Systems, devices, admixtures, and methods including transponders for indication of food attributes

• US 20130048738A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baym, Michael H., Holman, Paul, Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K.Y., Kare, Jordin T., Lieberman, Erez, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,695,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

Systems, devices, admixtures, and methods are described including transponder devices (e.g., a palatable transponder, an edible transponder, a palatable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an edible RFID tag, etc.) for admixing with a food product.

Claims

1-72. -72. (canceled)

73. An edible transponder device, comprising:

an edible circuit substrate having a food-attribute-identification circuit disposed thereon, the edible circuit substrate having one or more organoleptic attributes that mimic a food product;

the food-attribute-identification circuit including one or more memory circuits having food-attribute data stored thereon, the food-attribute data including physiological response data associated with a food product; and

a first interrogation interface operably coupled to the food-attribute-identification circuit, the food-attribute-identification circuit configured to provide food-attribute data in response to interrogation of the first interrogation interface.

76. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute data includes one or more of advertising data, brand data, country of origin data, distributer data, manufacturer data, packaging data, or warranty data.

77. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute data includes one or more of coupon data, rebate data, or sweepstake data.

78. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute data includes enterprise specific data.

79. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the physiological response data associated with the food product includes at least one of an allergen content, an allergen response protocol, or an allergen alerting protocol stored thereon.

80. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit includes one or more memory circuits having food-attribute data indicative of at least one of a metabolite content, a metabolite response protocol, or a metabolite alerting protocol stored thereon.

84. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit includes a logic control circuit that generates a response indicative of at least one of an allergen content, an allergen response protocol, or an allergen alerting protocol in response to interrogation of the first interrogation interface.

85. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit includes a logic control circuit that generates at least one of a digital or analogue response associated with the food-attribute data in response to interrogation of the first interrogation interface.

87. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit includes one or more memory circuits having structured data indicative of at least one of an allergen content, an allergen response protocol, or an allergen alerting protocol.

89. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit and the first interrogation interface form part of an integrated circuit die.

93. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit and the first interrogation interface form part of an integrated circuit die having a major dimension of less than about 0.4 millimeters.

102. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the interrogation interface includes an antenna that is responsive based on an allergen-specific criterion.

103. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the interrogation interface is responsive to an allergen-specific carrier waveform.

104. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the interrogation interface is responsive to an allergen-specific frequency.

105. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the interrogation interface is responsive based on a message authentication protocol.

117. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the edible transponder device takes the form of an active, carrier-wave-selective, radio frequency identification tag.

118. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the edible transponder device takes the form of a semi-passive, carrier-wave-selective, radio frequency identification tag.

119. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the edible transponder device takes the form of a passive, carrier-wave-selective, radio frequency identification tag.

182. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes material that mimics a food product.

183. The edible transponder device of claim 73, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes material that mimics at least one of appearance, aroma, color, softness, taste, or texture of a food product

74. (canceled)

75. (canceled)

81-83. -83. (canceled)

86. (canceled)

88. (canceled)

90-92. -92. (canceled)

94-101. -101. (canceled)

106-116. -116. (canceled)

120. A radio frequency identification tag, comprising:

an edible circuit substrate fabricated from at least one edible material, the edible circuit substrate having one or more materials that mimic at least one of appearance, aroma, color, softness, taste, or texture of a food product;

a food-attribute-identification circuit disposed on the edible circuit substrate, the food-attribute-identification circuit including programmable storage having food-attribute data stored thereon, the food-attribute data stored thereon including physiological response data associated with the food product; and

at least one interrogation interface operably coupled to the food-attribute-identification circuit and disposed on the edible circuit substrate, the at least one interrogation interface responsive to electromagnetic energy interrogation,

the food-attribute-identification circuit operable to generate at least one of a digital or analogue response associated with the physiological response data responsive to interrogation of the at least one interrogation interface.

123. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes a food product.

132. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes one or more Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substances.

133. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes one or more water-soluble edible polymeric materials.

134. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes poly(L-lactid-co-glycolide).

135. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible circuit substrate includes an edible adhesive polymer.

137. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit is printed on the edible circuit substrate.

138. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit is printed on the edible circuit substrate using edible conductive ink.

139. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit is attached to the edible circuit substrate using an edible adhesive.

141. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the food-attribute-identification circuit toggles between a transmit state and a receive state upon electromagnetic energy interrogation.

144. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency identification tag includes an edible covering.

145. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency identification tag is encapsulated within a food product.

148. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the radio frequency identification tag toggles between a transmit state and a receive state upon receipt of an authorization key.

149. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the radio frequency identification tag toggles between a transmit state and a receive state upon receipt of an enterprise authorization key.

180. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the edible material comprises at least one of starch material, maize, degradable soybean material, soy protein, cereal protein, or caramelized sugar.

181. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 120, wherein the physiological response data comprises at least one of an adverse responses to food data, a food allergy data, a food intolerances data, or metabolite data.

121. (canceled)

122. (canceled)

124-131. -131. (canceled)

136. (canceled)

140. (canceled)

142. (canceled)

143. (canceled)

146. (canceled)

147. (canceled)

150-177. -177. (canceled)

178. A radio frequency identification tag for insertion into the food product, comprising:

a resonant antenna configured for sensitivity at a frequency range that is a function of an adjacent food permittivity;

an antenna tuning circuit coupled to the resonant antenna;

a logic circuit operatively coupled to the tuning circuit and configured to switch at least one of inductance or resistance of the tuning circuit; and

an interrogation interface configured to receive a command for the logic circuit to switch one or more of the inductance or resistance of the tuning circuit.

179. A passive radio frequency identification tag configured for insertion into the food product, comprising:

a first antenna interface operable to draw power from an interrogation field;

a second antenna interface operable to cause backscatter or forward scatter;

a logic and memory circuit operatively coupled to draw power from the first antenna interface and communicate across the second antenna interface; and

an encapsulant having one or more organoleptic attributes that mimic the food product.