Spectrometer for Real-Time Food Nutrient Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the nutritional values and energy content of self-prepared food are inaccurate due to changes in ingredients during cooking, making it difficult to obtain reliable information about the prepared food's nutritional content.
Innovation Solution
A spectrometer system comprising a spectral decomposition device and a radiation detector that breaks down electromagnetic radiation into wavelength-dependent components, allowing for precise analysis of food components, nutrients, and energy content, which can be transmitted to a food preparation device or output to the user for dynamic recipe adaptation and nutritional information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple individual sensors are used to detect specific substances or states, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal spectrometer that can detect multiple food components, nutrients, and states simultaneously through spectral analysis. This single multi-functional device replaces what would otherwise require numerous specialized sensors, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while significantly reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes physical chemical sensors with a non-contact optical measurement system. The spectrometer uses electromagnetic radiation interaction with matter to obtain information about food composition and state, replacing mechanical/chemical sensing approaches with optical field-based detection, thus simplifying the device structure while preserving measurement capabilities
2Device complexity
If recipe-based estimation methods are used for nutritional values, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual estimation methods and simple weighing systems with an optical spectrometric analysis system. This substitution enables direct measurement of actual food composition and nutritional content, providing precise data without requiring complex mechanical sensor arrays, thus achieving both simplicity and accuracy
3Device complexity
If manual weighing and nutritional value tables are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of nutritional information deteriorates due to cooking changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous real-time monitoring of food composition throughout the preparation process. By continuously measuring spectral characteristics from ingredient addition through cooking, the system tracks changes in food composition dynamically, ensuring reliable nutritional information that reflects the actual final product rather than static pre-cooking estimates
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by using spectral measurement data to dynamically adjust and update nutritional information calculations. The measured spectral characteristics provide real-time feedback on actual food composition, allowing the system to compensate for cooking-induced changes and provide accurate nutritional data that reflects the true state of the prepared food
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
Enables accurate and reproducible cooking results by providing real-time nutritional data, reducing the need for multiple sensors and allowing for precise monitoring and control of cooking processes, thus enhancing user knowledge of food composition and nutritional value.
Implementation Method 1
a spectral decomposition device and a radiation detector, which are configured such that the spectral decomposition device can break up an incident electromagnetic measuring radiation into components in a wavelength-dependent manner
Implementation Method 2
the radiation detector can measure the intensity of at least one of these components
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a spectrometer comprising a spectral decomposition device and a radiation detector. These components are configured such that the spectral decomposition device can break up an incident electromagnetic measuring radiation into components in a wavelength-dependent manner. The radiation detector can measure the intensity of at least one of these components. The spectrometer is configured such that the spectrometer transmits analysis information from the analysis of a food or of a food component to a food preparation device and/or outputs it to the user via an output device. The present disclosure further relates to a system including a control device as well as to a method. In this way, a reproducible cooking result as well as an output of the nutritional values and the actual energy content of the prepared food can be made possible.