System and method for controlling a power distribution within a microwave cavity
Systems and methods for controlling a power distribution in a microwave cavity are disclosed. The present invention provides a system that includes a microwave source and a pair of isolators that dissipate retrogressing microwaves that travel toward the microwave source. The isolators are connected to the microwave source. The system also includes a microwave cavity having a pair of inlets disposed on opposite sides of the microwave cavity, a pair of waveguides operatively connected to the inlets to the isolators, respectively; a pair of non-rotating phase shifters operatively connected to the waveguides and the isolators, respectively; a pair of circulators operatively connected to the waveguides and being configured to direct the microwaves to the pair of non-rotating phase shifters, respectively. A power distribution within the microwave cavity is controlled by operation of at least one of the pair of non-rotating phase shifters.
1 . A microwave generating system, comprising:
a microwave source;
a pair of isolators operatively connected to said microwave source;
a microwave cavity having a pair of inlets;
a pair of waveguides, each of said waveguides being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators and to a corresponding one of said inlets of said microwave cavity; and
a pair of non-rotating phase shifters, each of said non-rotating phase shifters being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a corresponding one of said isolators.
2 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a pair of circulators, each of said circulators being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and being configured to direct microwaves to a corresponding one of said non-rotating phase shifters.
3 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said isolators comprises:
a circulator operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator.
4 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a pair of tuners, each of said tuners being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides in proximity to said microwave cavity.
5 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a pair of couplers, each of said couplers being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a power meter for measuring microwave fluxes.
6 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , wherein said microwave source comprises two microwave power heads, each of said microwave power heads being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators.
7 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , wherein said microwave source comprises:
a microwave power head for generating source microwaves; and
a power splitter for receiving, bisecting and directing the source microwaves to said pair of isolators.
8 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the microwaves received through said inlets interfere and form at least one stationary high-energy region within said microwave cavity.
9 . A microwave generating system, comprising:
a microwave source;
an isolator operatively connected to said microwave source;
a microwave cavity having an inlet;
a waveguide operatively connected to said isolator and said inlet of said microwave cavity;
a non-rotating phase shifter operatively connected to said waveguide and said isolator; and
a sliding short circuit operatively connected to said microwave cavity.
10 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:
a circulator being operatively connected to said waveguide and being configured to direct microwaves to said non-rotating phase shifter.
11 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said isolator comprises:
a circulator operatively connected to said waveguide; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator.
12 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:
a tuner, said tuner being operatively connected to said waveguide in proximity to said microwave cavity.
13 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:
a coupler operatively connected to said waveguide and a power meter for measuring microwave fluxes.
14 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the microwaves received through said inlet interfere with reflected microwave and form at least one stationary high-energy region within said microwave cavity.
15 . A microwave generating system, comprising:
a microwave source;
a pair of isolators operatively connected to said microwave source;
a microwave cavity having a pair of inlets disposed normal to each other;
a pair of waveguides, each of said waveguides being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators and to a corresponding one of said inlets of said microwave cavity;
a pair of non-rotating phase shifters, each of said non-rotating phase shifters being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a corresponding one of said isolators; and
a pair of sliding short circuits operatively connected to said microwave cavity.
16 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , further comprising:
a pair of circulators, each of said circulators being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and being configured to direct microwaves to a corresponding one of said non-rotating phase shifters.
17 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , wherein each of said isolators comprises:
a circulator operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator.
18 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , further comprising:
a pair of tuners, each of said tuners being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides in proximity to said microwave cavity.
19 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , further comprising:
a pair of couplers, each of said couplers being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a power meter for measuring microwave fluxes.
20 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , wherein said microwave source comprises two microwave power heads, each of said microwave power heads being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators.
21 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 15 , wherein said microwave source comprises:
a microwave power head for generating source microwaves; and
a power splitter for receiving, bisecting and directing the source microwaves to said pair of isolators.
