Perishable product electronic label including time and temperature measurement
DCFirst Claim
1. An electronic apparatus for performing time-temperature integration to monitor and alert for spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:
- one or more temperature sensing means;
one or more electronic timers; and
one or more time/temperature integration calculation means for indicating that the quality or shelf-life of a perishable product may have been compromised;
wherein the integration calculation means executes an algorithm and references predetermined limits to monitor a rate of spoilage of the one or more perishable products and wherein the algorithm is contained in a program memory of the electronic apparatus.
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Abstract
An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised, or spoiled.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic apparatus for performing time-temperature integration to monitor and alert for spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:
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one or more temperature sensing means; one or more electronic timers; and one or more time/temperature integration calculation means for indicating that the quality or shelf-life of a perishable product may have been compromised; wherein the integration calculation means executes an algorithm and references predetermined limits to monitor a rate of spoilage of the one or more perishable products and wherein the algorithm is contained in a program memory of the electronic apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic apparatus for performing time-temperature integration to monitor and alert for the spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:
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one or more temperature sensing means; one or more electronic timers; one or more indicators; a battery; and a microcontroller integrated within the electronic apparatus as a time/temperature integration calculation means, wherein the microcontroller executes an algorithm and references predetermined limits to monitor a rate of spoilage of the one or more perishable products and wherein the algorithm is contained in a program memory of the electronic apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring and alerting for spoilage of one or more perishable products, comprising:
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sensing temperature; measuring time; performing time-temperature integration with an electronic circuit attached to the packaging of the product to be monitored; performing calculations for determining spoilage of the one or more perishable products including executing an algorithm and referencing predetermined limits to monitor a rate of spoilage of the one or more perishable products and wherein the algorithm is contained in a program memory of the electronic circuit; and indicating spoilage by audio and/or visual means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification