Apparatus and method for monitoring and communicating data associated with a product

• US 7,982,622 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infratab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Infratab, Inc.
• Inventors: Patterson, Michael, Ono, Kenji, Pope, Gary W., Myers, Therese E., Burchell, Jonathan, Kaye, Stanton, Eversley, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US12/832,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 385/585, 385/505, 385/539.26, 385/572.1, 385/10.1, 385/309.16, 700/224, 700/225
• US Class Current: 340/585
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07705 the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07713 the interface, upon reception of an interrogation signal, being capable of signaling to indicate its position to a user or a detection device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Visual and audio communication interface for a perishable integrity indicator system which includes a RFID transponder and perishable integrity sensor. A perishable integrity indicator system includes a RFID transponder and a perishable integrity sensor. The RFID transponder includes a RF integrated circuit coupled with an antenna. The sensor monitors the time and temperature of the perishable. A freshness determining module receives time- and temperature-dependent measurement data from the perishable integrity sensor and determines a current freshness status. A communications interface to the RFID transponder permits a RFID reader to retrieve current freshness status data corresponding to the freshness status determined by the freshness determining module. The system further includes a power management module. The visual and audio communication interface provides a communications means for sending sensor alerts, sensor setup and history as either a supplement to the RF communication or as an alternative to RF when RF is either not available or not able to communicate.

Claims

1. A condition monitoring system, comprising:

a radio frequency transponder module including a RFID chip having a first memory and an antenna;

at least one sensor module that monitors data related to the condition of a product, and includes a second memory for storing the monitored data; and

a communication interface that couples the at least one sensor module to the RFID chip;

wherein the sensor module communicates with the RFID chip by way of the interface and updates the first memory with data related to the product.

2. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the system is responsive to a radio frequency signal to access data in the second memory, wherein the first and second memory are addressed using a memory address space that combines as least a portion of physical memory in the first memory with at least a portion of physical memory in the second memory.

3. The condition monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the memory address space includes address space in the second memory that is addressed using addresses beyond the physical address space of the first memory.

4. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the first memory receives and stores commands that are accessible by the sensor module.

5. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor module determines a current freshness status based on the monitored data.

6. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor module determines a wear and tear status based on the monitored data.

7. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the second memory is electrically connected to the antenna.

8. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface electrically connects second memory to the radio frequency transponder module.

9. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the sensor module stores sensor status and alert data in the first memory.

10. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface allows the radio frequency reader to bypass the first memory and to establish a direct path to the sensor module.

11. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a battery powering the at least one sensor module and operative to enhance a radio frequency signal from the transponder module.

12. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a battery powering the at least one sensor module and operative to support initiation of RF communication by the transponder module.

13. The condition monitoring system of claim 8 where the communication interface is longer than one inch.

14. The condition monitoring system of claim 8 where the communication interface between the second memory and the antenna is longer than two inches.

15. The condition monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the communication interface is sufficiently long to permit the radio frequency transponder module to be located at the exterior of a product container and the sensor module to be located inside the product container.

16. The condition monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the communication interface is coupled to a flexible substrate, which is attachable to the product container.

17. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the RFID chip includes a serial interface.

18. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency transponder module and the at least one sensor module are spaced apart from each other and are attached to a generally planar insulating substrate.

19. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface between the transponder module and the at least one sensor module is operative to bypass the first memory and to establish a direct path from an RF reader to the at least one sensor module.

20. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor module is operative to receive a signal directly from an RF reader by way of the communication interface and to transmit monitored data to the reader.

21. A condition monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor module can store data and alerts into first memory.

37. The condition monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor module communicates by use of a Bluetooth or Zigbee interface.

22. A condition monitoring system comprising

a transponder module including an RFID chip with a first memory and an antenna;

a sensor module including a condition sensor for monitoring data related to the condition of a product and a second memory for storing the monitored data;

a communication interface that couples the sensor module with the transponder module, and is operative to allow an RFID reader to retrieve data from the sensor module; and

an indicator, which is communicatively coupled to the sensor module, which generates non-radio frequency signals according to a signaling scheme that communicates data related to the condition of a product.

23. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the indicator comprises a light-emitting display.

24. The condition monitoring system of claim 23 wherein the light-emitting display comprises an LED, an OLED or an LCD device.

25. The condition monitoring system of claim 23 wherein the light-emitting display is detectable by one or more detectors comprising one or more vision systems, photo detectors, pattern detectors, or luminance detectors.

26. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the indicator selectively activates and communicates data related to a product by use of an audio or visual signal under the control of the sensor module.

27. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the sensor module is operative to selectively activate the indicator in response to a received where-are-you location request.

28. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the sensor module is operative to selectively update the first memory with data related to a product.

29. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the second memory is internal to the sensor module.

30. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the second memory is external to the sensor module.

31. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the first and second memory are addressed using a memory address space that combines as least a portion of physical memory in the first memory with at least a portion of physical memory in the second memory.

32. The condition monitoring system of claim 31 wherein the memory address space includes address space in the second memory that is addressed using addresses beyond the physical address space of the first memory.

33. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the first memory receives and stores commands that are accessible by the sensor module.

34. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the sensor module determines a current freshness status based on the monitored data.

35. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the at least one sensor module determines a wear and tear status based on the monitored data.

36. The condition monitoring system of claim 22 wherein the signaling scheme generated by the indicator is based on pulse length, a time domain pulse sequence, Morse code or other signaling schemes.