Apparatus for Sensing Environmental Changes

• US 20150276635A1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Striemer, Grant Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,788,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/424 having an electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means G01N3/00 – G01N25/00 take precedence; measurement or testing of electric or magnetic variables or of electric or magnetic properties of materials G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/302 pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36

Abstract

A sensor system comprises: a communications element and a switch configured to enable or disable the communications element. The switch comprises a switchable polymeric element. The polymeric element has at least a first electrical state and a second electrical state and is switchable between the first and second electrical states as a function of predefined environmental changes.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a communications element and a switch configured to enable or disable the communications element, the switch comprising a switchable polymeric element, the polymeric element having at least a first electrical state and a second electrical state and being switchable between the first and second electrical states as a function of predefined environmental changes.

2. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the predefined environmental change is selected from the group consisting of:

wetness, humidity, pH, mechanical stress, solvent compatibility, and combinations thereof.

3. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the switch enables the operation of the communications element as or after the predefined environmental change occurs.

4. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the switch disables the operation of the communications element as or after the predefined environmental change occurs.

5. Method of monitoring an environment, the method comprising steps of:

a. providing a product comprising an environmentally sensitive sensor system, the sensor system comprising;

a communications element and a switch configured to enable or disable the communications element, the switch comprising a switchable polymeric element, the polymeric element having at least a first electrical state and a second electrical state and being switchable between the first and second electrical states as a function of predefined environmental changes,

b. providing an interrogator adapted to communicate with the sensor system to determine the state of the communication element,

c. exposing the product to potential environmental changes,

d. interrogating the state of the communications element of the sensor system.

6. Device comprising sensor system, the sensor system comprising:

the sensor system comprising;

a communications element and a switch configured to enable or disable the communications element, the switch comprising a switchable polymeric element, the polymeric element having at least a first electrical state and a second electrical state and being switchable between the first and second electrical states as a function of predefined environmental changes.