A data logger for logging values of a physical environment parameter as a function of time includes a sampling subsystem which acquires a sequence of sample values of the physical environment parameter at sampling moments which are separated by sample intervals, an encoding subsystem which converts the sequence of sample values in data records including a representative value representing groups of one sample value or a number of successive sample values with variations which meet a stability criterion and information representative of the lengths of the groups, a memory subsystem which stores a sequence of defined data, and the data logger is arranged to determine in which range of a plurality of ranges a sample of the environment parameter is located, and to use a stability criterion for the encoding which depends on the determined range.

A system for monitoring the characteristics of a material by measuring electrical properties of a material uses a material monitoring device and a cloud database that relates electrical properties of a material to characteristics of that material. The aging and fermentation processes of wine and other alcohols can be monitored. The status and decomposition of foodstuffs can be monitored. The progress of chemical reactions in a vessel can be monitored. Water quality of water from a water conduit can be monitored. These characteristics can be indicated on a product monitoring device or can be communicated to an external computing device.

Examples provide a system for monitoring an open container. A set of sensors captures sensor data associated with one or more items within an open container, such as, but not limited to, a food warmer or a refrigerated/freezer display case. The set of sensors may include one or more infrared (IR) cameras. The set of sensors transmits the sensor data to a monitoring component. The monitoring component processes the sensor data to identify factor(s) associated with one or more items, such as temperature, location of the item, state changes, and freshness of the one or more items. If a factor for a given item exceeds a predetermined threshold value for that factor, the monitoring system outputs an alert notification to a user interface.

A sensor may include a housing configured to couple to a machine; at least one processor within the housing; a battery within the housing; a communication adapter within the housing and coupled to the at least one processor; and a measurement device within the housing and coupled to the at least one processor and the battery. The communication adapter may be configured to wirelessly connect to a communication network. The measurement device may be configured to: obtain measurements of a physical characteristic of the machine to which the housing is coupled and transmit the measurements via the communication adapter, and automatically switch between a first measurement mode comprising a first sampling rate and a second measurement mode comprising a second sampling rate, different from the first sampling rate, without human intervention.

A method for measuring temperature of a device includes measuring temperatures for each of a plurality of components or zones of the device and combining the temperatures measured into a device total temperature. A system for measuring temperature of a device includes a processor and a non-transitory memory component operatively coupled with the processor. The non-transitory memory component has, recorded thereto, computer readable instructions configured to cause the processor to measure temperatures for each of a plurality of components or zones of the device and combine the temperatures measured into a device total temperature.

An average spoilage temperature for a product is obtained. The average spoilage temperature is the temperature when the product becomes not viable for customer use. In real-time, the current temperature of the retail store in which the product resides is measured. In real-time, a perishability time for the product is calculated using the average spoilage temperature of the product, and the current temperature of the retail store. In real-time, the location of the product and the time since the product has left a first shelf are tracked. The first shelf is a location where a shelf temperature is maintained to adequately preserve the product. In real-time, the perishability time is compared to the time since the product has left the first shelf. When the time since the product has left the first shelf exceeds the perishability time, an action is taken.

Collecting and storing temperature data includes acquiring a starting time at a temperature recording time period and acquiring temperature data for each time stamp. The target compressed data corresponding to the temperature recording time period is obtained by compressing the temperature data. The starting time data and the target compressed data corresponding to the temperature recording time period is stored in a temperature recorder. Multiple temperature data points may correspond to one piece of compressed data, so that each piece of temperature data only occupies a small amount of storage space. The starting time data and multiple pieces of compressed data are stored in the temperature recorder together, allowing improved storage performance of the temperature recorder and rapid collection of the temperature data. A blockchain-based verification for the collected temperature data ensures the security and authenticity of the data collection and prevents the data from being tampered with.

Collecting and storing temperature data includes acquiring a starting time at a temperature recording time period and acquiring temperature data for each time stamp. The target compressed data corresponding to the temperature recording time period is obtained by compressing the temperature data. The starting time data and the target compressed data corresponding to the temperature recording time period is stored in a temperature recorder. Multiple temperature data points may correspond to one piece of compressed data, so that each piece of temperature data only occupies a small amount of storage space. The starting time data and multiple pieces of compressed data are stored in the temperature recorder together, allowing improved storage performance of the temperature recorder and rapid collection of the temperature data. A blockchain-based verification for the collected temperature data ensures the security and authenticity of the data collection and prevents the data from being tampered with.

A method for feeding a cored wire into molten metal contained in a vessel comprises positioning the cored wire at a first position wherein a leading tip of the cored wire is proximate an entry point of the vessel, the entry point being above a surface of the molten metal, the cored wire comprising an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber; feeding the cored wire at a first speed for a first duration from the first position to a second position wherein the leading tip of the cored wire is immersed within the molten metal and lies within a measuring plane, such that a leading tip of the optical fiber projects from the cover and is exposed to the molten metal; and subsequently feeding the cored wire at a second speed for a second duration to take a first measurement of the molten metal.

A data logger (1) for logging values of a physical environment parameter (T) as a function of time (t) includes a sampling subsystem (2), which acquires sample values (21) of the physical environment parameter (T) at sampling moments which are separated by sample intervals, an encoding subsystem (3) which defines data records representing groups of one sample value (21) or a number of successive sample values (21) with variations which meet a first stability criterion, each data record including first identifiable bits (b10-b00) defining a representative value (Trep) for the samples values (21) of the corresponding group and a second identifiable bits (b15-b12) indicating the number of samples in the corresponding group and a flag bit (b11) indicating the use of either the first or second interval length, and a memory subsystem (4) for storing the sequence of defined data records into a memory (7).