System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators

• US 9,836,678 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varcode, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Varcode, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nemet, Yaron, Brand, Ephraim
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US15/398,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20170177987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 235376, 235383, 235385, 235494
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/00 Indicating measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/14 of inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/10 in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0614 the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0615 the marking being of the rewritable type, e.g. thermo-chromic barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• 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

Abstract

A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of bar coded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, a barcode indicator reader operative to read the barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications, the barcoded quality indicators being readable by the barcode indicator reader at all times after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of the at least one threshold by the at least one product quality affecting parameter, and a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs.

Claims

1. A quality management system for products comprising:

a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter;

a barcode indicator reader operative to read said barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications; and

a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive said output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs,

said barcoded quality indicators including;

a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;

a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and

at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

2. A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein said quality indicators are readable by said barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

3. A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

4. A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.

5. A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, said barcoded quality indicator including:

a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;

a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and

at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

6. A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein said barcoded quality indicator is readable by a barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

7. A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

8. A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.

9. A method for providing quality management for products comprising:

employing a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter;

reading said barcoded quality indicators and providing output indications therefrom;

receiving said output indications; and

interpreting said output indications to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs,

said barcoded quality indicators including;

a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;

a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and

at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

10. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said barcoded quality indicator is readable by a barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

11. A method according to claim 9 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

12. A method according to claim 9 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.