Method and apparatus for magnetic induction heating using radio frequency identification of object to be heated

The combination comprising:

• an induction heating device comprising a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat and object, control circuitry operably coupled with said generating component for selectively altering the magnitude of the generated magnetic field, and apparatus coupled with said circuitry for receiving information from an RFID tag associated with said object;
• and
• an induction heatable object including a component which will be heated when subjected to a magnetic field, and an RFID tag operably coupled with said object,
• said RFID tag being operable to transmit information, and said apparatus operable to receive said information,
• the operation of said device during the induction heating of said object being at least in part responsive to said information received from said RFID tag.

The combination comprising:

• an induction heating device comprising a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat an object, control circuitry operably coupled with said generating component for selective operation thereof to vary the magnitude of said magnetic field, and an RFID tag reader coupled with said circuitry;
• and
• an induction heatable object including a component which will be heated when subjected to said magnetic field, and an RFID tag operably coupled with said object,
• said control circuitry operable to reduce the magnitude of said magnetic field during the times that said tag is transmitting said information to said reader.

A method of heating an induction heatable object comprising the steps of:

• providing an induction heatable object having an RFID tag operably coupled thereto;
• placing said object adjacent a magnetic induction heater, said heater comprising a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat said object, control circuitry operably coupled with said generating component for selectively altering the magnitude of the generated magnetic field, and apparatus coupled with said circuitry for receiving information from an RFID tag associated with said object;
• and
• causing said RFID tag to transmit information to said apparatus for receipt thereby, and allowing said apparatus and control circuitry to control the operation of said component in at least partial response to the information transmitted by said RFID tag and received by said apparatus.

The combination comprising:

• an induction heating device comprising a component for generating a magnetic field in order to inductively heat an object, control circuitry operably coupled with said generating component for selective operation thereof to vary the magnitude of said magnetic field, and an RFID tag reader coupled with said circuitry;
• and
• an induction heatable object including a component which will be heated when subjected to said magnetic field, and an RFID tag operably coupled with said object,
• said tag having electronic memory, there being digital electronic information stored in said memory pertaining to the induction heating history previously experienced by said object, said tag operable to transmit said information when interrogated by said RFID tag reader.