Hand-Held Spectroscopic Sensor with Light-Projected Fiducial Marker for Analyzing Food Composition and Quantity

• US 20160140870A1
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US15/004,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140870A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/02 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 Coherent sources; lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

This invention is a hand-held spectroscopic food sensor for analyzing the chemical and/or nutritional composition of food which projects a beam of light that serves as a fiducial marker for image analysis to better estimate the size and/or quantity of the food. In an example, this hand-held spectroscopic food sensor can be in wireless communication with a wearable or implanted device which detects eating and the person can be prompted to use the hand-held spectroscopic food sensor when data collected by the wearable or implanted device indicates that the person is eating.

Claims

1. A portable hand-held spectroscopic food sensor comprising:

a portable housing that is configured to held by a person'"'"'s hand;

a spectroscopic sensor which collects data concerning light that is reflected from food and/or has passed through food, wherein this data is used to estimate the chemical and/or nutritional composition of the food;

a camera which takes pictures and/or records images of the food; and

a light beam projector which projects a pattern of light onto the food and/or onto a surface within 12 inches of the food, wherein this light pattern is used to help determine the size and/or quantity of the food.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor further comprises a light-emitting member and a light-receiving member.

3. The device in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor further comprises a light-receiving member which analyzes reflected ambient light.

4. The device in claim 1 wherein the camera takes pictures and/or records images of the food from different angles at different times in order to better estimate food size and/or quantity.

5. The device in claim 1 wherein the light beam projector projects coherent light.

6. The device in claim 1 wherein the pattern of light is selected from the group consisting of:

single line;

plurality of parallel lines;

two intersecting lines;

grid of intersecting lines;

square;

hexagon;

circle; and

other conic section.

7. The device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a light energy sensor which determines the distance to the food.

8. The device in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a radar sensor which determines the distance to the food.

9. The device in claim 1 wherein the device prompts the person to use the device when data from a wearable or implanted sensor indicates that the person has started to eat.

10. The device in claim 1 wherein the device prompts the person to use the device multiple times during a meal in order to collect spectroscopic data concerning multiple layers, section, and/or components of food.

11. The device in claim 1 wherein the device prompts the person to use the device multiple times during a meal in order to collect data concerning the quantity of food remaining at different times.

12. A device for identifying types and quantities of foods, ingredients, and/or nutrients comprising:

a hand-held food probe;

wherein this food probe further comprises a spectroscopic sensor;

wherein this spectroscopic sensor collects data concerning light reflected from, absorbed by, and/or transmitted through food;

wherein this data is used to analyze the chemical composition of the food;

a camera which takes pictures of the food;

a light-emitting member which projects a light-based fiducial marker on, or in proximity to, the food in order to better estimate the size of the food.

13. The device in claim 12 wherein the camera takes video pictures and/or still pictures of the food.

14. The device in claim 12 wherein the camera takes pictures of food from multiple angles.

15. The device in claim 12 wherein a light-emitting member which projects a beam of coherent light.

16. The device in claim 12 wherein a light-emitting member which projects beams of coherent light.

17. The device in claim 12 wherein the device further comprises an infrared distance-finding mechanism.

18. The device in claim 12 wherein the device further comprises a radio wave distance-finding mechanism.

19. The device in claim 12 wherein the person is prompted to collect data when a wearable device indicates that the person is consuming food.

20. The device in claim 12 wherein the person is prompted to collect data at different times when a wearable device indicates that the person is consuming food.