Perishable good integrity indicator

• US 5,442,669 A
• Filed: 12/27/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David L. Medin
• Original Assignee: David L. Medin
• Inventors: Medin, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wambach, Margaret Rose
• Application Number:
  US08/175,209
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 377/20, 377/25, 307/269, 327/141
• US Class Current: 377/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/32 using change of resonant frequency of a crystal
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

A perishable good integrity indicator includes a first oscillator for outputting a first clock signal which does not substantially vary in response to temperature. A second oscillator outputs a second clock temperature which varies as a function of temperature. A counter counts the pulses of the second clock signal during a time period determined by the first clock and outputs a count value. A data table receives the count value, translates the count value into a time temperature value representing the relationship of time and temperature during the time period and outputs the time temperature value to an adder. The adder adds the time temperature values output by the data table over time and outputs a cumulative time temperature value corresponding to shelf life for a product.

Claims

1. A perishable good integrity indicator comprising:

clock means for outputting a first clock signal which does not substantially vary as a function of temperature;

second clock means for outputting a second clock signal which varies as a function of temperature;

counter means for producing a count value as a function of said second clock signal during a determinable time period;

data means for receiving said count value, translating said count value into a time temperature value representing the relationship of time and temperature during said time period; and

summing means for summing said time temperature values output by said data means over time and outputting a cumulative time temperature signal.

2. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 1, further comprising LCD modulator means for receiving said cumulative time temperature signal and outputting a modulation signal for modulating said cumulative time temperature signal capable of modulating an LCD in response thereto.

3. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 1, wherein said cumulative time temperature value corresponds to a portion of a shelf life for the perishable good.

4. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 1, further comprising self calibration means for calibrating said second clock signal with respect to temperature and producing a calibrated second clock signal.

5. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 4, wherein said counter means produces said count value by counting said calibrated second count signal during a time period determined by said first clock signal.

6. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 1, further comprising clock signal calibration means for calibrating said first clock signal over time and producing a calibrated first clock signal.

7. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 6, wherein said counter means, data means and summing means each provide an output in response to said calibrated first clock signal.

8. The perishable good integrity-indicator of claim 4, wherein said calibration means includes a divider for receiving said second clock signal and providing a divided clock signal;

a reference gate compensated for ambient temperature providing an enabling signal having a time period which varies with temperature;

a counter for counting said divided clock signal during said time period and providing a second count value as an output, said divider receiving said second count value and dividing said second clock signal by said second count value to produce said calibrated second clock signal.

9. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 6, wherein said calibration means includes a divider for receiving said second clock signal-and providing a divided clock signal;

a temperature compensated reference gate providing an enabling signal having a time period which does not substantially vary with temperature;

a counter for counting said divided clock signal during said time period and providing a second count value as an output, said divider receiving said count and dividing said first clock signal by said second count value to produce said calibrated first clock signal.

10. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 2, wherein said modulation signal modulates at least one of said frequency, amplitude, and duty of said cumulative time temperature signal to input data to be displayed on said LCD.

11. A perishable good integrity indicator comprising:

clock means for outputting a first clock signal which does not substantially vary in response to temperature;

second clock means for outputting a second clock signal which varies as a function of temperature;

counter means for producing a count value as a function of said second clock signal during a determinable time period;

data means for receiving said count value, translating said count value into a time temperature value representing the relationship of time and temperature during said time period; and

summing means including a first counter for counting to a predetermined number as a function of said first clock signal and a second counter counting each occurrence of said first counter counting to said predetermined number outputting a cumulative time temperature value in response thereto;

said first counter beginning its count at a value determined by said time temperature signal.

12. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, further comprising LCD modulator means for receiving said cumulative time temperature signal and outputting a modulation signal for modulating said cumulative time temperature signal capable of modulating an LCD in response thereto.

13. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, wherein said cumulative time temperature value corresponds to a portion of a shelf life for the perishable good.

14. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, further comprising self calibration means for calibrating said second clock signal with respect to temperature and producing a calibrated second clock signal.

15. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, wherein said counter means produces said count value by counting said calibrated second count signal during a time period determined by said first clock signal.

16. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, further comprising clock signal calibration means for calibrating said first clock signal over time and producing a calibrated first clock signal.

17. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, wherein said counter means, data means and summing means each provide an output in response to said calibrated first clock signal.

18. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 14, wherein said self calibration means includes a divider for receiving said second clock signal and providing a divided clock signal;

a reference gate compensated for ambient temperature providing an enabling signal having a time period which varies with temperature;

said counter counting said clock signal during said time period and providing a second count value as an output, said divider receiving said second count and dividing said second clock means by said second count value to produce said calibrated second clock signal.

19. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 11, wherein said first calibration means includes a divider for receiving said second clock signal and providing a divided clock signal;

a temperature compensated reference gate providing an enabling signal having a time period which varies with temperature;

said counter counting said clock signal during said time period and providing a second count value as an output, said divider receiving said second count value and dividing said second clock means by said second count value to produce said calibrated first clock signal.

20. The perishable good integrity indicator of claim 12, wherein said modulation signal modulates at least one of said frequency, amplitude, and duty of said cumulative time temperature signal to input data to be displayed on said LCD.

21. An oscillator self calibrator for calibrating an oscillator clock signal comprising a divider for receiving said oscillator clock signal and generating a first divided clock signal;

a reference gate providing an enabling signal having a time period;

a counter receiving said enabling signal and counting said divided clock signal during said time period and producing a count value as an output, said divider receiving said count value and dividing said oscillator clock signal by said count value to produce a calibrated clock signal.

22. An oscillator self calibrator for calibrating an oscillator clock signal comprising a divider for receiving said oscillator clock signal and generating a first divided clock signal;

a reference gate providing an enabling signal having a time period;

a counter for counting said clock signal during said time period and producing a count value as an output, said divider receiving said count value and dividing said clock signal by said count value to produce a calibrated clock signal, said oscillator clock signal not varying as a function of temperature and said reference gate outputting an enabling signal for a time period which does not substantially vary with temperature to calibrate said oscillator clock with respect to time.

23. An oscillator self calibrator for calibrating an oscillator clock signal comprising a divider for receiving said oscillator clock signal and generating a first divided clock signal;

a reference gate providing an enabling signal having a time period;

a counter for counting said clock signal during said time period and producing a count value as an output, said divider receiving said count value and dividing said clock signal by said count value to produce a calibrated clock signal, said oscillator clock signal having a frequency which varies as a function of temperature and said reference gate providing an enabling signal for a time period which varies as a function of temperature to calibrate said clock signal with respect to temperature.