorbed by the object and is reflected can be input to the directional coupler 338 through the microwave transfer unit 212 again. The directional coupler 338 transmits the reflected microwave to the controller 310.

The microwave generating unit 210 may further include a DC converting unit (not shown) disposed between the directional coupler 338 and the control unit 310 and converting the reflected microwave into a control signal . Here, the DC conversion unit (not shown) can be implemented as a diode device.

The microwave generating unit 210 is disposed between the amplifying unit 336 and the directional coupler 338. When the microwave amplified by the amplifying unit 336 is transmitted to the cavity 234, (Not shown) for passing microwaves reflected by the cavity 234 and blocking microwaves reflected from the cavity 234. Here, the isolation unit (not shown) may be implemented as an isolator.

The directional coupler 338 and the like including the frequency oscillator 332, the level adjuster 334 and the amplifier 336 in the microwave generator 210 may be implemented as a module . That is, they are all arranged on one substrate, and can be implemented as one module. With the integration of these devices, the microwave generating unit 110 can be easily controlled by the control unit 310. [

The control unit 310 controls the overall operation of the cooking apparatus. For example, when the operating signal of the cooking appliance is inputted through the operation unit 207, the microwave generating unit 210 is controlled to output microwaves.

Specifically, the control unit 310 outputs a frequency control signal and controls the frequency oscillation unit 332 to oscillate the corresponding frequency.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 can output frequency control signals of different voltage levels to output microwaves having a plurality of frequencies. Accordingly, the frequency oscillator 332 oscillates at a frequency corresponding to the voltage level of the input frequency control signal. The plurality of frequency control signals may be sequentially output from the control unit 310. [

The control unit 310 outputs a power control signal and controls the level adjusting unit 334 to output the corresponding power level.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 can output power control signals of different voltage levels in order to output microwaves having a plurality of powers. Accordingly, the level adjuster 334 outputs the corresponding power level according to the voltage level of the input power control signal. The plurality of power control signals may be sequentially output from the control unit 310. [

On the other hand, the control unit 310 can calculate the heating efficiency based on the microwave reflected into the cavity 234 without being absorbed by the object of the microwave.

Here, Pt represents the power of the microwave emitted into the cavity 234, Pt represents the power of the microwave reflected by the cavity 234, and he represents the heating efficiency of the microwave.

According to the above-described expression (1), the heating efficiency he becomes smaller as the power of the reflected microwave becomes larger.

On the other hand, when a plurality of microwaves are emitted into the cavity 234, the controller 310 calculates the heating efficiency he according to frequencies of a plurality of microwaves. It is preferable that the heating efficiency calculation is performed in the scan period during the entire cooking interval and during the heating interval.

Meanwhile, it is possible that the entire cooking interval is performed after the scan interval is performed, and the heating interval is performed while the scan interval is being performed. It is also possible to perform it repeatedly during the whole cooking section. An example of the scan interval and the cooking interval will be described later with reference to FIG.

That is, the control unit 310 sequentially emits a plurality of microwaves to the heating object 240 in the cavity 234 during the cooking interval set by the user, and outputs the heating efficiency he by frequency through the reflected microwaves. Can be calculated.

Also, the control unit 310 can control the operation of the frequency disturbance unit 420 according to the calculated heating efficiency he. For example, when the calculated heating efficiency he is equal to or more than a predetermined value, or when the calculated heating efficiency he is at least two or more than two microwaves, or when the range is at least two, The frequency of the wave is not disturbed, so that the operation of the frequency disturbance unit 420 can be controlled to be stopped. Of course, if less than two, the control unit 310 controls the frequency disturbance unit 420 to continue to operate.

In addition, the control unit 310 can adjust the output period or the output power of the microwave for each frequency within the heating interval in accordance with the calculated heating efficiency (he). That is, the higher the heating efficiency (he), the smaller the corresponding output period or output power is. Thus, the heating object 240 in the cavity 234 can uniformly absorb the microwave for each frequency, so that the heating object 240 can be heated uniformly.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 can control the microwave of the corresponding frequency to be emitted in the heating section only when the heating efficiency he calculated for each frequency is equal to or higher than the set value. That is, by excluding the microwave having a frequency with a significantly lower heating efficiency (he) from the actual heating section, the heating object 140 can be uniformly heated efficiently.

