# US 10,371,737 B2 · Wireless mechanism for detecting an open or closed container, and methods of making and using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,737 B2 - Document ID: US10371737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/626,512 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-17 - Assignees: Thin Film Electronics ASA - Applicants: Thin Film Electronics ASA - Inventors: Somnath Mukherjee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371737B2 ## CPC - G01R 31/54: Testing for continuity - A61M 15/0026: {Hinged caps} - B65D 79/02: Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport ({B65D79/005 takes precedence } ; measuring devices G01) - G01D 5/204: {by influencing the mutual induction between two or more coils (G01D5/22 takes precedence)} - G01D 5/2053: {by a movable non-ferromagnetic conductive element} - G01D 5/206: {constituting a short-circuiting element} - G01D 5/2066: {by movement of a single coil with respect to a single other coil} - G01D 5/2073: {by movement of a single coil with respect to two or more coils} - G01N 27/025: {a current being generated within the material by induction} - G01R 31/50: Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) - G06K 19/0716: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor} - G06K 19/0717: {the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure} - G08B 13/126: {for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room} - G08B 13/2431: {Tag circuit details} - H04B 5/26: using coils - H04B 5/45: Transponders - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - A61M 15/00: Inhalators {(drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04)} - A61M 2202/064: Powder - A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus - A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means - H04B 5/22: Capacitive coupling - H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract An electronic device including a continuity sensor and electrical circuitry configured to detect and report the continuity state of an article, container or product packaging is disclosed. The continuity sensor includes a first substrate with first and second coils thereon, and a second substrate with a third coil thereon. The first coil has an integrated circuit electrically connected thereto. The first substrate is part of, or is attached or secured to a part of the article, container or packaging. The second substrate is another part of, or is attached or secured to another part of the article, container or packaging. One of the article, container or packaging parts is (re)movable with respect to the other part. The first and second coils have one coupling when the article, container or packaging is closed or sealed, and a different coupling when the article, container or packaging is open or unsealed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a) a first substrate with first and second coils thereon, the first coil having an integrated circuit electrically connected thereto, and the first substrate being a first part of an article, container or product packaging or configured to be attached or secured to the first part of the article, container or product packaging; b) a second substrate with a third coil thereon, the second substrate being a second part of the article, container or product packaging or configured to be attached or secured to the second part of the article, container or product packaging, wherein one of the first and second parts of the article, container or product packaging is removable or movable with respect to the other one of the first and second parts of the article, container or product packaging; wherein the first and second coils have a first coupling when the article, container or product packaging is closed or sealed, and a second, different coupling when the article, container or product packaging is open or unsealed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are in fixed positions relative to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third coils form a continuity sensor, the continuity sensor senses or determines a continuity state of the container or product packaging. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first coupling corresponds to a closed or sealed continuity state, and the second coupling corresponds to an open or unsealed continuity state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the second coil is on a removable or movable one of the first and second parts of the article, container or product packaging, and the movable one of the first and second parts of the article is repeatedly movable between the open and closed continuity states. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first and second coils have a third coupling when the article, container or product packaging is partially open or partially closed, and the third coupling is between the first coupling and the second coupling. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first, second and third coils form an open loop when the continuity sensor has the closed or sealed continuity state, and the third coil closes the loop when the continuity sensor has the open or unsealed continuity state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to provide power to the integrated circuit and the first coil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a printed integrated circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a closed state detector and an open state detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of the closed state and open state detectors comprises an amplifier configured to amplify an output from a corresponding one of the closed state and open state detectors, an envelope detector configured to determine a maximum value of an output from the corresponding amplifier, and a latch coupled directly or indirectly to an output of the envelope detector and configured to store the maximum value of the output from the corresponding amplifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An article, package or container, comprising: a) first and second parts with an interface therebetween, wherein one of the first and second parts is separable or movable with respect to the other; and b) the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is or is on one of the first and second parts of the article, package or container, and the second substrate is or is on the other one of the first and second parts of the article, package or container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article, package or container of claim 12, wherein the package or container is considered open when the first and second coils have the second coupling, and the package or container is considered closed or sealed when the first and second coils have the first coupling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The article, package or container of claim 12, wherein the third coil is closer to the first coil than to the second coil when the container or package is closed or sealed, and when the container or product packaging is open or unsealed, the third coil is (i) absent or (ii) closer to the second coil than when the container or package is closed or sealed. ### Claim 15 A method of detecting a continuity state of an article, package or container, comprising: a) placing first and second coils on a first part of the article, package or container, the first coil having an integrated circuit electrically connected thereto; and b) placing a third coil on a second part of the article, package container, wherein one of the first and second parts of the article, container or package is removable or movable with respect to the other one of the first and second parts of the container or product packaging; c) using the first, second and third coils, sensing the continuity state of the article, package or container, wherein the first and second coils have a first coupling when the article, package or container is closed or sealed, and a second, different coupling when the article, package or container is open or unsealed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the article, package or container is considered open or unsealed when the first and second coils have the second coupling, and the article, package or container is considered closed or sealed when the first and second coils have the first coupling. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the third coil is closer to the first coil than to the second coil when the article, container or package is closed or sealed, and when the article, container or product packaging is open or unsealed, the third coil is (i) absent or (ii) closer to the second coil than when the article, container or package is closed or sealed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first, second and third coils form a continuity sensor, the continuity sensor senses or determines the continuity state of the article, container or package, and the first coupling corresponds to a closed or sealed continuity state, and the second coupling corresponds to an open or unsealed continuity state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising providing power to an integrated circuit configured to transmit signals on the first coil using a battery. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a printed integrated circuit.