Systems and methods for tracking items using bonding materials
AssigneeCounted, LLC
InventorsMichael Isom, Duane Michael Scott Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to an apparatus for tracking usage of a product. The apparatus includes the following: a structural layer that includes at least some portion of electrically conductive material, an adhesive layer, a microcontroller, and a transceiver. The microcontroller is electrically connected to the conductive material in the structural layer, and is configured to monitor the conductive material for changes in at least one electrical property. Upon determining that an electrical property has changed, the microcontroller determines where the apparatus is located and when the change occurred, and further reports the determination to various specified entities.
Claims20
An apparatus for tracking usage of an item, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a structural layer that includes at least some portion of electrically conductive material;
- an adhesive layer configured to adhere the structural layer to an item;
- a microcontroller that is electrically connected to at least a portion of the conductive material in the structural layer;
- and
- a transceiver,
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform the following:
- monitor the conductive material for changes in at least one electrical property,
- determine that at least one electrical property has changed in the conductive material by a measured amount indicating a partial tear in the conductive material,
- determine a current location of the apparatus, and
- report the results of the determinations including an indication of the measured amount by which the at least one electrical property changed to one or more specified entities.
A system for monitoring usage of an item, comprising:
- a structural layer that provides support for one or more other system components;
- an electrically conductive layer that includes at least some portion of electrically conductive material;
- an adhesive layer that is applied to at least a portion of the electrically conductive layer;
- and
- a processor that is electrically connected to the electrically conductive material in the electrically conductive layer, the processor being configured to monitor the conductive material for incremental changes in one or more electrical properties, determine that at least one electrical property has changed in the conductive material by a measured amount indicating a partial tear in the conductive material, and report the results of the determination including an indication of the measured amount by which the at least one electrical property changed to one or more specified entities.
A method for monitoring usage of an item, comprising:
- attaching tracking bonding material to an item, such that the tracking bonding material is affixed to the item, the tracking bonding material including a microprocessor, a power supply, a transceiver and one or more sensors electrically connected thereto;
- communicating with the one or more sensors to determine a current level of one or more electrical properties associated with the tracking bonding material;
- storing an initial electrical property measurement in memory;
- and
- periodically waking the microprocessor to determine at one or more future points in time, using the one or more sensors, a measured amount of the one or more electrical properties associated with the tracking bonding material indicating a partial tear in the conductive material, and to report the measured amount by which the one or more electrical properties changed to one or more specified entities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.