Refrigeration temperature monitoring system and associated temperature display

• US 8,033,716 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phil Wiggins, Troy Marcus Tandy
• Original Assignee: Phil Wiggins, Troy Marcus Tandy
• Inventors: Wiggins, Phil, Tandy, Troy Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/509,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 374/120, 374/121, 374/130, 374/135, 374/137, 374/208, 374/163, 374/183, 374/170, 374/161, 374/162, 374/29, 374/30, 374/166, 374/124, 374/152, 374/149, 374/100, 356/237.1, 356/923, 356/43, 359/30, 340/500, 340/501, 340/506, 340/507, 340/584, 340/585, 340/600, 340/340.17, 62/451, 621/25, 621/29, 622/64, 622/46, 624/40, 345/156, 345/204, 345/207, 345/48, 345/106
• US Class Current: 374/131
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers

Abstract

The invention is a system for monitoring a plurality of cold cases located in a retail food establishment. The system employs a wireless mesh network, which uses monitoring computers in communication with the cold cases for sending temperature data to a master control computer located in a retail establishment, by the most efficient route, even if the most efficient route is first through a second monitoring computer and secondly to the main computer. The invention also employs an inventive microprocessor-controlled temperature monitoring and display device which mounts on each cold case and which emits various colored lights to serve as a visible indicator of the temperature condition of a cold case. The emitted, colored, light is visible from both the front and side of the display device, which allows untrained store personnel to readily determine the temperature condition of a cold case by referring to a color coding chart.

Claims

1. A temperature display and alarm device, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a serially addressed temperature sensor, said temperature sensor transmitting temperature data to said microprocessor;

a display screen for displaying temperature data relayed from said microprocessor;

a light source, said light source being activated by said microprocessor to indicate a plurality of temperature conditions;

a light guide, said light guide receiving incident light from said light source and redirecting said light through said light guide in a direction exterior to said light source, said light guide having an exterior light-dispersive edge for receiving said redirected light from said light source and radially dispersing said light around said guide; and

a cover, said cover engaging with said exterior edge of said light guide, said engagement leaving an air gap between a top surface of said light guide and a bottom surface of said cover, said cover further comprising a translucent, textured exterior edge for emitting dispersed light received from said exterior edge of said light guide.

2. The temperature display and alarm device as recited in claim 1, wherein said translucent edge of said cover emits the dispersed light radially around said device.

3. The temperature display and alarm device as recited in claim 1, wherein said translucent edge of said cover multi-dimensionally emits the dispersed light.

4. The cover as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light-reflective center portion extending across the surface of said cover, said light-reflective center portion terminating at said translucent edge.

5. The cover as recited in claim 4, further comprising a window for viewing said display screen.

6. The light guide as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light-redirecting region, said light-redirecting region comprising:

a conical cavity extending downward toward an inverted plateau, said inverted plateau extending downward from a bottom surface of said light guide directly below said cavity, said cavity further comprising angled surfaces for deflecting incident light from said light source and directing it toward said exterior edge of said light guide.