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> "Epirus has improved on previous iterations by using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors to generate microwaves instead of fragile, power-hungry magnetron va

> "Epirus has improved on previous iterations by using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors to generate microwaves instead of fragile, power-hungry magnetron vacuum tubes" Presumably this technology could also be used to make more efficient and powerful microwave ovens. Have any consumer appliance makers started using GaN semiconductors in their microwaves?

nico_h 1y ago
Probably not enough margin in microwaves ovens to justify putting GaN stuff in it yet. Maybe for premium products. Bigger volume! Silent operation! More efficient!
- nick49488171 1y ago
  Would it be silent? A lot of the noise sounds like transformer noise which you would still get
  - snops 1y ago
    It would be operating off rectified DC (like an induction hob) or using a SMPS operating at ultrasonic frequencies to deliver a lower DC voltage, you wouldn't get the 50Hz buzz even if there was a transformer.
WithinReason 1y ago
It's in development: https://www.digikey.com/Site/Global/Layouts/DownloadPdf.ashx?pdfUrl=C4C6027A8FF44491A51D21CE070930C6 https://www.digikey.com/Site/Global/Layouts/DownloadPdf.ashx... Varying the phase between multiple antennae can enable the field distribution inside the oven to be intelligently controlled to achieve homogeneous cooking results. Furthermore, by modifying the frequency and phase to match the food in the oven, very high RF energy delivery efficiency can be attained – above 90% even for small loads. It has been demonstrated how a steak can be cooked on the same plate as ice cream without it melting, showing the precision of the directed RF energy. In practice, one gets outstanding control over internal meat temperature, with a tight tolerance of just one degree Celsius. Therefore, food can be cooked automatically, and one simply specifies the steak “doneness” level, for example, medium rare; and the oven will measure the food’s properties and calculate the required settings. Without having to manually enter the power levels, cooking is more predictable, and the interface more user-friendly A consumer version is e.g. the Miele Dialog oven, costing $10K

nico_h 1y ago

Probably not enough margin in microwaves ovens to justify putting GaN stuff in it yet. Maybe for premium products. Bigger volume! Silent operation! More efficient!

nick49488171 1y ago
Would it be silent? A lot of the noise sounds like transformer noise which you would still get
- snops 1y ago
  It would be operating off rectified DC (like an induction hob) or using a SMPS operating at ultrasonic frequencies to deliver a lower DC voltage, you wouldn't get the 50Hz buzz even if there was a transformer.

WithinReason 1y ago

It's in development: https://www.digikey.com/Site/Global/Layouts/DownloadPdf.ashx?pdfUrl=C4C6027A8FF44491A51D21CE070930C6 https://www.digikey.com/Site/Global/Layouts/DownloadPdf.ashx... Varying the phase between multiple antennae can enable the field distribution inside the oven to be intelligently controlled to achieve homogeneous cooking results. Furthermore, by modifying the frequency and phase to match the food in the oven, very high RF energy delivery efficiency can be attained – above 90% even for small loads. It has been demonstrated how a steak can be cooked on the same plate as ice cream without it melting, showing the precision of the directed RF energy. In practice, one gets outstanding control over internal meat temperature, with a tight tolerance of just one degree Celsius. Therefore, food can be cooked automatically, and one simply specifies the steak “doneness” level, for example, medium rare; and the oven will measure the food’s properties and calculate the required settings. Without having to manually enter the power levels, cooking is more predictable, and the interface more user-friendly A consumer version is e.g. the Miele Dialog oven, costing $10K