Microwave oven with improved feed structure

Abstract

A microwave oven having a directional rotating antenna axially supported on an axis of one wall of a microwave oven cavity of the microwave oven which provides circularly symmetric uniform energy distribution of microwave energy within the microwave oven cavity and consistent heating of a product in the microwave oven cavity. The directional rotating antenna includes a two-by-two array of antenna elements where each element is an end driven half-wavelength resonating antenna element supported by a length of conductor perpendicular to the wall of the microwave oven cavity. A parallel plate transmission line connects to each of the supports, four of which join at a junction which connects to a cylindrical probe antenna. The probe antenna is excited by microwave frequency currents of a waveguide adjacent to the wall of the microwave oven cavity. The directional antenna is rotated by a moving stream of air circulated through the microwave oven cavity. A dome having a flattened conical shape extending outwardly in the wall of the microwave oven cavity provides a nearly circular recess partially surrounding the directional rotating antenna and provides uniform energy distribution in the product being heated. The dome returns microwave energy reflected from the product towards a circular area in the middle area of the microwave oven cavity. A transition section extends between the top of the dome and the one wall of the microwave oven cavity. The waveguide including three sides affixes to the outside wall of the dome, the transition section, and an extension of the wall extending beyond the microwave oven cavity which supports the microwave power source, all of which comprise the fourth wall of the waveguide. The microwave oven provides a consistent cooking pattern, especially for sensitive foods by utilizing high power of the microwave power source.