Multiple Detector Apparatus and Method for Monitoring an Environment

• US 20170191952A1
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cryovac, LLC (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: RR Donnelley & Sons Company
• Inventors: Hook, Kevin J., Blease, James W., Cyman, JR., Theodore F., Murzynowski, Alan R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,379,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/125 Composition of the body, e.g. the composition of its sensitive layer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means

Abstract

According to one aspect, a monitoring device for detecting when an object may be subjected to a condition includes a processor, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a configuration circuit. A first sensor is polymer monolayer adapted to detect if the object is subjected to a magnitude of a first condition. A second sensor is a polymer bilayer adapted to detect if the object is subjected to a magnitude of a second condition. The resistance across the first sensor and second sensor are compared to determine whether an ambient/environmental condition has been detected. Indication of detection of an ambient/environmental condition, magnitude of the condition, and the time may be stored.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for detecting a particular condition, comprising:

a first carrier;

a processor disposed on the first carrier;

a first polymer sensor disposed on the first carrier, wherein the first polymer sensor is coupled to the processor and adapted to detect when the monitoring device is subjected to at least a first magnitude of a first condition;

a second polymer sensor disposed on the first carrier, wherein the second polymer sensor is coupled to the processor and adapted to detect when the monitoring device is subjected to at least a second magnitude of a second condition;

a second carrier disposed over at least a portion of the processor, the first polymer sensor, and the second polymer sensor,

wherein the processor generates a signal in response to detection of the first polymer sensor being subjected to at least a first magnitude of the first condition and the second polymer sensor being subjected to less than the second magnitude of the second condition, and the processor provides a determination of a magnitude of the particular condition and generates a second signal if the magnitude of the particular condition is greater than a baseline value.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first polymer sensor comprises a semiconductive polymer.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first polymer sensor comprises polyaniline.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first carrier comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the processor and the sensor are disposed on the first surface, and the second surface is securable to an object.

5. The monitoring device of claim 4, further comprising conductive traces coupled to the processor and the first polymer sensor, wherein the conductive traces are printed on the first surface using one or more of inkjet printing, screen printing, lithographic printing, intaglio printing, gravure printing and flexographic printing.

6. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the second polymer sensor comprises a bilayer construction of two or more semiconductive polymers.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the second polymer sensor comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

8. The monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the second carrier includes an aperture through which the two conductive traces may be coupled.

9. The monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the second carrier includes a further aperture and two further conductive traces that may be coupled through the further aperture, wherein coupling the two further conductive traces specifies a configuration parameter.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processor configures the sensors in accordance with a configuration parameter.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, further including a reset signal generator to generate a reset signal that actuates the monitoring device.

12. The monitoring device of claim 11, wherein the reset signal generator includes two conductive traces that may be coupled, and wherein the reset signal is generated when the two conductive traces are coupled.

14. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processor is connected to a switch and a memory, and wherein actuation of the switch causes the processor to generate a rest signal.

15. The monitoring device of claim 14, wherein in response to actuation of the switch, the processor polls the first polymer sensor and the second polymer sensor.

13. A monitoring device for detecting a particular condition, comprising:

a first carrier;

a processor disposed on the first carrier;

a first polymer sensor disposed on the first carrier, wherein the first polymer sensor comprises polyaniline and is exhibits an increase in resistance when a first substance is adsorbed on the first polymer sensor;

a second polymer sensor disposed on the first carrier, wherein the second polymer sensor comprises polyvinyl alcohol and exhibits an increase in resistance when a second substance is adsorbed on the second polymer sensor;

a second carrier disposed over at least a portion of the processor, the first polymer sensor, and the second polymer sensor; and

wherein the processor generates a signal in response to detection of the first polymer sensor being subjected to a first magnitude of the first substance and the second polymer sensor being subjected to less than the second magnitude of the second substance, and wherein the processor provides a determination of a magnitude of the particular condition and generates a second signal if the magnitude of the particular condition is greater than a baseline value.

16. A method of detecting that a device has been subjected to an environmental condition, comprising:

providing a device comprising a first polymer sensor, a second polymer sensor and a processor;

detecting when the first polymer sensor is subjected to at least a first magnitude of a first condition by measuring resistance across the first polymer sensor;

detecting when the second polymer sensor is subjected to less than first magnitude of a second condition by measuring resistance across the second polymer sensor;

determining whether the environmental condition has been detected;

generating a signal in response to detection of a magnitude of the environmental condition; and

generating an indication of a third magnitude of the environmental condition, wherein the third magnitude is greater than or equal to a baseline magnitude.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising the further step of heating the first polymer sensor and the second polymer sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of specifying a configuration parameter and the step of transmitting the configuration parameter to an RFID transceiver.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first polymer sensor comprises polyaniline.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second polymer sensor comprises polyvinyl alcohol.