RFID temperature device and method

• US 20040041714A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,847,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

A remote communication device, that receives temperature indicia concerning a container and/or its contents and communicates such temperature indicia along with an identification indicia to a reader. The remote communication device can measure and communicate temperature indicia associated with a container in a periodic manner. The remote communication device can also measure and communicate temperature indicia associated with a container when such temperature indicia exceed a certain minimum or maximum threshold temperature. The remote communication device can also include power circuitry to store energy when energized in the range of an interrogation reader so that the remote communication device can be powered for temperature indicia measurements when not in the range of an interrogation reader.

Claims

1. A device for measuring information associated with a container, wherein a remote communication device is attached to the container for measuring the temperature associated with the container and communicating identification indicia and temperature indicia associated with the container to a reader, said device comprising:

(a) a remote communication device attached to the container, said remote communication device including a control system and wireless communication electronics;

(b) a temperature sensor operatively associated with said remote communication device; and

(c) said control system adapted to receive temperature indicia associated with the container from said temperatures sensor and to communicate said temperature indicia and an identification indicia associated with the container to an interrogation reader through said wireless communication electronics.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said control system receives temperature indicia periodically.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said control system keeps a history of said periodic temperature indicia and communicates said history of said periodic temperature indicia to said interrogation reader at a later time.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said control system communicates said periodic temperature indicia immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said control system receives temperature indicia when it exceeds a threshold setting.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said threshold setting is a maximum threshold setting.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said threshold setting is a minimum threshold setting.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said control system stores said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting and communicates said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting stored to said interrogation reader at a later time.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein said control system communicates said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said remote communication device includes a power circuitry to store energy when in the range of said interrogation reader to power to said remote communication device when said remote communication device is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said remote identification device determines said temperature indicia due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with the container.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said remote communication device includes a temperature unstable antenna coil and a discharge capacitor associated with said remote identification device to determine temperature indicia associated with the container.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said interrogation reader charges said discharge capacitor at a first time instant wherein said remote identification device determines the remaining charge of said discharge capacitor at a second time instant to determine temperature indicia associated with said identification device based remaining charge of said discharge capacitor.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said identification device uses a lookup-table to correlate remaining charge to said temperature indicia.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said identification device uses a characteristic curve to correlate remaining charge to said temperature indicia.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein said identification device communicates said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is below a predetermined value.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said identification device communicates said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is above a predetermined value.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said interrogation reader determines a maximum energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device to determine said temperature indicia corresponding to said energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said interrogation reader uses a look-up table to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said interrogation reader uses a characteristic curve to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said control system detects a failure in said temperature sensor and communicates said failure when said remote communication device is in range of said interrogation reader.

22. A device for measuring information associated with a container, wherein a remote communication device is attached to the container for measuring a temperature indicia associated with the container and communicating the identification indicia and the temperature indicia associated with the container to an interrogation reader, said device comprising:

(a) a container;

(b) a remote communication device attached to said container, said remote communication device including a control system and wireless communication electronics;

(c) a temperature sensor operatively associated with said remote communication device; and

(d) said control system adapted to receive the temperature indicia associated with said container from said temperature sensor and to communicate the temperature indicia and an identification indicia associated with said container to an interrogation reader through said wireless communication electronics.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said control system receives the temperature indicia periodically.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said control system keeps a history of said periodic temperature indicia and communicates said history of said periodic temperature indicia to said interrogation reader at a later time.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said control system communicates said periodic temperature indicia immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein said control system receives the temperature indicia when it exceeds a threshold setting.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said threshold setting is a maximum threshold setting.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein said threshold setting is a minimum threshold setting.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein said control system stores the temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting and communicates said stored temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting to said interrogation reader at a later time.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein said control system immediately communicates the temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

31. The device of claim 22, wherein said remote communication device includes a power circuitry to store energy when in the range of said interrogation reader to power said remote communication device when said remote communication device is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

32. The device of claim 22 wherein said remote identification device determines the temperature indicia due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with said container.

