SE470113B

SE470113B - Temperature information and temperature follow-up system

Info

Publication number: SE470113B
Application number: SE9201632A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Hans Andersson; Goeran Gustavsson
Original assignee: 3I Systems Ab
Priority date: 1992-05-25
Filing date: 1992-05-25
Publication date: 1993-11-08
Also published as: SE9201632D0; SE9201632L

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature information and temperature follow-up system, in particular intended to provide temperature information to customers and supervisory personnel in food stores and other premises for frozen or heated food. The system comprises one or more temperature-indicating information carriers (temperature displays) T with programmed basic information, which are connected to a computer-controlled system for price-monitoring or the like present in the store/premises, so that they are connected in a wireless manner to the central unit CE of the computer system via one or more receivers PM and transmitters PS included in the computer system. All the temperature displays T, at the same time as they provide measured temperatures for customers and supervisory personnel, have functions for transmitting and receiving temperature information from/to the central unit CE in the price-monitoring system of the store for processing, presentation and monitoring in relation to alarm limits programmed into the system. In this way, it is possible in the central unit on the one hand to process recorded temperature values as measurement values and on the other hand to record and give the alarm if temperature values exceed or fall below selected specified limit values. <IMAGE>

Description

470 H3 ¿ Lagförslag beträffande temperaturkontroll av färdiglagade livsmedel föreligger även för varor i varmhållningsdiskar för livsmedel av olika slag. Härvid skall kârntemperatu- ren i exempelvis ett köttstycke mätas för att garantera varans tjänlighet som födoämne vid längre tids varmhåll- ning. 470 H3 ¿ Bills regarding temperature control of ready-made food is also available for goods in hot counters for foods of various kinds. In this case, the core temperature pure in, for example, a piece of meat is measured to guarantee the usefulness of the product as a foodstuff during prolonged ning.

Temperaturdisplayen kan via programmering väljas visa t ex max- och medeltemperatur eller max- och mintempera- tur tack vare den dubbelriktade information som finnes mellan temperaturdisplay och centralenhet.The temperature display can be selected to show via programming eg maximum and average temperature or maximum and minimum temperature lucky thanks to the two-way information available between temperature display and central unit.

Temperaturövervakningssystemet kan vid överskridande av vald larmgräns via modem från centralenheten larma lämplig instans för att t ex vid haveri på kylanläggning undvika kostnadskrävande förstöring av livsmedel under t ex en längre helgstängning. För att larm skall avges är därvid programvaran så utformad att larmgränsen skall vara överskriden vid tvâ eller flera tillfällen med i programvaran valbart intervall för att minimera risken för falsklarm.The temperature monitoring system can, if exceeded selected alarm limit via modem from the central unit alarm suitable instance for, for example, in the event of an accident at a refrigeration system Avoid costly food spoilage during eg a longer weekend closure. For alarms to sound, thereby the software is designed so that the alarm limit should be exceeded on two or more occasions with in software selectable range to minimize risk for false alarms.

Uppfinningen kännetecknas således av att samtliga tempe- raturindikerande informationsbärare, samtidigt som de presenterar de uppmätta temperaturerna för kund eller kontrollpersonal har funktioner för mottagning och sändning av temperaturinformationen till Cenralenheten i butikens prisövervakningssystem för bearbetning, presen- tation och övervakning mot i systemet inprogrammerade larmgränser.The invention is thus characterized in that all information carriers, while they presents the measured temperatures to the customer or control staff have reception and sending the temperature information to the Cenral Unit in the store's price monitoring system for processing, present and monitoring against programmed into the system alarm limits.

I det följande skall uppfinningen närmare beskrivas i anslutning till bifogade ritningar där figur 1 visar ett komplett elektroniskt displaysystem enligt 3i Systems AB med nr 91.03603-8 av 91-12-04 och figur 2 visar ett exempel på en temperaturindikerande informationsbärare (displayenhet) vilken enligt uppfinningen ingår som en integrerad del i nämnda displaysystem för prisövervak- ning.In the following, the invention will be described in more detail in connection to the accompanying drawings where figure 1 shows a complete electronic display system according to 3i Systems AB with No. 91.03603-8 of 91-12-04 and Figure 2 shows a example of a temperature indicating information carrier (display unit) which according to the invention is included as a integral part of said display system for price monitoring ning.

Det visade displaysystemet för prisinformation är avsett användas i butiks- eller lagerlokaler där det normalt är anslutet till en butiksdator (1) med prisminne och kassa- register. Informationssystemet innefattar därvid ett antal samoperativa enheter, Centralenhet (CE), Sändare (PS), Mottagare (PM), Hyllkantlister (H) och Display- enheter (E) varav en eller flera kan utgöras av de i figur 2 visade Temperaturdisplayerna (T).The displayed display system for price information is intended be used in store or warehouse premises where it is normal connected to a store computer (1) with price memory and cash register. The information system then includes a number of co-operative units, Central Unit (CE), Transmitter (PS), Receiver (PM), Shelf Strips (H) and Display units (E) of which one or more may be those of Figure 2 shows the Temperature Displays (T).

