US 2019/0154571 A1 · VERIFICATION OF THE QUALITY OF A LIQUID USING A QUALITY-SENSING BOTTLE CAP

Abstract

A quality-sensing bottle cap includes a sensor array having a plurality of conductive polymeric sensors. In some embodiments, each sensor is exposed within a mechanical chamber and is in electrical communication with an interrogation interface. The mechanical chamber is configured, in an inactive state, to be closed off from a headspace above a liquid contained in a bottle sealed with the quality-sensing bottle cap and configured, in an active state, to be open to the headspace. The sensor array may be tailored for a particular application, such as the detection of olive oil aroma. The sensor array may, for example, allow discrimination among olive oils of different qualities (e.g., extra virgin olive oil, lampante virgin olive oil, and refined olive oil), as well as discrimination among olive oils with negative attributes (e.g., olive oils with unpleasant aromatic notes, such as “fusty,” “muddy sediment,” “musty,” and “rancid”).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A quality-sensing bottle cap, comprising:

a mechanical chamber configured, in an inactive state, to be closed off from a headspace above a liquid contained in a bottle that is to be sealed with the quality-sensing bottle cap and configured, in an active state, to be open to the headspace;
a sensor array that includes a plurality of conductive polymeric sensors each exposed within the mechanical chamber;
and
an interrogation interface in electrical communication with each of the conductive polymeric sensors.

1 more element

A method of analyzing a headspace above a liquid contained in a bottle sealed with a quality-sensing bottle cap, wherein the quality-sensing bottle cap comprises:

a mechanical chamber configured, in an inactive state, to be closed off from the headspace and configured, in an active state, to be open to the headspace;
a sensor array that includes a plurality of conductive polymeric sensors each exposed within the mechanical chamber;
and an interrogation interface in electrical communication with each of the conductive polymeric sensors, the method comprising:
driving the mechanical chamber from the inactive state to the active state;
coupling an interrogation probe to the interrogation interface to obtain a sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors, wherein the sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors is representative of electrical impedance of that particular conductive polymeric sensor;
converting the sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors to digital data;
and
analyzing the digital data along with reference data using a multivariate statistical technique to determine a quality classification of the liquid contained in the bottle, wherein the reference data is associated with one or more liquids each of known quality classification.

5 more elements

An electronic nose system, comprising:

a bottle containing a liquid and sealed with a quality-sensing bottle cap, wherein the quality-sensing bottle cap comprises:
a mechanical chamber configured, in an inactive state, to be closed off from a headspace above the liquid contained in the bottle and configured, in an active state, to be open to the headspace;
a sensor array that includes a plurality of conductive polymeric sensors each exposed within the mechanical chamber;
and an interrogation interface in electrical communication with each of the conductive polymeric sensors;
and
an analytic unit, wherein the analytic unit comprises:
an interrogation probe coupled to the interrogation interface to obtain a sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors, wherein the sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors is representative of electrical impedance of that particular conductive polymeric sensor;
an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the interrogation probe and operative to convert the sensor output from each of the conductive polymeric sensors to digital data;
a memory;
and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory contains a program that, when executed by the processor, performs a method comprising:
receiving the digital data from the analog-to-digital converter;
and
analyzing the digital data along with reference data using a multivariate statistical technique to determine a quality classification of the liquid contained in the bottle, wherein the reference data is associated with one or more liquids each of known quality classification.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Verification of the quality of a liquid using a quality-sensing bottle cap

Life of this patent

Verification of the quality of a liquid using a quality-sensing bottle cap

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20