IP Library Granted Patent US 7,919,736
Granted Patent B2
US 7,919,736 · App. 11/577,635 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Heating device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,919,736
App. No.
11/577,635
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heating device includes a main body with an opening, a magnetron for generating electromagnetic waves for heating, a door for putting in and taking out an object to be heated, a reader, and a barrier. The magnetron emits electromagnetic waves into the main body. The door covers the opening of the main body. The reader reads information contained in a wireless IC tag attached to the object to be heated. The barrier acts a shield for the reader from the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnetron when the door is closed, and the shield is broken when the door is opened.

Claims (19)

1. A heating device comprising:

a main body provided with an opening and defining a cooking space;

a magnetron configured to generate an electromagnetic wave for heating, the magnetron emitting the electromagnetic wave into the cooking space;

a door configured to cover the opening;

a reader configured to read information contained in a wireless IC tag attached to an object to be heated, the reader being provided on one of an inside surface of the door and a surface of the main body surrounding the opening of the main body, wherein the surface of the main body faces the inside surface of the door when the door is closed, such that the reader is not disposed within the cooking space when the door is closed; and

a barrier positioned to act as a shield preventing the electromagnetic wave emitted by the magnetron from reaching the reader when the door is closed, and positioned to break the shield when the door is opened, the barrier being provided on at least one of the inside surface of the door and the surface of the main body surrounding the opening of the main body, such that the barrier is disposed between the reader and the cooking space when the door is closed.

2. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the reader and the barrier are provided on the inside surface of the door.

3. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the reader is provided on the door, and the barrier is provided on the main body.

4. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the reader is provided on the main body, and the barrier is provided on the door.

5. The heating device according to claim 4 , wherein the reader is provided surrounding the opening.

6. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the reader and the barrier are provided on the main body.

7. The heating device according to claim 6 , wherein the reader is provided surrounding the opening.

8. The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising an attachment configured to prevent disturbance of communication between the reader and the wireless IC tag by the placement area when the placement area is made of metal, the attachment being provided between the reader and the placement area.

9. The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a joint configured to couple the door and the main body, wherein the reader is provided near the joint.

10. The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a moving mechanism configured to move the barrier to a position to shield the reader from the magnetron in the main body when the door is closed.

11. The heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an opening and closing sensor configured to detect opening and closing of the door, and

a controller configured to supply power to the reader only when the door is opened.

12. The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier is configured to surround the opening of the main body when the door is closed, so that the barrier prevents the electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron from leaking to outside of the heating device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2007
From: IKEDA, TOSHIHISA; KANAZAWA, KIYOSHI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019666/0319 →