Device and method for identifying a container
First Claim
1. A device identifying a container containing contents, comprising:
- a valve assembly for controlling passage of the contents to and from the container, said valve assembly including a ball and positioned to be in contact with the contents inside the container; and
a wireless communication device positioned with said valve assembly for wirelessly communicating information associated with the container, wherein said wireless communication device is mounted within said ball.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an wireless communication device and method for identifying a container. The device includes a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the container. The container includes an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, such as solid, liquid, and/or gaseous materials. The container also includes an opening through which the container contents are distributed. A valve assembly is positioned over the opening for controlling the flow of contents from the container. The wireless communication device is mounted within the valve assembly, and preferably within the ball. The wireless communication device communicates information regarding the container and/or its contents to an interrogation reader. The temperature associated with the container and/or its contents may be determined by various techniques including thermal contact between the temperature sensor and the container, measuring the discharge rate in a discharge capacitor associated with the wireless communication device, and determining the maximum energy absorption frequency of the wireless communication device to correlate it to temperature. The liquid level of the container may be determined by employing liquid level sensor techniques.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1. A device identifying a container containing contents, comprising:
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a valve assembly for controlling passage of the contents to and from the container, said valve assembly including a ball and positioned to be in contact with the contents inside the container; and a wireless communication device positioned with said valve assembly for wirelessly communicating information associated with the container, wherein said wireless communication device is mounted within said ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device identifying a container containing contents, comprising:
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a valve assembly for controlling passage of the contents to and from the container, said valve assembly including a gasket and positioned to be in contact with the contents inside the container; a wireless communication device positioned with said valve assembly for wirelessly communicating information associated with the container, wherein said wireless communication device is mounted within said gasket; and a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside the container. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A device identifying a container containing contents, comprising:
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a valve assembly for controlling passage of the contents to and from the container, said valve assembly including a gasket and positioned to be in contact with the contents inside the container; a wireless communication device positioned with said valve assembly for wirelessly communicating information associated with the container, wherein said wireless communication device is mounted within said gasket; and a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining liquid level within the container. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An identification system, comprising:
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents, wherein said valve assembly includes a ball positioned in said opening; and a wireless communication device mounted within said valve assembly to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container, wherein said wireless communication device is mounted within said ball. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An identification system, comprising:
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents; a wireless communication device mounted within said valve assembly to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container; and a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside said container. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An identification system, comprising;
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents; a wireless communication device mounted within said valve assembly to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container; and an interrogation reader to interrogate said wireless communication device and further adapted to determine the temperature of said wireless communication device by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. An identification system, comprising:
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents, said valve assembly including a gasket; a wireless communication device mounted within said gasket to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container; and a temperature sensor operatively connected to said wireless communication device for determining the temperature of the contents inside said container. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An identification system, comprising:
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents, said valve assembly including a gasket; a wireless communication device mounted within said gasket to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container; and an interrogation reader to interrogate said wireless communication device and further adapted to determine the temperature of said wireless communication device by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68)
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69. An identification system, comprising:
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a container having an outer wall forming an enclosed interior chamber for containing contents, said container further having an opening; a valve assembly positioned over said opening for controlling the escape of said contents, said valve assembly including a gasket; a wireless communication device mounted within said gasket to wirelessly communicate information associated with said container; and a liquid level sensor operatively connected with said wireless communication device for determining liquid level within said container. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method of monitoring information associated with contents contained within a container, comprising the steps of:
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associating a wireless communication device within a valve assembly of the container wherein said valve assembly is positioned in contact with the contents; determining information relating to a temperature associated with the contents; and communicating information associated with said contents to an interrogation reader. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A method of monitoring information associated with contents contained within a container, comprising the steps of:
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associating a wireless communication device within a valve assembly of the container wherein said valve assembly is positioned in contact with the contents; determining a temperature of the contents by determining a maximum energy absorption frequency of said wireless communication device; and communicating information associated with said contents to an interrogation reader. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88)
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Specification