Author: claimsbot

1. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mat, comprising several layers of the hunk bamboo bundle mats with the width of 50 to 600 mm, wherein the adjacent hunk bamboo bundle mats are assembled with parallel or cross structure along the grain direction, the glue layers are arranged between the adjacent hunk bamboo bundle mats and between the bamboo bundles of the hunk bamboo bundle mat so as to make bamboo-based panels by gluing; for said hunk bamboo bundle mat, a series of dotted andor linear shaped cracks are formed on the cylinder wall of a semicircular bamboo tube which is split and inner nodes are removed from so as to form netty structural hunk bamboo bundle mat, said hunk bamboo bundle mat comprises the outer layer, the main part and the inner layer of said bamboo, and the upper surface and the lower surface of said hunk bamboo bundle mat comprise the outer layer and inner layer of said bamboo, wherein, a waxy layer and a siliceous layer are respectively removed therefrom.
2. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mat according to claim 1, wherein the two hunk bamboo bundle mats with the inner surface of said bamboo jointed relatively or one hunk bamboo bundle mat are used as the symmetrical center, the other hunk bamboo bundle mats are assembled symmetrically with all the inner surfaces of said bamboos towards the symmetrical center.
3. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 1, wherein the width of said hunk bamboo bundle mat is 2 to 5 times the arc length of said original split semicircular bamboo tube according to the density of said cracks in said hunk bamboo bundle mat.
4. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 1, wherein the bamboo bundles are formed between the adjacent cracks, and the diameters of said bamboo bundles between the adjacent two said cracks is 0.1 to 5 mm.
5. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive used in said glue layer is phenolic-formaldehyde adhesive, and the glue spread amount is 8% to 40% of the oven dry weight of the hunk bamboo bundle mats.
6. A bamboo-based panel made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive used in said glue layer is isocyanate adhesive, and the glue spread amount is 8% to 40% of the oven dry weight of the hunk bamboo bundle mats.
7. A bamboo fiber reinforced composite, comprising the oriented bamboo fiber mats and adhesive layers, serial of longitudinal and discontinuous cracks with uneven thickness are distributed on the upper surface, lower surface and bamboo wall of oriented bamboo fiber mats, and the glue layers are arranged among the cracks and on the surfaces of said bamboo fiber mats.
8. A bamboo fiber reinforced composite according to claim 7, wherein the fibers are formed between adjacent said cracks, said fiber contains 1 to 5 vascular bundles and several ground tissues.
9. A method for manufacturing said bamboo-based panel made by the hunk bamboo bundle mat, comprising the following steps:
A. the hunk bamboo bundle mat preparation
wherein the bamboo is sawn into a bamboo tube with the given length, which is then longitudinally split into two semicircular bamboo tubes, after the inner nodes removed, the semicircular bamboo tube is fed into the fluffer along the grain direction, the bamboo tube is fluffed along the longitudinal fiber direction to form a series of dotted andor linear shaped cracks along the fiber direction; the bundles with connection part and separation part between them are formed, and the natty structural hunk bamboo bundle mat is formed by the interlaced bamboo bundles, which comprises the main part, outer layer and inner layer of said bamboo, and the upper surface and the lower surface of said hunk bamboo bundle mat comprise the outer layer and the inner layer of said bamboo, wherein, a waxy layer and a siliceous layer are respectively removed therefrom;
B. drying
wherein said hunk bamboo bundle mat is dried until the moisture content is in a range of 8 to 15%;
C. glue spreading
wherein the glue is spread on said hunk bamboo bundle mat;
D. assembling
wherein the said glued hunk bamboo bundle mats are weighed out according to the designed density, and then assembled;
E pressing forming
wherein the hunk bamboo bundle mats which are assembled in the assembling step are put in the press to form the bamboo-based panels.
10. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive used in glue spreading procedure is isocyanate, the glue spread amount is 5 to 20% of the oven dry weight of the hunk bamboo bundle mats, and the above isocyanate adhesive is sprayed uniformly on both outer layer and inner layer of oriented hunk bamboo bundle mats by spray glue according to the weight of said hunk bamboo bundle mat.
11. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 9, wherein the hot-pressing is used in said forming procedure, and the glued hunk bamboo bundle mats in adjacent layers are assembled with parallel or cross structure in said assembling procedure, then the assembled hunk bamboo bundle mats are hot-pressed; the hot-pressing temperature is 90 to 130\xb0 C., the hot-pressing pressure is 5 to 20 MPa, and the hot-pressing time is 0.5 to 2 minmm; or the cold-pressing and hot-curing process is used in said forming procedure, and the glued hunk bamboo bundle mats are assembled along the grain direction, i.e., the hunk bamboo bundle mat in each layer is assembled as parallel to the grain of the bamboo bundle, and laid up in the mould in said assembling procedure; the cold-pressing pressure is 5 to 15 MPa, the temperature is room temperature, after the slab is pressed to the designed position, the mould is fixed with pins, then the slab with mould is dried in the oven for 1.5 to 3 h at 90 to 140\xb0 C.
12. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive used in the glue spreading procedure is phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesive, the glue spread amount is that, the solid content of the phenol-formaldehyde is 8\u02dc40% of the oven dry weight of the hunk bamboo bundle mats.
13. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 9 wherein the dipping glue method used is that, the hunk bamboo bundle mats are immersed in the phenol-formaldehyde resin with the solid content of the phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesive is 8 to 30%, the temperature of the glue solution is normal temperature while dipping glue, and the dipping glue time is 5 to 20 min, then the glued hunk bamboo bundle mats are taken out and placed vertically for 5 to 20 min until the adhesive stop dripping.
14. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 9 wherein the hot-pressing is used in said forming procedure, and the glued hunk bamboo bundle mats in adjacent layers are assembled with parallel or cross structure in said assembling procedure, then the assembled hunk bamboo bundle mats are hot-pressed; the hot-pressing temperature is 130 to 180\xb0 C., the hot-pressing pressure is 5 to 15 MPa, and the hot-pressing time is 0.5 to 2 minmm; or the cold-pressing and hot-curing process are used in said forming procedure, and the glued hunk bamboo bundle mats are assembled along the grain direction, i.e., the hunk bamboo bundle mat in each layer is assembled as parallel to the grain direction of the bamboo bundle, and laid up in the mould in said assembling procedure; the slab and mould are sent into the press, the pressure is 10 to 15 MPa, the temperature is room temperature, after the slab pressed to the designed position, the mould is fixed with pins, then the slab with mould are dried in the oven for 2 to 4 h at 120 to 180\xb0 C.
15. A method for manufacturing bamboo-based panels made by hunk bamboo bundle mats according to claim 10, wherein it is needed to coat the release agent on the mould or the hot platen of the hot press when the isocyanate is used as adhesive.
