Microwave susceptor assembly having overheating protection

A susceptor assembly for use in a microwave oven, wherein the microwave oven is operative to generate a standing electromagnetic wave having a predetermined wavelength, the susceptor assembly comprising:

• a generally planar susceptor having a geometric center, the planar susceptor including an electrically lossy layer;
• a field director structure at least six vanes each mechanically connected to the susceptor, each vane being substantially orthogonal with respect to the planar susceptor,
• at least a portion of each vane being electrically conductive, the electrically conductive portion of each vane having a first end and a second end,
• the first end of the conductive portion on each of the vanes being disposed at a distance at least a predetermined separation distance from the geometric center of the planar susceptor,
• the separation distance being at least 0.16 times the wavelength from the geometric center of the planar susceptor,
• the electrically conductive portion of the vane being disposed at least a predetermined close distance from the electrically lossy layer of the planar susceptor, wherein the predetermined close distance is at least 0.025 times the wavelength,
• so that the occurrence of overheating of the susceptor and the occurrence of overheating of the field director structure is prevented when the same is used in an unloaded microwave oven.