Ameritherm, Inc.

Pepsico, Inc.

Ambrell Corporation

Leslie L Thompson

Ian Alan Paull

Daniel J Lincoln

Gary A Schwenck

Richard H Rosenbloom

Brian Louis Teachout

David L Fenton

Kenneth J Westveer

Santina McKean

William Flanigan

William Segiet

Francisco Chiarilli

Jose G Avendano

William W Segiet

In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.

Food heater

Portable food heater

In one aspect, the invention provides a power system for providing power to a load. In some embodiment, the system comprises: a rectifier configured to rectify an AC main signal to produce a rectified AC main signal; a zero cross detector configured to receive the AC main signal and to detect when the AC main signal equals zero; a switching device having (i) a first terminal connected to a first node, wherein a first output terminal of the rectifier is also connected to the first node and (ii) a second terminal connected to a second node; a tank circuit having (i) a first terminal coupled to a third node, wherein a second output terminal of the rectifier is also coupled to the third node and (ii) a second terminal coupled to the second node; a current and/or voltage detector connected to the second node; and a controller in communication with the current detector and zero cross detector and configured to turn on and off the switching device based on, at least in part, information received from the zero cross detector and the current and/or voltage detector.

Power switching system to increase induction heating to a load from available AC mains power

A circuit apparatus for providing an AC voltage to a load. The apparatus may include: a first, second, third and fourth switch, wherein the first switch is connected between a first node and a first terminal of the second switch and the fourth switch is connected between a second node and a first terminal of the fourth switch; a voltage source, wherein the voltage source is electrically connected between the first node and the second node; a resistive divider connected across the voltage source; a first resistor connected across the first switch a second resistor connected across the third switch; first connecting means for configurably connecting a second terminal of the second switch to the second node; second connecting means for configurably connecting a second terminal of the third switch to the first node; and third connecting means for configurably connecting the second terminal of the second switch in series with the second terminal of the third switch.

High voltage full bridge circuit and method for operating the same

Radio frequency (RF) induction cooking food heater

Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot Foods. Foods such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of foods with food by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of food is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The food containers may be agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a vertical orientation to safely heat the food without overheating or damage to the container. A power management protocol turns off non-essential components of the vending machine while the inductive heater is energized to permit the vending machine to operate on a standard 120 VAC, 15 A electrical circuit without overload.

Method and apparatus for inductive heating of a food container

An RF power supply that is capable of tracking rapid changes in the resonant frequency of a load and capable of quickly responding to varying load conditions so as to deliver the desired amount of power. The present invention also provides an RF power supply capable of delivering a wide range of power over a broad frequency range to a load that is remotely located from the power supply. According to one embodiment, the RF power supply includes a direct current (DC) voltage source that provides a DC voltage within a predetermined voltage range; an amplifier, coupled to the DC voltage source, that provides an alternating voltage to a tank circuit connected to an output of the RF power supply; a frequency controller, coupled to the amplifier, to set the frequency of the alternating voltage produced by the amplifier; and a sensor, coupled to the load, to provide a signal to the frequency controller, where the frequency controller sets the frequency of the alternating voltage based on the signal received from the sensor.

Resonant frequency tracking system and method for use in a radio frequency (RF) power supply

A low leakage inductance, versatile RF transformer with multiple input/output voltage ratios. The transformer has many applications. For example, and not by way of limitation, the transformer can be used with switching power supplies, RF induction power supplies, and RF plasma power supplies. The efficiency of the transformer is on the order of 99% to 99.7%. These efficiencies have been measured at power levels of 3 kilowatts (KW) to 10 KW.

Efficient, low leakage inductance, multi-tap, RF transformer and method of making same

RF power supply

A radio frequency (RF) power system for providing RF power to a load. The RF power system comprises a tank circuit; a direct current (DC) voltage source that provides a DC voltage within a first predetermined range; an amplifier, coupled to said DC voltage source, to provide an alternating voltage to said tank circuit; a frequency controller, coupled to said amplifier, to control a frequency of said alternating voltage provided by said amplifier; and a power sensor being coupled to said tank circuit for providing a signal to said frequency controller, wherein said frequency controller controls said frequency of said alternating voltage based on said signal provided from said power sensor.

An RF power supply that is capable of tracking rapid changes in the resonant frequency of a load and capable of quickly responding to varying load conditions so as to deliver the desired amount of power. The present invention also provides an RF power supply capable of delivering a wide range of power over a broad frequency range to a load that is remotely located from the power supply. According to one embodiment, the RF power supply includes a direct current (DC) voltage source that provides a DC voltage within a predetermined. voltage range; an amplifier, coupled to the DC voltage source, that provides an alternating voltage to a tank circuit connected to an output of the RF power supply; a frequency controller, coupled to the amplifier, to set the frequency of the alternating voltage produced by the amplifier, and a sensor, coupled to the load, to provide a signal to the frequency controller, where the frequency controller sets the frequency of the alternating voltage based on the signal received from the sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Honeoye Falls, NY, United States of America

Leslie L Thompson