Dual thermometer system

• US 20030007544A1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ewig Industries Macao Commercial Offshore Limited
• Original Assignee: EWIG Industries Company Limited
• Inventors: Yuen, Wai Man, Wu, Kai Wai, Chang, Chee Ann
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/100
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/06 for preparation purposes

Abstract

The invention provides a dual thermometer system for the measurement and display of temperature data taken at two separate locations within an oven. In one aspect, the invention provides an elongated probe connected with a flexible electronic cable. The probe houses two temperature sensors—one for sensing internal food temperature, one for sensing inside oven air temperature. The sensors are space apart within the probe such that the one sensor can be positioned substantially within a food item and the other sensor can positioned substantially outside of the food item and within the oven. Signals from the sensors are relayed from the probe and through the cable; external electronics may attach to the cable to acquire the signals and display associated temperatures. In another aspect, signals from temperature sensors are relayed from the probe and through the cable to a first wireless termination. The first wireless termination wirelessly relays signals from the probe to a second wireless termination coupled to module electronics, to acquire the wireless signals and to display associated temperatures. In operation, the probe is inserted into food within an operating oven, such that one of the sensors senses food temperature and such that the other of the sensors senses oven air temperature; the cable extends from the probe and through the door of the oven; the module electronics may be attached to a convenient location in the kitchen, usually near to the oven, to display temperatures from the probe.

Claims

1. A system for assisting food preparation of food within an oven, comprising:

an elongated probe having a first temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the food and a second temperature sensor for sensing temperature of air inside the oven; and

an electronic communication cable for communicating signals from the first and second temperature sensors to electronics external to the oven.

2. A system of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the probe forms a tip for inserting the probe into the food, and wherein the first temperature sensor is constructed and arranged within the distal end.

3. A system of claim 2, wherein the second temperature sensor is constructed and arranged within the probe at a distance of at least about 100 mm from the first temperature sensor.

4. A system of claim 1, wherein the probe is made from stainless steel.

5. A system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

6. A system of claim 1, wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

7. A system of claim 1, further comprising an LCD module for attachment to the cable, the LCD module processing the signals to display food temperature from the first temperature sensor and oven air temperature from the second temperature sensor.

8. A system of claim 7, wherein the LCD module comprises a user interface for selecting (a) a desired food temperature and (b) a cooking duration at the desired temperature.

9. A system of claim 8, wherein the LCD module is capable of simultaneously displaying desired food temperature, set by user inputs to the LCD module, and actual food temperature as determined by the first temperature sensor.

10. A system of claim 8, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration at the desired temperature.

11. A system of claim 10, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and at the desired temperature.

12. A system of claim 7, wherein the LCD module comprises a user interface for selecting (a) a desired oven air temperature and (b) a cooking duration within the desired oven air temperature.

13. A system of claim 12, wherein the LCD module is capable of simultaneously displaying desired oven air temperature, set by user inputs at the LCD module, and actual oven air temperature as determined by the second temperature sensor.

14. A system of claim 12, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration for food within the desired oven air temperature.

15. A system of claim 14, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and within an oven at the desired oven air temperature.

16. A system of claim 7, wherein the LCD module comprises an LCD display capable of operating at a temperature of at least about 140 degrees F.

17. A system of claim 7, further comprising a suction cup for attaching the LCD module to an feature, wherein a user of the LCD module may place the LCD module at a convenient viewing location.

18. A system of claim 7, wherein the LCD module comprises:

a processor for processing signals received from the first temperature sensor to compute an actual food temperature and the second temperature sensor to compute an actual oven air temperature; and

an LCD display coupled to the processor for simultaneously displaying the actual food temperature the actual oven air temperature.

19. A system of claim 18, further comprising a user interface for selecting a desired food temperature and a desired oven air temperature, and wherein the LCD display is further configured to simultaneously display the desired food and oven air temperatures.

20. A system of claim 18, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and the signals received by the processor from the thermistor comprise an electrical current discharged through the thermistor over a period of time (t), the processor computing the actual food temperature by measuring the time (t).