16. A process for manufacturing the bamboo fiber reinforced composites according to claim 7, comprising the following steps:
A: the bamboo is transversally cut into a bamboo tube with the length of 1.5 to 20 m, which is then longitudinally split into two semicircular bamboo tubes along the diameter, and the inner nodes of the semicircular bamboo tube are removed;
B: the inner arc surface of the semicircular bamboo tube fluffing
wherein on end of the semicircular bamboo tube is pushed into the clearance between driving roller and fluffing roller with its inner arc surface towards the fluffing roller; while the driving roller is dragging the semicircular bamboo tube parallelly forward, a series of longitudinal cracks with uneven thickness are arranged discontinuously on the inner arc surface by the local longitudinal cutting and transversal extruding of the different position in the inner arc surface of said semicircular bamboo tube, however, the outer surface of the semicircular bamboo tube still remains relatively complete piece-shape structure, meanwhile, the siliceous layer in the inner surface of the semicircular bamboo tube is cut, split and extruded by the fluffing roller and the outer surface is frictionized by the driving roller, then the waxy layer and the siliceous layer of semicircular bamboo tubes are partly shed, cracked, fragmented or crushed; said semicircular bamboo tube is fluffed for several times with the above method;
C: the outer arc surface of the semicircular bamboo tube fluffing
wherein said semicircular bamboo tube with fluffed inner arc surface turns 180 degrees, which is pushed into the clearance between the driving roller and fluffing roller with the outer surface towards the above fluffing roller or the fluffing roller of the same fluffer as the above, with the same procedure as step B, a series of longitudinal and discontinuous cracks with uneven thickness are arranged on the outer arc surface of the corresponding original semicircular bamboo tubes, meanwhile, the siliceous layer in the outer surface of semicircular bamboo tubes is cut, split and extruded by the fluffing roller and the inter arc surface is frictionized by the driving roller, the waxy layer and the siliceous layer of said semicircular bamboo tube are partly shed, cracked, fragmented or crushed; with above method, said semicircular bamboo tubes is fluffed for many times;
repeating step B and step C to fluff the semicircular bamboo tube for several times, a series of discontinuous and longitudinal cracks with uneven thickness and a series of longitudinal and continuous fibers with uniform thickness are formed on the outer surface, inner surface and cylinder wall of semicircular bamboo tubes respectively, said cracks and said fibers are interlaced to form netty structural oriented bamboo fiber mat;
D: drying
wherein the said fluffed oriented bamboo fiber mat is dried in the oven or in the air until the moisture content is at 8 to 15%;
E: glue spreading
if said adhesive is phenol-formaldehyde resin, the solid content is 10 to 25%, the solid content of the phenol-formaldehyde adhesive is 8 to 20% of the oven dry weight of the oriented bamboo fiber mat with dipping glue process; while the oriented bamboo fiber mats are dipping, the temperature of the glue solution is normal temperature while dipping, and the dipping glue time is 5 to 10 min, then the oriented bamboo fiber mats are taken out and placed vertically for 5 to 10 min until the adhesive stop dropping; then the glued oriented bamboo fiber mats (OBFM) are dried in the oven with the temperature of 40 to 60\xb0 C. until the moisture content is 6 to 12%;
F: assembling
wherein the oriented bamboo fiber mats are weighed out according to the designed density, then the above glued oriented bamboo fiber mats are assembled with parallel or cross structure, the outer layer outward and the inner layer inward so as to form the slab;
or, the oriented bamboo fiber mats are weighed out according to the designed density, and uniformly assembled in the mould;
G: hot-pressing
the cold-in and cold-out technology is used in the hot-pressing process, when the temperature of the hot platen is in a range of 40 to 60\xb0 C., the above slab is pushed into the hot-press; the superheated vapor is fed, the pressure is increased while the temperature is increased; when the pressure is 3.5 Mpa, the pressure is kept, and when the temperature is 160\xb0 C., the temperature is kept, and the holding time of the temperature is 0.5 minmm; then the cold water is fed into the press to decrease the temperature to 40 to 60\xb0 C., the pressure is released, and the slab is taken out from the press to obtain the needed assembly product of several bamboo fiber reinforced composite;
or the cold-pressing and hot-curing technology is used, the oriented bamboo fiber mats are cold pressed with 8 to 13 MPa in the mould; when the slab is pressed to the designed position, the mould is fixed with the pin, then the above mould with slab is sent into the oven with the temperature of 140 to 160\xb0 C. and cured for 3 h \u02dc5 h, after the mould is taken out, the slab is demoulded.
17. A process for manufacturing the bamboo fiber reinforced composites according to claim 16, wherein the length of the fluffing teeth is 1.1 to 1.3 times longitudinal distance between the two teeth, and the height of said fluffing teeth is 0.5 to 0.75 times the wall thickness of the semicircular bamboo tube.
