Temperature tag and system for monitoring, recording, and reporting temperature readings

• US 20030006907A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Long Range Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: James Livingston, Kenneth J. Lovegreen, Russell P. Blink
• Inventors: Blink, Russell P., Lovegreen, Kenneth J., Livingston, James
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

A temperature tag and system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature reading inside a container. The temperature tag mounts on an outside surface of the container, and a shaft with a temperature sensor extends through the side of the container and senses the internal temperature reading. A plurality of readings may be recorded at a predefined sampling rate and stored in a data memory. The temperature tag then sends the temperature readings to a reader device that presents the temperature readings to a user. The reader device may trigger the temperature tag to send the temperature readings with a signal such as an infrared (IR) signal, a radio frequency (RF) signal, and the like. The temperature readings may be analyzed in the temperature tag, the reader device, or may be downloaded to a computer to determine if an alarm condition exists.

Claims

1. A temperature tag for sensing and recording an internal temperature inside a container, said tag comprising:

means for mounting a portion of the temperature tag on an exterior surface of the container;

a temperature sensor located inside the container for sensing the internal temperature in the container;

a data memory connected to the temperature sensor for recording the sensed internal temperature; and

means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user upon demand.

2. The temperature tag of claim 1 wherein the means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user upon demand includes:

a visual display on the portion of the temperature tag mounted on the exterior surface of the container; and

a microprocessor that retrieves the recorded temperature from the data memory and sends the retrieved temperature to the visual display.

3. The temperature tag of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is located on a shaft that extends from the portion of the temperature tag mounted on the exterior surface of the container, through a side of the container, to the inside of the container.

4. The temperature tag of claim 1 wherein the means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user includes:

a data output port; and

a microprocessor that retrieves the recorded temperature from the data memory and sends the recorded temperature to the data output port.

5. The temperature tag of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor includes:

means for controlling the temperature sensor to report temperature readings at a predefined sampling rate; and

means for recording in the data memory, a plurality of temperature sensor readings.

6. The temperature tag of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor also includes:

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

7. The temperature tag of claim 6 further comprising a trigger input port located on the portion of the temperature tag on the exterior surface of the container, said trigger input port receiving a request for temperature readings from the user, and sending the request to the microprocessor.

8. A system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature reading inside a container, said system comprising:

a temperature tag that mounts on the container and senses the internal temperature reading inside the container, said temperature tag including means for sending the sensed internal temperature reading to a reader device; and

a reader device that receives the sensed internal temperature reading from the temperature tag and presents the internal temperature reading to a user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the temperature tag includes:

a data memory for recording the sensed internal temperature reading;

a trigger input port for receiving a request for the sensed internal temperature reading from the reader device; and

a data output port for sending the requested internal temperature reading to the reader device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the temperature tag also includes:

means for controlling the temperature sensor to report temperature readings at a predefined sampling rate; and

means for recording in the data memory, a plurality of temperature sensor readings.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the reader device includes:

means for requesting the plurality of temperature sensor readings from the temperature sensor;

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

12. The system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature inside a container of claim 10 further comprising a computer interfaced with the reader device, said computer including:

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

13. The system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature inside a container of claim 12 wherein the temperature tag also includes means for sending a container identification number along with the plurality of temperature readings so that the readings can be correlated to a particular container after the readings are downloaded to the computer.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the trigger input port of the temperature tag is triggered by a signal of a type selected from a group consisting of:

an infrared signal;

a visible light signal;

a radio frequency signal;

a direct electrical contact signal; and

a direct mechanical contact signal.