Patent ID: 12235165

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

10, circuit board;20, charging assembly;21, second conductive member;22, second metal housing;23, third conductive member;24, first conductive pin;25, second conductive pin;30, energy storage element;31, battery;311, heat-insulating adhesive;40, insulating member;410, through hole;420, receiving slot;41, first mounting portion;42, isolation portion;43, second mounting portion;431, a first mounting protrusion;432, second mounting protrusion;433, limiting protrusion;50, first metal housing;60, first temperature detection unit;70, second temperature detection unit;80, first conductive member;200, relay device;210, electrical connection end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To be noted that embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined with each other without conflict. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure provides a food thermometer100, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, the food thermometer100includes a circuit board10, a charging assembly20, an energy storage element30, an insulating member40, a first metal housing50, and a first temperature detection unit60for detecting a temperature of food.

The circuit board10is electrically connected to the charging assembly20and the energy storage element30. The circuit board10, the charging assembly20and the energy storage element30are disposed on one side of the insulating member40.

The first metal housing50is electrically connected to the circuit board10and is disposed on the other side of the insulating member40.

The first temperature detection unit60is electrically connected to the circuit board10to transmit a temperature signal to the circuit board10, and the temperature signal is transmitted, as a wireless signaling through the first metal housing50, to an external terminal.

In the present disclosure, the first metal housing50for transmitting the wireless signal is disposed on one side of the insulating member40, and the circuit board10, the charging assembly20, and the energy storage element30for charging the food thermometer100are disposed on the other side of the insulating member40. In this way, transmission of the wireless signal and transmission of the charging signal are separated from each other, interference on the transmission of the wireless signal caused by the charging signal is reduced, and stability of the transmission of the wireless signal is improved. In addition, since the first metal housing50is directly configured as an antenna for transmitting the wireless signal, compared to the technical solution in which the antenna is configured in a ceramic housing, attenuation of the wireless signal is reduced, and a transmission effect of the wireless signal is improved.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.3, the energy storage element30supplies power to the circuit board10, and an external power supply is electrically connected to the charging assembly20to charge the energy storage element30via the charging assembly20and the circuit board10. The energy storage element30may specifically be a battery, a supercapacitor, or the like that can store electrical energy. In the present embodiment, a battery31is configured as the energy storage element30. An outer periphery of the battery31is wrapped with a heat-insulating adhesive311for insulating heat to extend a service life of the battery31.

The insulating member40may be made of any one of: ceramic, silicone and ceramic fiber. In the present embodiment, the insulating member40is made of ceramic. Specifically, the insulating member40may be made of black ceramic. The black ceramic is resistant to high temperatures, heat, and corrosion.

The first temperature detection unit60may detect the temperature of the food. Specifically, the first temperature detection unit60may specifically be a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is disposed on and electrically connected to the circuit board10. A specific location at which the temperature sensor is disposed on the circuit board10may be determined according to demands. The temperature sensor detects and obtains the temperature of the food and transmits the temperature signal to the circuit board10. A relevant circuit on the circuit board10processes the temperature signal, and the circuit board10transmits the processed signal, as the wireless signal through the first metal housing50, to the external terminal. The external terminal may be a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and so on, and the user obtains the temperature of the food in real time through the terminal.

Furthermore, the food thermometer100further includes a second temperature detection unit70configured to detect a temperature of an environment. The second temperature detection unit70is electrically connected to the circuit board10to transmit a temperature signal of the environment to the circuit board10, and the temperature signal of the environment is transmitted, as a wireless signal through the first metal housing50, to the external terminal. The second temperature detection unit70detects the temperature of the environment, such as a temperature inside a cooking appliance such as an oven, a grill, and so on. The second temperature detection unit70may also be a temperature sensor. Specifically, the second temperature detection unit70may be arranged inside the first metal housing50, and is electrically connected to the circuit board10via a connecting wire. A relevant circuit on the circuit board10processes the temperature signal of the environment, and the processed signal is transmitted as the wireless signal through the first metal housing50.

As shown inFIG.2,FIG.4, andFIG.6, in the present embodiment, the insulating member40defines a through hole410. The food thermometer100further includes a first conductive member80extending through the through hole410. An end of the first conductive member80is electrically connected to the circuit board10, and the other end is electrically connected to the first metal housing50.

By defining the through hole410in the insulating member40to allow the first conductive member80to extend through, the first metal housing50and the circuit board10, which are respectively disposed on two sides of the insulating member40, are electrically connected to each other, and the structure of the device is compact.

The first conductive member80may be strip-shaped, sheet-shaped or irregularly shaped. In the present embodiment, the first conductive member80may be a sheet-shaped conductive elastic sheet. The conductive elastic sheet extends through the through hole410. An end of the conductive elastic sheet is electrically connected to the circuit board10, and the other end elastically abuts against the first metal housing50to be electrically connected to the first metal housing50. The conductive elastic sheet has certain elasticity and flexibility to allow a small change in a distance between components. In this way, the first metal housing50and the circuit board10are always electrically connected to each other, improving stability of the electrical connection.

