Arrangement and method for product information interaction with building control system elements

• US 7,545,267 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Stortoni, Fabrizio F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/206,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/539.1, 340/539.26, 340/539.27, 340/539.13, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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

Abstract

A first embodiment of the invention includes an arrangement for maintaining an environment for a movable object. The arrangement includes an information device, at least one RF device and a building system controller. The information device is disposed in a substantially fixed relationship with the movable object such that the memory element remains in the vicinity of the movable object when the movable object is moved. The information device includes a memory element and a first RF element, the memory element including at least one parameter having information identifying at least one threshold for an environmental condition. The first RF element is operably coupled to the memory element to receive the at least one parameter therefrom, and is operable to modulate a parameter signal containing the at least one parameter onto an RF signal for transmission. The second RF element is fixedly disposed in the vicinity of a structure, and is operable to receive the RF signal from the first RF element when the object is in the vicinity of the structure. The building control system controller is operably coupled to the second RF element to receive the at least one parameter from the RF signal, and is operable to alter at least one building control system output based at least in part on the at least one parameter.

Claims

1. An arrangement for maintaining an environment for a movable object comprising:

an information device including a memory element and a first radio frequency (RF) element, the memory element disposed in a substantially fixed relationship with the movable object such that the memory element remains in a vicinity of the movable object when the movable object is moved, the memory including at least one parameter having information identifying at least one threshold for an environmental condition, the first RF element operably coupled to the memory element to receive the at least one parameter therefrom, the first RF element operable to modulate a parameter signal containing the at least one parameter onto an RF signal for transmission; and

a second RF element fixedly disposed in the vicinity of a structure, the second RF element operable to receive the RF signal from the first RF element when the movable object is in the vicinity of the structure;

a building control system controller operably coupled to the second RF element to receive the at least one parameter from the RF signal, the building control system controller operable to alter at least one building control system output based at least in part on the at least one parameter, to alter an environmental condition within the structure, wherein said movable object comprises one or more products.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the information device further includes a sensor operable to sense at least one environmental condition in the vicinity of the movable object.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a microelectromechanical (MEMs) sensor device.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a MEMs temperature sensor.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the information device further includes a humidity sensor.

6. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the building control system controller is further operable to receive sensor information regarding the at least one environmental condition from the sensor, and the building control system controller is further operable to alter the at least one building control system output based at least in part on the sensor information.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the information device is configured to be attached to packaging for the one or more products.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the building control system controller is further operable to receive sensor information regarding an environmental condition in the vicinity of the object, and the building control system controller is further operable to alter the at least one building control system output based at least in part on the sensor information.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter including information identifying the at least one threshold for an environmental condition includes information identifying a temperature threshold.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter including information identifying the at least one threshold for an environmental condition includes information identifying a humidity threshold.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the memory element is further operable to store an expiration date for the product.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the building control system controller is operably coupled to receive the at least one parameter from the second RF device via another building control system controller.