A container having a full perimeter lid pressure or tensioning mechanism. The container can also have a removable temperature sensor to monitor an internal compartment temperature. A pressure regulator is also disclosed to regulate a pressure differential and vacuum of the container in order to control an amount of vacuum sealing of the lid to the container.

Low-cost techniques for sensing ambient temperatures in a container or package using phase change materials are provided. In one aspect, a temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor includes: at least one phase change material configured to transition from an amorphous state to a crystalline state upon exposure to temperatures above a predetermined threshold temperature for a given duration. A method of monitoring temperature exposure of a consumer good using the temperature sensor is also provided.

A method for handling foodstuffs according to temperature exposure within an automated foodstuff assembly apparatus includes receiving, at a topping module, a hopper carrying topping samples. The topping samples are all the same type of topping. The method includes monitoring temperatures corresponding to the topping samples. Monitoring includes making first temperature measurements corresponding to one of the topping samples and making second temperature measurements corresponding to another one of the topping samples. The method includes maintaining a set of timers associated with the first temperature measurements and the second temperature measurements. The method includes, in response to at least one timer in the set of timers expiring, selectively preventing dispensation of a topping sample of the topping samples.

The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for monitoring food products. The system includes an integrated modular sensing device for monitoring food and environmentally sensitive industrial products, including a processor, at least two interfaces in communication with the processor and adapted to receive an electronic connection of at least two temperature sensor probes, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, the at least one sensor including at least one of the following: a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a light sensor, or any combination thereof, and a wireless communication device programmed or configured to transmit food and environmentally sensitive industrial product data to at least one of a remote server and a remote device, and act as a gateway to receive sensory data from distributed sensors wirelessly and upload to cloud databases.

A method and apparatus for automatically measuring and storing a various measured values of an item, or a sequence of measured values of one or more item(s) suitable for single-handed use by a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a mobile computing device with one or more sensors for determining when to measure and record a particular value of one or more items. The mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on sensing a change in the temperature value or through using proximity as detected by one or more onboard sensors. Additionally, the mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on coming within range of an external proximity device. In response to automatically measuring the values, the measured values are stored along with additional information for record keeping purposes.

Provided is a sensor package in a refrigerator configured to provide information related to refrigerated food. The sensor package may include a body having a mark classified by a type of food allocated to the sensor package and indicating the type of food of a food to which the sensor package is coupled, a battery, an operation switch, a memory configured to store food information corresponding to the type of food corresponding to the mark, a sensor communication module that communicates with a display provided in the refrigerator, a sensing module that senses state information associated with the food, and a sensor control module that controls the sensor communication module to initiate communication between the sensor package and the display of the refrigerator based on the state information sensed by the sensing module.

Disclosed is a sensing device for measuring the temperature of a container enclosing a fluid that is stationary or in motion, the sensing device comprising: a band for completely encircling and conforming to the outer surface of the container;

a thermally conductive material disposed on a housing portion that abuts the surface of the container on one side when the device is mounted on the container and on a second side abuts the temperature sensor;
a wireless communication means in communication with the sensor, wherein the wireless communication means transmits temperature data to a remote wireless device, thereby notifying a user when a temperature measurement falls above or below a target temperature or range thereof; and
the band being made of elastomeric material so that when mounted on the container, or tightened therearound, the temperature sensor abuts snugly against the thermally conductive material.

A temperature sensor, and methods of making and using such a temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensor includes a reversible thermochromic color-changing system having a dye, a developer, and a solvent. Upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of the dye and the developer results in a visible color change. Further, the color-changing system includes a color-memory property which facilitates retention of the color change to effectively record exposure to the temperature threshold.

Provided is a sensor package in a refrigerator configured to provide information related to refrigerated food. The sensor package may include a body having a mark classified by a type of food allocated to the sensor package and indicating the type of food of a food to which the sensor package is coupled, a battery, an operation switch, a memory configured to store food information corresponding to the type of food corresponding to the mark, a sensor communication module that communicates with a display provided in the refrigerator, a sensing module that senses state information associated with the food, and a sensor control module that controls the sensor communication module to initiate communication between the sensor package and the display of the refrigerator based on the state information sensed by the sensing module.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for determining a maximum temperature to which a perishable good or other temperature sensitive item was exposed. In some embodiments, a capacitance of a circuit provided on a substrate is measured. The circuit includes capacitor(s) each having first and second plates separated from each other by an ionic liquid (IL) in a solid state. The IL melts at a predetermined temperature and flows away from the first and second plates into a void. In some embodiments, the predetermined temperature at which the IL melts is different for each capacitor. For example, each capacitor in the circuit may employ a different N-alkyl bezothiazolium salt. A maximum temperature of exposure is determined based on the measured capacitance. In some embodiments, a decision of whether to discard the perishable good or other temperature sensitive item may be based on the determined maximum temperature.