System and method for food safety inspection

Abstract

A system and a method for monitoring and inspecting food safety is disclosed. The system adopts insert and use concept that only requires an initial push on a button to begin its function. The system provides visual alert for different conditions if food products are in unsafe status. The system is pre-calibrated during manufacture without complicated or multi-step calibration or recalibration procedures during application. The system relies on modern surface-mount microprocessor technology that enables long-term calibration stability along with very low power consumption for extended battery life.

1 . A device for evaluating food safety, comprising:
 a processor for processing measured data corresponding to the temperature of food, including determining whether the food temperature falls below a first temperature setpoint or exceeds a second temperature setpoint; and determining whether the food temperature falls between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint;   a memory for storing data;   a sensor for sensing data corresponding to the food temperature; and   wherein the first temperature setpoint is lower than the second temperature setpoint;   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two visual indicia for providing a visual alert;   wherein the two visual indicia remain off when the food temperature is below the first temperature setpoint or above the second temperature setpoint; and   wherein the two visual indicia provide a visual alert in different colors when the food temperature falls between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint, one color for when the food temperature is above the first temperature setpoint and below the third temperature setpoint, and the other color for when the food temperature is below the second temperature setpoint and above the third temperature setpoint.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the third temperature setpoint is between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one visual indicium for providing a visual alert;   wherein the visual indicium remains off when the food temperature is below the first temperature setpoint and above the second temperature setpoint; and   wherein the visual indicium provides a visual alert when the food temperature falls between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing tip for providing a physical contact with the food. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for resetting said device to start or restart operation. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising batteries for supplying power to the device components. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote receiver which receives, saves and displays the transmitted temperature data at a designated interval. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises registers, a clock, and outports. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is calibrated during manufacture to establish the corresponding relationship between the measured data and temperature. 
   
   
       11 . A method of evaluating food safety, comprising:
 placing a sensor on the food so that the sensor physically touches the food;   measuring data corresponding to the food temperature by means of the sensor; and   determining, by means of the processor, whether the food temperature falls below the first temperature setpoint, or exceeds above the second temperature setpoint, or falls between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising resetting said device to start or restart operation. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 calibrating said device to establish corresponding relationship between the measured data and temperature; and   storing this relation in said device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing no visual alert when the food temperature is below the first temperature setpoint or above the second temperature setpoint. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a visual alert, by means of one visual indicia, when the food temperature falls between the first temperature setpoint and the second temperature setpoint. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 providing a visual alert of one color, by means of one visual indicium, when the food temperature is above the first temperature setpoint and below the third temperature setpoint; and   providing a visual alert of the other color, by means of the other visual indicium, when the food temperature is below the second temperature setpoint and above the third temperature setpoint.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, saving, and displaying the measured temperature data at a designated interval by means of a remote receiver.