Food content detector

• US 8,285,488 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhat, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US12/313,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/40 with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight indicating means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; recording means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; computers in general G06
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/56 combined with handles of tools or household implements
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network

Abstract

A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one of a fork or a spoon for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user;

a detector coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for detecting a portion size for the portioned foodstuff for consumption by the at least one user, the portion size based on at least one of mass, volume, or weight; and

a sensor for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing at least one ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of flash memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), or Read Only Memory (ROM).

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a reporter for reporting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting that the portion size for the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a reporter for reporting that the portion size for the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:

an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount comprises:

a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a goal amount.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a determination module coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for determining a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff, the determination module for determining an energy density for the portioned foodstuff.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the determination module for determining an energy density for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a determination module for determining a calorie density for the portioned foodstuff.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a determination module coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for determining a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff, the determination module for determining a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the determination module for determining a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a determination module for determining a concentration of at least one of a carbohydrate, a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a cellulose component, a fiber component, a sugar component, a dairy component, a fat, a saturated fat, an unsaturated fat, a polyunsaturated fat, a trans fat, a cholesterol component, a lipoprotein, a mineral, a peanut component, a protein, a salt, a triglyceride, or a vitamin.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein a sensor for directly contacting and for sensing at least one ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of a calorimeter, a conductivity sensor, an electrical lead, an enzymatic sensor, a biosensor, a chemical sensor, a microchip sensor, an Enzyme-Linked Assay sensor, an infrared (IR) spectroscopy sensor, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sensor, an optical sensor, a permittivity sensor, a gas sensor, a Radio Frequency (RF) sensor, an electronic nose sensor, an electronic tongue sensor, a multi-frequency RF sensor, a cantilever sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a responsive polymer-based sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a metal oxide sensor, an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) sensor, a nucleic acid-based sensor, or a regenerable sensor.

21. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing an energy density for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

24. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of flash memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), or Read Only Memory (ROM).

26. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.

28. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:

an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.

30. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.

33. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount comprises:

a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a goal amount.

35. The device of claim 33, further comprising:

a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.

36. The device of claim 33, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.

37. The device of claim 33, further comprising:

an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.

38. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor for determining a type of the portioned foodstuff;

a database for referencing the type of the portioned foodstuff against a stored nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff; and

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing the stored nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the second sensor for determining a type of the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of a barcode reader, a database, a label reader, a meal-specific association, or a user input.

40. A device, comprising:

a tool for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user;

a detector coupled to the tool for detecting a portion size for the portioned foodstuff for consumption by the at least one user, the portion size based on at least one of mass, volume, or weight; and

a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein a tool for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user comprises:

at least one of a serving dish or a utensil.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the at least one of a serving dish or a utensil comprises:

at least one of a bowl, a chopstick, a cup, a fork, a glass, a knife, a ladle, a plate, a scoop, a spatula, a spoon, or tongs.

43. The device of claim 40, further comprising:

a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

44. The device of claim 40, wherein a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a sensor for contacting the portioned foodstuff and for directly measuring a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein a sensor for contacting the portioned foodstuff and for directly measuring a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a sensor for directly measuring a concentration of at least one of a carbohydrate, a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a cellulose component, a fiber component, a sugar component, a dairy component, a fat, a saturated fat, an unsaturated fat, a polyunsaturated fat, a trans fat, a cholesterol component, a lipoprotein, a mineral, a peanut component, a protein, a salt, a triglyceride, or a vitamin.

46. The device of claim 40, wherein a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of a calorimeter, a conductivity sensor, an electrical lead, an enzymatic sensor, a biosensor, a chemical sensor, a microchip sensor, an Enzyme-Linked Assay sensor, an infrared (IR) spectroscopy sensor, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sensor, an optical sensor, a permittivity sensor, a gas sensor, a Radio Frequency (RF) sensor, an electronic nose sensor, an electronic tongue sensor, a multi-frequency RF sensor, a cantilever sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a responsive polymer-based sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a metal oxide sensor, an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) sensor, a nucleic acid-based sensor, or a regenerable sensor sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.

47. The device of claim 40, further comprising:

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing an energy density for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

49. The device of claim 47, wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a component concentration based on (a) the nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and (b) the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.

50. The device of claim 47, further comprising:

a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

51. The device of claim 47, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.

53. The device of claim 47, further comprising:

a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:

an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.

55. The device of claim 47, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.

57. The device of claim 55, wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.

58. The device of claim 47, further comprising:

a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.

59. The device of claim 58, further comprising:

a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.

60. The device of claim 58, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.

61. The device of claim 58, further comprising:

an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.