Wireless Food Temperature Sensor Probe for Real-Time Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual temperature monitoring of food products is inefficient, leading to decreased throughput, increased costs, and potential lower quality and freshness, especially in pre-cooling or cold storage environments where quick temperature control is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A wireless temperature monitoring system comprising a sensor probe with a processor and transmitter that inserts into food products, transmitting data to a server for graphical user interface generation, reducing the need for manual readings and allowing real-time monitoring and alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual temperature probing is used to monitor food product temperatures, then temperature data can be obtained, but labor costs increase and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The food product packaging itself is transformed into a temperature monitoring device by incorporating a temperature sensor and wireless transmitter within the packaging structure. This allows the packaging to automatically monitor and transmit temperature data without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining measurement capability while eliminating labor costs and preventing throughput reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical probing system is replaced with an automated electronic monitoring system consisting of temperature sensors and wireless transmitters integrated into the packaging. This substitution eliminates the need for physical manual insertion of probes while continuously providing temperature data, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and productivity.
2Reliability
If manual temperature monitoring is performed frequently to ensure quality, then temperature control improves, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless temperature monitoring system operates continuously throughout the cold chain, automatically transmitting temperature data at regular intervals without interruption. This continuous monitoring ensures reliable temperature control while eliminating the time loss associated with periodic manual checks, as the system provides uninterrupted temperature surveillance without requiring human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through wireless transmission of temperature data to stakeholders along the cold chain. This continuous feedback loop enables immediate detection of temperature deviations and facilitates prompt corrective actions, thereby maintaining high reliability in temperature control while eliminating the time consumption of manual monitoring intervals.
3Extent of automation
If wireless temperature monitoring systems are implemented, then automation and throughput improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor, wireless transmitter, and power source are integrated into a single compact unit that is incorporated within the food product packaging. This merging of multiple functional components into one unified device achieves high automation for continuous temperature monitoring while minimizing the added complexity by consolidating elements rather than adding separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging structure serves multiple functions: it protects the food product, provides structural support, and simultaneously houses the temperature monitoring system. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by making the packaging itself the monitoring device, thereby achieving automation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This system enhances food product quality and shelf life, reduces labor and energy costs, and maximizes throughput by providing real-time temperature data visualization and automated alerts for optimal temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature sensor programmed or configured to sense temperature data for the food product
Implementation Method 2
wireless transmitter, the temperature sensor programmed or configured to sense temperature data for the food product, and wirelessly transmit the temperature data
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for monitoring temperatures of food products. The system includes a temperature sensor and at least one server computer. The temperature sensor includes at least one processor, a sensor probe adapted for insertion in a food product, and a wireless transmitter, where the temperature sensor programmed or configured to sense temperature data for the food product, and wirelessly transmit the temperature data. The at least one server computer is programmed or configured to receive the temperature data wirelessly transmitted by the temperature sensor, and generate at least one user interface based at least partially on the temperature data.