Non-Invasive Core Temperature Prediction for Food Safety in Coolers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring core temperatures of food items in cooled environments are invasive, labor-intensive, and not accurate, as they rely on direct insertion of probes, which are wasteful and do not account for environmental changes such as thawing cycles, customer interaction, and temperature fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive food safety system using a temperature sensor unit and a control center that predicts core temperatures based on cooler-specific and food-specific heat transfer parameters, utilizing ambient temperature measurements and a deterministic model to calculate core temperature changes over time, with the ability to alert when temperatures exceed thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a probe thermometer is inserted into the food item to measure core temperature directly, then measurement precision is improved, but the food item is damaged and must be disposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses air temperature as an intermediary measurement to indirectly determine core temperature. A temperature sensor measures the air temperature in the cooler, and a model predicts the core temperature based on this air temperature data, heat transfer parameters, and food properties. This intermediary approach avoids direct contact with the food item while still providing accurate core temperature information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model (digital twin) of the food item's thermal behavior. By measuring air temperature and using a predictive model that incorporates heat transfer parameters and food-specific properties, the system creates a computational representation of the core temperature without physically touching the food. This copying approach eliminates the need for physical probes while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If a probe thermometer is used for direct measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but labor intensity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service temperature monitoring by placing a temperature sensor in the cooler that automatically and continuously measures air temperature. The predictive model then automatically calculates core temperature without requiring manual intervention, specimen removal, or probe insertion. This automated self-monitoring system dramatically improves productivity while maintaining accurate temperature measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical probe insertion process with an automated electronic measurement and computational system. Instead of manually inserting physical thermometers into food specimens, the system uses electronic temperature sensors to measure air temperature and computational models to predict core temperature, eliminating the labor-intensive mechanical process entirely.
3Ease of operation
If peripheral thermal compartment temperatures are measured non-invasively, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses continuous air temperature measurements as feedback to continuously update the predictive model's estimation of core temperature. By continuously monitoring air temperature and feeding this data into the model, the system maintains accurate real-time estimates of core temperature without direct contact with the food, combining ease of operation with measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement parameter from direct core temperature (which requires invasive contact) to air temperature (which is easily measured non-invasively). By measuring air temperature and using it as input to a predictive model that incorporates heat transfer parameters and food properties, the system achieves accurate core temperature estimation through parameter transformation rather than direct measurement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides reliable, accurate, and cost-effective non-invasive core temperature monitoring, ensuring compliance with cold chain regulations by predicting core temperatures with high accuracy and alerting for potential temperature deviations.
Implementation Method 1
a deterministic mode function predicting the core temperature change over time for a food item on a predefined food item position in said monitored cooler, wherein the deterministic mode function is based on cooler-specific and food-specific heat transfer parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
A food safety system for food items (13) in cooled environments comprises a temperature sensor unit (20) comprising a temperature sensor, a power supply and a data transmission element, wherein the temperature sensor unit (20) is positioned in a cooler (10), wherein the cooler (10) has a plurality of predefined food item positions. A control center unit having a computer processor and a memory is adapted to execute a deterministic mode function to predict the core temperature change of such a food item on a predefined food item position in said cooler (10), wherein the deterministic mode function depends on heat transfer parameters related to the predefined food item position of the cooler (10) used, food specific coefficients related to the kind of food item taken from a group of food types, the environment temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the predicted current core temperature of the food item.