James E Staats

US Patent:

39367665, Feb 3, 1976

Filed:

Mar 5, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/555391

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H01J 2550
H03B 910

US Classification:

331 88

Abstract:

A magnetron adapted for operation with an ungrounded power supply, has mounted thereon and tightly coupled thereto an external cavity resonator having coaxial first and second openings in opposite walls thereof. The magnetron has coaxial output connection members including a hollow outer connection member communicating with the interior of the cavity resonator through the first opening, and an internal connection member extending entirely through and beyond the resonator via the first and second openings. The cavity resonator is galvanically insulated from the magnetron by teflon insulation which provides capacitive coupling therebetween. The cavity is coupled to a load which may be grounded. The cavity resonator is formed from a closed section of wave guide, two embodiments of which are disclosed.

US Patent:

39611523, Jun 1, 1976

Filed:

Nov 21, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/525856

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 906

US Classification:

219 1055B

Abstract:

A counter-top microwave oven comprises an upstanding box-like metal wall structure defining a heating cavity, a microwave generator including a voltage quadrupler power supply, and transmission means including a probe antenna for radiating the microwaves into the heating cavity, the cavity being so dimensioned and the antenna being so positioned as to excite in said cavity preferred electromagnetic field modes for establishing preferred field patterns to achieve uniform heating of a variety of foods. The power supply includes capacitive and inductive means, having values designed to optimize the power factor, and switching means for selectively switching between low and high power modes. The heating cavity is dimensioned to produce two complementary modes of which establish an undistorted field pattern providing uniform heating over a distance greater than a wavelength of the source microwave energy, tuning means being provided to tune undesired modes off resonance.

US Patent:

43130445, Jan 26, 1982

Filed:

Nov 5, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/204125

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 676

US Classification:

219 1055D

Abstract:

An electromagnetic wave energy seal arrangement for a microwave oven which incorporates juxtaposed conductive surfaces spaced apart by a gap which circumscribes the perimeter of an access opening to the oven cooking cavity. One of the conductive surfaces is located on the oven door, overlies a recessed channel in the door, and is provided with slots to inhibit longitudinal currents. The slots are configured to have a first average width near the slot entrance and a second larger average width adjacent the slot terminus to thereby better tailor the bandwidth of the slots for optimum operation to the specific microwave energy characteristics of the oven.

US Patent:

46956930, Sep 22, 1987

Filed:

Oct 2, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/915048

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY
Louis H. Fitzmayer - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 672

US Classification:

219 1055F

Abstract:

An excitation system structurally compatible with a low profile streamlined microwave oven appliance configuration, comprising a generally planar antenna member disposed between the bottom wall and a support shelf centered laterally in the oven cavity and extending over a substantial portion of the bottom wall. An open peripheral region is defined between the front, back, side and bottom oven cavity walls and the peripheral edge of the antenna member. A plurality of radiating apertures are formed in the antenna member and arranged in a triangular fashion such that straight lines connecting the centers of any three closely adjacent apertures intersect to define an equilateral triangle. Microwave energy is coupled from the magnetron to the center point of the antenna member, whereby microwave energy radiates from the apertures in the antenna member to heat items placed on a support shelf from below and energy propagates between the antenna member and the bottom cavity wall to the periphery of the antenna member from which it is radiated through the peripheral region into the interior of the cavity and reflected by the front, back, side and top cavity walls to the heat items on support shelf from above.

US Patent:

43419372, Jul 27, 1982

Filed:

Nov 28, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/211019

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 628

US Classification:

219 1055M

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for determining the progress of a food load cooked within a microwave oven responsive to changes in dielectric or electrical load characteristics of the food load as it is heated. A particularly sensitive indication is provided by placing the food load between a microwave feed point and an RF voltage probe.

US Patent:

41223233, Oct 24, 1978

Filed:

Sep 22, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/835950

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 906

US Classification:

219 1055D

Abstract:

A pair of phase shift devices is provided for sealing a microwave oven against the leakage of microwave energy. Each phase shift device is in the form of a conductive channel member having sides of unequal width. The narrower channel side is positioned parallel to and slightly spaced from an inner surface of the door to define a capacitive gap therebetween. The wider channel side extends perpendicularly outwardly from one of the cavity walls and is effectively electrically connected thereto at the microwave frequency. The devices are particularly adapted to be used in combination with a metal mesh gasket seal and, when so used, not only serve as a backup for the metal mesh gasket but also reduce the likelihood of gasket failure. The nature of the phase shift device permits it to be easily retrofitted to a microwave oven already in service.

US Patent:

43295576, May 11, 1982

Filed:

Dec 7, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/101342

Inventors:

James E. Staats - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 674

US Classification:

219 1055F

Abstract:

A microwave cooking appliance having bypass waveguides oriented vertically within the cooking cavity to more evenly distribute microwave energy. The waveguides are supported from the sidewalls of the cavity and are provided with slots for supporting a food holding shelf. Microwave energy is introduced into the cavity through a feed aperture in the top wall and an energy directing plate is arranged opposite the opening to direct microwave energy toward the bypass waveguides.

US Patent:

46424350, Feb 10, 1987

Filed:

Dec 26, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/813638

Inventors:

Louis H. Fitzmayer - Louisville KY
James E. Staats - Louisville KY
Matthew S. Miller - Louisville KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Louisville KY

International Classification:

H05B 672

US Classification:

219 1055F

Abstract:

An improved excitation system for a microwave oven employing a circular rotating disk antenna configured to radiate peripherally from its outermost edge to provide backgound radiation in the oven cavity. Primary microwave energy radiation is emitted from a pair of transverse radiating slots formed in the disk antenna. A first slot is positioned radially outwardly relative to the second slot. The first slot alternately functions as a relatively strongly coupled series and shunt radiating slot and the second slot concurrently alternately functions as a moderately coupled shunt and series slot with each quarter revolution of the disk antenna. Both slots are louvered for improved coupling to the load being heated in the cavity.