System and method of monitoring temperature

• US 7,140,768 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cold Chain Technologies
• Original Assignee: Cold Chain Technologies
• Inventors: Prabhakar, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US10/413,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 374/186, 374/208, 374141-142, 374/163, 374/170
• US Class Current: 374/186
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/022 for recording

Abstract

A temperature monitoring system includes a device for monitoring temperature over a period of time, an adaptor in communication with the temperature monitoring device (TMD) and a data programming device (DPD) in communication with the adaptor. The TMD includes a temperature sensor, a central processing unit (CPU) electrically connected to the temperature sensor, and a power source for continuously supplying power to the CPU. The CPU includes volatile memory into which measurements made by the temperature sensor are stored, the volatile memory in the CPU serving as the sole memory device in the TMD. The TMD is free of means for suspending power from the power source to the CPU. In use, each successive measurement taken by the temperature sensor overwrites the previous measurement stored into the CPU volatile memory. In this manner, the TMD stores no historical data throughout its monitoring process.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring temperature over a period of time, said device comprising:

(a) a temperature sensor for taking temperature measurements, and

(b) a central processing unit (CPU) in electrical connection with said temperature sensor, said CPU comprising memory, said memory consisting of volatile memory into which the temperature measurements are stored, said volatile memory storing no more than a single temperature measurement at a time,

(c) wherein said device is free of memory external to said CPU.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a power source electrically connected to said CPU, said power source having a finite lifespan.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said power source continuously applies power to said CPU throughout the lifespan of said power source.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising a protective housing, wherein said device is free of externally accessible means for suspending the application of power from said power source to said CPU.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein each temperature measurement overwrites the previous temperature measurement stored in the volatile memory for said CPU.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said device further comprises a data communication device in electrical connection with said CPU.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a protective housing, said data communication device being externally accessible through said protective housing.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said data communication device is in the form of at least one conductive plate.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is water-resistant.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display in electrical connection with said CPU.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said display is in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD).

12. A method of monitoring temperature using a temperature monitoring device, said temperature monitoring device including a temperature sensor and a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU comprising memory, said memory consisting of volatile memory that stores no more than a single temperature measurement at a time, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) taking a first temperature measurement using said temperature sensor,

(b) storing the results of said first temperature measurement into the volatile memory of said CPU,

(c) taking a second temperature measurement using said temperature sensor, and

(d) storing the results of said second temperature measurement into the volatile memory of said CPU, the results of said second temperature measurement overwriting the results of said first temperature measurement stored in the volatile memory of said CPU.

13. A method of monitoring temperature using a temperature monitoring device, said temperature monitoring device including a temperature sensor and a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU comprising memory, said memory consisting of volatile memory that stores no more than a single temperature measurement at a time, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) taking a first temperature measurement using said temperature sensor during a first time interval;

(b) storing the results of said first temperature measurement into the volatile memory of said CPU during the first time interval;

(c) analyzing the results of said first temperature measurement using said CPU during a second time interval;

(d) taking a second temperature measurement using said temperature sensor during the second time interval; and

(e) storing the results of said second temperature measurement into the volatile memory of said CPU during the second time interval, the results of said second temperature measurement overwriting the results of said first temperature measurement stored in the volatile memory of said CPU.