21. A system of claim 18, wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and the signals received by the processor from the thermistor comprise an electrical current discharged through the thermistor over a period of time (t), the processor computing the actual oven air temperature by measuring the time (t).

22. A system of claim 7, the LCD module comprising first and second LCD display portions, the first LCD display portion showing food temperature, the second LCD display portion showing oven air temperature.

23. A system of claim 22, wherein the first LCD display portion further shows desired food temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

24. A system of claim 23, wherein the second LCD display portion further shows desired oven air temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

25. A system of claim 1, wherein the probe is constructed and arranged to operate at a temperature of up to about 572 degrees F.

26. A system of claim 1, further comprising a plug for connecting the cable to the external electronics.

27. A system of claim 26, wherein the plug comprises a stereo jack.

28. A system of claim 1, wherein the cable has a substantially flat cross-sectional diameter to facilitate closing an oven door adjacent to the cable, wherein the cable extends from the probe within the oven to a location external to the oven.

29. A system of claim 28, wherein cross sectional dimensions of the cable are about 3 mm by 2 mm.

30. A system of claim 1, wherein the cable has a length of about one meter.

31. A system of claim 1, wherein the probe has a cross-sectional diameter of about five millimeters.

32. A system of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the probe comprises a probe expansion section housing the second temperature sensor, and wherein a distal end of the probe houses the first temperature sensor, the probe expansion section having a cross-sectional diameter larger than a cross sectional diameter of the distal end of the probe.

33. A system of claim 32, wherein the probe expansion section has a cross sectional diameter of between about ten and twenty millimeters.

34. A system of claim 32, wherein the probe is constructed and arranged with the distal end forming a tip for insertion into food and with an elongated distance between the tip and the probe expansion section of about 120 mm.

35. A system of claim 32, wherein the cable couples with the probe expansion section.

36. A system of claim 32, wherein the distal end of the probe has a cross sectional diameter of about 4 mm, and the probe expansion section has a cross sectional diameter of about 12 mm.

38. A system of claim 37, wherein a distal end of the probe forms a tip for inserting the probe into the food, and wherein the first temperature sensor is constructed and arranged adjacent to the tip.

39. A system of claim 37, wherein the second temperature sensor is constructed and arranged within the probe at a distance of at least about 100 mm from the first temperature sensor.

40. A system of claim 37, wherein the probe is made from stainless steel.

41. A system of claim 37, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

42. A system of claim 37, wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

43. A system of claim 37, wherein the probe and cable are constructed and arranged to operate at a temperature of up to about 572 degrees F.

44. A system of claim 37, wherein the probe has a cross-sectional diameter of about five millimeters.

45. A system of claim 37, wherein a proximal end of the probe comprises a probe expansion section housing the second temperature sensor, and wherein a distal end of the probe houses the first temperature sensor, the probe expansion section having a cross-sectional diameter larger than a cross sectional diameter of the distal end of the probe.

46. A system of claim 45, wherein the probe expansion section has a cross sectional diameter of between about ten and twenty millimeters.

47. A system of claim 45, wherein the probe is constructed and arranged with the distal end forming a tip, and with an elongated distance between the tip and the probe expansion section of about 120 mm.

48. A system of claim 37, further comprising a probe LCD display coupled with the first wireless termination, the probe LCD display showing temperature information from at least one of the first and second sensors.

49. A system of claim 37, further comprising an LCD module as the remote receiver, the LCD module having a second wireless transmission module for receiving the wireless data, the LCD module processing the data to display food temperature from the first temperature sensor and oven air temperature from the second temperature sensor.

50. A system of claim 49, wherein the LCD module comprises a user interface for selecting (a) a desired food temperature and (b) a cooking duration at the desired temperature.

51. A system of claim 50, wherein the LCD module is capable of simultaneously displaying desired food temperature, set by user inputs to the LCD module, and actual food temperature as determined by the first temperature sensor.

52. A system of claim 50, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration at the desired food temperature.

53. A system of claim 52, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and at the desired temperature.

54. A system of claim 49, wherein the LCD module comprises a user interface for selecting (a) a desired oven air temperature and (b) a cooking duration within the desired oven air temperature.

