IP Library Granted Patent US 11,122,653
Granted Patent B2
US 11,122,653 · App. 16/308,064 · Granted Sep 14, 2021

Intermediate transition between an antenna and a coplanar waveguide transmission line of a solid state amplifier

Inventors: Natalia Roumpedaki (Ternate, IT); Francesco Giordano (Cremona, IT)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
H05B6/686H05B6/707H05B6/72
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,122,653
App. No.
16/308,064
Granted
Sep 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microwave oven having an enclosed cavity is provided including an RF signal generator; a solid state amplifier having a coplanar waveguide transmission line, the amplifier coupled to the RF signal generator for receiving and amplifying the RF signals generated thereby; an intermediate transition including: a metal boundary having a first section and a second section having different dimensions than that of the first section; a first dielectric disposed in the first section; a second dielectric disposed in the second section; and a center conductor extending from a first side of the substrate to a second side of the substrate through the first and second dielectrics, where a first end of the center conductor is connected to an output of the amplifier; and an antenna coupled to a second end of the center conductor for receiving the amplified RF signals and introducing electromagnetic radiation into the cavity.

Claims (41)

1. A microwave oven comprising:

an enclosed cavity in which a food load may be placed;

an RF signal generator for generating RF signals having selected frequencies and phases;

a solid state amplifier comprising a coplanar waveguide transmission line, the solid state amplifier coupled to the RF signal generator for receiving and amplifying the RF signals;

an intermediate transition comprising:

a metal boundary having a first section and a second section having different dimensions than that of the first section;

a first dielectric disposed in the first section;

a second dielectric disposed in the second section; and

a center conductor extending from a first side of the metal boundary to a second side of the metal boundary through the first dielectric and the second dielectric, where a first end of the center conductor is connected to an output of the solid state amplifier; and

an antenna coupled to a second end of the center conductor for receiving the amplified RF signals and introducing electromagnetic radiation having frequencies and phases of the amplified RF signals into the enclosed cavity.

2. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is opposite the first side.

3. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is adjacent the first side.

4. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections have different cross-sectional shapes.

5. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections have different lengths.

6. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first and second dielectrics have different dielectric properties.

7. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the center conductor has an opening for receiving a conductive pin of the antenna.

8. The microwave oven of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the center conductor has a narrowed cross-section for inserting into an opening formed in an output conductor of the solid state amplifier.

9. An RF feed for a microwave oven having an enclosed cavity, the RF feed comprising:

an intermediate transition comprising:

a metal boundary having a first section and a second section having different dimensions than that of the first section;

a first dielectric disposed in the first section;

a second dielectric disposed in the second section; and

a center conductor extending from a first side of the metal boundary to a second side of the metal boundary through the first dielectric and the second dielectric, where a first end of the center conductor is connected to an output of a solid state amplifier to receive amplified RF signals therefrom; and

an antenna coupled to a second end of the center conductor for receiving the amplified RF signals and introducing electromagnetic radiation having frequencies and phases of the amplified RF signals into the enclosed cavity.

10. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is opposite the first side.

11. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is adjacent the first side.

12. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sections have different cross-sectional shapes.

13. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sections have different lengths.

14. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the first and second dielectrics have different dielectric properties.

15. The RF feed of claim 9 , wherein the second end of the center conductor has an opening for receiving a conductive pin of the antenna.

16. The RF feed of claim 9 wherein the first end of the center conductor has a narrowed cross-section for inserting into an opening formed in an output conductor of the solid state amplifier.

17. An RF feed for a microwave oven having an enclosed cavity, the RF feed comprising:

an intermediate transition comprising:

a metal boundary having a first section and a second section having different dimensions than that of the first section, wherein the first and second sections have different cross-sectional shapes and different lengths;

a first dielectric disposed in the first section;

a second dielectric disposed in the second section, wherein the first and second dielectrics have different dielectric properties; and

a center conductor extending from a first side of the metal boundary to a second side of the metal boundary through the first dielectric and the second dielectric, where a first end of the center conductor is connected to an output of a solid state amplifier to receive amplified RF signals therefrom; and

an antenna coupled to a second end of the center conductor for receiving the amplified RF signals and introducing electromagnetic radiation having frequencies and phases of the amplified RF signals into the enclosed cavity.

18. The RF feed of claim 17 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is opposite the first side.

19. The RF feed of claim 17 , wherein the first side of the metal boundary abuts the solid state amplifier and the second side of the metal boundary is adjacent the first side.

20. The RF feed of claim 17 wherein the second end of the center conductor has an opening for receiving a conductive pin of the antenna.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2019
From: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048668/0729 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2019
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048668/0888 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: ROUMPEDAKI, NATALIA; GIORDANO, FRANCESCO
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047705/0257 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62402088 · Sep 30, 2016
Related Publication 20190313487A1 · Oct 10, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,489,188 US 12,489,208