Non-invasive temperature monitor

Claim 2

A temperature .[.appparatus.]. .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at another frequency, and wherein said microwave heating and said microwave detection are at different frequencies, said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than the waveguide cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being sufficiently small in comparison to the waveguide cross-section so as to leave the heating characteristics of the .[.guides.]. .Iadd.guided .Iaddend.wave means substantially undisturbed.

Claim 3

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said length of the waveguide is sufficiently long so as to provide a cut-off at the heating frequency.

Claim 4

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of the waveguide functions as a high pass filter preventing any heating energy from being detected at the radiometer detection circuits whereby the circuit detects only energy associated with the temperature of the liquid being heated.

Claim 5

A temperature monitoring .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means .[.to.]. defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, and wherein said guided wave means comprises a pair of curved conductors, one having said coupling aperture therein and the other forming a reflector directing energy back to the coupling aperture to .[.provie.]. provide an enhanced signal thereat.

Claim 6

A temperature monitoring .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means .[.to.]. defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, and wherein said guided wave means comprises a pair of curved conductors, one having said coupling aperture therein and the other forming a reflector directing energy back to the coupling aperture to .[.provie.]. provide an enhanced signal thereat.

Claim 7

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling aperture is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed.

Claim 8

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling aperture is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed.

Claim 9

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means .[.to.]. defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at another frequency, and wherein the length of waveguide is selected so that the waveguide operates as a filter passing said detection frequency and rejecting said heating frequency.

Claim 10

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in retaining means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said retaining means therefor being enclosed by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means .[.to.]. defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at another frequency, and wherein the length of waveguide is selected so that the waveguide operates as a filter passing said detection frequency and rejecting said heating frequency.

Claim 11

A temperature monitoring apparatus in combination with a guided wave means used for sterilization and/or heating of a substance, comprising means for operating the guided wave means to provide microwave heating of the substance in a container, said substance being absorptive at microwave frequencies and wherein said container is transparent in microwave frequencies, both said substance and said container being enclosed by said guided wave means, a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit and signal coupling means coupling from the length of waveguide, at a location remote from said coupling aperture, to the detection circuit.

Claim 12

A temperature monitoring apparatus in combination with a guided wave means used for sterilization and/or heating of a substance, comprising means for operating the guided wave means to provide microwave heating of the substance in a container, said substance being absorptive at microwave frequencies and wherein said container is transparent in microwave frequencies, both said substance and said container being enclosed by said guided wave means, a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit and signal coupling means coupling from the length of waveguide, at a location remote from said coupling aperture, to the detection circuit.

Claim 13

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said waveguide is dielectric filled.

Claim 14

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at a higher frequency, said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than the waveguide cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being smaller in comparison with the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed, said waveguide being dimensioned to operate as a high pass filter passing said higher frequency and rejecting said heating frequency.

Claim 15

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies comprises a liquid and said container comprises a coupling means.

Claim 16

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies comprises a liquid and said container comprises a connector means.

Claim 17

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies comprises a liquid. .Iadd.

Claim 18

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating is at one frequency and detection is at another frequency, and wherein said microwave heating and said microwave detection are at different frequencies, said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than electromagnetic transmission means cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being sufficiently small in comparison to said electromagnetic transmission means cross-section so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.

Claim 19

A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating is at one frequency and detection is at another frequency, and wherein said microwave heating and said microwave detection are at different frequencies, said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than electromagnetic transmission means cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being sufficiently small in comparison to said electromagnetic transmission means cross-section so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.

Claim 20

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said electromagnetic transmission means comprises a length of waveguide that is sufficiently long so as to provide a cut-off at the heating frequency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.

