Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to an electronic device
for monitoring the remaining storage life of frozen foods. Frozen
foods have an expiry date or the housewife provides a label indi-
cating the type of food and/or the expiry date on foods she
freezes. However, in a freezer filled with provisions control is
soon lost over the expiry date of the various products. Monitor-
ing and finding the appropriate product in this manner is less
effective and finding the products for which the remaining storage
life has expired is highly unreliable.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a
device with which it is possible to simply and reliably monitor
the storage life of frozen products.
This object is solved by providing an electronic device
for monitoring the remaining storage life of frozen foods, wherein
an optoelectronic display, control electronics with a memory,
elements for the input of data relating to the frozen food (type
of product, remaining storage life) as well as at least one
circuit element to initiate storage of the data are provided in
the device, wherein following input of the data of a new product
to be stored, an identification number that is not yet taken and
is allocated to this data appears on the display, this identifi-
cation number being affixed to the product and used to later
identify it in the freezer, and wherein a corresponding warning
signal is generated following expiry of the remaining storage
life.
The present invention starts with the idea that the data
identifying the frozen product, namely type of product, for
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example beef, and the remaining storage life, are input in the
monitoring device which issues an identification number which is
assigned within the device to the input data and which the
housewife affixes to the corresponding product for later identifi-
cation. The device monitors these data and gives a warning
signal, which can be either visual or acoustic, when the remaining
storage life of a product has expired.
When a product is removed from the freezer, the
corresponding data in the monitoring device must be erased. To
this end, the identification number is input in the device by
means of an input element. The corresponding data is, on the one
hand, illustrated briefly on the display and, on the other hand,
the data in the main memory is erased. In accordance with a
further preferred embodiment of the invention, the data in the
main memory are erased but are overwritten in an intermediate
memory and stored there until the next erase process. The purpose
of this is to "restore" in the device, without re-input, the data
of a frozen product which is not yet to be removed for good from
the freezer, in spite of the fact that this data has already been
erased in the main memory. To this end, the data are re-written
in the main memory from the intermediate memory upon actuation of
the corresponding two circuit elements.
The device is preferably provided with a rechargable
battery and a fail-safe system for the stored data in the form of
a non-volatile storage and/or a storage capacitor.
Four possible exemplary embodiments of such a device
will be explained in greater detail herebelow, all embodiments
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having in common that the type of product and the remaining stor-
age life of the product to be stored are input in the device, a
circuit element, which i5 allocated to the storage process and
which stores the input data, is subsequently actuated and there-
after an identification number appears on the display. The device
is thereby designed in such a way that the lowest number not yet
used from a supply of, for example, 150 to 200 numbers is issued.
When a product is removed from the freezer, the identi-
fication number is first of all input in the monitoring device by
means of a corresponding adjusting element and is illustrated on
the display. At the same time, the type of product and the stor-
age life, which is still available for this food and which the
device in the 24-hour cycle has reduced by one day, appear on the
display. A circuit element which is allocated to the process for
removing a product from storage is subsequently actuated, whereby
the data stored in the main memory is erased and transferred to
the intermediate memory.
If, after a product is removed from the freezer and its
associated data in the device erased, this product is to be re-
turned to the freezer and monitored further, then the two afore-
named circuit elements are actuated simultaneously and the tempor-
arily stored data is re-written in the main memory.
As long as data are to be input in the device or erased,
the data of these products are shown on the display. Following a
period preset by the device of, for example, 15 seconds, the data
of those products with the shortest storage life still available
appear on the display.
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A preferred embodiment of the device provides that when
selecting a type of product, for example vegetables, the product
of this selected product ty-~e with the shortest available storage
life is displayed for a predetermined period.
Although the paterit claims and the disclosure describe
that the circuit elements for storage or removal from storage are
respectively actuated following input of the type of product and
the remaining storage life or the identification number, it is
easily possible, however, in accordance with the present invention
to actuate these circuit elements first and to then input the
corresponding data.
The device comprises a timing circuit restricted to
relative time, i.e. only lengths of time, namely remaining storage
life, are displayed. It is also possible in accordance with the
invention to incorporate a clock in the device and to display the
actual expiry date in addition to or instead of the remaining
storage life.
The present invention will be explained in greater de-
tail herebelow on the basis of four exemplary embodiments illus-
20 trated in the drawings.
Figure 1 shows the front of a first exemplary embodi-
ment of the device;
Figure la shows a block diagram of a circuit arrangement
for the embodiment according to Figure l;
Figure 2 shows the front of a second exemplary embodi-
ment of the device;
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Figure 2a shows the associated circuit arrangement in
the same illustration,
Figure 3 shows the front of a third exemplary embodi-
~ ment of the device;
Figure 3a shows the associated circuit arrangement;
Figure 4 shows the front of a fourth exemplary embodi-
ment of the device;
Figure 4a shows the associated circuit arrangement;
Figure 4b shows a chart with bar codes;
Figure 4c shows a label to be used with the exemplary
embodiment.
