Patent ID: 10222205

Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining a size information of food ingredients. The method comprises a step of applying (110) to the food ingredients an electrical field having a given radio frequency, the electrical field being generated by a source positioned in close proximity to the food ingredients, a first step of measuring (120) a ratio between the energy of the electrical field reflected from the food ingredients, and the energy of the electrical field generated by said source and applied to the food ingredients. The method also comprises a first step of determining (130), based on said ratio, an average thickness of the food ingredients along the direction of the electrical field applied to the food ingredients. The method also comprises a second step of measuring (140), for a plurality of distances between the source of the electrical field and the food ingredients, the ratio (R2) between the energy of the electrical field reflected from the food ingredients, and the energy of the electrical field applied to the food ingredients. The method further comprises a step of identifying (150) a relatively sudden change in the amplitude of the ratios measured by said second step of measuring (140) and a step of deriving (160) the corresponding distance between the source of the electrical field and the food ingredients for which said relatively sudden change occurred. The method also comprises a second step of determining (170), based on said corresponding distance and the divergent angle of the electrical field irradiating at said corresponding distance, an average diameter of the food ingredients in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the electrical field applied to the food ingredients. This invention results in a more convenient, robust and accurate way to determine the average thickness of the food ingredients.