Activatable humidity and gas sensors
AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
InventorsEric W. LIBERATO, Marielle K. SMITH, Mohannad ABDO, Brian S. HUFFMAN
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Abstract
Humidity- or gas-exposure indicators include a substrate having a plurality of humidity or gas-impermeable microcapsules on or in the substrate, the microcapsules comprising a humidity-or gas-sensitive payload, the microcapsules preventing exposure of the payload to humidity or gas while intact, the payload producing an observable effect indicating the presence of humidity or gas when exposed to humidity or gas above a predetermined threshold after the microcapsules have been exposed to an activating stimulus which ruptures, fractures, dissolves, or renders permeable the microcapsules.
Claims26
A humidity-or gas-exposure indicator, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of humidity or gas-impermeable microcapsules on or in the substrate, the microcapsules comprising a humidity-or gas-sensitive payload, the microcapsules preventing exposure of the payload to humidity or gas while intact, the payload producing an observable effect indicating the presence of humidity or gas when exposed to humidity or gas above a predetermined threshold after the microcapsules have been exposed to an activating stimulus which ruptures, fractures, dissolves, or renders permeable the microcapsules.
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A microcapsule comprising
- a humidity- or gas-sensitive payload core;
- a humidity- or gas-impermeable shell surrounding the payload core and including a permeable material for forming a shell surrounding, and in contact with, the payload, and a sealing material;
- where the shell, after exposure to an activating stimulus, ruptures, fractures, dissolves, or renders permeable the microcapsule.
A process, comprising:
- providing a humidity-or gas-sensitive payload;
- providing a permeable material for forming a shell surrounding, and in contact with, the payload;
- providing a sealing material;
- and
- co-extruding the payload, the permeable material, and the sealing material to provide a microcapsule having a humidity- or gas-sensitive payload core surrounded by a humidity- or gas-impermeable shell when intact, and which, after exposure to an activating stimulus, ruptures, fractures, dissolves, or renders permeable the microcapsules.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.