Thermometer with user settable memory functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooks are discouraged from using food thermometers due to the need to remember or look up various safe cooking temperatures for different types of food, which can be difficult to recall and contributes to the underutilization of these tools in ensuring food safety.
Innovation Solution
A user-settable instant-read thermometer with a memory feature that stores recommended safe temperatures for different food items, allowing users to select the type of food, display both safe and current temperatures, and provide alerts when the food reaches a preset threshold, optionally connected to a smart device for remote monitoring and data logging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If safe cooking temperatures are stored in memory and made easily accessible, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing safe cooking temperatures for various food types in the device's memory before use. Users can select from pre-programmed food categories (poultry, beef, pork, fish, etc.) that automatically retrieve the corresponding safe temperature, eliminating the need for users to manually input or recall temperature values. This resolves the contradiction by making the device easier to operate through pre-prepared data while the complexity is contained within the device's internal memory and processing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple food types with different temperatures are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a single thermometer device that can measure and compare temperatures across multiple food types (poultry, beef, pork, fish, eggs, etc.) with different safe cooking temperatures. The device uses a unified interface with keys for selecting different food categories, and the memory stores temperature data for all categories, allowing one device to serve multiple functions rather than requiring separate thermometers for each food type.
3Reliability
If temperature alerts are provided automatically, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to additional features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by automatically comparing the measured food temperature against the safe cooking temperature stored in memory and providing visual alerts (such as displaying a checkmark or changing display indicators) when the safe temperature is reached. This feedback mechanism enhances food safety reliability by ensuring users know when food is properly cooked, while the automatic nature of the comparison eliminates the need for users to manually check or calculate temperature adequacy.
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
Facilitates easy and accurate temperature measurement during cooking by allowing users to set and recall safe temperatures for various foods, enhancing food safety by ensuring that meat and other foods are cooked to the correct internal temperature, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensing probe operatively coupled to the housing and placeable at one or more locations relative to a food item for detecting the current temperature of the food item
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for fast temperature measurement during a cooking process uses a high temperature thermometer with a user settable memory feature. The thermometer includes a processor and a memory for storing recommended safe cooking temperatures for a plurality of food items, for example, different meats. A plurality of keys on the thermometer provide an input mechanism for a user of the thermometer to select a type of food item being cooked and display the recommended safe cooking temperature, or to change the stored cooking temperature for a food item.