Packaging comprising integrated sensor

• US 8,094,014 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntuiSkin SAS
• Original Assignee: IntuiSkin SAS
• Inventors: Ransch, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/159,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/572.8, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/248 the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

Packaging for receiving a substance having chemical properties which may change between a time when the substance is introduced for the first time into the packaging and a later time when the substance is used, the packaging including

• • a main body;
  • a closure member;
  • a first sensor arranged in the main body and suitable for delivering a signal representing a measurement of a physicochemical property of the substance contained in the packaging;
  • a display member for generating visual information representing the measurement;
  • a processing unit for conditioning the signal delivered by the first sensor and for displaying the visual information by means of the display member;
  • an electric power source for supplying the first sensor, the display member and the processing unit.

Claims

1. Packaging for storing a substance having a physicochemical property which may change between a time when said substance is introduced for a first time into the packaging and a later time when said substance is used, said packaging comprising:

a main body receiving and storing said substance;

a closure member selectively allowing and preventing access to the substance stored in the main body;

a first sensor arranged in contact with the substance stored in the main body for delivering a first signal representing a first measurement of the physicochemical property of the substance stored in the main body at said later time;

a second sensor exposed to an exterior of the packaging for delivering a second signal representing a second measurement of a physicochemical property of a cutaneous surface of a user at said later time;

a display member for generating visual information representing at least one of said first measurement and said second measurement;

a processing unit for conditioning at least one of the first signal and the second signal, for displaying the visual information by the display member, and for operating on at least one of the first signal and the second signal for checking that the stored substance is fit for use by the user at the later time, wherein said checking comprises checking that the substance is compatible with the physicochemical properties of the cutaneous surface of the user at the later time;

an electric power source for supplying said first sensor, said second sensor, the display member and the processing unit.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, in combination with the substance, and said substance comprising a cosmetic.

3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a micro-camera for evaluating dimensional or colorimetric properties of the cutaneous surface.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an atmosphere sensor delivering a third signal representing a third measurement of a parameter of the environment external to the main body and the closure member;

and wherein the processing unit employs the third signal to at least one of;

evaluate effectiveness of a cosmetic substance or medical substance stored in the main body and warn of a potential pathological risk.

5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is physically associated with the closure member.

6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the processing means further comprises computation means for measuring time elapsed since filling of said packaging.

7. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the processing means further comprises computation means for measuring time elapsed since a first opening of said packaging.

8. Packaging according to claim 6, further comprising means for indicating that a period calculated by the computation means exceeds a predefined threshold.

9. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a positioning of the closure member with regard to the main body corresponding to open and closed states of said packaging.

10. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a buzzer for generating an acoustic signal.

11. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a data storage unit.

12. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an activation member for energizing the first sensor, the display member and the processing unit.

13. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the electric power source is a photovoltaic cell.

14. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is made from micro-electromechanical systems.

15. Packaging according to claim 7, further comprising means for indicating that a period calculated by the computation means exceeds a predefined threshold.

16. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is located in a core of the substance stored in the main body.

17. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is physically unconstrained allowing the first sensor to move inside the substance stored in the main body.

18. Packaging according to claim 3, further comprising an integrated positioning aid for adjusting settings of the micro-camera.

19. Packaging according to claim 3, further comprising an electronic unit connected to the micro-camera for managing setting parameters of the micro-camera.

20. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit implements an image processing algorithm to determine at least one of:

length of wrinkles, small wrinkles or micro structures;

area of wrinkled zones;

local or average roughness;

isotropy of skin;

local or average colorimetry;

area of an hyperpigmentation zone;

measurement of lipids content; and

concentration of hair.

21. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an energy management system selectively activating and deactivating electrical components of the packaging to optimize electric power consumption.

22. Packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a device for controlling contact pressure, positioning or orientation to optimize contact between the cutaneous surface and the second sensor.

23. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein said checking that the substance is compatible with the physicochemical properties comprises checking that the substance is fit for use with the cutaneous surface of the user at the later time.