18. A process for manufacturing the bamboo fiber reinforced composites according to claim 16, wherein the width of said oriented bamboo fiber mats extends to 2 to 5 times the arc length of the semicircular bamboo

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Spherical zinc oxide particles consisting of integrated plate-like particles, which have a median size of 0.01 \u03bcm or more and a D90D10 in particle size distribution of 5.0 or less.
2. The spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1, which is obtained by a method comprising a step (1) of neutralizing a zinc salt aqueous solution by an alkali aqueous solution wherein said step (1) is performed in the presence of a hydrophilic dispersant.
3. The spherical zinc oxide particles consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1, which have a MIU (average friction coefficient) of 1.0 or less.
4. The spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1, which has a haze (%) of a coating film of 40% or more.
5. A method for producing the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1, which comprises a step (1) of neutralizing a zinc salt aqueous solution by an alkali aqueous solution wherein said step (1) is performed in the presence of a hydrophilic dispersant.
6. A cosmetic comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1.
7. A thermal conductive filler comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 1.
8. The spherical zinc oxide particles consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 2, which have a MIU (average friction coefficient) of 1.0 or less.
9. The spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 2, which has a haze (%) of a coating film of 40% or more.
10. The spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 3, which has a haze (%) of a coating film of 40% or more.
11. A method for producing the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 2, which comprises a step (1) of neutralizing a zinc salt aqueous solution by an alkali aqueous solution wherein said step (1) is performed in the presence of a hydrophilic dispersant.
12. A method for producing the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 3, which comprises a step (1) of neutralizing a zinc salt aqueous solution by an alkali aqueous solution wherein said step (1) is performed in the presence of a hydrophilic dispersant.
13. A method for producing the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 4, which comprises a step (1) of neutralizing a zinc salt aqueous solution by an alkali aqueous solution wherein said step (1) is performed in the presence of a hydrophilic dispersant.
14. A cosmetic comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 2.
15. A cosmetic comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 3.
16. A cosmetic comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 4.
17. A thermal conductive filler comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 2.
18. A thermal conductive filler comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 3.
19. A thermal conductive filler comprising the spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 4.
20. The spherical zinc oxide particle consisting of integrated plate-like particles according to claim 8, which has a haze (%) of a coating film of 40% or more.

1. A user module for a patient support, the user module comprising
a communication interface configured to communicate signals from the user module to a patient support having at least one automated function and being configured to support a patient in at least a substantially horizontal position and to communicate signals from the patient support to the user module,
an input device configured to receive a signal indicative of a selection made by a user relating to an automated function of the patient support, and
an output device including a visual display configured to display a first graphical depiction of a person positioned on a patient support in response to a selection made by a user relating to a first function of the patient support and to display a second graphical depiction of a person positioned on a patient support in response to a selection made by a user relating to a second function of the patient support, wherein the first graphical depiction includes a first animated element indicative of movement associated with operation of the first function of the patient support and the second graphical depiction includes a second animated element indicative of movement associated with operation of the second function of the patient support.
2. The user module of claim 1, wherein the output device is further configured to display the first animated element and the second animated element at the same time.
3. The user module of claim 2, wherein the first animated element includes an arrow and a portion of the graphical depiction of a person positioned on a patient support.
4. The user module of claim 3, wherein the second animated element includes concentric circles and a portion of the graphical depiction of a person positioned on a patient support.
5. The user module of claim 4, wherein the output device is further configured to substantially simultaneously display current data relating to at least one alarm feature of the patient support, current data relating to at least one therapy function of the patient support, and a graphical representation of a patient support including an animated portion indicative of a status of an automated function of the patient support.
6. The user module of claim 1, wherein the output device is configured to display a first region including a first selectable option and a second region spaced from the first region, the second region includes a second selectable option, the first selectable option is displayed in a first color and the second selectable option is displayed in a second color contrasting with the first color.
7. The user module of claim 6, wherein the second selectable option is displayed in the second color prior to selection by a user of the second selectable option and the second selectable option is displayed in a third color contrasting with the second color and the first color after selection by a user of the second selectable option.
