METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR MONITORING PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

• US 20100133103A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Coolguard AB
• Original Assignee: Coolguard AB
• Inventors: Ericsson, Lars, Stjernfeld, Berit
• Application Number:
  US11/568,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133103A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/406
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time

Abstract

A method for monitoring the physical conditions of products, such as food-stuff and similar, wherein a plurality of detectors associated to nodes (25; 31) is arranged close to the food-stuff. A detector (26; 34) continuously measures at least one physical condition of a product. The nodes (25; 31) establish continuously and periodically a wire-less contact with the central unit (12), said nodes and said central unit being part of a local installation, and also transfer measured data from the detectors (26; 34) to the central unit (12). The central unit (12) continuously stores the received measured data and continuously and periodically establishes a wireless contact with a server (11) connected to the Internet for the transfer of stored measured data. Information related to the transferred measured data is made available on the server (11) to be reviewed through the Internet. The central unit (12) comprises a first communication means (14) for a wireless communication with a web server (11) connected to the Internet and a second communication means (16) for a wire-less communication with the nodes. The nodes comprise a communication means (17) corresponding to the second communication means for having a wire-less communication with the second communication means. Furthermore, the nodes comprise detectors (12; 34) and detector elements (27; 39) for recording data relating to the physical condition of the object. The nodes are arranged to continuously and periodically establish a wireless contact with a central unit (12) comprising a storage unit (53) for storing a plurality of measured data from a plurality of nodes.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the physical condition of products such as food-stuff and similar, wherein a plurality of detectors associated to nodes (25;

31) are arranged close to the food-stuff, characterized by

measuring continuously in a detector (26;

34) at least one physical condition of a product,

the nodes (25;

31) continuously and periodically establishing a wireless contact with a central unit (12), said nodes and central unit being part of a local installation,

the nodes (25;

31) transferring measured data from the detectors (26;

34) to the central unit (12),

the central unit continuously storing the received measured data,

the central unit (12) continuously and periodically establishing a wireless contact with a server (11) connected to the Internet and transferring stored measured data, and

presenting on the server (11) information related to the transferred measured data to be available over the Internet.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the step of

the central unit (12) continuously recording the actual time when a node transfers measured data and transmits an alarm signal when an expected transfer fails to appear.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the step of the central unit (12) comparing measured data transferred from the nodes with intervals for the measured values stored in advance and transmitting an alarm signal when the measured data differ from the intervals.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, also including the step of forwarding the alarm signal to the server (11).

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the step of

repeating in a first node type signals from other nodes in the local installation to the central unit.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the step of

providing each node in the local installation with a unique identity designation.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the step of

performing a none-contact measuring with a second node type, said second node type continuously indicating an ongoing measuring process.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, also including the following steps:

transferring at least one designation associated to each product to the hand unit (31) and

displaying the designation at a display (36) based on the activity of an operator.

9. A device for monitoring physical conditions of products, such as food-stuff and similar, wherein a plurality of detectors associated to nodes (25;

31) is arranged close to the food-stuff and wherein the nodes are comprised in a local installation, characterized in

that the local installation comprises at least one central unit (12) and a set of nodes of a first node type,

that the central unit (12) comprises a first communicating means (14) for a wireless communication with a web server (11) connected to the Internet,

that the central unit (12) comprises a second communication means (16) for a wireless communication with the nodes,

that the nodes comprise a communication means (17) corresponding to the second communication means for a wireless communication with the second communication means,

that the nodes comprise detectors (12;

34) and detector elements (27;

39) for recording data regarding the physical condition of an object,

that the nodes are arranged to continuously and periodically establish a wireless contact with a central unit (12) and

that the central unit (12) comprises a storing unit (53) for storing a plurality of measured data from a plurality of nodes.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein each node is provided with a unique identity designation.

11. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one node is constituted by a hand unit (31) and wherein said hand unit (31) is provided with a display (36) for indicating the measured object and a measured value, a memory unit (33) for storing a plurality of measured values and a temperature detector (34) connected through a measuring cable (30).

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the hand unit (31) comprises means (38) for a non-contact measuring of temperature and a key pad (37) for selecting either the temperature detector (34) or the means (38) for a non-contact measuring.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the hand unit (31) comprises a light pointer (43) cooperating with the means (38) for a non-contact measuring.