Single-mode microwave popping device

1. An apparatus for popping kernels, comprising:

a heating chamber configured to contain kernels;

a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels;

a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber; and

an air blower configured to create airflow within the heating chamber sufficient to move the kernels within the heating chamber, the air blower being configured to cause airflow within the heating chamber in a vertical direction and to cause the vertical airflow at a rate sufficient to selectively move popped flakes out of the heating chamber when popped as a result of the increased drag of the popped flakes; and

wherein the air blower comprises a first air blower and a second air blower, wherein the first air blower is configured to create airflow in a horizontal direction and the second air blower is configured to create airflow in a vertical direction.

2. An apparatus for popping kernels, comprising:

a heating chamber configured to contain kernels;

a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels;

a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber; and

an air blower configured to create airflow within the heating chamber sufficient to move the kernels within the heating chamber, and

wherein the single-mode resonant microwave applicator generates a standing microwave pattern comprising an electric field distribution of n half-wavelengths, where n is an integer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the stable focused high intensity microwave region intersects kernels contained in the heating chamber and wherein the air blower is configured to move kernels in the heating chamber at a sufficient speed to substantially uniformly heat the kernels.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the air blower is configured to cause airflow within the heating chamber in a horizontal direction sufficient to move kernels in a generally horizontal and generally circular path in the heating chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an air input in a side of the heating chamber, wherein the horizontal airflow comprises airflow input into the heating chamber from the side of the heating chamber at an angle generally tangential to the heating chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heating chamber is generally cylindrical in shape and the air blower is configured to cause airflow within the heating chamber in an approximately circular path and move the kernels horizontally within the heating chamber in an approximately circular path.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the air blower is configured to cause airflow within the heating chamber in a vertical direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the air blower is configured to cause the airflow in a vertical direction at a rate sufficient to selectively move popped flakes out of the heating chamber when popped as a result of the increased drag of the popped flakes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein air blower is configured to create airflow in an upwardly spiral direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a heating element disposed in communication with the air blower to cause heating of the airflow.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the high intensity microwave region includes a microwave energy maxima located within the heating chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of high intensity microwave regions are located within the heating chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the high intensity microwave region excludes a microwave energy maxima located within the heating chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a plurality of high intensity microwave regions are located within the heating chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the high intensity microwave region includes a microwave energy maxima located within the heating chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a single high intensity microwave region is located within the heating chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of high intensity microwave regions are located within the heating chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the heating chamber is such that kernels circulating within the heating chamber pass through a microwave energy maxima of two adjacent high intensity microwave regions.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heating chamber encompasses a perimeter of two adjacent high intensity microwave regions that excludes a microwave energy maxima.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heating chamber has a diameter which is less than the microwave wavelength.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the heating chamber has a diameter which is less than one-half the microwave wavelength.

22. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heating chamber has a diameter which is between about 4.45 cm and 7.62 cm.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the heating chamber diameter is between about 5.08 cm and 6.35 cm.

24. The apparatus of claim 2 , where n is greater than 1.

25. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured such that the heating chamber is between two adjacent microwave energy minima nodes.

26. The apparatus of claim 2 , comprising a plurality of anti-node high intensity microwave regions.

27. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heating chamber encompasses a plurality of high intensity microwave regions and wherein the blower is configured to rapidly move the kernels through the high intensity microwave regions.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , comprising a plurality of heating chambers, wherein substantially all of each of the plurality of high intensity microwave regions is located within one of the plurality of heating chambers.

29. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the single-mode resonant microwave applicator is configured to generate microwave intensity within the heating chamber to subject the kernels to microwave energy sufficient to pop one or more of the kernels within approximately 10 seconds.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber is generally cylindrical in shape and the air blower is configured to cause airflow within the heating chamber in an approximately circular path and move the kernels horizontally within the heating chamber in an approximately circular path.