33. The device of claim 22, wherein said remote communication device includes a temperature unstable antenna coil and a discharge capacitor associated with said remote identification device to determine the temperature indicia associated with said container.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein said interrogation reader charges said discharge capacitor at a first time instant wherein said remote identification device determines the remaining charge of said discharge capacitor at a second time instant to determine the temperature indicia associated with said identification device based on the remaining charge of said discharge capacitor.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein said identification device uses a lookup-table to correlate remaining charge to the temperature indicia.

36. The device of claim 33, wherein said identification device uses a characteristic curve to correlate remaining charge to the temperature indicia.

37. The device of claim 33, wherein said identification device communicates the temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is below a predetermined valve.

38. The device of claim 33, wherein said identification device communicates the temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is above a predetermined valve.

39. The device of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader determines a maximum energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device to determine a liquid temperature indicia corresponding to said energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said interrogation reader uses a look-up table to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to the temperature indicia.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein said interrogation reader uses a characteristic curve to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to the temperature indicia.

42. The device of claim 22, wherein said control system detects a failure in said temperature sensor and communicates said failure when said remote communication device is in range of said interrogation reader.

43. The device of claim 22, wherein said temperature sensor measures the temperature indicia concerning a liquid contained inside said container.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said liquid is beer.

45. A device for measuring temperature associated with a container, said device comprising:

(a) a remote communication device attached to the container, said remote communication device including a control system and wireless communication electronics;

(b) a temperature sensor operatively associated with said remote communication device to transmit a temperature indicia periodically to said control system; and

(c) said control system adapted to communicate said temperature indicia to an interrogation reader through said wireless communication electronics.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein said control system keeps a history of said periodic temperature indicia and communicates said history of said periodic temperature indicia to said interrogation reader at a later time.

47. The device of claim 45, wherein said control system communicates said periodic temperature indicia immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

48. The device of claim 45, wherein said control system additionally communicates an identification indicia associated with the container to said interrogation reader.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein said remote communication device includes a power circuitry to store energy when in the range of said interrogation reader to power to said remote communication device when said remote communication device is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

50. The device of claim 45, wherein said remote identification device determines said temperature indicia due to said temperature sensor being in thermal contact with said container.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein said remote communication device includes a temperature unstable antenna coil and a discharge capacitor associated with said remote identification device to determine said temperature indicia associated with said container.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein said interrogation reader charges said discharge capacitor at a first time instant wherein said remote identification device determines the remaining charge of said discharge capacitor at a second time instant to determine said temperature indicia associated with said identification device based remaining charge of said discharge capacitor.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein said identification device uses a lookup-table to correlate remaining charge to said temperature indicia.

54. The device of claim 51, wherein said identification device uses a characteristic curve to correlate remaining charge to said temperature indicia.

55. The device of claim 51, wherein said identification device communicates said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is below a predetermined valve.

56. The device of claim 51, wherein said identification device communicates said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is above a predetermined valve.

57. The device of claim 45, wherein said interrogation reader determines a maximum energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device to determine a liquid temperature indicia corresponding to said energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein said interrogation reader uses a look-up table to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia.

59. The device of claim 57, wherein said interrogation reader uses a characteristic curve to correlate said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia.

60. The device of claim 45, wherein said control system detects a failure in said temperature sensor and communicates said failure when said remote communication device is in range of said interrogation reader.

61. A device for measuring temperature associated with a container, said device comprising:

(a) a remote communication device attached to the container, said remote communication device including a control system and wireless communication electronics;

(b) a temperature sensor operatively associated with said remote communication device to transmit a temperature indicia when in excess of a threshold setting to said control system; and

(c) said control system adapted to communicate said temperature indicia to an interrogation reader through said wireless communication electronics.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein said control system stores said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting and communicating said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader at a later time.

63. The device of claim 62, wherein said control system communicates said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

64. The device of claim 62, wherein said control system additionally communicates an identification indicia associated with the container to said interrogation reader.

65. The device of claim 61, wherein said remote communication device includes a power circuitry to store energy when in the range of said interrogation reader to power to said remote communication device when said remote communication device is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

66. The device of claim 61, wherein said control system detects a failure in said temperature sensor and communicates said failure when said remote communication device is in range of said interrogation reader.

