System and probe for detecting at least one parameter

• US 20060016806A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angelo Po Grandi Cucine -- Societa' Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: Angelo Po Grandi Cucine--Societa' Per Azioni
• Inventors: Cristiani, Corrado
• Granted Patent: US 7,381,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/749
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/06 for preparation purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2215/00 Details concerning sensor power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6452 the sensors being in contact with the heated product

Abstract

A probe for detecting at least one parameter during thermal treatment of a food product comprises a sensor arrangement suitable for detecting a value of said at least one parameter, at least one antenna for communicating said value to a control device for controlling said thermal treatment in the absence of connection cables, and a supply arrangement of a different type from the electrochemical type.

Claims

1. Probe for detecting at least one parameter during thermal treatment of a food product, comprising a sensor arrangement suitable for detecting a value of said at least one parameter, at least one antenna for communicating said value to a control device for controlling said thermal treatment in the absence of connection cables, wherein said probe comprises a supply arrangement of a different type from the electrochemical type.

2. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said supply arrangement comprises a supply circuit arrangement suitable for transforming into electric energy electromagnetic energy associated with a signal transmitted to said at least one antenna by said control device.

3. Probe according to claim 2, wherein said supply circuit arrangement comprises a supply circuit connected to said sensor arrangement.

4. Probe according to claim 3, and furthermore comprising an activating device for selectively activating said supply circuit at certain preset instants.

5. Probe according to claim 4, wherein said activating device is programmed in such a way as to activate said supply circuit at the request of said control device.

6. Probe according to claim 4, wherein said supply circuit arrangement comprises a further supply circuit connected to a processing unit suitable for processing said value.

7. Probe according to claim 6, wherein said first supply circuit and said second supply circuit are integrated in a single supply circuit.

8. Probe according to claim 6, and furthermore comprising a non-volatile memory that is readable and/or writeable by said processing unit.

9. Probe according to claim 8, and furthermore comprising an analogue/digital converter suitable for converting said at least one parameter into digital form to transmit it to said processing unit.

10. Probe according to claim 9, wherein said processing unit is positioned in an active zone arranged near a pointed end of said probe suitable for interacting with said food product.

11. Probe according to claim 10, wherein said memory is positioned in said active zone.

12. Probe according to claim 10, wherein said analogue/digital converter is positioned in said active zone.

13. Probe according to claim 10, wherein with said at least one antenna there is associated a receiving device suitable for receiving a signal from said control device and positioned in said active zone.

14. Probe according to claim 10, wherein with said at least one antenna there is associated a transmitting device suitable for transmitting a signal to said control device and positioned in said active zone.

15. Probe according to claim 10, wherein said at least one antenna is positioned near a further end of said probe said further end being opposite said pointed end.

16. Probe according to claim 15, wherein between said further end and said active zone there is interposed a thermally insulating material.

17. Probe according to claim 16, wherein said thermally insulating material is interposed between a grip of said probe and said active zone.

18. Probe according to claim 10, wherein with said active zone there is associated an alarm system suitable for generating an alarm signal when the temperature of said active zone exceeds a limit value.

19. Probe according to claim 18, wherein said alarm system comprises a sensor positioned near said active zone and alarm logic suitable for managing the data coming from said sensor.

20. Probe according to claim 17, wherein said supply arrangement comprises at least one capacitor.

21. Probe according to claim 20, wherein said at least one capacitor is positioned near said active zone.

22. Probe according to claim 20, wherein said capacitor is positioned in said grip.

23. Probe according to claim 20, wherein said capacitor is connected to said supply circuit to supply said supply circuit.

24. Probe according to claim 23, wherein said activating device is programmed in such a way as to activate said supply circuit (when in said capacitor there is stored sufficient quantity of energy to supply said sensor arrangement.

25. Probe according to claim 20, wherein said capacitor is connected to said further supply circuit to supply said further supply circuit.

26. Probe according to claim 20, wherein said supply arrangement comprises an arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy.

27. Probe according to claim 26, wherein said arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy is selected from a group consisting of:

a thermocouple, a thermoelectric generator.

28. Probe according to claim 26, wherein said arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy is equipped with a pole positioned in a region of said probe intended to remain operationally outside said food product.

29. Probe according to claim 28, wherein said region is arranged near said at least one antenna.

30. Probe according to claim 26, wherein said arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy is connected to said capacitor.

31. Probe according to claim 30, wherein between said arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy and said capacitor there is interposed a rectifying device.

32. Probe according to claim 26, wherein said activating device is programmed in such a way as to activate said supply circuit when said arrangement for transforming thermal energy into electric energy is able to supply enough energy to supply said sensor arrangement.

33. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a sensor to detect said at least one parameter at a point of said food product.

34. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sensors to detect said at least one parameter in a plurality of points of said food product.

35. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a temperature sensor.

36. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting impedance.

37. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting humidity.

38. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting pressure.

39. Probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a sensor for detecting density.

40. System for detecting at least one parameter during thermal treatment of food product, comprising a probe according to claim 1 and a control device suitable for receiving a value of said at least one parameter from said probe by a communication device devoid of connection cables to control said thermal treatment.

41. Apparatus for cooking a food product, comprising a system according to claim 40 for detecting at least one parameter of said food product during cooking.

42. Apparatus for conserving a food product, comprising a system according to claim 40 for detecting at least one parameter during conserving.