Food content detector
View Patent ↗A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size.
1. A device, comprising:
at least one of a fork or a spoon for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user;
a detector coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for detecting a portion size for the portioned foodstuff for consumption by the at least one user, the portion size based on at least one of mass, volume, or weight; and
a sensor for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing at least one ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of flash memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), or Read Only Memory (ROM).
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein a reporter for reporting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting that the portion size for the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein a reporter for reporting that the portion size for the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:
an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.
8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.
11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount comprises:
a comparator for comparing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff to a goal amount.
13. The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.
14. The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.
15. The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.
16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a determination module coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for determining a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff, the determination module for determining an energy density for the portioned foodstuff.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the determination module for determining an energy density for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a determination module for determining a calorie density for the portioned foodstuff.
18. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a determination module coupled to the at least one of a fork or a spoon for determining a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff, the determination module for determining a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the determination module for determining a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a determination module for determining a concentration of at least one of a carbohydrate, a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a cellulose component, a fiber component, a sugar component, a dairy component, a fat, a saturated fat, an unsaturated fat, a polyunsaturated fat, a trans fat, a cholesterol component, a lipoprotein, a mineral, a peanut component, a protein, a salt, a triglyceride, or a vitamin.
20. The device of claim 1 , wherein a sensor for directly contacting and for sensing at least one ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of a calorimeter, a conductivity sensor, an electrical lead, an enzymatic sensor, a biosensor, a chemical sensor, a microchip sensor, an Enzyme-Linked Assay sensor, an infrared (IR) spectroscopy sensor, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sensor, an optical sensor, a permittivity sensor, a gas sensor, a Radio Frequency (RF) sensor, an electronic nose sensor, an electronic tongue sensor, a multi-frequency RF sensor, a cantilever sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a responsive polymer-based sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a metal oxide sensor, an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) sensor, a nucleic acid-based sensor, or a regenerable sensor.
21. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
22. The device of claim 21 , wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing an energy density for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
23. The device of claim 21 , wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
24. The device of claim 21 , further comprising:
a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
25. The device of claim 24 , wherein a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of flash memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), or Read Only Memory (ROM).
26. The device of claim 21 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
27. The device of claim 26 , wherein a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.
28. The device of claim 21 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.
29. The device of claim 28 , wherein a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:
an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.
30. The device of claim 21 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
31. The device of claim 30 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.
32. The device of claim 30 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.
33. The device of claim 21 , further comprising:
a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.
34. The device of claim 33 , wherein a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount comprises:
a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a goal amount.
35. The device of claim 33 , further comprising:
a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.
36. The device of claim 33 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.
37. The device of claim 33 , further comprising:
an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.
38. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor for determining a type of the portioned foodstuff;
a database for referencing the type of the portioned foodstuff against a stored nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff; and
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing the stored nutritional parameter for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
39. The device of claim 38 , wherein the second sensor for determining a type of the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of a barcode reader, a database, a label reader, a meal-specific association, or a user input.
40. A device, comprising:
a tool for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user;
a detector coupled to the tool for detecting a portion size for the portioned foodstuff for consumption by the at least one user, the portion size based on at least one of mass, volume, or weight; and
a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.
41. The device of claim 40 , wherein a tool for presenting a portioned foodstuff for consumption by at least one user comprises:
at least one of a serving dish or a utensil.
42. The device of claim 41 , wherein the at least one of a serving dish or a utensil comprises:
at least one of a bowl, a chopstick, a cup, a fork, a glass, a knife, a ladle, a plate, a scoop, a spatula, a spoon, or tongs.
43. The device of claim 40 , further comprising:
a memory for storing the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
44. The device of claim 40 , wherein a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a sensor for contacting the portioned foodstuff and for directly measuring a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff.
45. The device of claim 44 , wherein a sensor for contacting the portioned foodstuff and for directly measuring a component concentration for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a sensor for directly measuring a concentration of at least one of a carbohydrate, a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a cellulose component, a fiber component, a sugar component, a dairy component, a fat, a saturated fat, an unsaturated fat, a polyunsaturated fat, a trans fat, a cholesterol component, a lipoprotein, a mineral, a peanut component, a protein, a salt, a triglyceride, or a vitamin.
46. The device of claim 40 , wherein a sensor coupled to the tool for directly contacting the portioned foodstuff and for sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of a calorimeter, a conductivity sensor, an electrical lead, an enzymatic sensor, a biosensor, a chemical sensor, a microchip sensor, an Enzyme-Linked Assay sensor, an infrared (IR) spectroscopy sensor, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sensor, an optical sensor, a permittivity sensor, a gas sensor, a Radio Frequency (RF) sensor, an electronic nose sensor, an electronic tongue sensor, a multi-frequency RF sensor, a cantilever sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a responsive polymer-based sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a metal oxide sensor, an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) sensor, a nucleic acid-based sensor, or a regenerable sensor sensing an ingredient of the portioned foodstuff.
47. The device of claim 40 , further comprising:
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
48. The device of claim 47 , wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing an energy density for the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
49. The device of claim 47 , wherein a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and the portion size for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a calculator for calculating a nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff utilizing a component concentration based on (a) the nutritional parameter of the portioned foodstuff and (b) the portion size for the portioned foodstuff.
50. The device of claim 47 , further comprising:
a memory for storing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
51. The device of claim 47 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
52. The device of claim 51 , wherein a reporter for reporting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
at least one of an audio signal, a tactile signal, or a visual signal.
53. The device of claim 47 , further comprising:
a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount.
54. The device of claim 53 , wherein a reporter for reporting that the nutritional content of the portioned foodstuff has reached a target amount comprises:
an alarm for alerting a user when the target amount is reached.
55. The device of claim 47 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff.
56. The device of claim 55 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote display.
57. The device of claim 55 , wherein a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff comprises:
a transmitter for transmitting the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a remote storage device.
58. The device of claim 47 , further comprising:
a comparator for comparing the nutritional content for the portioned foodstuff to a target amount.
59. The device of claim 58 , further comprising:
a display for reporting a representation of the comparison.
60. The device of claim 58 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting a representation of the comparison.
61. The device of claim 58 , further comprising:
an alarm for alerting a user to the comparison.