# US 2014/0155851 A1 · Apparatus and Method for Product and Signaling Device Matching > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155851 A1 - Document ID: US20140155851A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/150,959 - Filed: 2014-01-09 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-10 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Michael Ales; Sudhanshu Gakhar; Andrew Mark Long; Davis-Dang H Nhan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155851A1 ## CPC - A61F 13/42: with wetness indicator or alarm - A61F 13/49009: {with elastic means} - G01J 3/50: using electric radiation detectors - G01N 21/33: using ultraviolet light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 21/35: using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 21/3554: for determining moisture content - G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters} - A61F 2013/421: {the alarm being a temperature change} - A61F 2013/422: {the alarm being a colour change} - A61F 2013/423: {the alarm being a volume change or a movement of a component} - A61F 2013/424: {having an electronic device} - A61F 2013/49092: {comprising leg cuffs} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - 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) ## Abstract The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. The signaling device includes one or more non-invasive sensors configured to detect the presence of a substance, such as a body fluid, in the absorbent article. The signaling device can provide an audible and/or visible alert to the user of the absorbent article when it detects the presence of a substance. The absorbent article includes one or more identifiable characteristics the presence of which permits operation of the signaling device. In this manner, the present disclosure provides for product and signaling device matching for use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article, comprising: a chassis comprising an outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover; and at least one attachment zone, the attachment zone configured to receive a non-invasive signaling device configured to detect the presence of a substance; wherein said absorbent article comprises at least one identifiable characteristic the presence of which permits operation of the non-invasive signaling device. ### Claim at position 2 2-3. (canceled) ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifiable characteristic comprises the presence of one or more UV patterns arranged in an identifiable pattern, the UV patterns configured to fluoresce when illuminated with electromagnetic energy at a particular frequency. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifiable characteristic comprises an infrared light reflectance of a material on said absorbent article. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifiable characteristic comprises one or more electrical characteristics of a conductive pattern on the absorbent article. ### Claim 7 A signaling device for sensing and indicating the presence of a substance in an absorbent article, the device comprising: a housing; a first non-invasive sensor configured to detect the presence of a substance in the absorbent article; and a second non-invasive sensor configured to detect the presence of at least one identifiable characteristic on the absorbent article, the presence of the at least one identifiable characteristic permitting the operation of said first non-invasive sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The signaling device of claim 7, wherein said second non-invasive sensor comprises a colorimeter sensor configured to detect the presence of at least one predefined color on the absorbent article, the signaling device configured to activate said first non-invasive sensor when said colorimeter detects the presence of the at least one predefined color on the absorbent article. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The signaling device of claim 8, wherein said signaling device comprises a light source configured to illuminate the at least one predefined color on the absorbent article. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The signaling device of claim 7, wherein said signaling device comprises a light source configured to illuminate a UV pattern on the absorbent article with electromagnetic energy at a frequency sufficient to fluoresce the UV pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The signaling device of claim 10, wherein said second non-invasive sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to detect the presence of the UV pattern when the UV pattern is illuminated with electromagnetic energy at a frequency sufficient to fluoresce the UV pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The signaling device of claim 7, wherein said signaling device comprises an infrared source configured to illuminate a material on the absorbent article, said second non-invasive sensor comprising an infrared detector configured to detect the infrared reflectance of said material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The signaling device of claim 12, wherein said signaling device activates said first non-invasive sensor when said infrared reflectance of said material falls within a predefined range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The signaling device of claim 7, wherein said second non-invasive sensor comprises an electrical property sensor configured to detect an electrical characteristic of one or more conductive patterns on the absorbent article. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The signaling device of claim 14, wherein said signaling device is configured to activate the first non-invasive sensor when said electrical property sensor detects a predefined electrical characteristic associated with the one or more conductive patterns. ### Claim 16 A method of matching a signaling device with an absorbent article, the method comprising: placing a signaling device on an absorbent article, the signaling device comprising a first non-invasive sensor configured to detect the presence of a substance in the absorbent article and a second non-invasive sensor; detecting the presence of one or more identifiable characteristics on the absorbent article using the second non-invasive sensor; activating the first non-invasive sensor when the second non-invasive sensor detects the presence of the one or more identifiable characteristics of the absorbent article. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the presence of one or more identifiable characteristics comprises detecting the presence of one or more predefined colors on the absorbent article. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the presence of one or more identifiable characteristics comprises detecting the presence of one or more UV patterns on the absorbent article, the UV patterns configured to fluoresce when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a particular frequency. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the presence of one or more identifiable characteristics comprises detecting the infrared energy reflected from a material on the absorbent article. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the presence of one or more identifiable characteristics comprises detecting one or more electrical characteristics of a conductive pattern on the absorbent article.