Smart packaging, systems and methods
AssigneeInductive Intelligence, LLC
InventorsGregory L. Clark, David W. Baarman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various smart package configurations may include a package intelligence and communication module (PICM) intelligently interacting with smart heating appliances and users. A thermodynamic load profile may correlate thermodynamic response characteristics of the package and be stored in or associated with a unique identifier in the PICM. The TLP enables efficient and safe heating of packages on a smart appliance as well as package validation and authentication. Package configurations also include structural elements for efficient heating of food, beverage, cosmetic and personal care products.
Claims18
A smart package for use with a smart appliance for intelligently controlling heating of the smart package, the smart package comprising:
- a container for containing known thermodynamic contents to be heated;
- a package intelligence and communication module for storing and communicating package content related data, the package intelligence and communication module including:
- (a) a storage for storing an identifier unique to the package;
- (b) and a transponder for communicating the identifier to a reader on the smart appliance;
- the package content related data including a thermodynamic load profile representing a control curve of a thermodynamic response of the package and contents to dynamic heating energy over a heating operation sequence;
- a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the product during a heating operation;
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes data representing a heating operation with a plurality of different heating operation steps, wherein the data representing the heating operation includes expected temperature measurements and expected power characteristics for each of the plurality of different heating operation steps;
- and
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes an ambient temperature-based offset.
A smart package for use with a smart appliance for intelligently controlling heating of the smart package, the smart package comprising:
- a container for containing known thermodynamic contents to be heated;
- a package intelligence and communication module for storing and communicating package content related data, the package intelligence and communication module including:
- (a) a storage for storing an identifier unique to the package;
- (b) and a transponder for communicating the identifier to a reader on the smart appliance;
- the package content related data including a thermodynamic load profile representing a control curve of a thermodynamic response of the package and contents to dynamic heating energy over a heating operation sequence;
- a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the product during a heating operation;
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes data representing a heating operation with a plurality of different heating operation steps, wherein the data representing the heating operation includes expected temperature measurements and expected power characteristics for each of the plurality of different heating operation steps;
- and
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes an altitude-based offset.
A method using a smart package in a heating operation, the smart package comprising a container for containing contents to be heated;
- a package intelligence and communication module for storing and communicating package related and package content related data, the package intelligence and communication module including (a) a storage for storing an identifier unique to the package;
- and (b) a transponder for communicating the identifier to a reader on the smart appliance;
- the package and package content related data including a thermodynamic load profile representing the thermodynamic response of the package and contents to heating energy;
- and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the product during a heating operation, the method comprising:
- receiving energy with the transponder from a reader on a smart appliance;
- retrieving the thermodynamic load profile in response to receiving the energy, the thermodynamic load profile representing a control curve of a thermodynamic response of the smart package and contents to dynamic heating energy over a heating operation sequence;
- controlling a heating operation of the package based on the thermodynamic load profile;
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes data representing a heating operation with a plurality of different heating operation steps, wherein the data representing the heating operation includes expected temperature measurements and expected power characteristics for each of the plurality of different heating operation steps;
- and
- wherein the thermodynamic load profile includes an ambient temperature-based offset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.