Figure 1 illustrates a device 1 with an optoelectronic
display 2, for example an LCD display. This device comprises
actuating buttons (circuit elements) 3 and 4 to initiate the pro-
cess for storing data (storage) and erasing data (removal from
storage). Furthermore, buttons 5 and 6 are provided in order to
input the storage duration or identification number. A symbol 7
for the type of product, the remaining storage life 8, the identi-
fication number 9 as well as a warning symbol 10 are illustrated
on the display 2. In addition to the symbols 7, a number 11 allo-
cated to the corresponding type of product can be shown in an
additional line on the display. A table 12 with eight different
types of product and the recommended storage life, in months, is
provided below the display. Finally, an adjusting element 13,
designed as a shaft encoder which generates individual bits for
adjustment of the display, is used to input the storage life and
the desired identification number. The peculiar feature of this
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device is that during input the storage duration is indicated in
months and after the conclusion of input is converted by the
device into days and illustrated on the display.
The device described above as well as the exemplary em-
bodiments described herebelow operate independently of the freezer
and can be stored independent of the freezer or also at an appro-
priate level on the outside of the freezer.
Figures la illustrates in a block diagram the electronic
control circuit. The electronic control unit 22 as well as a
storage capaci-tor 23, the latter serving as a buffer during bat-
tery exchange, are provided along the outline 21 of the device.
The connecting terminals 24 abut a battery that is not
illustrated. The control unit comprises an oscillator 25 for
clock generation as well as a microprocessor 26. The latter is
controlled from the outside by the aforenamed actuating buttons 3
to 6. An evaluator unit 27, which converts the signals of the
shaft encoder 13 accordingly, precedes the microprocessor 26. A
main memory 28 as well as an intermediate memory 29, to which to
the data to be stored are fed via a data bus 30, then follow the
microprocessor 26. Finally, the display 2, illustrated in Figure
1, follows the microprocessor.
The device functions as follows. The device is ready to
accept a type of product without additional actuation of a switch.
To this end, the shaft encoder 13 is twisted and the symbols 7 for
the eight types of product illustrated in the table 12 appear one
after the other. At the same time or also alternately, the corre-
sponding number of the type of product appears on the display at
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11. The actuating button 5 is then pressed to signal that a re-
maining storage life is to be subsequently input. The desired
storage duration of the selected type of product is then input in
months via the shaft encoder 13. After this input is concluded,
for example after 5 seconds, the storage duration, converted into
days, appears at reference numeral 8. The actuating button 3 is
then pressed to signal that data of a new product to be stored are
being input in the device. An identification number, for example
the number 125, subsequently appears on the display 2 at reference
numeral 9. This number is written on the packaging of the product
to be stored or is noted on a label attached to the product.
If a product is to be removed from the freezer, then
first of all the actuating button 6 is pressed, the identification
number allocated to the product, for example the number 125, is
set on the display by means of the shaft encoder 13 and the
actuating button 4 is pressed. The symbols for the type of pro-
duct as well as the storage duration, in days, still available for
this product appear for a few seconds on the display. This then
disappears and the data are erased in the main memory 28 and taken
over in the intermediate memory 29. The product with the shortest
storage life still available together with its associated data for
the type of product, the storage life and identification number
then appear on the display 2.
If the storage life of a product, which is respectively
counted back by one day in the 24-hour cycle, reaches the value 0,
then the warning symbol 10 flashes. At the same time an acoustic
signal can be given. This signal lasts until the corresponding
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data in the device is erased and the product is removed from the
freezer.
If a product, whose data has already been erased in the
main memory, is to be returned to the freezer, then the identifi-
cation number is to be again set on the display 2 via the shaft
encoder 13 after the actuating button 6 is pressed. The actuating
buttons 3 and 4 are then pressed simultaneously, whereby the data
of this product are re-written in the main memory from the inter-
mediate memory.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2, a
display 2 as well as actuating buttons 3 and 4 with the same
functions as in Figure 1 are again provided on the front of the
device 1. Furthermore, a shaft encoder 13 as well as a table 12
listing the allowable types of products are also provided. A
table 31, which lists the storage life in months or groups of
months, is illustrated next to table 12. Actuating buttons 32 as
well as illuminated sectors 33, each allocated to a type of pro-
duct, are arranged next to the table 12. The actuating buttons 32
are used to select the type of product and the illuminated sectors
33 visually indicate the selected type of product since corre-
sponding symbols are not provided on the display 2. A similar
arrangement is provided for the storage life according to table
31. Actuating buttons 34 and illuminated sectors 35 are arranged
next to this table, their operating method corresponding to that
described above.
