Intelligent label
First Claim
1. An electronic timing label for indicating the expiration of a time period associated with an article, said label comprising:
- a pulse generator, configured to generate a series of pulses at a predetermined pulse rate;
a first binary counter having a clock input to which the series of pulses from said pulse generator are operatively coupled, said first counter having a most significant bit output;
a second binary counter having a clock input to which the most significant bit output of said first counter is operatively coupled, said second count having a most significant bit output,said first and said second counters being configured together as a two-stage binary counter which counts from an initial count number to a final count number in response to the series of pulses, the number of counts between the initial and final count numbers and the pulse rate being chosen to establish a counting time which corresponds to the time period associated with the article, the two-stage counter being configured to generate an expiration signal at the most significant bit output of said second counter upon reaching the final count number;
indicator means, operatively coupled to the most significant bit of said second counter, for indicating the expiration of the time period in response to the expiration signal;
a programming port, operatively coupled to the clock input of said first binary counter, for directing programing pulses to said first counter to preset the number of counts in the two-stage counter between the initial and final count numbers; and
means for affixing said electronic timing label to an application surface associated with the article.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic timing label for indicating the expiration of a time period associated with a particular article. The label comprises a pulse generator and a binary counter. The pulse generator is configured to generate a series of pulses at a predetermined pulse rate, and the counter is configured to count from an initial count number in response to the series of pulses and to generate an expiration signal upon reaching a final count number. The number of counts between the initial and final count numbers, and the pulse rate, are chosen to establish a counting time for the counter which corresponds to the time period associated with the article. The label also comprises a display for indicating the expiration of the time period, a programming port for directing programming pulses to the counter, and some mechanism for affixing the label to an application surface associated with the article.
211 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronic timing label for indicating the expiration of a time period associated with an article, said label comprising:
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a pulse generator, configured to generate a series of pulses at a predetermined pulse rate; a first binary counter having a clock input to which the series of pulses from said pulse generator are operatively coupled, said first counter having a most significant bit output; a second binary counter having a clock input to which the most significant bit output of said first counter is operatively coupled, said second count having a most significant bit output, said first and said second counters being configured together as a two-stage binary counter which counts from an initial count number to a final count number in response to the series of pulses, the number of counts between the initial and final count numbers and the pulse rate being chosen to establish a counting time which corresponds to the time period associated with the article, the two-stage counter being configured to generate an expiration signal at the most significant bit output of said second counter upon reaching the final count number; indicator means, operatively coupled to the most significant bit of said second counter, for indicating the expiration of the time period in response to the expiration signal; a programming port, operatively coupled to the clock input of said first binary counter, for directing programing pulses to said first counter to preset the number of counts in the two-stage counter between the initial and final count numbers; and means for affixing said electronic timing label to an application surface associated with the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic timing label for indicating the expiration of a time period associated with an article, said label comprising:
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a printed circuit board having front and rear mounting surfaces; a pulse generator, mounted to said circuit board and being configured to generate a series of pulses at a predetermined pulse rate; a binary counter, mounted to said circuit board and being operatively coupled to receive the series of pulses from said pulse generator, said counter being configured to count from an initial count number in response to the series of pulses and to generate an expiration signal upon reaching a final count number, the number of counts between the initial and final count numbers and the pulse rate being chosen to establish a counting time for said counter which corresponds to the time period associated with the article; indicator means, operatively coupled to said counter, for indicating the expiration of the time period in response to the expiration signal generated by said counter; a programming port, operatively coupled to said counter, for directing programming pulses to said counter to preset the number of counts in said counter between the initial and final count numbers; and a piece of double-sided tape having one side affixed to the rear mounting surface of said printed circuit board and another side free to be affixed to an application surface associated with the article. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification