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RF Solid-State Cooking

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Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#11

Post by sannee »

melony wrote: post #5

This is actually a lot more sophisticated than the comments here are making it out to be. With something like this you can basically get software defined cooking. If you combine it with computer vision and a bit of chemistry, you would get a perfect medium rare steak every time. (You don't need the computer vision part if you can get the RF feedback from the sensors directly) To be fair, there is nothing stopping you…

Indeed, the patent(s) [1] are particularly enlightening. Still a bit astonishing that it actually works though.

[1] https://patents.justia.com/patent/9040883

Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#12

Post by mikewarot »

londons_explore wrote: post #7

This tech will soon enough get cheaper than classic magnetrons. Magnetrons require quite large magnets, a vacuum and filament which eventually burns out, and a large transformer with a lot of copper and steel. The solid state solution is just a bunch of mosfets. Less material means it'll be cheaper eventually when the patents etc. run out.

Magnetrons are basically like a sportsball coach's whistle, except it's electrons instead of air resonating.

The filament in them apparently lasts for decades, as you can usually find working Microwave ovens at yard sales for $20.

On the other hand, this is essentially most of a phased array radar, with all the attendant cost and complexity. The costs will come down, but not anywhere close to that of the magnetron.

Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#13

Post by tinus_hn »

Gibbon1 wrote: post #9
londons_explore wrote: post #7

This tech will soon enough get cheaper than classic magnetrons. Magnetrons require quite large magnets, a vacuum and filament which eventually burns out, and a large transformer with a lot of copper and steel. The solid state solution is just a bunch of mosfets. Less material means it'll be cheaper eventually when the patents etc. run out.

I work with low power RF stuff. My gut feeling is RF transistors will run you about a dollar to fifty cents per watt. Notable though high power RF transistors are a niche product. So you might have a good discount if you ordered a million of them. One advantage is if you can direct the RF energy you could cook TV Dinner and Airline meals without over or under cooking. Could use machine vision and bar code to select t…

I want to believe but what I see as the result is TV dinner DRM where you this only works for selected premium dinners.

Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#14

Post by londons_explore »

mikewarot wrote: post #12
londons_explore wrote: post #7

This tech will soon enough get cheaper than classic magnetrons. Magnetrons require quite large magnets, a vacuum and filament which eventually burns out, and a large transformer with a lot of copper and steel. The solid state solution is just a bunch of mosfets. Less material means it'll be cheaper eventually when the patents etc. run out.

Magnetrons are basically like a sportsball coach's whistle, except it's electrons instead of air resonating. The filament in them apparently lasts for decades, as you can usually find working Microwave ovens at yard sales for $20. On the other hand, this is essentially most of a phased array radar, with all the attendant cost and complexity. The costs will come down, but not anywhere close to that of the magnetron.

The website doesn't provide a lot of technical detail, but I don't think there is any phased array stuff going on - there is just one transmit antenna, and it's measuring the reflected energy and using that to decide how to adjust the frequency and power.

It's really just a high power version of a 50 cent doppler radar unit [1].

[1]: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32861277615.html

Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#15

Post by londons_explore »

tinus_hn wrote: post #13
Gibbon1 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work with low power RF stuff. My gut feeling is RF transistors will run you about a dollar to fifty cents per watt. Notable though high power RF transistors are a niche product. So you might have a good discount if you ordered a million of them. One advantage is if you can direct the RF energy you could cook TV Dinner and Airline meals without over or under cooking. Could use machine vision and bar code to select t…

I want to believe but what I see as the result is TV dinner DRM where you this only works for selected premium dinners.

To get decent quality, there is going to need to be integration between the meal-maker and the device maker.

The meat needs cooking one way, the veg another, and the salad on the side needs to remain chilled. To get all that right is going to require quite detailed data from the food manufacturer.

Re: RF Solid-State Cooking

#16

Post by londons_explore »

Gibbon1 wrote: post #9
londons_explore wrote: post #7

This tech will soon enough get cheaper than classic magnetrons. Magnetrons require quite large magnets, a vacuum and filament which eventually burns out, and a large transformer with a lot of copper and steel. The solid state solution is just a bunch of mosfets. Less material means it'll be cheaper eventually when the patents etc. run out.

I work with low power RF stuff. My gut feeling is RF transistors will run you about a dollar to fifty cents per watt. Notable though high power RF transistors are a niche product. So you might have a good discount if you ordered a million of them. One advantage is if you can direct the RF energy you could cook TV Dinner and Airline meals without over or under cooking. Could use machine vision and bar code to select t…

Non-RF MOSFETS can be about 2000 watts for 10 cents... [1]. RF transistors aren't substantially more difficult to make either. They're only pricy today due to low volume.

[1]: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32993849971.html

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