As shown inFIG.4andFIG.5, in the present embodiment, the charging assembly20includes a second conductive member21and a second metal housing22that are respectively electrically connected to two electrical poles of the circuit board10. The energy storage element30, the circuit board10, and the first temperature detection unit60are all arranged inside the second metal housing22.

The external power supply is electrically connected to the circuit board10via the second conductive member21and the second metal housing22to charge the energy storage element30. One of the second conductive member21and the second metal housing22serves as a charging positive pole, and the other one of the second conductive member21and the second metal housing22serves as a charging negative pole. In some embodiments, the second conductive member21is the charging negative pole and is electrically connected to the negative electrical pole of the circuit board10; and the second metal housing22is the charging positive pole and is electrically connected to the positive electrical pole of the circuit board10.

The second metal housing22serves as a protective housing for the energy storage element30, the circuit board10, and the first temperature detection unit60. In addition, the second metal housing22also serves as a conductive end that connects the circuit board10to the external power supply. The second metal housing22has a large area to improve, to some extent, reliability and stability of the electrical connection between the first metal housing50and the external power supply and the electrical connection between the first metal housing50and the internal circuit board10. Further, the large area of the second metal housing22facilitates heat dissipation during a charging process, extending the service life of the food thermometer100.

When the food thermometer100is being in use, the user inserts the second metal housing22of the food thermometer100into the food, such as a steak, and the first temperature detection unit60detects and obtains the temperature of the food. Specifically, in practice, an end of the second metal housing22away from the insulating member40may be configured as a tip, such that the second metal housing22may be inserted into the food easily.

In other embodiments, as the electrical connection end of the circuit board10that is electrically connected to the external power supply, the charging assembly20may include two electrically conductive terminals that are electrically connected to the circuit board10. The two electrically conductive terminals are disposed on one side of the insulating member40through a ceramic housing, such that the two electrically conductive terminals are separated from the first metal housing50. The external power supply is electrically connected to the circuit board10through the two electrically conductive terminals to charge the energy storage element30.

As shown inFIG.4toFIG.6, in the present embodiment, the insulating member40includes a first mounting portion41, an isolation portion42, and a second mounting portion43. The isolation portion42is disposed between the first mounting portion41and the second mounting portion43. The first mounting portion41is at least partially arranged in first metal housing50. The second metal housing22and the second conductive member21are spaced apart from each other and both sleeve the second mounting portion43.

In the present embodiment, the first mounting portion41and the second mounting portion43are arranged on two sides of the isolation portion42respectively, at least a portion of the first mounting portion41is arranged in the first metal housing50for transmitting the wireless signal, and the second metal housing22and the second conductive member21for charging are attached to the second mounting portion43. In this way, wireless signal transmission and charging of the energy storage element30are separated from each other, the interference on the wireless signal transmission caused by the charging signal is reduced, and stability of the wireless signal transmission is improved. According to the above configuration, the first metal housing50, the second metal housing22, and the second conductive member21may be assembled easily.

The second conductive member21may be a conductive metal ring. The metal ring is attached to the second mounting portion43.

Further, the charging assembly20further includes a third conductive member23. The second mounting portion43defines a receiving slot420. The third conductive member23is received in the receiving slot420. An end of the third conductive member23is electrically connected to the circuit board10, and the other end is electrically connected to the second conductive member21.

The second conductive member21and the second metal housing22are both attached to the second mounting portion43. Since the third conductive member23is received in the receiving slot420, the second conductive member21is electrically connected to the circuit board10and is prevented from being short-circuited with the second metal housing22. In this way, the structure related to the charging assembly20and the insulating member40is ingenious and compact.

Specifically, the third conductive member23may be strip shaped, sheet shaped, and the like. In the present embodiment, the third conductive member23may be a sheet-shaped conductive elastic sheet and elastically abuts against the second conductive member21. The conductive elastic sheet is received in the receiving slot420. The conductive elastic sheet has certain elasticity and flexibility to allow for a small change in the distance between components. In this way, the second conductive member21and the circuit board10are always electrically connected to each other, improving stability of the electrical connection therebetween. The third conductive member23may be electrically connected to the second conductive member21by spot welding, such that the electrical connection is more stable.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, the charging assembly20further includes at least one conductive pin disposed on the circuit board10. The conductive pin abuts against the second metal housing22to enable the circuit board10to be electrically connected to the second metal housing22.

The conductive pin has certain elasticity and may elastically abut against the second metal housing22to be electrically connected with the second metal housing22. The elastically allows a small change in the distance between the circuit board10and the second metal housing22. In this way, the circuit board10and the second metal housing22may always be electrically connected to each other, improving the stability of the electrical connection.

