Spatially controlled energy delivery
Apparatuses and methods are provided for applying radio frequency (RF) energy from a source of electromagnetic energy to an object in an energy application zone. At least one processor may be configured to acquire information indicative of electromagnetic energy loss associated with at least a portion of the energy application zone. The processor may be further configured to determine a weight to be applied to each of a plurality of electromagnetic field patterns each having a known electromagnetic field intensity distribution and cause the source to supply each of the plurality of electromagnetic field patterns to the energy application zone at the determined weights.
1. An apparatus for applying radio frequency (RF) energy to an object in a cavity, the apparatus comprising:
a source of RF energy; at least two radiating elements configured to receive RF energy from the source and apply RF energy to the cavity; and
a processor configured to:
acquire a characteristic of energy absorption associated with a region in the cavity;
calculate, based on the acquired characteristic, a weight for each of a plurality of sets of frequency and phase values of electromagnetic waves to be applied to the cavity; and
control the source to apply RF energy to the cavity using electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets in accordance with each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets, wherein the electromagnetic waves are applied according to time durations in accordance with each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets, power levels in accordance with each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets, or a combination thereof in accordance with each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets; and
control the source by regulating a phase modulator to set a phase difference between the electromagnetic waves to generate the plurality of sets.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, from a user, information regarding a spatial distribution of a dielectric property of the object; and
calculate each of the weights for the plurality of sets according to the information regarding the spatial distribution of the dielectric property of the object.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, from a user, information regarding a position of the object in the cavity; and
calculate each of the weights for the plurality of sets according to the information regarding the position of the object in the cavity.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive signals indicative of feedback from the object; and
determine the characteristic of energy absorption associated with the region in the cavity based on the signals.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the at least two radiating elements are configured to receive the feedback from the object.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
acquire a plurality of characteristics of energy absorption, each associated with a respective region in the cavity.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of characteristics of energy absorption are dynamically determined.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
calculate each of the weights for the plurality of sets based on thermodynamic characteristics of the object,
wherein the thermodynamic characteristics of the object include at least one of heat conduction, heat capacity, or a specific mass of at least a portion of the object.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
cause the source to generate electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets at a power level that is based on the weight calculated for each of the plurality of sets.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
cause the source to generate electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets for a time duration that is based on the weight calculated for each of the plurality of sets.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of radiating elements,
wherein the processor is configured to select one or more of the plurality of radiating elements to apply electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising the cavity.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
an interface for receiving, from a user, input regarding volumetric energy transfer information,
wherein the processor is configured to calculate the weight for each of the plurality of sets based on the volumetric energy transfer information.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
an interface for receiving, from a user, an amount of energy to be delivered to or absorbed in one or more regions in the cavity,
wherein the processor is configured to calculate the weight for each of the plurality of sets based on the acquired characteristic and the amount of energy.
15. A method for applying radio frequency (RF) energy from a source of RF energy to an object in a cavity via at least two radiating element, the method comprising:
acquiring, by a processor, a characteristic of energy absorption associated with a region in the cavity;
calculating, by the processor, for each of a plurality of sets of frequency and phase values of electromagnetic waves to be applied to the cavity, a weight based on the acquired characteristic; and
controlling, by the processor, the source to apply RF energy to the cavity using electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets in accordance with each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets, wherein the electromagnetic waves are applied according to time durations in accordance with each of the weights for the plurality of sets, power levels in accordance with each of the weights for the plurality of sets, or a combination thereof in accordance with each of the weights for the plurality of sets; and
control the source by regulating a phase modulator to set a phase difference between the electromagnetic waves to generate the plurality of sets.
16. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
receiving, from a user, information regarding a spatial distribution of a dielectric property of the object; and
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets according to the information regarding the spatial distribution of the dielectric property of the object.
17. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
receiving, from a user, information regarding a position of the object in the cavity; and
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets according to the information regarding the position of the object in the cavity.
18. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
generating a loss profile based on feedback from the object; and
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets based on the loss profile.
19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets includes:
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets based on thermodynamic characteristics of the object,
wherein the thermodynamic characteristics of the object include at least one of heat conduction, heat capacity, or a specific mass of at least a portion of the object.
20. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
receiving, from a user, an amount of energy to be delivered to or absorbed in one or more regions in the cavity; and
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets based on the acquired characteristic and the amount of energy.
21. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
receiving, from a user, input regarding volumetric energy transfer information; and
calculating each of the weights for the plurality of sets based on the volumetric energy transfer information.
22. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
causing, by the processor, the source to generate electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets at a power level that is based on each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets.
23. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
causing, by the processor, the source to generate electromagnetic waves having the frequency and phase values in each of the plurality of sets for a time duration that is based on each of the weights calculated for the plurality of sets.
24. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
acquiring a plurality of characteristics of energy absorption, each associated with a respective region in the cavity.