IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,473,829
Granted Patent B2
US 11,473,829 · App. 16/706,147 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Thawing method for thawing device

Inventors: Kui Zhang (Qingdao, CN); Xiaobing Zhu (Qingdao, CN); Peng Li (Qingdao, CN); Ming Wang (Qingdao, CN); Jianbin Dai (Qingdao, CN); Tong Xu (Qingdao, CN)
Assignee: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
F25D21/006A23L3/365H05B6/688
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,473,829
App. No.
16/706,147
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thawing method for a thawing device includes: generating, by a radio frequency generation module, a radio frequency signal in a frequency range of 40 to 42 MHz; obtaining the radio frequency signal; and generating, by an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate, radio frequency waves of corresponding frequency in a thawing chamber according to the radio frequency signal, and thawing an object to be processed in the thawing chamber. Radio frequency waves using the above frequency range have shorter thawing time, higher temperature-uniformity and lower juice loss rate than radio frequency waves of other frequencies.

Claims (35)

1. A thawing method for a thawing device, wherein the thawing device comprises a cavity defining a thawing chamber configured for placement of an object to be processed and having a forward opening, a device door disposed at the forward opening of the thawing chamber and configured to open and close the thawing chamber, a radio frequency generation module, and an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate horizontally disposed on a top wall and a bottom wall of the thawing chamber respectively and electrically connected with the radio frequency generation module respectively; the thawing method comprises:

generating, by the radio frequency generation module, a radio frequency signal in a frequency range of 40 to 42 MHz;

obtaining the radio frequency signal; and

generating, by the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate, radio frequency waves of corresponding frequency in the thawing chamber according to the radio frequency signal, and thawing the object to be processed in the thawing chamber;

wherein the thawing device further comprises a detection module, and the detection module is configured to detect an incident wave signal and a reflected wave signal of an electrical connection wire connecting the radio frequency generation module to the upper electrode plate;

the thawing method further comprises:

detecting the incident wave signal and the reflected wave signal of the electrical connection wire;

obtaining a voltage and a current of the incident wave signal and a voltage and a current of the reflected wave signal; and

calculating a load impedance of the radio frequency generation module; and

wherein the thawing device further comprises a load compensation module, and the load compensation module comprises a compensation unit connected in series with the object to be processed and a motor configured to increase or reduce an impedance of the compensation unit;

the thawing method further comprises:

obtaining the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module;

determining whether a difference between the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module and an output impedance of the radio frequency generation module is greater than or equal to a first impedance threshold and less than or equal to a second impedance threshold or not, wherein the first impedance threshold is less than the second impedance threshold; and

if the difference between the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module and the output impedance of the radio frequency generation module is less than the first impedance threshold or greater than the second impedance threshold, enabling the load compensation module to work; or

if the difference between the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module and the output impedance of the radio frequency generation module is greater than or equal to the first impedance threshold and less than or equal to the second impedance threshold, enabling the load compensation module not to work.

2. The thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency signal has a constant frequency preset in a range of 40.48 to 40.68 MHz.

3. The thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 1 , wherein the step of enabling the load compensation module to work comprises:

if the difference between the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module and the output impedance of the radio frequency generation module is less than the first impedance threshold, increasing the impedance of the compensation unit; and

if the difference between the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module and the output impedance of the radio frequency generation module is greater than the second impedance threshold, reducing the impedance of the compensation unit.

4. The thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 1 , comprising:

obtaining the load impedance of the radio frequency generation module;

calculating a change rate of a dielectric constant of the object to be processed; and

determining a thawing progress of the object to be processed.

5. The thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the thawing progress of the object to be processed comprises:

obtaining the change rate of the dielectric constant of the object to be processed;

determining whether the change rate of the dielectric constant of the object to be processed is greater than or equal to a first rate threshold or not; and

if yes, reducing a working power of the radio frequency generation module by 30% to 40%.

6. The thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the thawing progress of the object to be processed comprises:

obtaining the change rate of the dielectric constant of the object to be processed;

determining whether the change rate of the dielectric constant of the object to be processed decreases to be less than or equal to a second rate threshold or not; and

if the change rate decreases to be less than or equal to the second rate threshold, enabling the radio frequency generation module to stop working.

7. A thawing method for a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body defining at least one containing space, a compartment door for opening and closing the containing space separately, and the thawing device according to claim 1 disposed in one of the containing spaces of the refrigerator; the thawing method for the refrigerator comprises the thawing method for the thawing device according to claim 1 .

8. The thawing method for the refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the refrigerator further comprises a power supply module for supplying power for the thawing device, and a thawing switch for controlling a start and stop of a thawing program is disposed on any one of the compartment doors; the thawing method for a refrigerator comprises:

if the thawing switch is turned on, enabling the power supply module to start to work; and

if the thawing switch is turned off, enabling the power supply module to stop working.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE EXECUTION DATE FOR SECOND INVENTOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051220 FRAME: 0433. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 28, 2022
From: ZHU, XIAOBING
To: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061755/0081 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2019
From: ZHANG, KUI; ZHU, XIABING; LI, PENG; WANG, MING; DAI, JIANBIN; XU, TONG
To: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051220/0433 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201710418935.5 · Jun 6, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2018089860 · Jun 5, 2018
Related Publication 20200116417A1 · Apr 16, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,696,907