Food temperature probe
AssigneeElectronic Controls Design, Inc.
InventorsPaul M. Austen, Rex L. Breunsbach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of a temperature probe comprises an elongated shaft having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being configured for insertion into a unit of food and the second portion being configured to extend outside of the unit of food. The probe further comprises at least two temperature sensors positioned at different longitudinal locations along the first portion of the shaft that are configured to measure temperatures of the unit of food at different locations within the unit of food while the unit of food is being processed thermally. The probe further comprises at least one ambient temperature sensor coupled to the shaft and configured to measure ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food.
Claims20
A temperature probe comprising:
- an elongated shaft comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being configured for insertion into a unit of food, the second portion being configured to extend outside of the unit of food;
- at least two temperature sensors positioned at different longitudinal locations along the first portion of the shaft, the temperature sensors being configured to measure temperature of the unit of food at different locations within the unit of food;
- and
- at least one ambient temperature sensor coupled to the second portion of the shaft and configured to measure ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food;
- wherein the at least one ambient temperature sensor is thermally insulated from the shaft.
A method of measuring temperature, comprising:
- inserting a temperature probe into a unit of food;
- heating the unit of food with the probe inserted;
- while the unit of food is heating, using the probe to measure at least one temperature within the unit of food and an ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food;
- and
- wirelessly transmitting the measured temperatures from within a heating device to a location outside the heating device.
A method of measuring temperature, comprising:
- inserting a temperature probe into a unit of food;
- heating the unit of food with the probe inserted;
- while the unit of food is heating, using the probe to measure at least one temperature within the unit of food and an ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food;
- wherein heating the unit of food comprises:
- moving the unit of food and the inserted probe through a plurality of different temperature zones using a conveyor, the ambient temperature being different in the different temperature zones;
- and
- the method further comprises determining which temperature zone the unit of food is in based on the measured ambient temperature.
A method for measuring temperatures, the method comprising:
- receiving indications of temperatures at three or more locations within a unit of food during a heating process occurring within an oven, and simultaneously receiving an indication of an ambient air temperature within the oven adjacent to the unit of food, wherein the indications of temperatures are received wirelessly outside of the oven from a transmitter located within the oven;
- and
- determining a slowest-heating location from among the three or more locations within the unit of food.
A method for measuring temperatures, the method comprising:
- receiving indications of temperatures at three or more locations within a unit of food during a heating process, and simultaneously receiving an indication of an ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food;
- determining a slowest-heating location from among the three or more locations within the unit of food;
- and
- determining a section of an oven in which the unit of food is located based on the ambient temperature adjacent to the unit of food.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.