Whirlpool Corporation
Direct heating through patch antennas

Abstract:

The microwave heating apparatus (100) includes a cavity (101) arranged to receive a load (102A, 102B), at least two patch antennas (103A, 103B) coupled to the at least one microwave generator (104), and a control unit (105). Each of the at least two patch antennas (103A, 103B) is configured to radiate microwaves into a predefined direct heating zone (108A, 108B) within the cavity proximate the respective patch antenna (103A, 103B). The control unit (105) is configured to select energy levels for each of the at least two patch antennas (103A, 103B) as if the load (102A, 102B) were static and as if there not interference between the at least two patch antennas (103A, 103B).