Insulated Container Having a Temperature Monitoring Device
First Claim
1. An insulated container having an embedded temperature sensor, the container comprising:
- a plurality of walls defining a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;
a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency circuit and a radio frequency antenna;
a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container;
an electric circuit extending through at least a portion of at least one of the walls and interconnecting the temperature sensor with the radio frequency antenna so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and
a battery that is at least partially disposed in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an insulated container having a temperature monitoring device that can be used to maintain an object stored in the container at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the temperature monitoring device while still permitting the taking of measurements of the interior of the container. The container includes an RF transponder having an RF antenna, a temperature sensor, and a battery that is operatively connected to the transponder and the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned in the container so that it is in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container. The battery is positioned at least partially in one of the walls of the container at a location that is spaced apart from the temperature sensor and that is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An insulated container having an embedded temperature sensor, the container comprising:
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a plurality of walls defining a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container; a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency circuit and a radio frequency antenna; a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container; an electric circuit extending through at least a portion of at least one of the walls and interconnecting the temperature sensor with the radio frequency antenna so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and a battery that is at least partially disposed in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of preparing an insulated container having a temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a container having a plurality of walls, the container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container; positioning a temperature sensor within the container in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically interconnected with a radio frequency transponder; and positioning a battery at least partially in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring the temperature of a temperature-sensitive object, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a temperature-sensitive object in the interior space of an insulated container, the container comprising; i. a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the container comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container; ii. a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency antenna; iii. a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, and that is interconnected with the radio frequency antenna so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and iv. a battery that is at least partially disposed in one or more walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery; and placing a refrigerant in the interior space of the container to maintain the temperature-sensitive object at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification