EP-4741784-A2 - RAPID RESPONSE FOOD THERMOMETER AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

A food thermometer comprises a probe body, a temperature detecting tip, and an insertion depth sensor. The probe body has a handle affixed to one end and the temperature detecting tip affixed to the other end. The temperature detecting tip is configured to piece into a food item and determine a temperature of the food item. The temperature detecting tip comprises a thermocouple including an external thermocouple element and an internal thermocouple element. The temperature detecting tip further comprises a thermocouple junction connecting between the external thermocouple element and the internal thermocouple element of the thermocouple, and a piercing tip adjacent the thermocouple junction. The insertion depth sensor is located within the probe body and configured to operatively communicate with a microcontroller for determining an insertion depth of the piecing tip into the food item.

Inventors

• NIVALA, TEEMU
• Coleman, Farrell
• CALLAGHAN, DAVID
• Heibel, Jerome
• YEH, MING-HAO

Assignees

• Apption Labs Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20251104

Claims (20)

1. A food thermometer, comprising: a probe body comprising a handle affixed to one end thereof; a temperature detecting tip affixed to the other end of the probe body opposite the handle, the temperature detecting tip configured to piece into a food item and determine a temperature of the food item, the temperature detecting tip comprising: a thermocouple including an external thermocouple element and an internal thermocouple element; a thermocouple junction connecting between the external thermocouple element and the internal thermocouple element of the thermocouple; and a piercing tip adjacent the thermocouple junction; and an insertion depth sensor located within the probe body and configured to operatively communicate with a microcontroller for determining an insertion depth of the piercing tip into the food item.
2. The food thermometer of claim 1, wherein: the external thermocouple element of the thermocouple comprises aluminum, and the internal thermocouple element of the thermocouple comprises an alloy of copper and nickel.
3. The food thermometer of claim 2, wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises from about 40% to about 95% by weight of the copper based on a total weight of the alloy.
4. The food thermometer of claim 2, wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises: from about 70% to about 90% by weight of the copper; and from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the nickel.
5. The food thermometer of claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface component configured for a wireless communication with a portable electronic device.
6. The food thermometer of claim 1, further comprising an integral user interface component configured to receive an input from a user, or display an output for the user, or both.
7. The food thermometer of claim 1, wherein the insertion depth sensor comprises one or more capacitive electrode.
8. The food thermometer of claim 1, wherein the insertion depth sensor comprises an emitter to generate an emitted signal directed towards the food item, and a detector to receive a detected signal reflected from the food item.
9. A food thermometer comprising: a probe body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a handle affixed to the first end of the probe body; a temperature detecting tip affixed to the second end of the probe body, the temperature detecting tip configured to piece into a food item and determine a temperature of the food item, the temperature detecting tip comprising: a thermocouple including an external thermocouple element and an internal thermocouple element; a thermocouple junction connecting between the external thermocouple element and the internal thermocouple element of the thermocouple; and a piercing tip adjacent the thermocouple junction; a sensor region located within the probe body proximate the temperature detecting tip, the sensor region comprising at least one capacitive electrode; and a signal lead configured to transmit at least one electrical property measured by an insertion depth sensor to a microcontroller, the microcontroller configured to calculate an insertion depth of the piercing tip into the food item based on the at least one electrical property measured by the insertion depth sensor.
10. The food thermometer of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller is located inside the probe body.
11. The food thermometer of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller is located inside the handle.
12. The food thermometer of claim 9, further comprising a reference lead connecting the microcontroller to a portion of the probe body to provide a ground reference.
13. The food thermometer of claim 9, wherein: the sensor region comprises a first capacitive electrode, a second capacitive electrode, and an insulative material separating the first capacitive electrode from the second capacitive electrode, and a signal lead comprises a first signal lead connecting the first capacitive electrode to the microcontroller, and a second signal lead connecting the second capacitive electrode to the microcontroller.
14. The food thermometer of claim 13, wherein the first capacitive electrode and the second capacitive electrodes are disposed in substantially the same position within the sensor region.
15. The food thermometer of claim 9, wherein the sensor region comprises a plurality of capacitive electrodes, each capacitive electrode separated from other capacitive electrodes by an insulation material.
16. The food thermometer of claim 15, wherein the plurality of capacitive electrodes are arranged laterally along the sensor region, extending from the second end of the probe body towards the first end of the probe body.
17. A food thermometer comprising: a probe body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a handle connected to the first end of the probe body; a temperature detecting tip connected to the second end of the probe body, the temperature detecting tip configured to piece into a food item and determine a temperature of the food item, the temperature detecting tip comprising: a thermocouple including an external thermocouple element and an internal thermocouple element; a thermocouple junction connecting between the external thermocouple element and the internal thermocouple element of the thermocouple; and a piercing tip adjacent the thermocouple junction; an insertion depth sensor comprising an emitter to generate an emitted signal directed towards the food item, and a detector to receive a detected signal reflected from the food item; and a microcontroller configured to operatively communicate with the insertion depth sensor for determining a distance between the insertion depth sensor and the food item.
18. The food thermometer of claim 17, wherein the emitted signal comprises a light wave, a sound wave, or an electric pulse.
19. The food thermometer of claim 17, wherein the insertion depth sensor is located within the handle.
20. The food thermometer of claim 17, wherein the insertion depth sensor comprises an emitter to generate electronic pulse signals directed towards the food items via a transmission line.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Patent Application Serial No. 18/941,553, filed November 8, 2024, for "RAPID RESPONSE FOOD THERMOMETER AND RELATED METHODS," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to food thermometers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a food thermometer having a rapid response temperature detecting tip and/or insertion depth probes, and to methods of making and using such food thermometers. BACKGROUND Food thermometers, such as meat thermometers, are used to help provide more consistent cooking results. The use of a meat thermometer, for example, can provide an indication on whether the meat is still undercooked or if the meat is in danger of being overcooked. However, a lag time exists between food achieving a desired temperature and that temperature being indicated by conventional food thermometers. This can result in the food being exposed to the heat source longer than necessary and being overcooked. In addition to the lag time inherent in conventional food thermometers, proper positioning of the temperature sensor(s) of conventional food thermometers can also lead to inaccurate reporting of the true food temperature. More particularly, if a food thermometer is not fully inserted into the center of a food item, such as a cut of meat, the temperature displayed may be greater than the temperature in the center, once again, which can result in the food being removed from the heat source too soon, and the food being undercooked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and not to limit the scope of what is claimed. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food temperature detecting tip according to an embodiment.FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 3 shows wireless communications between a rapid response food thermometer and a portable electronic device according to an embodiment.FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment.FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a rapid response food thermometer having an insertion depth probe showing internal components according to an embodiment. MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments disclosed may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms following "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term "may" with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of an embodiment of the disclosure, and such term is used in preference to the more restrictive term "is" so as to avoid any implication that other compatible materials, structures, features, and methods usable in combination therewith should or must be excluded. As used herein, any relational term, such as "first," "second," "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "above," "beneath," "side," "upward," "downward," etc., is used for clarity and convenience in understanding the disclosure and accompanying drawings, and does not connote or depend on any specific preference or order, except where the context clearly ind