METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING FOOD CONSUMPTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL

• US 20130203024A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Design LLC
• Original Assignee: Design LLC
• Inventors: Dekar, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/00 Table-ware crumb trays A47L13/52; table knives B26B
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/08 Serving devices for one-handed persons
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/10 Devices for counting or marking the number of consumptions on beverage-dispensing apparatus B65D, B67D; counting in general G06M
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/12 Consumption counters combined with table-ware or table-service
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/008 Manipulators for service tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/08 by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring food consumption by an individual from a food compartment wherein the food compartment may contain or hold solids or liquids. For example, the method includes a sensor to determine the quantity of the solid or liquids located in the food compartment or container. The method contemplates having multiple containers or food compartments wherein a container holds liquids and a food compartment holds solids or semi-solids. By determining the quantity of the food in the food compartment prior to and after the individual has ceased consuming food from the food compartment the amount or quantity of the food can be determined. Knowing the amount or quantity of the food removed from the container the nutritional value of the food may be determined. In addition, a sensor may also monitor the individual removing the food from the food compartment that is monitoring the individual while eating or drinking.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual from a food compartment containing at least one food comprising the steps of:

using a sensor to determine the quantity of food in the food compartment;

determining the quantity of food in the food compartment prior to the individual consuming food from the food compartment;

determining the quantity of food in the food compartment after the individual has ceased consuming food from the food compartment; and

determining the quantity of food removed from the food compartment.

2. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

providing a database including nutritional values of the food in the food compartment; and

calculating the nutritional value of the food removed from the food compartment based in part on the quantity of food removed from the food compartment.

3. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 including said sensor capable of capturing an image of the food contained in the food compartment.

4. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sensor includes a camera.

5. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a load cell.

6. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

using said sensor to continuously determine the quantity of food in the food compartment; and

providing information based on the output of said sensor to a remote location wherein said information relates to at least one of the following;

the quantity of the food;

the nutritional value of the food;

an overall time the individual took to consume the quantity of food;

the time of day when the individual consumed the food; and

the pace at which the individual consumed the food.

7. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein the quantity of food includes distinguishing between solid and liquid consumed by the individual.

8. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 1 including a physical condition sensor monitoring a physical condition of the individual.

9. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 8 wherein said physical condition sensor monitoring a physical condition includes a sensor monitoring at least one of the following blood pressure, glucose levels, pulse, tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen level, heart rate, temperature, respiration rate and other biometric values.

10. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual from a food compartment containing at least one food comprising the steps of:

using a first sensor to monitor the individual removing food from the food compartment;

using a second sensor to determine the quantity of food removed from the food compartment; and

using said first and second sensors to provide information to a remote location regarding the quantity of food consumed by the individual.

11. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first sensor includes a camera that captures images of the individual wherein said images are transmitted to a remote location.

12. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual from a food compartment containing at least one food comprising the steps of:

placing food in the food compartment;

providing a sensor associated with the food compartment, the sensor capable of monitoring and transmitting the weight of the food contained within the food compartment;

measuring the weight of the food compartment prior to the individual consuming food from the food compartment;

measuring the weight of the food compartment after the individual has ceased consuming food from the food compartment;

using the difference in weight of the food compartment to determine the quantity of food removed from the food compartment; and

.

calculating the nutritional value of the food removed from the front compartment based on the quantity of food removed from the food compartment.

13. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 12 including the steps of:

providing a monitoring device capable of monitoring the individual removing food from the food compartment and using the monitoring device to monitor the quantity of food consumed by the individual; and

providing information to a remote location regarding the quantity of food consumed by the individual.

14. A method of monitoring food consumption by an individual as set forth in claim 13 wherein said monitoring device is a camera.

15. A feeding device comprising:

a food compartment;

a feed arm operative to transfer food from the food compartment to an individual; and

a sensor, said sensor used to determine the quantity of food contained in the food compartment.

16. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 including said sensor used to determine the type of food contained in the food compartment.

17. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 including:

a database;

a processor, said processor receiving information from said sensor and operative to identify the nutritional value of the food contained in the food compartment based in part on information from said sensor.

18. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sensor includes a camera.

19. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sensor includes a load cell.

20. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 including:

a sensor monitoring physical data of the individual, said physical data at least one of the following blood pressure, glucose levels, pulse, tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen level, heart rate, temperature, respiration rate and other biometric values; and

a communication module, said communication module receiving and transmitting said physical data to a remote location.

21. A feeding device as set forth in claim 15 including:

a camera operative to capture images of both the individual and the food; and

a communication module, said communication module receiving and transmitting said images to a remote location.