Device and method for identifying a containers

• US 20040041709A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fintegraph, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/045 Casks, barrels, or drums in their entirety, e.g. beer barrels, i.e. presenting most of the following features like rolling beads, double walls, reinforcing and supporting beads for end walls thermally insulated barrels, B65D81/3802
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0871 Level gauges for beverage storage containers level indicators in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2966 making use of acoustical resonance or standing waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

The present invention relates to an wireless communication device and method for identifying a container. The device includes a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the container. The container includes an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, such as solid, liquid, and/or gaseous materials. The container also includes an opening through which the container contents are distributed. A valve assembly is positioned over the opening for controlling the flow of contents from the container. The wireless communication device is mounted within the valve assembly, and preferably within the ball. The wireless communication device communicates information regarding the container and/or its contents to an interrogation reader. The temperature associated with the container and/or its contents may be determined by various techniques including thermal contact between the temperature sensor and the container, measuring the discharge rate in a discharge capacitor associated with the wireless communication device, and determining the maximum energy absorption frequency of the wireless communication device to correlate it to temperature. The liquid level of the container may be determined by employing liquid level sensor techniques.

Claims

1. A device for identifying a container containing contents, comprising:

a valve assembly for controlling passage of the contents to and from the container, said valve assembly positioned to be in contact with the contents inside the container; and

a wireless communication device positioned with said valve assembly for wirelessly communicating information associated with the container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is in direct contact with the contents inside the container.

3. The device of claim 1, where said valve assembly is in indirect contact with the contents inside the container.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly includes a ball and said wireless communication device is mounted within said ball.

5. The device of claim 4, further including a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature associated with the container.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said wireless communication device determines the temperature due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with the container.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said wireless communication device includes a discharge capacitor associated with said wireless communication device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication device linearly correlates a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication device includes a look-up table to correlate a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication device communicates the temperature to a control system if the charge remaining on said discharge capacitor exceeds a predetermined value.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication device further includes a means for communicating said temperature to a control system.

12. The device of claim 4, further including a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining a liquid level within the container.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said liquid level sensor includes an actuator to emit a frequency range whereby said wireless communication device determines a resonance frequency.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a characteristic curve for correlating said resonance frequency to a particular liquid level.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a look-up table for determining the liquid level.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said actuator is piezo-electric.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said liquid level sensor includes a transmit actuator and a receive actuator;

and wherein said transmit actuator emits a frequency range and said receive actuator receives resonance responses to determine a resonance frequency.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said transmit actuator and said receive actuator are both piezo-electric.

19. The device of claim 4, wherein the said wireless communication device further comprises an orientation independent antenna for receiving signals.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said antenna further comprises a plurality of coils mounted at relative angles to each other.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said plurality of coils each include a rectifier to square the signal from each said plurality of coils.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of coils is arranged 90-degrees relative to each other.

23. The device of claim 4, wherein said ball is constructed of a conductive material.

24. The device of claim 4, wherein said ball is constructed of a food safe material.

25. The device of claim 4, further comprising an antenna associated with said wireless communication device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said antenna is internally positioned within said wireless communication device.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said antenna is positioned at least partially external to said wireless communication device.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein said ball is constructed of a conductive material and said antenna is connected to and uses said ball as a radiator.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein said ball is constructed of a conductive material and said antenna is reactively coupled to and uses said ball as a radiator.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly includes a gasket, said wireless communication device being mounted within said gasket.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said gasket is in direct contact with the liquid.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein said gasket is in indirect contact with the liquid.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a ball, said ball being movably positioned between a closed orientation against said gasket for preventing the contents inside the container from exiting, and an open orientation distanced from said gasket allowing the contents to exit the container, wherein a slot is formed between said ball and said gasket.

34. The device of claim 30, further comprising an antenna associated with said wireless communication device.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said antenna is located internal to said wireless communication device.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein said antenna is located at least partially external to said wireless communication device.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein said antenna further includes feed lines extending from said wireless communication device to said antenna.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein said feed lines are connected directly to said antenna.

