Method and apparatus for automated measurement of properties of perishable consumer products

• US 6,712,276 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Giampapa, Mark Edwin, Franke, Hubertus, Abali, Bulent
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/240,927
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/380, 235/492, 235/384, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reporting dynamic properties of a product using radio frequency identification device technology. With this invention, an electronic tag is equipped with a sensor which determines dynamic properties of a product when the tag is activated. The dynamic properties of the product are then either further processed into other dynamic properties. In any event either the former or the latter dynamic properties are then transmitted from the tag. Such dynamic properties could be the temperature of a product or the expiration date of the product derived from periodic measurements of the temperature of the product.

Claims

1. An electronic tag for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising:

at least one sensor, which when activated senses physical data for said product;

sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and

a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor and for transmitting latter said dynamic properties from said tag.

2. An electronic tag as recited in claim 1, wherein said dynamic properties are derived based on physical data comprising sensory data.

3. An electronic tag as recited claim 1, wherein said dynamic properties are derived based on physical data comprising comprising at least one of the following:

weight, temperature, and expiration date.

4. An electronic tag as recited claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a device for measuring temperature.

5. An electronic tag as recited claim 4, wherein said device for measuring temperature comprises a thermistor.

6. An electronic tag as recited claim 4, wherein said device for measuring weight comprises a pressure sensitive capacitor.

7. An electronic tag as recited claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a device for measuring weight.

8. An electronic tag as recited in claim 1 further comprising an internal power source.

9. An electronic tag reporting system for managing the handling of a product using dynamic properties of said product, said system comprising:

an electronic tag for reporting said dynamic properties of said product, said tag comprising;

at least one sensor for sensing physical data for said product, when said sensor is activated, sensor logic for determining said properties of said product, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date, and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor; and

a digital assistant for processing said status information for product management.

10. A electronic tag reporting system as recited in claim 9, wherein said digital assistant comprises:

a transmitter and receiver for interrogating said tag for said dynamic product properties, and

a control unit for processing said dynamic product status information.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said control unit comprises determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date.

12. A method for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said method comprising:

broadcasting an interrogation request;

activating a sensor by transmitting an activation signal from a radio frequency identification device, said activation signal being transmitted in response to said interrogation request;

determining said dynamic properties of said product by processing sensory data determined by said activated sensor; and

determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing values of said physical data and said dynamic properties.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of retrieving stored values for use in said determining dynamic properties of said product.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing a fixed start date and further comprising retrieving stored values, retrieving said fixed start date and determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties, said stored values, and the fixed start date.

16. An electronic tag for determining dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising:

at least one sensor, which when activated, senses physical data for said product;

sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and

a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor.

17. An electronic tag as recited in claim 16, further comprising a memory for storing at least one of said physical data and said dynamic properties.

18. An electronic tag as recited in claim 17, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said dynamic properties from said tag.