Remote, wetness signaling system

• US 6,603,403 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Odorzynski, Thomas Walter, Jeutter, Dean Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/735,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/825.54, 340/941, 340/361, 340/539, 340/825.34, 340/605
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor

Abstract

The present invention can provide a monitoring method and system for signaling a predetermined status in an article (20) having a monitored portion (22). The monitoring system includes an interrogator (30) which is located in an operative proximity to the article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency. A status signaling device (24) is located at the monitored portion (22) of the article. The status signaling device includes a sensor (26) which can indicate a change of state that occurs when the monitored portion (22) of the article (20) changes from a first condition to a different, second condition. A passive transponder (28) is in an operative communication with the sensor (26). In a particular aspect of the invention, the transponder can be an electronic transponder. The transponder (28) can be configured to receive the input energy from the interrogator (30), and can be configured to generate indicator data when the monitored portion (22) is in the second condition. The transponder (28) can be configured to communicate an output energy away from the article (20). The output energy can include at least a portion of the input energy, and the output energy can be configured to carry the indicator data. An output receiver (34) can be configured to electronically acquire the output energy and indicator data from the transponder (28). A detector (36) can be connected to the output receiver (34), and can react to a threshold value of the indicator data. An annunciator (38) can be in communication with the detector (36) and can be configured to announce a presence of the threshold value of the indicator data.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for signaling a predetermined status in an article, said monitoring system comprising:

an interrogator which is located in an operative proximity to said article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency;

a status signaling device located in a monitored portion of said article;

said status signaling device including

a sensor which can indicate a change of state that occurs when said monitored portion of said article changes from a first condition to a different, second condition, said sensor indicating said change of state by providing a change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition; and

a passive transponder which is in an operative communication with said sensor,

said transponder configured to receive said input energy from said interrogator,

said transponder configured to generate indicator data when said monitored portion is in said second condition,

said indicator data including a change in an amount of energy reflected through said transponder, such change in reflected energy provided by the change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition, and

said transponder configured to communicate an output energy away from said article, said output energy including at least a portion of said input energy, and said output energy configured to carry said indicator data;

an output receiver that is configured to electronically acquire said output energy and indicator data from said transponder;

a detector which is connected to said output receiver and can react to a threshold value of the amount of energy reflected through said transponder in said indicator data; and

an annunciator which is in communication with said detector and is configured to announce a presence of said threshold value of said amount of energy reflected through said transponder.

2. A monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein

said article includes an absorbent body having said monitored portion;

said sensor which can indicate said change in state by providing a change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion of said absorbent body changes from a substantially dry, first condition to a wetted, second condition; and

said passive electronic transponder is configured to generate said indicator data when said absorbent body is in said wetted, second condition.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said output receiver includes an electronic sampler which monitors a value provided by said indicator data.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said monitoring system further includes:

a supplemental radio-frequency transmitter;

a supplemental radio-frequency receiver which can receive relayed data delivered from said supplemental transmitter; and

a remote display which can announce said presence of said threshold value of said indicator data.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said remote display includes an audio display.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said remote display includes a visual display.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said remote display includes a tactile display.

8. A method for signaling a predetermined status in an article, said method comprising:

a locating of an interrogator in an operative proximity to said article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency;

a locating of a status signaling device in a monitored portion of said article;

said status signaling device including

a sensor which can indicate a change of state that occurs when said monitored portion of said article changes from a first condition to a different, second condition, said sensor indicating said change of state by providing a change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition; and

a passive transponder which is in an operative communication with said sensor,

said transponder configured to receive said input energy from said interrogator,

said transponder configured to generate indicator data when said monitored portion is in said second condition,

said indicator data including a change in an amount of energy reflected through said transponder, such change in reflected energy provided by the change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition, and

said transponder configured to communicate an output energy away from said article, said output energy including at least a portion of said input energy, and said output energy configured to carry said indicator data;

a configuring of an output receiver to electronically acquire said output energy and indicator data from said transponder;

a connecting of a detector to said output receiver to react to a threshold value of the amount of energy reflected through said transponder in said indicator data; and

a configuring of an annunciator which is in communication with said detector to announce a presence of said threshold value of said amount of energy reflected through said transponder.

9. A monitoring system for signaling a predetermined status in an article, said monitoring system comprising:

an interrogator coil which is located in an operative proximity to said article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency;

a status signaling device located in a monitored portion of said article;

said status signaling device including

a sensor which can indicate a change of state that occurs when said monitored portion of said article changes from a first condition to a different, second condition, said sensor indicating said change of state by providing a change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition; and

a passive transponder which is in an operative communication with said sensor;

said transponder configured to receive said input energy from said interrogator,

said transponder configured to generate indicator data when said monitored portion is in said second condition,

said transponder including a transponder coil having an inductive impedance;

said transponder coil and a capacitor being configured to provide an electronically-tuned resonant circuit which is operatively tuned to said input frequency,

said indicator data including a change in an amount of energy reflected to said interrogator coil through said transponder coil, such change in reflected energy provided by the change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition, and

said transponder configured to communicate an output energy away from said article, said output energy including at least a portion of said input energy, and said output energy configured to carry said indicator data;

an output receiver that is configured to electronically acquire said output energy and indicator data from said transponder;

a detector which is connected to said output receiver and can react to a threshold value of the amount of energy reflected through said transponder coil; and

an annunciator which is in communication with said detector and is configured to announce a presence of said threshold value of said amount of energy reflected through said transponder.

10. A method for signaling a predetermined status in an article, said method comprising:

a locating of an interrogator coil in an operative proximity to said article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency;

a locating of a status signaling device in a monitored portion of said article;

said status signaling device including

a sensor which can indicate a change of state that occurs when said monitored portion of said article changes from a first condition to a different, second condition, said sensor indicating said change of state by providing a change of electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition; and

a passive transponder which is in an operative communication with said sensor,

said transponder configured to receive said input energy from said interrogator,

said transponder configured to generate indicator data when said monitored portion is in said second condition,

said transponder including a transponder coil having an inductive impedance;

said indicator data including a change in an amount of energy reflected to said interrogator coil through said transponder coil, such change in reflected energy provided by the change in electronic impedance that occurs when said monitored portion changes from said first condition to said second condition, and

said transponder configured to communicate an output energy away from said article, said output energy including at least a portion of said input energy, and said output energy configured to carry said indicator data;

a configuring of an output receiver to electronically acquire said output energy and indicator data from said transponder;

a connecting of a detector to said output receiver to react to a threshold value of the amount of energy reflected through said transponder; and

a configuring of an annunciator which is in communication with said detector to announce a presence of said threshold value of said amount of energy reflected through said transponder.