Apparatus for detecting and reporting environmental conditions in bulk processing and handling of goods

• US 20040226392A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensor Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sensor Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: McNally, Wayd A.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

An apparatus for wireless instant real-time measurement of processing and handling produce and goods is presented. Electronic sensors monitor various physical parameters, sensor output measurements are analyzed, and reports are conveyed wirelessly in real-time to a remote display device for instant display and further analysis. Measurement profiles provided prove useful in determining optimum operating parameters ensuring high efficiencies in processing, storing, transport, and handling of produce and goods. Multiple sensor output measurements are combined to derive operating parameters which are reported along side sensor output measurements. Processing sensor output measurements also enables raising alarms when environmental extremes are experienced. The monitoring, detection, measurement and gathering of the environmental conditions data is found to be important in preventative maintenance, handling efficiency and performance monitoring in food safety and quality programs. The apparatus provides handlers with directed information on what processing and handling issues to address to recover revenues previously accepted as lost product and packaging.

Claims

1. A standalone environmental parameter measurement and reporting device for use in monitoring the environmental conditions to which a plurality of articles are subjected, said device being subjected to the same environmental conditions as said articles, the device comprising a housing designed to be embedded with said articles, the device further comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors for monitoring different environmental conditions, each sensor providing a sensor output based on a monitored environmental condition experienced;

b. a processor deriving at least one environmental parameter value from a plurality of sensor output measurements obtained from the plurality of sensors; and

c. a transceiver for reporting said derived environmental parameter value to a remote receiver.

2. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises at least one grommetted hole therein enabling sensor exposure to the monitored environment surrounding the device while providing sealing between the sensor and the housing.

3. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further mimics monitored articles including one of:

a product and a durable good, in respect of one of;

shape, surface texture, surface physical properties, and mass distribution.

4. The device claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises:

a. a first housing portion the plurality of sensors, the processor, and the transceiver;

b. a second housing portion housing a power source; and

c. retaining means providing sealed engagement between the first and second housing portions.

5. The device claimed in claim 3, wherein one of strength and rigidity is provided by a plurality of printed circuit boards soldered together at angles to each other.

6. The device claimed in claim 3, wherein each sensor comprises one of:

an impact sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a humidity sensor, a light intensity sensor, a position sensor, an orientation sensor, a roll sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a conductivity sensor.

7. The device claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact sensor includes a piezo-electric sensor.

8. The device claimed in claim 6, wherein monitoring impact experienced by the device, the device further comprises:

three single-axe bidirectional impact sensors orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and situated about the center of mass of the device.

9. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor comprises a removable sensor connected to a corresponding sensor port interface associated the processor.

10. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein derived parameter values comprise one of:

an angular moment imparted to the device, and a dew point.

11. The device claimed in claim 10, wherein monitoring angular moment imparted to the device, the device further comprises:

a plurality of impact sensors situated away from the center of mass of the device.

12. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a single channel transceiver, transmitting on a selectable frequency band, enabling concurrent use of the device with other devices in a single monitoring area.

13. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising one of:

hardware analog-to-digital sensor output converter, and a software analog-to-digital sensor output converter.

14. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising an auto-gain control circuit providing one of:

auto-calibration and auto-ranging.

15. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power conversion circuit converting power source voltage to a plurality of voltage outputs, each voltage output being used to provide power to one of:

a sensor, the processor, and the transceiver.

16. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light emitting diode indicating device status without affecting the monitored environment.

17. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising a photo device enabling remote activation of the device without affecting the monitored environment.

18. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sound emitter, emitting one of:

human-audible sound and ultrasound, to aid in locating the device.

19. The device claimed in claim 1, optionally comprising a temporary data storage enabling monitoring environmental conditions in applications in which the device is temporarily shielded preventing radio transmission.

20. The device claimed in claim 1, further comprising one of wired and wireless self-testing mechanism.

21. A receiving module, the receiving module comprising:

a. a multi-channel transceiver for receiving at least one environmental parameter value and transmitting at least one control command; and

b. communication port for relaying the at least one environmental parameter value.

22. The receiving module claimed in claim 21, comprising one of:

a fixed receiver and a mobile receiver.

23. The receiving module claimed in claim 21, further comprising one of a:

sensing device activate button, sensing device find button, and a marker set button.

24. The receiving module claimed in claim 21, further comprising a light emitter for actuating a sensing device.

25. The receiving module claimed in claim 21, further comprising a sound detection circuit used in locating an ultrasound emitting sensing device.

26. A method of monitoring environmental conditions experienced by a plurality of articles during one of handing, processing, storage, and transport, a monitoring device being subjected to the same environmental conditions as said articles, the device comprising a housing designed to be embedded with said articles, the method comprising steps of:

a. obtaining a plurality of measurement values from a corresponding plurality of sensors; and

b. deriving at least one environmental parameter value from the plurality of measurement values obtained.

27. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein obtaining the plurality of measurement values, the method further comprises a step of collecting sensor measurements continuously at a collection rate.

28. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein the collection rate is between 5 and 10 KHz.

29. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein deriving the at least one environmental parameter value, the method comprises performing calculations in one of:

hardware and software.

30. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein deriving the at least one environmental parameter value, the method comprises a step of performing peak detection on one of:

successive measurement values and successive derived environmental parameter values.

31. The method claimed in claim 30, wherein peak detection is performed at a rate between 32 and 40 Hz.

32. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

subjecting stream of derived environmental parameter values to a peak detection step determining whether the derived environmental parameter value is above a threshold level.

33. The method claimed in claim 32, further comprising a step of:

performing one of auto-calibration and auto-ranging based on the result of the peak detection step.

34. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising a step of transmitting the at least one derived environmental parameter value.

35. The method claimed in claim 34, wherein prior to transmitting the at least one derived environmental parameter value, the method further comprises a step of selecting a transmission frequency band.

36. The method claimed in claim 35, wherein selecting the transmission frequency band, the method further comprises a step of receiving a command to select a transmission frequency band.

37. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising a subsequent step of:

inserting a marker between one of;

successive measurement values and successive derived environmental parameter values.

38. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising optional subsequent steps of:

performing a measurement value profile comparison, and extracting a statistic value in respect of a selected group of derived environmental parameter values.

39. The method claimed in claim 26, further comprising steps of:

a. receiving a request for status reporting;

b. providing a status report; and

c. transmitting the status report.