US 2019/0104575 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR RADIO FREQUENCY HEATING AND DEFROSTING

Abstract

A radio-frequency (RF) heating system may include a removable drawer, which may be inserted under a fixed shelf of the RF heating system to form an enclosed cavity. The drawer may include conductive channels or side rails that may interface with the shelf of the defrosting system in order to electrically couple the drawer to the RF heating system. The drawer may include an electrode that is electrically coupled to ground or to a RF signal source when the drawer is inserted beneath the shelf. The shelf may include selectable electrodes of varying sizes. The RF heating system may use identification circuitry to recognize the type of drawer that has been inserted beneath the shelf. RF energy may be applied to the electrode of the drawer or the shelf to heat a load in the enclosed cavity.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) signal source configured to produce an RF signal;
a first structure comprising a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is electrically coupled to the RF signal source;
a second structure, wherein the first structure and the second structure are configured to be physically engaged together in a non-permanent manner to create a cavity between the first structure and the second structure, the second structure comprising:
a second electrode that at least partially vertically overlaps the first electrode when the second structure is physically engaged with the first structure, and
a first conductive feature that is permanently coupled to the second structure;
and
a second conductive feature that is configured to physically and electrically connect to the first conductive feature when the second structure is fully physically engaged with the first structure.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and methods for radio frequency heating and defrosting

Life of this patent

Apparatus and methods for radio frequency heating and defrosting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20