US 12,294,778 B2
Electronic visual food probe
Douglas D Churovich, Des Peres, MO (US); and Jeffrey D. Marsh, Foristell, MO (US)
Assigned to RZP Holdings, Inc., Des Peres, MO (US)
Filed by RZP Holdings, Inc., Des Peres, MO (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/841,621.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/210,583, filed on Jun. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0400195 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 23/56 (2023.01); G01K 1/02 (2021.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/56 (2023.01) [G01K 1/02 (2013.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); G01K 2207/02 (2013.01); H04N 23/555 (2023.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic visual food probe for insertion into an interior portion of a body of food to provide a color image of a cross-section of said interior portion proximate said probe, said food probe comprising:
a. a substantially rigid stem having a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end;
b. an inner chamber positioned at least in part in said stem distal end;
C. two or more discrete openings in said stem distal end, both of said two or more discrete openings penetrating into said inner chamber, said two or more discrete openings positioned proximate one another and in combination forming an elongated collective opening, said elongated collective opening having a longitudinal length along said stem distal end of at least one-half inch;
d. a light source, said light source illuminating said cross-section of said interior portion of said body of food proximate said elongated collective opening so as to create an illuminated region of said cross-section visible through said elongated collective opening;
e. a first electronic image sensor, said first electronic image sensor receiving reflected light from said elongated collective opening, said first electronic image sensor generating electronic data from said reflected light that corresponds to a strip-shaped color image indicative of at least a portion of said illuminated region; and
f. an electronic display system comprising a computer processor and an electronic display, said computer processor receiving said electronic data from said electronic image sensor and converting said electronic data into an electronically displayable image indicative of said strip-shaped color image, said electronic display system displaying said displayable image on said electronic display.