Perishable product electronic label including time and temerature measurement

• US 20090027213A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Cold Chain LP
• Original Assignee: PakSense Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Debord, Wayne K., Hatchett, James, Jensen, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,675,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/588
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/04 for conservation purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/005 Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature fire detection G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/16 using resistive elements resistive elements per se H01C, H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/32 using change of resonant frequency of a crystal
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0291 Labels or tickets undergoing a change under particular conditions, e.g. heat, radiation, passage of time
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00

Abstract

An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised or spoiled. The label may take the form of a flexible, disposable label that is typically powered by a small battery. Methods may include providing a temperature-variable oscillator or time-base, counting cycles of said oscillator within a logic circuit to determine when one or more preset total cycle counts is/are reached, and signaling when said total cycle count(s) is/are reached. Extra sensing, time-keeping, memory storage, and/or communication interface circuits may be incorporated to augment the electronic assembly'"'"'s and method'"'"'s capabilities.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for performing time-temperature integration to monitor and alert for spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:

one or more temperature sensing means;

one or more electronic timers; and

one or more time/temperature integration calculation means for indicating that the quality or shelf-life of a perishable product may have been compromised.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more indicators for signaling spoilage status conditions of the perishable product.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators signal by audio and/or visual means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a battery for powering components of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time/temperature integration calculation means is a microcontroller integrated within the electronic apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a programming port and an interface, wherein the programming port can be connected to a programming device through the interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes:

a memory register integrated within the electronic apparatus; and

a clock signal integrated within the electronic apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the calculations for indicating spoilage use predetermined limits.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus takes the form of a label.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the label can be attached to product packaging.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integration calculation means executes an algorithm to monitor a rate of spoilage of a product.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the algorithm is modeled on the Arrhenius equation to mirror the growth of pathogens.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the algorithm is contained in a program memory.

14. An electronic apparatus for performing time-temperature integration to monitor and alert for the spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:

one or more temperature sensing means;

one or more electronic timers;

one or more indicators;

a battery; and

a microcontroller integrated within the electronic apparatus as a time/temperature integration calculation means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus includes:

a memory register integrated within the electronic apparatus; and

a clock signal integrated within the electronic apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller indicates, by the one or more indicators, that the quality or shelf-life of a perishable product may have been compromised.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more indicators signal by audio and/or visual means.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus includes a programming port and an interface, wherein the programming port can be connected to a programming device through the interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the calculations for indicating spoilage use predetermined limits.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus takes the form of a label that can be attached to product packaging.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller executes an algorithm to monitor a rate of spoilage of a product.

22. A method for monitoring and alerting for spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:

sensing temperature;

measuring time;

performing time-temperature integration with an electronic circuit attached to the packaging of the product to be monitored;

performing calculations for determining spoilage of the one or more perishable products; and

indicating spoilage by audio and/or visual means.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method includes performing time-temperature integration with an electronic circuit that is incorporated into a label.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the method includes performing time-temperature integration with an electronic circuit that includes a programming port and an interface, wherein the programming port can be connected to a programming device through the interface.