US 7,057,495 B2 · Perishable product electronic label including time and temperature measurement

Abstract

An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised or spoiled. The label may take the form of a flexible, disposable label that is typically powered by a small battery. Methods may include providing a temperature-variable oscillator or time-base, counting cycles of said oscillator within a logic circuit to determine when one or more preset total cycle counts is/are reached, and signaling when said total cycle count(s) is/are reached.

Claims40

Dependent claims

An electronics assembly for monitoring and alerting persons to the spoilage of perishable products, comprising:

One or more oscillators or time-bases;
One or more batteries or energy cells;
An electronic monitoring and/or timing circuit, wherein the electronic monitoring and/or timing circuit comprises a microcontroller and at least one register configured to tune the frequency of the one or more oscillators or time-bases;
and
One or more indicators, wherein:
Each of said oscillators or time-bases and each of said monitoring and/or timing circuits is powered by said one or more batteries or energy cells, and each of said indicators is connected to said electronic monitoring and/or timing circuit, so that said assembly functions to perform time and/or time-temperature measurement and to provide alarm status at said one or more indicators when calculated alarm event times occur.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Perishable product electronic label including time and temperature measurement

Life of this patent

Perishable product electronic label including time and temperature measurement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40