Method and apparatus for monitoring a product during shipping, storage and use

• US 20020082787A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microbar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microbar, Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Toan, Dick, Paul H., Jung, Jay, Woodworth, Robert E., Berg, Marc van den
• Application Number:
  US09/895,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/81
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure

Abstract

The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for verifying a product and monitoring conditions of the product during shipping, storage and use. The apparatus includes at least one controller configured to provide functional control to the apparatus. A memory is coupled with controller, and configured to store at least the product identification. The apparatus includes a communication interface coupled with the controller, and is configured to communicate at least the product identification stored in the memory. The controller couples with at least one sensor positioned proximate the product. The sensor is configured to measure at least one condition of the product. The apparatus monitors conditions of the product by initiating at least one measurement of the product conditions, and storing at least one of the measurements. The apparatus further communicates the measurements of the product conditions to allow the determination of the quality of the product.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a product placed in a storage unit, the apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor positioned in close proximity to the product and configured to measure at least one condition of the product;

at least one controller coupled with the at least one sensor;

memory coupled with the at least one controller;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive information from the at least one sensor and to store at least a portion of the information in the memory; and

a communication interface coupled with the at least one controller, and configured to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store manufacturing data; and

the communication interface is further configured to communicate the manufacturing data.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the communication interface is configured to communicate by wireless communication.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one controller utilizes control procedures to control the at least one sensor to control when information received from the at least one sensor is stored in the memory.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, wherein the at least one controller, the memory and the communication interface are positioned within the housing.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is secured to the storage unit such that at least a portion of the housing extends into the storage unit.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is removably secured to the storage unit.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one controller is configured to determine at least one quality of the product and the communication interface is configured to communicate the at least one quality of the product.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

an external control system coupled with the communication interface, and the external control system is configured to receive the at least one quality of the product.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an external control system coupled with the communication interface, wherein the communication interface is configured to at least receive information from the external control system.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

the communication interface is configured to at least receive control procedures from the external control system, wherein the at least one controller utilizes the control procedures in providing control to the at least one sensor.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the external control system wirelessly couples with the communication interface such that the communication interface wirelessly communicates with the external control system.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the communication interface is configured to communicate the at least one condition of the product.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

an external controller being coupled with the communication interface, and configured to communicate with the communication interface;

the external controller is configured to determine a quality of the product; and

the external controller includes a display device capable of displaying the quality of the product.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a display coupled with the communication interface and configured to receive the first condition and display the first condition.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

an external controller coupled with the communication interface, and configured to receive at least the first condition and determine a quality of the first product.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the external controller is configured to supply control procedures to the controller, such that the controller utilizes the control procedures to at least in part control the first sensor.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a first storage unit configured to store the first product, wherein at least the controller is secured to the first storage unit.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

the first storage unit having a channel extending into the storage unit, wherein the at first sensor is positioned within the channel.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

at least a second sensor coupled with the controller;

a second storage unit configured to store a second product, wherein the second sensor is position proximate the second product, and the second sensor is configured to monitor at least one condition of the second product.

15. An apparatus for monitoring a product, comprising:

at least a first sensor positioned proximate a first product, and configured to measure at least a first condition of the first product;

a controller coupled with the first sensor, and configured to control the first sensor; and

a communication interface coupled with the controller, and configured communicate the first condition.

22. A method of monitoring a product comprising the steps of:

initiating monitoring;

monitoring at least one condition of one or more sensor in proximity to the product;

retrieving results received in the step of monitoring; and

storing the results of the monitoring of the at least one condition; and

accessing the stored results.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

determining a quality of the product based on the results.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

loading the product into a storage unit for storage prior to the step of monitoring the at least one condition.

25. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of monitoring includes periodically monitoring the at least one condition.

26. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of monitoring includes monitoring the at least one condition based on information received from the sensors.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the step of monitoring includes controlling the monitoring through control procedures.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of:

displaying the stored results.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of:

communicating the results to an external device.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of communicating including wirelessly communicating the results.

32. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

storing a product identification;

the step of accessing including accessing the product identification; and

verifying the product based on the product identification.

33. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

accessing the stored results;

communicating the results to an external device; and

the step of determining the quality including determining the quality through the external device.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein:

the step of determining the quality of the first product includes signaling if a threshold of the at least one condition has been exceeded.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising the step of:

preventing the use of the first product if the threshold of the at least on condition has been exceeded.

37. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

communicating the results obtained from the sensor to an external controller; and

performing the step of determining the quality of the first product by the external controller.

38. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

clearing the recorded results;

positioning the sensor proximate a second product;

activating the sensor to monitor at least one condition of the second product;

monitoring the sensor;

recording results obtained from the sensor; and

determining a quality of the second product.

28. A method of monitoring a product during at least one of shipment, storage and use, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating monitoring;

monitoring at least one condition of the product;

storing results of monitoring the at least one condition;

determining a quality of the product based on the stored results; and

accessing the determined quality of the product.

34. A method of monitoring a quality of a product during at least one of shipping, storing and using, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a sensor proximate a first product;

activating the sensor to monitor at least one condition of the first product;

monitoring the sensor;

recording results obtained from the sensor; and

determining a quality of the first product.