# US 9,626,610 B2 · System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators

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- Number: US 9,626,610 B2
- Document ID: US9626610B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/183,465
- Filed: 2016-06-15
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2017-04-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-10
- Assignees: Varcode Ltd.
- Applicants: Varcode Ltd.
- Inventors: Yaron Nemet; Ephraim Brand; Ahmed M. Tafesh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9626610B2

## CPC

- G06K 19/06046: {Constructional details}
- G01D 7/00: Indicating measured values
- G01D 7/005: {Indication of measured value by colour change}
- G01K 3/10: in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
- G01K 11/14: of inorganic materials
- G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes}
- G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes}
- G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes}
- G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding}
- G06K 19/0614: {the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12)}
- G06K 19/0615: {the marking being of the rewritable type, e.g. thermo-chromic barcodes}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators, a barcode indicator reader and a product type responsive indication interpreter, each of the barcoded quality indicators including a first barcode including at least one first colorable area, the first barcode being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, at least a second barcode including at least one second colorable area, the second barcode not being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator and a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by one or more product quality affecting parameters, said barcoded quality indicator comprising:
a first barcode being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator;
a second barcode not being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator, said second barcode being machine readable following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold; and
at least one third barcode not being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator, said at least one third barcode not being machine readable before exceedance of said at least one threshold and being machine readable following exceedance of said at least one threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 1 and also comprising a pull strip, said pull strip being suitable to prevent the passage of solvents and coloring agents therethrough before removal thereof, and wherein removal of said pull strip actuates said barcoded quality indicator.

### Claim 3

A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by one or more product quality affecting parameters, said barcoded quality indicator comprising:
a first machine-readable state prior to actuation of said barcoded quality indicator;
a second machine-readable state following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold; and
at least one third barcode machine-readable state following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and exceedance of said at least one threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 3 and wherein said first machine-readable state and said second machine-readable state are different machine-readable states.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 3 and wherein said first machine-readable state, said second machine-readable state and said at least one third machine-readable state are different machine-readable states.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 3 and also comprising a pull strip, said pull strip being suitable to prevent the passage of solvents and coloring agents therethrough before removal thereof, and wherein removal of said pull strip actuates said barcoded quality indicator.

### Claim 7

A quality management system for products comprising:
a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by one or more product quality affecting parameters, each of said indicators comprising:
a first barcode being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator;
a second barcode not being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator, said second barcode being machine readable following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold; and
at least one third barcode not being machine readable before actuation of said barcoded quality indicator, said at least one third barcode not being machine readable before exceedance of said at least one threshold and being machine readable following exceedance of said at least one threshold;
a barcode indicator reader operative to read said barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications; and
a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive said output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs.

### Claim 8

A quality management system for products comprising:
a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by one or more product quality affecting parameters, each of said indicators comprising:
a first machine-readable state prior to actuation of said barcoded quality indicator;
a second machine-readable state following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold; and
at least one third barcode machine-readable state following actuation of said barcoded quality indicator and exceedance of said at least one threshold;
a barcode indicator reader operative to read said barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications; and
a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive said output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs.