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Quantitative texture measurement apparatus and method

  • US 10,598,648 B2
  • Filed: 09/21/2017
  • Issued: 03/24/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for quantitative non-destructive texture attribute measurement of a food product comprising:

  • a housing;

    a laser generator attached to said housing;

    an acoustic capturing device proximally located to said housing;

    an ultrasound excitation device proximally located to said housing;

    an ultrasound capturing device proximally positioned with respect to said acoustic capturing device;

    a data processing unit in communication with at least said acoustic capturing device and at least said ultrasound capturing device;

    wherein a laser from said laser generator is directed to strike said food product, thereby producing an acoustic signal to be detected by said acoustic capturing device; and

    an ultrasound wave from said ultrasound excitation device is directed to strike said food product, thereby producing an ultrasound signal to be detected by said ultrasound capturing device;

    wherein said data processing unit is configured to quantitatively measure said texture attribute of said food product based on input from said acoustic capturing device and input from said ultrasound capturing device;

    wherein said texture attribute is selected from a group consisting of;

    hardness, fracturability, tooth-pack, crispiness, roughness of mass, residual greasiness, surface roughness, and surface oiliness.

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