Methods and systems to identify and manage recyclable materials

• US 9,465,010 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nassar, Nader M., Borges, Gabriel P., Falbriard, Claude, Miller, Grant D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/827,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A method to identify and manage recyclable materials provides a recyclable material with a quartz crystal identification element configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material. A mobile device detects the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal, identifies the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency, and sends that information to a controller.

Claims

1. A method to identify and manage a recyclable material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a recyclable material, wherein the recyclable material comprises an identification device, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material;

detecting, using a mobile device, the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal;

identifying the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency; and

sending information to a controller, the information representative of the identity of the recyclable material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises location information about the recyclable material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is remote from the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of causing the quartz crystal to oscillate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a database, the database comprising information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an alert to a user regarding the identified recyclable material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein packaging of the recyclable material comprises the identification device.

9. A system for identifying and managing a recyclable material, the system comprising:

an identification device associated with a recyclable material, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material; and

a mobile device configured to detect the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal and identify the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency, wherein the mobile device is further configured to send information to a controller, the information representative of the identity of the recyclable material.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information further comprises location information about the recyclable material.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is configured to cause the quartz crystal to oscillate.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured to emit a signal to cause the quartz crystal to oscillate.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a database, the database comprising information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is remote from the mobile device.

16. A mobile device configured to identify a recyclable material, the mobile device comprising:

an oscillation frequency sensor, the sensor configured to detect an identification device associated with a recyclable material, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material; and

a processor, the processor configured to identify the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency, and further configured to cause transmission of information to a remote controller, the information representative of the identity of the recyclable material.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising a GPS receiver.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the information further comprises information about the location of the identified recyclable material.

19. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising a database, the database comprising information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material.

20. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising an emitter, the emitter configured to emit a signal to cause the quartz crystal to oscillate.