39. The device of claim 33, wherein feed lines extend between said wireless communication device and said slot.

40. The device of claim 33, wherein said antenna arrangement further comprises feed lines reactively coupled to said slot.

41. The device of claim 30, further including a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside the container.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein said wireless communication device determines the temperature due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with the container.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein said wireless communication device includes a discharge capacitor associated with said wireless communication device.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said wireless communication device linearly correlates a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein said wireless communication device includes a look-up table to correlate a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

46. The device of claim 43, wherein said wireless communication device communicates the temperature to a control system if the charge remaining on said discharge capacitor exceeds a predetermined value.

47. The device of claim 43, wherein said wireless communication device further includes a means for communicating said temperature to a control system.

48. The device of claim 30, further including a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining liquid level within the container.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein said liquid level sensor includes an actuator to emit a frequency range whereby said wireless communication device determines a resonance frequency.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a look-up table for determining the liquid level.

51. The device of claim 49, wherein said identification includes a memory having a characteristic curve for correlating said resonance frequency to a particular liquid level.

52. The device of claim 49, wherein said actuator is piezo-electric.

53. The device of claim 48, wherein said liquid level sensor includes a transmit actuator and a receive actuator;

and wherein said transmit actuator emits a frequency range and said receive actuator receives resonance responses to determine a resonance frequency.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein said transmit actuator and said receive actuator are both piezo-electric.

65. The system of claim 52, wherein said wireless communication device communicates the temperature to a control system when the charge remaining on said discharge capacitor exceeds a predetermined valve.

55. An identification system, comprising:

a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening;

a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents; and

a wireless communication device mounted within said valve assembly to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein said valve assembly includes a ball positioned in said opening, said wireless communication device being mounted within said ball.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said container includes a fill tube extending between said opening and an interior portion of said container, said ball being in contact with said fill tube.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein said container is a beer keg.

61. The system of claim 55, further including a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside said container.

62. The system of claim 61, further including a discharge capacitor associated with said wireless communication device.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein said wireless communication device includes a lookup-table to correlate a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein said wireless communication device includes a characteristic curve to correlate a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

66. The system of claim 55, further including an interrogation reader to interrogate said wireless communication device and further adapted to determine the temperature of said wireless communication device by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said interrogation reader correlates said maximum energy absorption frequency to a temperature using a look-up table.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein said interrogation reader correlates said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature using a characteristic curve.

76. The system of claim 55, wherein said valve assembly includes a gasket, said wireless communication device being mounted within said gasket.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein said gasket is in direct contact with said contents inside said container.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein said gasket is in indirect contact with said contents inside said container.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a ball, said ball being movably positioned between a closed orientation against said gasket for preventing the contents from exiting, and an open orientation distanced from said gasket allowing the contents to exit said container;

and wherein a slot is formed between said ball and said gasket.

80. The system of claim 76, further comprising an antenna associated with said wireless communication device.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein said antenna is located internal to said wireless communication device.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein said antenna is located at least partially external to said wireless communication device.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein said antenna further includes feed lines extending from said wireless communication device to said antenna.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein said feed lines are connected directly to said antenna.

85. The system of claim 79, wherein said feed lines extend between said wireless communication device and said slot.

86. The system of claim 79, wherein said antenna arrangement further comprises feed lines reactively coupled to said slot.

87. The system of claim 76, further including a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside said container.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein said wireless communication device determines the temperature due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with said container.

89. The system of claim 87, wherein said wireless communication device includes a discharge capacitor associated with said wireless communication device.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said wireless communication device linearly correlates a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

91. The system of claim 89, wherein said wireless communication device includes a look-up table to correlate a charge remaining on said discharge capacitor to the temperature.

92. The device of claim 89, wherein said wireless communication device communicates the temperature to a control system if the charge remaining on said discharge capacitor exceeds a predetermined value.