Temperaturdisplayerna (T) som är programmerade med en "identitet" är anslutna till en eller flera temperatur- givare (2) via kablar (3). Temperaturgivaren som placeras på det önskade mätstället sänder via kabeln en signal till displayenheten innehållande information om den på mätstället aktuella temperaturen. 5 470213 Temperaturmätproben innehållande en eller två temperatur- givare för mätning av temperaturer i frysboxar kan t ex vara utformad som framgår av figur 3 och är via kabel (3) ansluten till en temperaturdisplay. I figur 4 visas exempel på mätprobens utförande för mätning av kärntempe- raturer i varmhållna varor.The temperature displays (T) that are programmed with a "identity" are connected to one or more temperature sensor (2) via cables (3). The temperature sensor that is placed at the desired measuring point sends a signal via the cable to the display unit containing information about it on measuring point current temperature. 5 470213 The temperature measuring probe containing one or two temperature sensors for measuring temperatures in freezers can e.g. be designed as shown in Figure 3 and are via cable (3) connected to a temperature display. Figure 4 shows example of the design of the measuring probe for measuring the core temperature in warm goods.

I temperaturdisplayerna omvandlas de emottagna mätvärdena till ett dataformat som överensstämmer med det som användes för prisinformationen, förses med den program- merade "identiteten" och översändes via sändare och mottagare till centralenheten för registrering och databehandling.In the temperature displays, the received measured values are converted to a data format consistent with that of used for the price information, is provided with the the "identity" and was transmitted via transmitter and receiver to the central unit for registration and data processing.

Centralenheten (CE) registrerar de erhållna mätvärdena med de intervaller som väljes vid installation och programmering med hänsyn till det aktuella mätstället och önskemålet om detaljinformation samt lagrar dessa för vidare bearbetning. Så kan t ex medelvärdesbildning ske över lämpligt tidsintervall och detta medelvärde t ex översändas till den aktuella temperaturdisplayen för presentation.The Central Unit (CE) registers the obtained measured values with the intervals selected during installation and programming with regard to the current measuring point and the request for detailed information and stores these for further processing. This is how, for example, averaging can take place over the appropriate time interval and this mean value e.g. sent to the current temperature display for presentation.

Centralenheten jämför även de registrerade temperatur- mätvärdena med de i programmet inlagda larmgrânserna för det aktuella mätstället. Om larmgräns överskrides under ett valbart antal konsekutiva mättillfällen eller tids- intervall noteras detta i centralenheten och larm ges på lämpligt sätt.The central unit also compares the registered temperature the measured values with the alarm limits entered in the program for the current measuring point. If the alarm limit is exceeded below a selectable number of consecutive measurement occasions or intervals this is noted in the central unit and alarms are given appropriate way.

Under butikstid kan ljud- eller ljussignal ges i butiks-, lager- eller kontorslokal och under kvälls- eller nattid kan larm överföras via modem från centralenheten till vaktbolag eller annan instans.During store hours, an audio or light signal can be given in the store, warehouse or office space and during the evening or night alarms can be transmitted via modem from the central unit to security company or other body.

Informationssystemets samverkan med butiksdatorsystemet berörs ej här liksom ej heller dess detaljerade funktion som prisinformationssystem utan beträffande dessa detal- jer hänvisas till den ovan nämnda patentansökan.The information system's collaboration with the store computer system is not affected here nor is its detailed function as price information systems but with regard to these details reference is made to the above-mentioned patent application.

Claims

470 'H3 PATENT CLAIM.

Temperature information and temperature monitoring system preferably intended to present temperature information to customers and controlling staff in grocery stores and other frozen or heated food premises, including one or more temperature indicating information carriers (T) with programmed basic information which are connected to a computer-controlled system for price monitoring in the store / premises so that they via one or more receivers (PM) and transmitters (PS) included in the computer system are in wireless connection with the computer system's central unit (CE) characterized by the fact that all temperature-indicating information carriers (T) presents measured temperatures to customers or control staff, has functions for sending and receiving temperature information to the central unit (CE) in the store's price monitoring system for processing, presentation and monitoring against alarm limits programmed into the system.

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the information carriers (T) have simultaneous display of measured temperature / measured temperatures for customer or inspector control.

Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that it is part of the store's price monitoring system and that each individual information carrier (T) has an identity for which the measured values are data logged in the central unit (CE) included in the information system.

Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the temperature measured values are registered and data logged at time intervals selectable via the software in the central unit (CE).

Device according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the registered and data-logged temperature measured values are printed on a suitable printer to enable archiving for the required time. 5

Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the temperatures are recorded at two different levels (depths) of the temperature sensors included in the device or that the core temperature is detected with a temperature measuring probe (2) of needle-shaped design.

Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the temperatures of each individual temperature sensor (2) are monitored against programming-selectable limits and that alarms are triggered when the alarm limit is exceeded or undershot at two or more consecutive registration intervals with a time interval selectable in the software in the central unit. .

Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that alarms can be given via a modem connected to the central unit in the display system for alarming a suitably connected alarm instance.

Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that data-stored temperature measured values for authority control can be stored for the desired time.