METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIATOR
A method for controlling a high-frequency radiator includes the steps of: (a) applying a high-frequency radiation through the solid-state oscillator and the antenna; (b) sensing part of the high-frequency radiation returned from the antenna to the solid-state oscillator; (c) adjusting radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation on the basis of the sensed results in the step (b), the high-frequency radiation propagating from the solid-state oscillator to the antenna; and (d) after the step (c), applying the high-frequency radiation through the solid-state oscillator and the antenna to a target object. In the step (c), the oscillation frequency of the solid-state oscillator, the power of the high-frequency radiation applied by the solid-state oscillator, the power supply voltage supplied to the solid-state oscillator, the impedance match between the output impedance of the solid-state oscillator and the impedance of the antenna, or any other condition is changed.
1 . A method for controlling a high-frequency radiator including a solid-state oscillator and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a high-frequency radiation through the solid-state oscillator and the antenna;
(b) sensing part of the high-frequency radiation returned from the antenna to the solid-state oscillator;
(c) adjusting radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation on the basis of the sensed results in the step (b), the high-frequency radiation propagating from the solid-state oscillator to the antenna; and
(d) after the step (c), applying the high-frequency radiation through the solid-state oscillator and the antenna to a target object.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step (d), the high-frequency radiation is applied to the target object, thereby heating the target object.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
a period during which the high-frequency radiation is applied in the step (a) is shorter than a period during which the high-frequency radiation is applied in the step (d).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the power of the high-frequency radiation applied in the step (a) is smaller than that of the high-frequency radiation applied in the step (d).
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step (b), the power of the high-frequency radiation returned to the solid-state oscillator is sensed, and
the step (c) includes the steps of (c1) comparing the power of the high-frequency radiation sensed in the step (b) to a first threshold value and (c2) adjusting the radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation when the power of the high-frequency radiation exceeds the first threshold value.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step (b), the part of the high frequency returned to the solid-state oscillator is detected, and
the step (c) includes the steps of (c3) comparing the intensity of the part of the high-frequency radiation detected in the step (b) to a second threshold value and (c4) adjusting the radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation when the intensity of the high-frequency radiation exceeds the second threshold value.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
between the steps (a) and (d), the steps (b) and (c) are sequentially repeated once or more times.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
when the high-frequency radiation is applied to the target object, the steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) are sequentially repeated once or more times.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the high-frequency radiator further includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the solid-state oscillator,
in the step (d), when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor exceeds a third threshold value, the radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation are adjusted.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the step (c), at least one of the oscillation frequency of the solid-state oscillator, the power of the high-frequency radiation applied by the solid-state oscillator, the power supply voltage supplied to the solid-state oscillator, and the impedance match between the output impedance of the solid-state oscillator and the impedance of the antenna is changed.
11 . A method for controlling a high-frequency radiator including a solid-state oscillator, an antenna and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the solid-state oscillator, the method comprising the step of applying a high-frequency radiation through the solid-state oscillator and the antenna to a target object,
wherein when, in the application of the high-frequency radiation to the target object, the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the radiation/propagation conditions for the high-frequency radiation are adjusted.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the threshold value is a breakdown temperature of the solid-state oscillator.