FOOD PREPARATION

• US 20160048720A1
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenwood Corporation (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kenwood Corporation (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Palmer, Paul, Grundy, Gilman
• Granted Patent: US 10,635,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/044 with tools driven from the top side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/54 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30128 Food products
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables

Abstract

A container for providing an enclosure for a food item includes a plurality of grading marks and a docking station to dock an electronic device. Yet further, the system includes a processor configured to take one or more pictures of the food item (104) using the electronic device (110), transmit the one or more pictures to a cloud (202), receive recommended recipes for the food item (104) and display the recommended recipes.

Claims

1. A container for providing an enclosure for a food item comprising:

the container having at least one opening for introducing a food item into the container, and a receiving surface for the food item, wherein the container comprises a plurality of grading marks for indicating the size of the food item, and a docking station spaced from the receiving surface and the grading marks, the docking station being arranged to dock an electronic device such that the device faces the interior of the container and the grading marks.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is at least partially transparent such that the food item is visible to a user.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is shaped as one of a cube, a cuboid a cone and a sphere.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the grading marks are one of an etch, a depression, a raised portion, a print, or any other visible structure

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is hermitically sealable.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container device is dishwasher-safe.

7. The container of claim 1, comprises a weighing scale to determine weight of the food item.

8. The container of claim 1, comprises one or more sensors to perform chemical analysis of the food item.

9. The container of claim 1, the container being connectable to a communication network.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of a smart phone, a tablet, a camera, a 3D scanner and a bar code scanner.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the docking station including at least one port for electronically connecting the container and to an electronic device.

12. The container of claim 1, in which the grading marks comprise a linear scale.

13. The container of claim 12, comprising at least two linear scales, spaced apart or interjects at an angle.

14. The container of claim 13, in which the scales are provided on a side wall and/or the receiving surface of the container.

26. A system comprising a container as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining image data relating to a food item;

comparing the image data with comparative data in a database;

determining, based on the comparative data, at least one parameter of the food item; and

obtaining, based on the at least one parameter, food preparation information relating to the food item.

16. Image processing apparatus comprising:

an electronic device arranged to obtaining image data relating to a. food item, and to deliver the data to a processor, the processor being configured to;

compare the image data with comparative data in a database;

determine, based on the comparative data, at least one parameter of the food item; and

obtain, based on the at least one parameter, food preparation information relating to the food item.

17. Image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the processor is configured to provide the information to the electronic device and/or a kitchen appliance.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the information comprises instructions for programming a kitchen appliance.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the image data comprises a bar code providing information about the type and/or quantity of the food item.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which:

the database comprises pictures and recipes relating to a plurality of food items; and

the processor is configured to;

determine the type and quantity of the food item;

select one or more recipes based on the type of the food item; and

transmit information about the one or more recommended recipes to the electronic device.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which the image data comprises one or more pictures and wherein the processor is configured to match the one or more pictures of the food item with the pictures of the plurality of food items available the database.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to determining weight of the food item.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to determine the weight of the food item by:

calculating the volume occupied by the food item based on grading marks visible in the one or more pictures of the food item, wherein the grading marks indicate the size of the food item in each or any of the three dimensions;

accessing the food database to obtain the density of the food item based on the type of food item; and

obtaining the weight of the food item from the density of the food item, and the volume of the food item.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the volume occupied by the food item by creating a 3D digital model of the food item based on the one or more pictures of the food item and then enumerating the number of voxels in the 3D digital model to determine volume of the food item.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the food database further includes nutritional information about the plurality of food items, wherein the nutritional information includes amount of calories, carbohydrates and protein in each food item in the plurality of food items.

27. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 16.