22 . A microwave generating system, comprising:
a microwave source;
a microwave cavity having four inlets;
four waveguides, each of said waveguides being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said inlets of said microwave cavity and to said microwave source; and
four non-rotating phase shifters, each of said non-rotating phase shifters being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and said microwave source.
23 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , further comprising:
four circulators, each of said circulators being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and being configured to direct microwaves to a corresponding one of said non-rotating phase shifters.
24 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , wherein said microwave source comprises four microwave power heads; and said microwave generating system further comprises:
four isolators, each of said isolators being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said microwave power heads and to a corresponding one of said waveguides, and wherein each of said isolators includes:
a circulator operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator.
25 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , wherein said microwave source comprises two microwave power heads; and said microwave generating system further comprises:
two isolators, each of said isolators being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said microwave power heads, and wherein each of said isolators includes:
a circulator operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator; and
two power splitters, each of said power splitters being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators, and each of said power splitters being configured to receive, bisect and direct microwaves to a corresponding one of said waveguides.
26 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , wherein said microwave source comprises a microwave power head; and said microwave generating system further comprises:
an isolator operatively connected to said microwave power head, said isolator includes:
a circulator operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides; and
a dummy load operatively connected to said circulator; and
a power splitter operatively connected to said isolator, said power splitter being configured to receive, split and direct the microwaves to a corresponding one of said waveguides.
27 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , further comprising:
four tuners, each of said tuners being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides in proximity to said microwave cavity.
28 . A microwave generating system as defined in claim 22 , further comprising:
four couplers, each of said couplers being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a power meter for measuring microwave fluxes.
29 . A method for generating and controlling at least one high-energy region within a microwave cavity, said method comprises the steps of:
generating microwaves;
directing the microwaves into a microwave cavity in opposing directions such that the microwaves interfere with each other and form a standing microwave pattern within the microwave cavity; and
controlling at least one high-energy region generated by the standing microwave pattern by adjusting at least one phase of the microwaves.
30 . A method as defined in claim 29 , wherein said step of directing the microwaves includes the steps of:
transmitting microwaves to the microwave cavity; and
reflecting the microwaves transmitted in said step of transmitting using a sliding short circuit operatively connected to the microwave cavity.
31 . A method as defined in claim 29 , wherein said step of directing the microwaves includes the step of:
transmitting microwaves generated by two microwave power heads to the microwave cavity.
32 . A method for generating and controlling high-energy regions within a microwave cavity, said method comprises the steps of:
directing a first pair of microwaves into a microwave cavity in opposing directions along a first axis;
directing a second pair of microwaves into the microwave cavity in opposing directions along a second axis, the first axis being normal to the second axis such that the first and the second pair of microwaves interfere to yield high-energy regions that are stationary within the microwave cavity; and
adjusting a phase of at least one selected from the first and second pairs of microwaves to control the high-energy regions.
33 . A method as defined in claim 32 , wherein said step of directing the first pair of microwaves includes said steps of:
transmitting the microwaves to the microwave cavity; and
reflecting the microwaves using a sliding short circuit operatively connected to the microwave cavity.
34 . A method as defined in claim 32 , wherein said step of directing the first pair of microwaves includes said step of:
transmitting the microwaves generated by two microwave power heads to the microwave cavity.
35 . A method as defined in claim 32 , wherein the first and second pairs of microwaves are generated by a microwave power head and a power splitter operatively connected to the microwave power head.
36 . A microwave generating system, comprising:
a microwave source for generating microwaves;
a pair of isolators operatively connected to said microwave source;
a microwave cavity having a pair of inlets;
a pair of waveguides, each of said waveguides being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said isolators and to a corresponding one of said inlets of said microwave cavity; and
a pair of non-rotating phase shifters for adjusting at least one high-energy region formed by the microwaves to predetermined locations in said microwave cavity, each of said non-rotating phase shifters being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said waveguides and a corresponding one of said isolators.