Claim 21

A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said electromagnetic transmission means functions as a high pass filter preventing any heating energy from being detected at the radiometer detection circuits whereby the circuit detects only energy associated with the temperature of the liquid being heated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein said guided wave means comprises a pair of curved conductors, one having said coupling aperture therein and the other forming a reflector directing energy back to the coupling aperture to provide an enhanced signal

Claim 22

thereat. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling aperture is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided

Claim 23

thereat. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling aperture is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided

Claim 24

wave means substantially undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the electromagnetic transmission means is selected so that it operates as a filter passing a detection frequency and rejecting a heating frequency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A temperature monitoring apparatus in combination with a guided wave means used for sterilization and/or heating of a substance, comprising means for operating the guided wave means to provide microwave heating of the substance in a container, said substance being absorptive at microwave frequencies and wherein said container is transparent in microwave frequencies, both said substance and said container being surrounded by said guided wave means, an electromagnetic transmission means, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof disposed about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit and signal coupling means coupling from said electromagnetic transmission means, at a location remote from said coupling aperture, to the detection

Claim 25

wave means substantially undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the electromagnetic transmission means is selected so that it operates as a filter passing a detection frequency and rejecting a heating frequency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A temperature monitoring apparatus in combination with a guided wave means used for sterilization and/or heating of a substance, comprising means for operating the guided wave means to provide microwave heating of the substance in a container, said substance being absorptive at microwave frequencies and wherein said container is transparent in microwave frequencies, both said substance and said container being surrounded by said guided wave means, an electromagnetic transmission means, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof disposed about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit and signal coupling means coupling from said electromagnetic transmission means, at a location remote from said coupling aperture, to the detection

Claim 26

circuit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said electromagnetic transmission means is dielectric filled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at a higher frequency said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than the electromagnetic transmission means cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being smaller in comparison with the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed, said electromagnetic transmission means being dimensioned to operate as a high pass filter passing said higher frequency and rejecting said heating frequency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies comprises a liquid and said container comprises a coupling means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies comprises a liquid and said container comprises a connector means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said substance that is absorptive at microwave

Claim 27

frequencies comprises a liquid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling port in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling port, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling part is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially

Claim 28

frequencies comprises a liquid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating, from a microwave heating source, of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and is located during temperature monitoring in means transparent at microwave frequencies, both said substance and said transparent means being surrounded by said guided wave means, said apparatus comprising; electromagnetic transmission means adapted for the transmission of microwave energy at selected frequencies, means defining a coupling port in said guided wave means, means supporting said electromagnetic transmission means with one end thereof about said coupling port, a microwave radiometer detection circuit for microwave detection, and, means coupling said electromagnetic transmission means to the detection circuit, wherein microwave heating from the microwave heating source is at one frequency and the microwave detection by said microwave radiometer detection circuit is at another frequency, and wherein the coupling part is dimensioned in comparison to the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially

Claim 29

undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said liquid is stationary

Claim 30

during said microwave heating. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave means that is adapted for microwave heating of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in means that is transparent at microwave frequencies, said apparatus comprising; a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit, and means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at a higher frequency, and wherein said coupling aperture has a cross-sectional area less than the waveguide cross-sectional area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the coupling aperture is dimensioned in comparison with the guide wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein the waveguide is dimensioned to operate as a high pass filter passing said higher frequency and rejecting said one frequency. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus in combination with a guided wave means used for sterilization and including means for operating the guided wave means to provide microwave heating of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that includes a container or the like for the substance which container is transparent at microwave frequencies, a length of waveguide, means defining a coupling aperture in said guided wave means, means supporting said length of waveguide with one end thereof about said coupling aperture, a microwave radiometer detection circuit and means coupling from the length of waveguide to the detection circuit, wherein said microwave heating is at one frequency and the detection is at a higher frequency, said coupling aperture having a cross-sectional area less than the waveguide cross-sectional area, the coupling aperture being dimensioned in comparison with the guided wave means so as to leave the heating characteristics of the guided wave means substantially undisturbed, said waveguide being dimensioned to operate as a high pass filter passing said higher frequency and rejecting said heating frequency. .Iaddend.