Smart Food Thermometer with Thermal Barriers for Cooking Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional food thermometers, including wireless ones, lack accuracy in providing cooking completion times and resting temperature rise predictions, and have limited range and durability issues in high-temperature environments.

Innovation Solution

A smart food thermometer with a wireless design that includes a thermal sensor and antenna, allowing it to transmit data to a portable electronic device, featuring dual thermal sensors for internal and ambient temperature measurement, and a system that estimates cooking completion time and resting temperature rise based on real-time data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional food thermometers are used to monitor cooking temperature, then basic temperature indication is provided, but cooking completion time and resting temperature rise predictions are inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking completion time prediction accuracyVSAvoidthermal mass and ambient temperature data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors temperature and provides real-time feedback to the processor, which adjusts cooking completion time predictions based on actual temperature changes. The system also monitors ambient temperature and thermal mass effects, feeding this information back into the prediction algorithm to improve accuracy throughout the cooking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an ambient temperature sensor as an intermediary element that measures the surrounding temperature environment. This intermediary measurement allows the system to account for heat loss to the environment and thermal mass effects, significantly improving the accuracy of cooking completion time and resting temperature rise predictions without requiring direct measurement of these complex parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If wireless food thermometers are used to provide convenient temperature display, then ease of operation is improved, but transmission range is limited in high-temperature environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless temperature monitoringVSAvoidwireless transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the temperature monitoring function into two independent components: a wireless thermometer probe that operates in the high-temperature cooking environment and a display unit that operates in the ambient environment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific operating conditions, maintaining wireless convenience while improving transmission reliability through appropriate component placement and selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Temperature

If food thermometers are designed to withstand high cooking temperatures, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-temperature resistanceVSAvoidthermometer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the temperature-sensing function from the display and processing functions, placing only the essential thermal sensor and minimal electronics in the high-temperature environment. The complex processing, display, and user interface components are removed from the probe and placed in a separate device that operates in ambient conditions. This extraction maintains high-temperature durability while minimizing device complexity in the probe portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 accurate cooking completion time and resting temperature rise predictions, enhancing cooking precision and consistency by considering thermal mass and ambient temperature changes, while withstanding high cooking temperatures and maintaining wireless connectivity.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal sensor configured to measure an internal temperature of the food

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an antenna in wireless communication with the portable electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12352631B2Food thermometer and method of using thereof

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 APPTION LABS LTD

AI summary

A food thermometer includes a tip portion and an outer shell including a minimum food insertion depth indicator visible on an exterior of the outer shell. A thermal barrier member is located inside the outer shell along a center virtual axis defined by the outer shell at or adjacent a projected position of the minimum food insertion depth indicator on the virtual axis, or closer to the tip portion than the orthogonally projected position of the minimum food insertion depth indicator. In another aspect, a food thermometer includes a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. A third portion connected to the second portion includes an antenna. A thermal barrier member is located in at least one of the first portion and the second portion to thermally insulate the interior of the first portion from at least a portion of the interior of the second portion.