Patent · US Expired

Systems and methods for determining doneness of microwave-heated bodies

US4786773A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
10References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 18, 1986
Grant dateNov 22, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 18, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01K11/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

For determining doneness of a body of food or other material heated in a microwave oven, a device including an indicator that changes appearance at a predetermined temperature, mounted on an outwardly-facing major surface of a thin-gauge metal element which is disposed in the oven so as to receive heat from the body. The metal element may be mounted on the lid or other wall of a container holding the body in the oven; the lid may be microwave-transmissive and may hold the metal element spaced above the body. The indicator may include a substance that melts at the predetemined temperature to reveal an underlying color or pattern on the metal element surface. In use, the device is placed in a microwave oven together with the body and is observed visually, for detection of the change of appearance, which occurs when the indicator reaches a temperature corresponding to adequate doneness of the body.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.