55. A system of claim 54, wherein the LCD module is capable of simultaneously displaying desired oven air temperature, set by user inputs at the LCD module, and actual oven air temperature as determined by the second temperature sensor.

56. A system of claim 54, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration for food within the desired oven air temperature.

57. A system of claim 56, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and within an oven at the desired oven air temperature.

58. A system of claim 49, wherein the LCD module comprises an LCD display capable of operating at a temperature of at least about 140 degrees F.

59. A system of claim 49, further comprising a suction cup for attaching the LCD module to a feature.

60. A system of claim 49, wherein the LCD module has first and second LCD display portions, the first LCD display portion showing food temperature, the second LCD display portion showing oven air temperature.

61. A system of claim 60, wherein the first LCD display portion further shows desired food temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

62. A system of claim 60, wherein the second LCD display portion further shows desired oven air temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

37. A wireless oven and food thermometer, comprising:

an elongated probe having a first temperature sensor for sensing temperature of food within the oven and a second temperature sensor for sensing temperature of air inside the oven;

an electronic communication cable and a first wireless transmission module connected to the cable and arranged externally to the oven, the cable communicating signals from the first and second temperature sensors to the first wireless transmission module and along a pathway passing adjacent to an oven door of the oven, the first wireless transmission module communicating signals from the cable to a remote receiver as wireless data.

63. A method of assisting in the preparation of food within an oven, comprising the steps of:

placing a distal end of an elongated probe into a food item located within the oven such that a proximal region of the probe spaced from the distal end extends out of the food item and into the air inside the oven, the distal end having a first temperature sensor disposed therein and the proximal region having a second temperature sensor disposed therein;

extending an electronics communication cable electrically connected to the elongated probe outside of the oven; and

generating a first signal corresponding to a temperature measurement made by the first temperature sensor within the food item; and

generating a second signal corresponding to a temperature measurement made by the second temperature sensor outside of the food item and within the oven.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor is the food item temperature at a location immediately adjacent to the distal end of the probe and the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor is the oven air temperature at a location immediately adjacent to the proximal region of the probe.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and the step of generating a first signal corresponding to a temperature measurement comprises:

discharging an electrical current from a capacitor through the thermistor;

measuring the time period of capacitor discharge;

converting the capacitor discharge time into a temperature measurement value; and

displaying the value on a display module electrically connected to the electronic communication cable and disposed outside of the oven.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the step of generating a first signal corresponding to a temperature measurement further comprises storing the capacitor discharge time into a memory.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the first temperature sensor is a thermistor, and the step of generating a first signal corresponding to a temperature measurement comprises:

discharging an electrical current from a capacitor through the thermistor and a first and second set of resistors;

measuring a first time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

measuring a second time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the second set of resistors;

storing the first and second capacitor discharge time periods into a memory;

recharging the capacitor;

discharging the capacitor through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

measuring a third time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

storing the third capacitor discharge time into the memory;

calculating a temperature measurement value based on the first, second, and third capacitor discharge times; and

displaying the value on, a display module electrically connected to the electronic communication cable and disposed outside of the oven.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor, and the step of generating a second signal corresponding to a temperature measurement comprises:

discharging an electrical current from a capacitor through the thermistor;

measuring the time period of capacitor discharge;

converting the capacitor discharge time into a temperature measurement value; and

displaying the value on a display module electrically connected to the electronic communication cable and disposed outside of the oven.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the step of generating a second signal corresponding to a temperature measurement further comprises storing the capacitor discharge time into a memory.

70. The method of claim 63, wherein the second temperature sensor is a thermistor, and the step of generating a second signal corresponding to a temperature measurement comprises:

discharging an electrical current from a capacitor through the thermistor and a first and second set of resistors;

measuring a first time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

measuring a second time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the second set of resistors;

storing the first and second capacitor discharge time periods into a memory;

recharging the capacitor;

discharging the capacitor through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

measuring a third time period of capacitor discharge through the thermistor and the first set of resistors;

storing the third capacitor discharge time into the memory;

calculating a temperature measurement value based on the first, second, and third capacitor discharge times; and

displaying the value on a display module electrically connected to the electronic communication cable and disposed outside of the oven.