# US 9,836,678 B2 · System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators

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- Number: US 9,836,678 B2
- Document ID: US9836678B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/398,951
- Filed: 2017-01-05
- Published: 2017-06-22
- Granted: 2017-12-05
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-14
- Assignees: Varcode Ltd.
- Applicants: Varcode Ltd.
- Inventors: Yaron Nemet; Ephraim Brand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9836678B2

## 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 bar coded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, a barcode indicator reader operative to read the barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications, the barcoded quality indicators being readable by the barcode indicator reader at all times after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of the at least one threshold by the at least one product quality affecting parameter, and a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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 at least one product quality affecting parameter;
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,
said barcoded quality indicators including:
a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;
a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and
at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein said quality indicators are readable by said barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A quality management system according to claim 1 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.

### Claim 5

A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, said barcoded quality indicator including:
a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;
a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and
at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein said barcoded quality indicator is readable by a barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A barcoded quality indicator according to claim 5 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.

### Claim 9

A method for providing quality management for products comprising:
employing a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter;
reading said barcoded quality indicators and providing output indications therefrom;
receiving said output indications; and
interpreting said output indications to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs,
said barcoded quality indicators including:
a first machine-readable visible state prior to actuation thereof;
a second machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and prior to exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter; and
at least one third machine-readable visible state, different from said first machine-readable visible state and different from said second machine-readable visible state, following actuation thereof and following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9 and wherein said barcoded quality indicator is readable by a barcode indicator reader at all times, after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of said at least one threshold by said at least one product quality affecting parameter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9 and wherein one of said at least one product quality affecting parameters is time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9 and wherein said quality indicators are operative to provide indications of exceedance of several different thresholds and wherein an indication of exceedance may be provided for one threshold at a time when an indication of exceedance is not provided for another threshold.