8. The user module of claim 7, wherein the second color is green and the third color is red.
9. The user module of claim 8, wherein the output device is further configured to display in a data region current data relating to a function of the patient support or a characteristic of a patient positionable on the patient support, and the data region is defined relative to the rest of the display by yellow highlighting.
10. The user module of claim 1, further comprising a user control to configure a setting of the patient support, the user control including a touch sensor associated with a graphical depiction of the user control displayed on the visual display, wherein the depiction of the user control includes a first numerical value representative of the current configuration of the setting, the user control is configured to enable a user to select a second numerical value indicative of a second configuration for the setting by applying one touch to the touch sensor, and the depiction of the user control automatically changes to replace the first numerical value with the second numerical value on the user control when the second numerical value is selected by the user.
11. A patient support apparatus comprising
a frame having first and second longitudinally spaced ends and first and second laterally spaced sides,
a housing positionable adjacent one of the sides or ends of the frame,
a user interface supported by the housing, the user interface including a dynamic display and at least one touchscreen control associated with a region of the dynamic display, and
at least one electromechanical switch supported by the housing, wherein activation of at least one of the switches activates the dynamic display of the user interface.
12. The patient support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing has a front panel, the user interface is supported by the front panel, and an electromechanical switch is spaced from the user interface on the front panel and electrically coupled to the user interface.
13. The patient support apparatus of claim 12, wherein activation of the electromechanical switch causes a pop-up window to appear on the dynamic display.
14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user interface and an electromechanical switch are coupled to a siderail of the patient support.
15. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user interface and an electromechanical switch are coupled to a footboard of the patient support.
16. A patient support apparatus comprising
a bed having first and second longitudinally spaced ends, first and second laterally spaced sides and at least one computer-controllable function,
a controller operably coupled to the bed to control at least one bed function,
a plurality of user modules operably coupled to the controller, each user module configured to display output relating to a bed function and receive input from a user relating to a bed function, and
a memory including instructions executable to process first input received by a first user module and second input received by a second user module and automatically update the displays of the user modules.
17. The patient support apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the user modules includes a user interface including a graphical element and a touchscreen control.
18. The patient support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen control is activatable by a user to configure a setting for a bed therapy function for which a single value is selectable from a plurality of values, the plurality of values are displayed on the user interface, and the touchscreen control is configured to enable the user to select a value from the plurality of values by contacting the touchscreen control only one time.
19. The patient support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions include instructions to display the same output on all of the user modules at the same time.
20. The patient support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second user module display is updated in response to the first input and the first user module display is updated in response to the second input.
21. A patient support apparatus comprising
a patient support including a computer-controllable weigh system,
a user module operably coupled to the bed to control the weigh system, and
a memory operably coupled to the user module, the memory including executable instructions configured to determine a weight of a patient positioned on the patient support, including instructions to prompt a user to identify one or more items added or removed from the patient support, weigh the patient, and automatically account for weight changes due to the identified items such that the weight change due to the identified items is included in the determination of the patient’s weight.
22. The patient support apparatus of claim 21, wherein the executable instructions include automatically waiting a period of time before weighing the patient to allow the user time to add or remove items from the patient support.
23. The patient support apparatus of claim 22, wherein the executable instructions include automatically waiting a period of time before weighing the patient to allow the user time to adjust a condition of the bed.
24. A patient support apparatus comprising
a patient support including at least one computer-controllable bed function,
a user module operably coupled to the patient support to control the at least one function of the patient support, and
a memory operably coupled to the user module, the memory including executable instructions configured to enable a user to set a reminder relating to at least one patient support function, including instructions to prompt the user to set a predetermined amount of time after which the user module will generate an alert relating to a patient support function, and cause the user module to generate the alert if the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.
25. The patient support apparatus of claim 24, wherein the instructions include permitting a user to set a first reminder relating to a turning assistance function, a second reminder relating to a rotation therapy function, and a third reminder relating to a percussion and vibration function.
