Dual thermometer system

• US 7,128,466 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US10/191,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/149, 374/179, 374/155, 374/208, 374184-185, 374/187, 374/170, 374/183, 340/870.17, 340/870.04, 340/870.09, 340/870.01, 953/31, 953/24
• US Class Current: 374/141
• 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 heat-resistant 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;

an LCD module for positioning external to the oven and configured to accept and display a user-selectable desired food temperature; and

an electronic communication cable for communicating signals from the first and second temperature sensors to the LCD module, wherein the LCD module processes the signals from the first temperature sensor to display an actual food temperature simultaneously with, and separately from, the user-selectable desired food temperature.

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 at or near the tip.

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, the LCD module processing the signals from the second temperature sensor to display an actual oven air temperature with the actual food temperature.

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

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

10. A system of claim 9, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm, selected essentially from the group consisting of an audible alarm and a combined audible-visual alarm, for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and at the desired food temperature.

11. 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.

12. A system of claim 11, the LCD module configured for simultaneously and separately displaying the desired oven air temperature, set by user inputs at the LCD module, and the actual oven air temperature.

13. A system of claim 11, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration for food within the desired oven air temperature.

14. A system of claim 13, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

18. A system of claim 17, the LCD module comprising a user interface for selecting the desired food temperature and a desired oven air temperature, and being configured to simultaneously display the desired food and oven air temperatures.

19. A system of claim 17, 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).

20. A system of claim 17, 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).

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

22. A system of claim 21, wherein the first LCD display portion further shows the desired food temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

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

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

25. A system of claim 1, further comprising a plug for connecting the cable to the LCD module.

26. A system of claim 25, wherein the plug comprises a stereo jack.

27. 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.

28. A system of claim 27, wherein cross-sectional dimensions of the cable are about 3 mm by 2 mm.

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

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

31. 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.

32. A system of claim 31, wherein the probe expansion section has a cross-sectional diameter of between about ten and twenty millimeters.

33. A system of claim 31, 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.

34. A system of claim 31, wherein the cable couples with the probe expansion section.

35. A system of claim 31, 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.

36. A system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises 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.

37. A system of claim 36, the LCD module comprising the remote receiver and having a second wireless transmission module for receiving the wireless data, the LCD module processing the data to display the actual food temperature from the first temperature sensor and oven air temperature from the second temperature sensor.

38. A system of claim 37, wherein the LCD module comprises a user interface for selecting (a) the desired food temperature and (b) a cooking duration at the desired food temperature.

39. A system of claim 38, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration at the desired food temperature.

40. A system of claim 39, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and at the desired food temperature.

41. A system of claim 38, 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.

42. A system of claim 41, wherein the LCD module simultaneously displays the desired oven air temperature, set by user inputs at the LCD module, and actual oven air temperature as determined by the second temperature sensor.

43. A system of claim 42, wherein the LCD module comprises a timer for timing the cooking duration for food within the desired oven air temperature.

44. A system of claim 43, wherein the LCD module comprises an alarm, selected essentially from the group consisting of an audible alarm and a combined audible-visual alarm, for indicating completion of food cooked at the duration and within an oven at the desired oven air temperature.

45. A system of claim 38, the LCD module comprising an LCD display having an operating temperature of at least about 140 degrees F.

46. A system of claim 38, further comprising a suction cup for attaching the LCD module to a feature.

47. A system of claim 38, wherein the LCD module has first and second LCD display portions, the first LCD display portion showing the actual food temperature, the second LCD display portion showing oven air temperature.

48. A system of claim 47, wherein the first LCD display portion further shows the desired food temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.

49. A system of claim 47, wherein the second LCD display portion further shows desired oven air temperature, as set by inputs from a user of the LCD module.