SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION OF NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS IN FOOD ITEMS
First Claim
1. A system for measuring nutritional parameters of food items, the system comprising:
- a holding cavity;
a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna, wherein the transmitter antenna is configured to transmit signals to at least a portion of a food item disposed in the holding cavity, and wherein the at least one receiver antenna is configured to receive response signals from the food item;
at least one switch coupled to each antenna of the sensor assembly;
wherein, in a first state, the at least one switch is configured to set the sensor assembly to an electric potential equal to that of the holding cavity; and
, in a second state, the at least one switch is configured to couple the sensor assembly to a power source; and
a processing unit configured to process the signals received by the receiver antenna to determine the nutritional parameters of the food item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring nutritional parameters of food items is provided. The system includes a holding cavity. The system further includes a sensor assembly that includes a transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna. The transmitter antenna is configured to transmit signals to a food item in the holding cavity. The receiver antenna is configured to receive response signals from the food item. The system includes at least one switch coupled to each antenna. The switch, in a first state, is configured to set the sensor assembly to an electric potential equal to that of the holding cavity. In a second state, the switch is configured to couple the sensor assembly to a power source. The system also includes a processing unit to process the signals received to determine the nutritional parameters of the food item.
13 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for measuring nutritional parameters of food items, the system comprising:
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a holding cavity; a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna, wherein the transmitter antenna is configured to transmit signals to at least a portion of a food item disposed in the holding cavity, and wherein the at least one receiver antenna is configured to receive response signals from the food item; at least one switch coupled to each antenna of the sensor assembly; wherein, in a first state, the at least one switch is configured to set the sensor assembly to an electric potential equal to that of the holding cavity; and
, in a second state, the at least one switch is configured to couple the sensor assembly to a power source; anda processing unit configured to process the signals received by the receiver antenna to determine the nutritional parameters of the food item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for measuring nutritional parameters of food items, the system comprising:
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a holding cavity; a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter antenna and at least one receiver antenna, wherein the transmitter antenna is positioned on one side of the holding cavity and is configured to transmit signals to at least a portion of a food item disposed in the holding cavity, and wherein the at least one receiver antenna is positioned on another side of the holding cavity that is proximate to the transmitter antenna and is configured to receive response signals from the food item; a plurality of metallic shields disposed between the transmitter antenna and the holding cavity and the receiver antenna and the holding cavity; wherein the plurality of metallic shields are configured to absorb radiation in the holding cavity that is directed towards the transmitter antenna and the receiver antenna; a switch coupled to each antenna of the sensor assembly, and configured to place the sensor assembly at a same electric potential as the holding cavity in a first state and to connect the sensor assembly to a power source in a second state; and a processing unit configured to process the signals received by the receiver antenna to determine the nutritional parameters of the food item. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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connecting a transmitter antenna to a power source to transmit signals by changing a state of a switch from a first state to a second state, wherein the transmitter antenna is disposed on at least one side of a holding cavity; transmitting sensing signals so as to be incident on a food item placed in the holding cavity; acquiring response signals at a receiver antenna from the food item, wherein the receiver antenna is placed on another side of the holding cavity that is proximate to the transmitter antenna; determining a plurality of factors based on an analysis of the response signals acquired by the receiver antenna; and determining a plurality of nutritional parameters of the food item based on a relationship between the plurality of factors and the plurality of nutritional parameters.
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Specification