Wireless temperature probe

1. A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the probe comprising:

a head portion comprising a display;

a shaft portion coupled to the head portion and configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff;

a sensing unit configured to collect data including a temperature of the foodstuff, wherein the sensing unit comprises a food level sensor configured to provide an indication of a need to refill the foodstuff; and

a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.

2. The probe of claim 1 , further comprising a suction cup coupled to the shaft portion and configured to detachably couple the probe to a food pan containing the foodstuff.

3. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display a pairing identifier, wherein the pairing identifier is displayed on a dashboard user interface of the supervisory control device to identify the probe.

4. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display the temperature of the foodstuff.

5. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect infrared energy emitted from the foodstuff.

6. The probe of claim 5 , wherein the sensing unit is located between the head portion and the shaft portion and comprises a lens having a cylindrical shape.

7. The probe of claim 5 , wherein the sensing unit is located in the shaft portion and comprises a lens having a rectangular shape.

8. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a thermistor.

9. The probe of claim 1 , wherein a height of the probe ranges from 2.5 inches to 6 inches.

10. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion comprises telescoping features configured to permit adjustment of a height of the probe.

11. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the supervisory control device is a smartphone or a tablet.

12. A system used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the system comprising:

a food pan configured to contain a foodstuff;

a probe comprising:

a probe body configured to couple to an edge of the food pan;

a sensing unit configured to collect data including a temperature of the foodstuff, the sensing unit comprising a rectangular-shaped lens configured to focus infrared energy emitted from the foodstuff onto a plurality of photodetectors; and

a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit; and

a supervisory control device configured to receive transmissions from the wireless device and to display the data collected by the sensing unit on a dashboard user interface.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the dashboard user interface is configured to display at least one of a pairing identifier, the temperature of the foodstuff, a probe communication status, and a probe fault status.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensing unit further comprises a food level sensor configured to provide an indication of a need to refill the foodstuff.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the supervisory control device is configured to transmit a message in response to the indication of the need to refill the foodstuff.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a food preparation appliance, wherein the food pan is configured to be installed within the food preparation appliance; and

wherein the supervisory control device is configured to modify an operating temperature of the food pan based on the data collected by the sensing unit.

17. A system used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the system comprising:

a food pan configured to contain a foodstuff;

an electronics unit inseparably coupled with the food pan, the electronics unit comprising a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a first wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit; and

a sensing mat situated in the food pan, the sensing mat comprising a plurality of embedded sensors and a second wireless device configured to transmit data from the plurality of embedded sensors to the electronics unit.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the food pan is constructed from a plurality of layers and the sensing unit is located between at least two of the plurality of layers.

19. A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the probe comprising:

a head portion comprising a display;

a shaft portion coupled to the head portion and configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff;

a sensing unit located between the head portion and the shaft portion and configured to collect data including a temperature of the foodstuff, wherein the sensing unit comprises a lens having a cylindrical shape and a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect infrared energy emitted from the foodstuff; and

a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.

20. A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the probe comprising:

a head portion comprising a display;

a shaft portion coupled to the head portion and configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff;

a sensing unit located in the shaft portion and configured to collect data including a temperature of the foodstuff, wherein the sensing unit comprises a lens having a rectangular shape and a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect infrared energy emitted from the foodstuff; and

a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.