26. A patient support apparatus comprising
a patient support including a frame having first and second laterally spaced sides and first and second longitudinally spaced ends, and a plurality of automated functions,
a communications port including a connector to connect with a remote device having a memory and programming information stored in the memory of the remote device,
a user module operably coupled to the communications port and to the patient support, the user module being usable to control operation of at least one of the automated functions of the patient support, the user module including an input mechanism, a display, a memory, programming information stored in the memory, a processor, and electrical circuitry, the programming information of the user module including instructions executable to cause the user module to automatically detect connection of a remote device to the communications port.
27. The patient support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the programming information of the user module includes executable instructions to receive programming information from the remote device via the communications port.
28. The patient support apparatus of claim 27, wherein the programming information of the user module includes executable instructions to update the display of the user module when programming information is received from the remote device.
29. The patient support apparatus of claim 28, wherein the patient support includes a network and a plurality of function modules coupled to the network, and the programming information of the user module includes executable instructions to provide programming information received from the remote device to a function module over the network.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for applying radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves to heat an object placed in an energy application zone via one or more radiating elements, the RF electromagnetic waves being in an ultra high frequency (UHF) or microwave frequency band and the apparatus comprising:
a detector configured to detect feedback including an amount of RF power reflected from the energy application zone; and
a processor configured to:
receive the feedback from the detector;
monitor a value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object based on the received feedback;
determine a time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object;
identify a change in the time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object; and
control an energy source to adjust energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements based on the change in the time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feedback includes power received from the energy application zone by at least one of the one or more radiating elements.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive, via an interface, one or more criteria for changing the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements based on the change in the time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the interface includes a reader for reading a machine readable element.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reader includes a barcode reader.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the energy source to adjust energy supply at each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs).
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to regulate the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements in a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs).
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to regulate the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements at each of the plurality of MSEs based on a dissipation ratio estimated at each of the plurality of MSEs.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object includes a difference between power delivered to the energy application zone and power detected from the energy application zone.
10. A device comprising:
an energy application zone;
a dielectric heating device configured to apply radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves to the energy application zone to heat an object placed in the energy application zone, the RF electromagnetic waves being in an ultra high frequency (UHF) or microwave frequency band;
a detector configured to detect feedback including RF power reflected from the energy application zone; and
a controller configured to:
compute a time derivative of a value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object based on the feedback detected by the detector; and
cause the dielectric heating device to adjust a selection of modulation space elements (MSEs) used for energy application based on a change in the time derivative of RF power absorbed by the object.
11. An apparatus for applying radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves to heat an object placed in an energy application zone via one or more radiating elements, the RF electromagnetic waves being in an ultra high frequency (UHF) or microwave frequency band and the apparatus comprising:
a detector configured to detect feedback including an amount of RF power reflected from the energy application zone; and
a processor configured to:
monitor a value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object based on the feedback detected by the detector; and
control an energy source to adjust energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements based on a change in a time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive feedback indicative of power received from the energy application zone by at least one of the one or more radiating elements and to determine the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object based on the received feedback.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive, via an interface, one or more criteria for changing the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements based on the changes in the time derivative of the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the interface includes a reader for reading a machine readable element.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reader includes a barcode reader.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to control the energy source to adjust energy supply at each of a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs).
17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to regulate the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements in a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs).
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to regulate the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements at each of the plurality of MSEs based on a dissipation ratio estimated at each of the plurality of MSEs.
19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the value indicative of RF power absorbed by the object includes a difference between power delivered to the energy application zone and power detected from the energy application zone.
20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to change a selection of modulation space elements (MSEs) for energy application to adjust the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements.
21. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to change a selection of frequencies used for energy application to adjust the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements.
22. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to change a power level or a time duration used for delivering energy to adjust the energy supplied to the one or more radiating elements.