Temperature Monitoring Device for Workflow Monitoring System

• US 20130287060A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Par Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Par Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Langdoc, Scott, Leapman, Scott, Formica, Facundo, Megonigal, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049

Abstract

A temperature monitoring device that can automatically collect temperature data and wirelessly interface with a workflow management system. The device is provided in a portable housing and incorporates one or more temperature sensors, such as a physical probe, infrared sensor, or RFID transceiver, along with an interface for wirelessly communicating with a host personal device that has been programmed with temperature management tasks. The device may be used to automatically collect temperatures and provide wirelessly provide the data to the host for monitoring and tracking as part of a comprehensive workflow management system that includes food safety monitoring and compliance programs.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a temperature of a target, comprising:

a housing having a host interface adapted for wireless communication with a host;

a microcontroller positioned within said housing;

an infrared temperature sensor interconnected to said microcontroller;

a radiofrequency identification transceiver interconnected to said microcontroller;

a temperature probe attached to said housing and interconnected to said microcontroller;

wherein said microcontroller is programmed to active one or more of said sensor, transceiver and probe in response to a command sent from said host through said host interface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to obtain data from said sensor, transceiver and probe that represents the temperature of said target.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to export said data representing the temperature of a target to said host via said host interface.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a user interface positioned on said housing that is interconnected to said microcontroller.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said user interface includes a display.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to calculate the temperature of the target based on the data obtained from said sensor, transceiver, and probe and display said temperature on said user interface via said display.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to display an indicia on said display representative of which of said sensor, transceiver, and probe is obtaining the temperature of the target.

8. A system for managing the collection and monitoring of the temperatures of a plurality of targets, comprising:

a temperature monitoring device including a housing having a host interface adapted for wireless communication with a host, a microcontroller positioned within said housing, an infrared temperature sensor interconnected to said microcontroller, a radiofrequency identification transceiver interconnected to said microcontroller, and a temperature probe attached to said housing and interconnected to said microcontroller so that said microcontroller can selectively activate one or more of said sensor, transceiver and probe;

at least one host device positioned in proximity to said temperature monitoring device and having a second microcontroller that is programmed to communicate with said temperature collecting device through said host interface;

a remote server interconnected to said host device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said server is programmed to provide said at least one host device with at least one task requiring a user of said host device to obtain a temperature of one of said plurality of targets.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said host device is programmed to display said at least one task for said user and allow said user to wirelessly provide said temperature to said host device via said temperature monitoring device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said host device is programmed to require the use of just one of said sensor, transceiver and probe based on said at least one task.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said host device is programmed to send a command to said temperature monitoring device that that enables only one of said sensor, transceiver and probe.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said microcontroller of said temperature monitoring device is programmed to collect temperature data using the enabled one of said sensor, transceiver and probe when triggered by user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said microcontroller of said temperature monitoring device is programmed to expert said temperature data to said host device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said host device is programmed to validate said temperature data for compliance with predetermined requirements.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said temperature monitoring device is programmed to obtain location data from a tag positioned at a predetermined location via said transceiver in addition to obtaining temperature data via one or more of said sensor and said probe.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said host device is programmed to inhibit the use of one or more of said sensor, transceiver and probe based on said at least one task.