Method and apparatus for non-contact temperature measurement of a food item

US12055445B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Tyson Foods, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark Griffin · Springdale, US
• Doug Foreman · Springdale, US
• Bill Britting · Rogers, US
• Toni Kinsey · Fayetteville, US
• Sam Engel · Springdale, US
• Jeremy Gerard · Fayetteville, US
• Douglas Martin Linn · Cave Springs, US
• Travis Lee Scarrow · Farmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 8, 2022
• Grant date: Aug 6, 2024
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/02
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for temperature processing a food item. It should be noted that the description provided herein will primarily focus on cooking temperature processing, but cooking is referred to, the process for determining core temperature can also be used for chilling and/or freezing a food item. One implementation of the technology as disclosed and claimed, utilizes a combination of 3D profile scanning camera, mid-range infrared camera, high-resolution encoder-based positioning device, and cook profile settings in order to measure the physical attributes of the product related to the fully cooked state. The system is measuring at least two aspects that determine the temperature change within an object during the cook process and they are geometry and thermodynamic properties.