The number of conductive pins may be one, two or more than two, which may be determined by the user according to demands. In some embodiments, a first conductive pin24and a second conductive pin25are arranged on the circuit board10. The first conductive pin24and the second conductive pin25are symmetrically arranged with each other and are respectively arranged on a front side and a rear side of the circuit board10. The first conductive pin24and/or the second conductive pin25abuts against the second metal housing22to enable the circuit board10to be electrically connected to the second metal housing22.

When assembling the circuit board10to the second metal housing22, it may be more difficult to ensure that the circuit board10is disposed at a center inside the second metal housing22. Therefore, the first conductive pin24and the second conductive pin25are symmetrically arranged on the front side and the rear side of the circuit board10, such that the circuit board10is electrically connected to the second metal housing22through the first conductive pin24or the second conductive pin25, or through the first conductive pin24and the second conductive pin25. In this way, the circuit board10is ensured to be always electrically connected to the second metal housing22through the conductive pin, improving the stability and reliability of the electrical connection between the circuit board10and the second metal housing22.

As shown inFIG.2,FIG.4,FIG.5, andFIG.6, in the present embodiment, the second mounting portion43includes a first mounting protrusion431and a second mounting protrusion432. The second mounting protrusion432is protruding from an end surface of the first mounting protrusion431. The second mounting protrusion432and the first mounting protrusion431are coaxial with each other. The second conductive member21is attached to the first mounting protrusion431, and the second metal housing22is attached to the second mounting protrusion432. A gap is formed between the second conductive member21and the second metal housing22.

Since the second conductive member21is attached to the first mounting protrusion431and the second metal housing22is attached to the second mounting protrusion432, the second metal housing22and the second conductive member21are spaced apart from each other and are prevented from being short circuited with each other due to contact.

Further, the second mounting portion43further includes a limiting protrusion433protruding from an end surface of the first mounting protrusion431. The limiting protrusion433abuts against the second metal housing22to limit a depth of the second metal housing22sleeving the second mounting protrusion432.

By arranging the limiting protrusion433to abut against the second metal housing22, an attaching length or area between the second metal housing22and the second mounting protrusion432is limited, such that the second metal housing22may be mounted to a proper position.

In some embodiments, the first mounting protrusion431, the limiting protrusion433, and the second mounting protrusion432are three cylinders that are coaxial with each other. A diameter of the limiting protrusion433is less than a diameter of the first mounting protrusion431, and a diameter of the second mounting protrusion432is less than the diameter of the limiting protrusion433. The receiving slot420that receives the third conductive member23extends from the first mounting protrusion431, passing through the limiting protrusion433, to further reach the second mounting protrusion432. In other embodiments, the first mounting protrusion431, the limiting protrusion433, and the second mounting protrusion432may be a columnar structure having a cross section of other shapes, such as a square, a rectangle, and the like.

The first mounting portion41may be a cylinder, and the first metal housing50sleeves the first mounting portion41.

As shown inFIG.1,FIG.7andFIG.8, the present disclosure further provides a food temperature detection system. The food temperature detection system includes a relay device200and the food thermometer100as described above. The relay device200is communicatively connected to the first metal housing50of the food thermometer100and transmits the temperature signal from the first metal housing50to the external terminal. The relay device200may be electrically connected to the charging assembly20of the food thermometer100.

According to the present disclosure, the first metal housing50for transmitting the wireless signal is disposed on one side of the insulating member40, and the circuit board10, the charging assembly20, and the energy storage element30for charging the food thermometer100are disposed on the other side of the insulating member40. In this way, transmission of the wireless signal and transmission of the charging signal are separated from each other, the interference on the transmission of the wireless signal caused by the charging signal is reduced, and stability of the transmission of the wireless signal is improved. In addition, since the first metal housing50is directly configured as the antenna for transmitting the wireless signal, compared to the technical solution in which the antenna is configured in a ceramic housing, attenuation of the wireless signal is reduced, and a transmission effect of the wireless signal is improved.

In the food temperature detection system, the relay device200is configured as a relay station for signal transmission between the food thermometer100and the external terminal, such as a mobile phone, remote transmission of the signal from the food thermometer100is achieved. In addition, the relay device200may be electrically connected to the charging assembly of the food thermometer100to charge the energy storage element through the charging assembly of the food thermometer100.

Specifically, as shown inFIG.7andFIG.8, the relay device200may be arranged with an electrical connection end210. The electrical connection end210is electrically connected to the charging assembly20of the food thermometer100to charge the energy storage element30thereof. When the food thermometer100needs to be charged, the charging assembly20of the food thermometer100may be electrically connected to the electrical connection end210of the relay device200. When the food thermometer100needs to be used to detect the temperature of the food or the food thermometer100is fully charged, the charging assembly20of the food thermometer100may be electrically disconnected from the electrical connection end210of the relay device200.

It should be understood that the above embodiments only illustrate technical solutions of the present disclosure, but does not limit the present disclosure. Any ordinary skilled person in the art may perform modification or equivalent replacement on the above embodiments or some technical features of the embodiments. All the modifications and replacements shall fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present disclosure.