93. The device of claim 89, wherein said wireless communication device further includes a means for communicating said temperature to a control system.

94. The system of claim 76, further including an interrogation reader to interrogate said wireless communication device and further adapted to determine the temperature of said wireless communication device by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device.

95. The system of claim 94, wherein said interrogation reader correlates said maximum energy absorption frequency to a temperature using a look-up table.

96. The system of claim 94, wherein said interrogation reader correlates said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature using a characteristic curve.

97. The system of claim 76, further including a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining liquid level within said container.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein said liquid level sensor includes an actuator to emit a frequency range whereby said wireless communication device determines a resonance frequency.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a look-up table for determining the liquid level curve.

100. The system of claim 98, wherein said identification includes a memory having a characteristic curve for correlating said resonance frequency to a particular liquid level.

101. The system of claim 98, wherein said actuator is piezo-electric.

102. The system of claim 97, wherein said liquid level sensor includes a transmit actuator and a receive actuator, wherein said transmit actuator emits a frequency range and said receive actuator receives resonance responses to determine a resonance frequency.

59. The system of claim 58, further including a biasing member positioned between and in contact with each of said ball and said fill tube.

69. The system of claim 59, further including a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining liquid level within said container.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein said liquid level sensor includes an actuator to emit a frequency range whereby said wireless communication device determines a resonance frequency.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a characteristic curve for correlating said resonance frequency to a particular liquid level.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein said wireless communication device includes a memory having a look-up table for determining the liquid level.

73. The system of claim 69, wherein said actuator is piezo-electric.

74. The system of claim 69, wherein said liquid level sensor includes transmit actuator and a receive actuator, wherein said transmit actuator emits a frequency range and said receive actuator receives resonance responses to determine a resonance frequency.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein said transmit actuator and said receive actuator are both piezo-electric.

104. A method of monitoring information associated with contents contained within a container, comprising the steps of:

associating a wireless communication device within a valve assembly of the container wherein said valve assembly is positioned in contact with the contents; and

communicating information associated with said contents to an interrogation reader.

103. The system of claim 104, wherein said transmit actuator and said receive actuator are both piezo-electric.

105. The method of claim 104, further comprising the step of placing the valve assembly in direct contact with the contents.

106. The method of claim 104, further including determining information relating to a temperature associated with the contents.

107. The method of claim 104, further including determining the temperature by determining the discharge in a discharge capacitor associated with said wireless communication device.

108. The method of claim 107, further including charging said discharge capacitor at a first time instant and determining the remaining charge of said discharge capacitor at a second time instant to determine the temperature based on a remaining charge of said discharge capacitor.

109. The method of claim 108, further including correlating said remaining charge with the temperature by using a look-up table.

110. The method of claim 108, further including correlating said remaining charge with the temperature using a characteristic curve.

111. The method of claim 107, further including communicating the temperature to a control system when said remaining charge exceeds a predetermined value.

112. The method of claim 107, further including communicating the temperature to said interrogation reader.

113. The method of claim 104, further including determining a temperature of the contents by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device.

114. The method of claim 113, further including correlating said maximum energy absorption frequency to a temperature using a look-up table.

115. The method of claim 113, further including correlating said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature using a characteristic curve.

116. The method of claim 108, further including determining information relating to a liquid level by emitting a frequency range to determine a resonance frequency associated with the container.

117. The method of claim 116, further including correlating said resonance frequency to a particular liquid level using a characteristic curve stored in said wireless communication device.

118. The method of claim 116, further including looking up the temperature for said resonance frequency using a look-up table.

119. A method of monitoring a container comprising the steps of:

inserting a wireless communication device within a valve assembly of the container;

moving the container through at least one interrogation point containing an interrogation reader; and

establishing communication between the wireless communication device and said interrogation reader for monitoring the container.

120. The method of claim 119, further including a central control system in communication with the interrogation point for monitoring the movement of the container.