67. A method of tracking a container wherein a remote communication device is attached to the container for measuring said temperature indicia associated with the container and communicating identification indicia and said temperature indicia associated with the container to an interrogation reader, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a remote communication device having a control system and a wireless communication electronics;

(b) sensing a temperature indicia associated with the container through use of a temperature sensor; and

(c) communicating said temperature indicia and an identification indicia associated with the container to an interrogation reader through said wireless communication electronics.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein step (c) further includes determining said temperature indicia through thermal contact between said temperature sensor and the container.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein step (c) further includes determining said temperature indicia by determining the discharge in a discharge capacitor associated with said remote identification device.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein step (c) further includes 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 said temperature indicia associated with said identification device based on remaining charge of said discharge capacitor.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein step (c) further includes correlating remaining charge in said discharge capacitor to said temperature indicia by using a look-up table.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein step (c) further includes correlating remaining change in said discharge capacitor to said temperature indicia using a characteristic curve.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein step (c) further includes communicating said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is below a predetermined value.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein step (c) further includes communicating said temperature indicia to said interrogation reader if the remaining charge is above a predetermined value.

75. The method of claim 67, wherein step (c) further includes determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device to determine a liquid temperature indicia corresponding to said energy absorption frequency of said remote identification device.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein step (c) further includes correlating said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia using a look-up table.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein step (c) further includes correlating said maximum energy absorption frequency to said temperature indicia using a characteristic curve.

78. The method of claim 67, wherein step (b) is performed periodically.

79. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of keeping a history of said periodic temperature indicia and communicating said history of said periodic temperature indicia to said interrogation reader at a later time.

80. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of communicating said periodic temperature indicia immediately when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

81. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of receiving said temperature indicia when it exceeds a threshold setting.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein said step of receiving said temperature indicia when it exceeds a threshold setting occurs when said temperature indicia exceeds a maximum threshold setting.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising the step of storing said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting and communicating said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting stored to said interrogation reader at a later time.

84. The method of claim 81, further comprising the step of immediately communicating said temperature indicia in excess of a threshold setting when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader.

85. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of storing energy when said remote communication device is in the range of said interrogation reader to power said remote communication device when said remote communication device is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

86. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of detecting a failure in said temperature sensor and communicating said failure when said remote communication device is in range of said interrogation reader.

87. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of tracking the containers at a plurality of interrogation points to receive said temperature indicia and an identification indicia associated with the container.

88. A device for measuring information associated with a container, wherein a remote communication device is attached to the container for measuring the temperature indicia associated with the container and communicating identification indicia and temperature indicia associated with the container to a reader, said device comprising:

(a) a means for wireless communication attached to the container;

(b) a means for sensing the temperature indicia associated with the container; and

(c) said means for wireless communication communicating the temperature indicia along with a means for uniquely identifying the container to an interrogation reader.

89. The device of claim 88, wherein said means for sensing the temperature indicia is performed periodically.

90. The device of claim 89, wherein the temperature indicia is also communicated by said means for wireless communication if the temperature indicia exceeds a threshold setting.

91. The device of claim 88, wherein the temperature indicia is communicated by said means for wireless communication if the temperature indicia exceeds a threshold setting.

92. The device of claim 88, wherein said means for wireless communication further includes a means for powering said means for wireless communication when said means for wireless communication is in the range of said interrogation reader to power to said means for wireless communication when said means for wireless communication is not in the range of said interrogation reader.

93. An improved container for use in a radio frequency identification system for tracking containers, comprising a container for transporting a liquid and a transponder integrally mounted to said container for transmitting unique identification indicia for use in identifying said container and the temperature indicia associated with said container, the temperature indicia reflecting the temperature indicia monitored during transport.

94. The improved container of claim 93, wherein said remote communication device is further configured to periodically monitor and store the temperature indicia during transport and transmit said stored the temperature indicia along with said identification indicia when said remote communication device is interrogated.

95. The improved container of claim 94, wherein said remote communication device is further configured to create a historical record of the periodically monitored temperature indicia and transmit said historical record when said remote communication device is interrogated.

96. The improved container of claim 94, wherein said remote communication device is further configured to periodically determine the temperature indicia associated with said container during transport, determine if said temperature indicia is passed a defined limit and transmit a signal indicating said stored temperature indicia has past a defined limit along with said identification indicia when said remote communication device is interrogated.