Whirlpool Corporation
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT ESTIMATION DEVICE AND MICROWAVE HEATING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH DIELECTRIC CONSTANT ESTIMATION DEVICE

Abstract:

To provide a dielectric constant estimation device which can estimate a dielectric constant of an object with high accuracy in a non-contact state even when a shape of the object is indefinite, and a microwave heating device equipped with the dielectric constant estimation device. The dielectric constant estimation device includes a transmitting antenna (4) and a receiving antenna (6) which can switch a polarized wave of an electromagnetic wave between a TE wave and a TM wave. Based on a reflected wave of the TE wave and a reflected wave of the TM wave from the object, the dielectric constant estimation device calculates a TM/TE reflection ratio, and compares the calculated TM/TE reflection ratio and dielectric constant data of theoretical values stored in a memory part (10) in advance in the form of database with each other so that a dielectric constant of the object is estimated.