The Ferrite Company, Inc.

William J Alton

Paul M C Alton

E Eugene Eves, Ii

George M Harris

David R Lawson

Lester C Nelson

Isaac Feldpausch

A compact, high speed, miniaturized adaptive controller for a microwave power generator. A pair of directional couplers are arranged between a microwave source and a circulator to measure forward and reverse power. An electromagnet in the circulator may be controlled in response to a VSWR calculation. In some arrangements, the directional couplers may be loop-type directional couplers that are integrated into a waveguide magnetron launching assembly. The directional couplers may use a tapered coaxial line that presents an impedance that reduces along the length thereof. This enhances the directivity of the loop coupler and improves performance of the controller.

Compact tuner for high power microwave source

A microwave energy applicator radiating uniformly all around the applicator that maintains high efficiency Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (V.S.W.R.) for surrounding media of dielectric constants varying from about 1 to about 80. In a particular embodiment, the high efficiency V.S.W.R. is less than about 1.3:1. The applicator can include a circular polarizer connectable to a dielectric waveguide radiator. The radiator can be substantially solid and include a substantially circular outer cross-section that tapers to an end. In one embodiment, the radiator includes a conical void formed in a dielectric entry section.

Microwave radiating applicator with reduced sensitivity to surrounding media

An apparatus providing uniform microwave processing of products especially those that are likely to absorb microwave energy such as meat and the like. The apparatus uses at least a pair of complimentary processing waveguides. The waveguides are offset along at least one axis thereof so that the energy coupled to the product when traveling through a first waveguide section is presented with a complimentary or mirror image of the field variation applied to the product when traveling in the second waveguide. Energy may be fed to the elongated waveguides through a broad open wall or a wall having narrow openings. Coupling values can therefore be adjusted to transfer a higher percentage of energy in the feeder waveguide as microwaves propagate but then are diminished by a previous coupling section.

Coupled-waveguide microwave applicator for uniform processing

An arc suppression system is provided which includes a waveguide run for carrying microwave energy, a sensing device, such as a photodetector, for sensing an arc within the waveguide run, and a blowing device for blowing a gas, such as compressed air, into the waveguide run, in response to a sensed arc, to suppress the sensed arc.

Arc suppression in waveguide using optical detector and forced air

A feed that provides circularly polarized microwave energy such as for energizing a microwave oven cavity. The feed includes a transformer to match a linearly polarized rectangular waveguide to a polarization waveguide section which may be circular or square in cross section. The polarization waveguide section contains an asymmetrical element that provides symmetry about a plane only. The asymmetrical element therefore introduces a difference in microwave electrical phase for polarizations which are respectively parallel to and perpendicular to the symmetry plane. A second waveguide section having a bend is also used in the feed assembly. The second waveguide section, which may for example be a bent section of circular waveguide, also presents an electromagnetic symmetry about a plane only. As a result, the two waveguide sections operating together provide circularly polarized energy at constant magnitude but continually rotating phase.

Bends in a compact circularly polarized microwave feed

A technique for passive suppression of arcs within a microwave frequency waveguide section. The waveguide is configured to have a bend at a point where the naturally, relatively high location occurs within the run. The bend at the high point causes arcs to be trapped as heat naturally collects within the waveguide at such predictable locations. Vent holes formed in the exterior portion of the waveguide at this point allow trapped hot air gases to escape, and cause the arc to be drawn towards the sidewall of the waveguide at a point where the voltage approaches zero. Presenting this region of zero voltage to the arc causes the arc to extinguish itself.

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Pepperell, MA, United States of America

William J Alton