Thermochromic Temperature Sensor
AssigneeChromatic Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLyle Small, Timothy J. Owen, Ruizheng Wang, Medhanei Abraha
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Abstract
A temperature sensor, and methods of making and using such a temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensor includes a reversible thermochromic color-changing system having a dye, a developer, and a solvent. Upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of the dye and the developer results in a visible color change. Further, the color-changing system includes a color-memory property which facilitates retention of the color change to effectively record exposure to the temperature threshold.
Claims110
A temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- and
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
A method for visually determining whether a temperature-sensitive product has been exposed to a preselected temperature threshold, comprising:
- reliably associating a temperature sensor with said temperature-sensitive product, said temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to said temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- and
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
A method for indicating whether a temperature-sensitive product has been exposed to a preselected temperature threshold, comprising:
- reliably associating a temperature sensor with said temperature-sensitive product, said temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to said temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- and
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
A method of using a temperature sensor, comprising:
- reliably associating said temperature sensor with a temperature-sensitive product, said temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to said temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- and
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
A method of making a temperature sensor, comprising:
- containing a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- and
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
A temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold;
- and
- wherein the difference between a coloration initiation temperature and a complete coloration temperature is not greater than about 4 Celsius degrees.
A temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent;
- wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold;
- and
- wherein the difference between a decoloration initiation temperature and a complete decoloration temperature is not greater than about 4 Celsius degrees.
A temperature sensor comprising:
- a reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising:
- a dye;
- a developer;
- and
- a solvent comprising a diphenylmethyl ester;
- wherein upon exposure to a preselected temperature threshold, association or disassociation of said dye and said developer results in a visible color change;
- wherein said color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said color change to record said exposure to said temperature threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.