PATTERN COATED MICROWAVE FIELD MODIFIER OF DISCRETE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEMENTS

摘要

A patterned, microwave field modifier (20) for use in microwave ovens which modifier may be discrete; or may be integrated into, for example, packages or packaging or wrapping type materials, or in durable or disposable cookware. The modifier may constitute a dielectric substrate (22) having a plurality of discrete surface areas which are coated with an electrically conductive coating material (24) to form discrete electrically conductive elements, and which discrete elements on a given surface are disposed in a predetermined array. Preferably the elements are elongate; and, preferably, the array constitutes a plurality of rows of linearly aligned elements which rows are in parallel relation, and in which the elements adjacent rows are in staggered relation. The electrically conductive elements are preferably formed by printing an electrically conductive ink-like coating material on the dielectric substrate. The relative values of microwave power reflectance, absorbance, and transmittance of such microwave field modifiers may be tailored to specific needs by varying the surface electrical conductance of the elements; the lengths, widths, spacing, and the degree of stagger between adjacent elements; the resistivity, shape, size, and aspect ratio of electrically conductive particles of the coating material; and the dielectric properties of the substrate and/or other constituents of the coating material.