On the other hand, the above-described emission of the plurality of microwaves can be sequentially performed with time.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 can also control the display unit 205 to display the operation state of the cooking appliance. For example, if the current cooking interval is the current cooking interval, the display unit 205 can display the current cooking interval, and if it is an actual heating interval, it can be displayed. In addition, various display functions such as displaying the remaining time of the entire cooking section and the like can be performed.

The power supply unit 214 boosts the power supplied to the cooking apparatus 200 to a high pressure and outputs the power to the microwave generation unit 210. The power supply unit 214 can be implemented as a high-voltage transformer or an inverter. Meanwhile, the power supply unit 214 may generate and supply a control power of the order of several volts for the control operation of the control unit 310.

Meanwhile, the control unit 310 and the microwave generation unit 210 may be implemented as one module. That is, the control unit 310 and the microwave generation unit 210 may be integrated on a single substrate.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the heating efficiency of the microwave and the heating state in the cavity accordingly. FIG.

3, only the heating efficiency of the microwave at the specific frequency fa is output above the threshold value TH, so that the heating efficiency of the microwave in the cavity 134 It can be seen that a hot spot is formed in a specific pattern. Thus, the object to be heated in the cavity 134 can be heated non-uniformly.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the frequency disturbing units 320 and 420 are attached to the microwave generating units 110 and 210 to disturb the frequency of the generated microwave.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the heating efficiency of the microwave by the frequency disturbance and the heating state in the cavity according to the heating efficiency. FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the microwave generated and output by the microwave generators 110 and 210 by the frequency disturbance units 320 and 420 is generated by at least two microwaves or at least two microwaves, The heating efficiency can exceed the threshold value TH.

That is, since the heating efficiency of the microwave of the first frequency f1 is output above the threshold value TH, a hot spot of the first pattern is formed in the cavity 610 and the second frequency f2 The heating efficiency of the microwave of the microwave is output above the threshold value TH so that a hot spot of the second pattern different from the first pattern is formed in the cavity 620.

That is, a hot spot of the third pattern formed by the sum of the first pattern and the second pattern is formed in the cavity 630. Since the hot spot forming region of the third pattern is wider than the hot spot forming region of the first pattern and the second pattern, the heating object in the cavity 134 can be uniformly heated.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 6, the control unit can continuously operate the frequency disturbance units 320 and 420 so that the heating efficiency is at least a predetermined value in at least two microwaves among the plurality of microwaves.

 While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It should be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 is a partial perspective view of a microwave oven according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cooking apparatus of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram briefly showing the inside of the cooking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the inside of a cooking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the heating efficiency of the microwave and the heating state in the cavity accordingly. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the heating efficiency of the microwave by the frequency disturbance and the heating state in the cavity according to the heating efficiency. FIG.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.

110, 210: Microwave generating unit 112, 212: Microwave transmitting unit

114, 214: power supply unit 134, 234: cavity

310: Control section 320, 420: Frequency disturbance section

332: frequency oscillation unit 334:

336:

Claims (8)

A microwave generating unit for generating and outputting a microwave for heating an object inside the cavity; And A frequency disturbing unit for disturbing the frequency of the microwave to output a plurality of microwaves into the cavity; A control unit for calculating a heating efficiency for each of the plurality of microwaves based on microwaves reflected from the inside of the cavity among the output microwaves and controlling the operation of the frequency disturbing unit according to the calculated heating efficiency; / RTI > Wherein, Wherein the actual cooking section adjusts the output period or the output power of the microwave for each frequency in the heating section according to the calculated heating efficiency. The method according to claim 1, The frequency- And a vibrating part attached to the microwave generating part to generate vibration. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein, Wherein the operation of the frequency disturbing unit is controlled so that the heating efficiency of the at least two microwaves among the plurality of microwaves is equal to or more than a threshold value for forming at least two hot spots in the cavity Cooking equipment. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the microwave generating unit is provided with a magnetron. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the microwave- A frequency adjusting unit for adjusting the level of the frequency signal generated by the frequency oscillating unit according to the set power; and an amplifying unit for amplifying the level adjusted signal. Cooking equipment. The method according to claim 1, And a microwave transfer unit for transferring the generated microwave to the inside of the cavity. The method according to claim 1, The microwave generator includes a directional coupler, Wherein the directional coupler outputs the generated microwave into the cavity and provides microwaves reflected from the cavity to the control unit.

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