Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A detector for detecting the presence of microwave energy in a microwave oven, the detector comprising: an electrodeless chamber having at least a portion of a wall thereof which is optically transmissive, and a mixture of gas contained within the chamber which produces a light visible through the transmissive chamber wall when the detector is exposed to microwave energy in the oven, the mixture including neon and argon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A detector for detecting the presence of microwave energy in a microwave oven, the detector comprising: an electrodeless chamber having at least a portion of a wall thereof which is optically transmissive, and a mixture of gas contained within the chamber which produces a light visible through the transmissive chamber wall when the detector is exposed to microwave energy in the oven, the mixture including neon and argon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detector of claim 1, wherein the gas mixture includes approximately 50% neon and approximately 50% argon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The detector of claim 2, wherein the pressure of the gas mixture in the chamber is from 2 to 20 millimeters of mercury.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The detector of claim 3, wherein the chamber is formed of a borosilicate glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The detector of claim 4, further including a support which may be positioned in the oven for receiving the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A utensil for holding food in a microwave oven, the utensil comprising: a platform for receiving and retaining the food to be cooked; a base for supporting the platform in the oven, and a heater, thermally coupled to the platform, the heater including a chamber having at least a portion of a wall thereof which is optically transmissive, the chamber containing a gas which produces heat to assist cooking and produces a visible light that may be seen in the oven when the utensil is subjected to microwave energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A utensil for holding food in a microwave oven, the utensil comprising: a platform for receiving and retaining the food to be cooked; a base for supporting the platform in the oven, and a heater, thermally coupled to the platform, the heater including a chamber having at least a portion of a wall thereof which is optically transmissive, the chamber containing a gas which produces heat to assist cooking and produces a visible light that may be seen in the oven when the utensil is subjected to microwave energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The utensil of claim 6, wherein the heater gas is a mixture of neon and argon which produces a white light in responsive to microwave energy in the oven.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The utensil of claim 7, wherein the gas mixture includes approximately 50% neon and approximately 50% argon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The utensil of claim 8, wherein the heater chamber has a upper wall formed, at least in part, by the utensil platform and lower wall and sidewalls formed, at least in part, by the utensil base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The utensil of claim 9, wherein the heater chamber lower wall is formed by a partition spaced from the base lower wall, and wherein the utensil further including a thermal insulator separating the heater and the base lower wall, the insulator being formed by an evacuated volume adjacent the chamber lower wall opposite the base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The utensil of claim 10, wherein the utensil is formed of an electrical insulating material and is a unitary construction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The utensil of claim 11, wherein the utensil is made of a borosilicate glass.