# US 12,007,375 B2 · Freshness sensor devices and related methods

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- Number: US 12,007,375 B2
- Document ID: US12007375B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/129,134
- Filed: 2023-03-31
- Published: 2023-10-05
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-28
- Assignees: The Kroger Co.
- Applicants: The Kroger Co.
- Inventors: Adam Rigby; Chris Daniels; Addison Carter; Seth Blovits; Connor Rahm; Noe Alvarez; Olivia North; Brendan Payne; Michael Jordan; Fernando Eli Garcia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007375B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/02: Food
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- G01N 27/041: {of a solid body}
- G01N 33/0054: {Ammonia}
- G01N 33/12: Meat; Fish
- G01N 33/4977: {Metabolic gas from microbes, cell cultures or plant tissues}
- G06K 7/10297: {arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00)}
- G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications}
- G06K 19/06121: {the marking having been punched or cut out, e.g. a barcode machined in a metal work-piece}
- G06K 19/07718: {the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls}
- G06K 19/0772: {Physical layout of the record carrier}
- B01L 2300/022: Transponder chips
- B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2300/16: Surface properties and coatings
- G06K 19/0716: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor}
- H04B 5/77: for interrogation
- 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)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A device for detecting freshness of a perishable item is provided. The device includes at least one sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in the perishable item. The device further includes an integrated circuit for converting information detected by the sensor into a signal. The device also includes an antenna portion for receiving and transmitting the signal from the integrated circuit. The at least one sensor, integrated circuit and antenna portion are printed on a single sheet such that the device is unitary.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for detecting freshness of a perishable item, comprising:
at least one sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in the perishable item, wherein the at least one sensor is a binary sensor;
an integrated circuit for converting information detected by the at least one sensor into a signal; and
an antenna portion for receiving and transmitting the signal from the integrated circuit, whereby the at least one sensor, the integrated circuit and the antenna portion are printed on a single sheet such that the device is unitary,
wherein the antenna portion is configured to collect energy from an aerial device to activate the integrated circuit, and the integrated circuit is configured to cause the antenna to broadcast a unique identifier specific to the perishable item, pulse test a signal through the at least one sensor to detect voltage drop data across the at least one sensor, and cause the antenna portion to transmit the voltage drop data to an external receiver.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the aerial device is one of near field communication (NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID), Zigbee, 802.15.4, Thread, or Bluetooth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a plurality of sensors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is tuned to a corresponding concentration of the analyte of interest.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the corresponding concentration of the analyte of interest increases with respect to each successive one of the plurality of sensors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a different analyte of interest.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the different analyte of interest is a different chemical for each of the plurality of sensors.