The identification number can be illustrated on the dis-
play 2 on the left side and the storage life, in days, can be
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illustrated on the right. If a storage life lapses, the numbers
000 flash as a warning signal at reference numeral 8.
The corresponding circui-t arrangement is illustrated in
Figure 2a, this arrangement being identical to that shown in
Figure la except for the control of the microprocessor 26. Refer-
ence numeral 32 symbolically identifies all actuating buttons for
selecting the type of product and 34 identifies all actuating but-
tons for selecting the storage life.
The operating method of this device is to a large extent
similar to that of the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1.
The type of product is selected by pressing one of the actuating
buttons 32 and the desired storage life is selected by pressing an
actuating button 34. The actuating button 3 (storage) is subse-
quently pressed and the corresponding data are stored in the de-
vice. An identification number is thereupon given in area 9 of
the device. If, on the other hand, a product is to be removed
from the freezer and the associated data in the device are to be
erased, then an identification number is set in area 9 by means of
the shaft encoder 13 and the actuating button 4 is subsequently
pressed with the result that the corresponding data is erased in
the main memory 28 and taken over in the intermediate memory 29.
The "storage" process in this device can also be pre-
sented as follows. Following actuation of a button 32, the corre-
sponding illuminated sector 33 lights up as usual; however, the
identification number and the storage life of the product of a
- selected product type with the shortest available storage life is
illustrated on the display 2. As soon as a storage life is input
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by pressing an actuating button 34 - the associated illuminated
sector again lights up - the identification number is cancelled
and the selected storage life, in days, appears. As soon as the
actuating button 3 is pressed, the identification number that is
to be allocated to the selected type of product is also illustrat-
ed on the display 2.
The following possibilities exist for the "removal from
storage". An identification number is set with the shaft enclosed
13 only in area 9. The illuminated sector of the type of product
allocated to this identification number then lights up. The num-
ber of storage days still available for this product appears on
the display 2 in area 8. If the (removal from storage) button 4
is then pressed, which should preferably happen after about 3
seconds to avoid uncertainty, all displays are cancelled briefly
after about three seconds to signal that the corresponding data in
the main memory are erased. The data of the product with the
shortest storage life still available then appear on the display
2.
The exemplary embodiment according to Figure 3 is tech-
nically similar to the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1,with the exception of the display 2 which corresponds to that of
Figure 1. A slide switch 41, which can be adjusted in a guide to
the individual types of product, is used instead of actuating
buttons to set the type of product. The storage life is set with
a second slide switch 42. Since the illuminated sectors 33 are
missing, a symbol 7 for the types of product is provided instead
on the display 2. The illuminated sectors 35 are likewise miss-
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ing; the storage life is instead input in months in area 8 of the
display and only converted into days following input. The associ-
ated circuit arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3a and corre-
sponds to that of Figure 2a, with the exception of the display.
Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a device
in which data is input by means of a photoelectric scanner 51.
The design of the device is similar to that of the preceding exem-
plary embodiments, whereby the same reference numerals as in
Figure 1 are used for the same structural members. The circuit
arrangement according to Figure 4a is to a large extent also simi-
lar to that of the other exemplary embodiments, whereby in this
case also the same reference numerals are used for the same struc-
tural members. The difference is that instead of the shaft encod-
er 13 the aforenamed photoelectric scanner 51 is provided which
changes the type of evaluation in the evaluator unit 27 compared
to the other exemplary embodiments.
A chart 52, which includes the aforenamed tables 12 and
31 with the types of product and the storage life, is provided on
the freezer or in its vicinity. Bar codes 53 and 54, allocated to
the individual areas and to the type of product or the storage
life, serve as data carriers. To input new data during the pro-
cess "storage", the scanner 51 is passed over the bar code 53 for
the selected type of product and then over that 54 for the desired
storage life. The corresponding data are thus stored in the de-
vice and the device subsequently displays in the manner already
described the identification number of the type of product. The
housewife must now, however, remove from a supply of labels 55
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that label with the corresponding identification number, for ex-
ample the number 100, and affix it to the product.
If this product is to be removed from the freezer and
the corresponding data in the device are to be erased, then the
label on the product is to be scanned with the scanner 51, whereby
the number 100 stored on the label in the bar code is read into
the device and the allocated data is called up and illustrated on
the display. Actuating button 4 on the device is subsequently
pressed and the corresponding data in the main memory are erased
and taken over in the intermediate memory.
In each of the exemplary embodiments described above the
possibility exists that during display of the shortest storage
life available for a selected type of product, the display switch-
es over after a predetermined time of, for example, 15 seconds to
that product with the shortest storage life of all the products.
