BG4504U1 - Temperature transponder - Google Patents

Abstract

The temperature transponder according to the present utility model is intended for monitoring and logging potential breaches of predefined temperature regimes for various items and products, including ones in refrigerated storage. Said temperature transponder is provided with a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder (1) with a safeguard input port (2). The circuit of said input port connects serially a memory-enabled temperature-sensitive switch (3) or a memory-enabled capacitor (4). The radio frequency transponder (1) is equipped with an antenna (5). When the ohmic resistance of the safeguard circuit (2) is monitored, the temperature-sensitive switch (3) is normally on or normally off, which is logged by the transponder (1) responsible for monitoring the integrity of the circuit (2). Thus, if the temperature of the external environment reaches the preset temperature of the temperature-sensitive switch (3), said switch changes irreversibly its state to the opposite state and the RFID transponder (1) logs the new state of the safeguard circuit. If the capacitance of the safeguard circuit (2) is monitored, the transponder (1) measures and logs the capacitance. If the temperature of the external environment reaches the preset temperature, the capacitor (4) changes its capacitance irreversibly and the transponder (1) logs the new value. Said temperature-sensitive transponders with a temperature-sensitive switch (3) or with a capacitor (4) are established on substrates, for example substrates made of polyethylene terephthalate.

Description

Field of technique

The temperature transponder is designed to monitor and register a violation of a set temperature regime of products and products from the pharmaceutical, food industry and from all areas where the products or articles require control of the refrigeration mode (refrigeration chain) throughout the entire cycle of transportation, storage and delivery them

Prior art

Various chemical indicators are known for monitoring a given refrigeration chain, based on thermochromic compounds.

For example, a utility model relating to a temperature-indicating functional label based on temperature-sensitive ink is known. Its structure includes five layers: a protective layer, an ink layer, a surface layer, a self-adhesive layer and a backing paper layer. As a protective layer, transparent polyester materials are used - for example, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. The ink layer consists of an ink that changes with temperature. As the temperature changes, the colorless thermal ink reversibly changes color. The surface layer is made of a polythiophene thermally conductive transparent polymer film with a thickness of less than 0.1 mm.

When the temperature changes, the label changes its color and provides an identifying temperature characteristic for the product to which it is attached. (CN 208706144 U).

A thermosensitive label is also known, which also belongs to the field of temperature monitoring (CN 106297552). The label consists of an electrochromic electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte layer located between the electrochromic electrode and the counter electrode. The electrochromic electrode has reversible oxidation activity and can display different colors at different voltages. The electrolyte layer contains an electrolyte with an ionic conductivity function. When applied in cold chain logistics, the temperature sensitive label is pasted on the surface of an item that needs temperature monitoring.

Chemical indicators are characterized by low reliability in operation due to the possibility of destruction during cargo transportation, limited informativeness, indicating only with a color code the violation of the refrigeration regime, and operational unsuitability for automated installation and especially for automated reading, requiring a color recognition system and accurate orientation of the label, at the relatively high price.

Electronic indicators are also known, and one of the solutions has a built-in temperature sensor, known as a temperature monitoring label. The sensor tag for monitoring and tracking the temperature chain of a product during transport or storage disclosed in the invention WO 2019226052 includes a programmable microchip, which microchip includes a temperature sensor, memory and clock, powered by a battery and equipped with an antenna. The microchip is configured to read the temperature sensor at a selected time interval. The microchip can be an RFID tag, NFC tag, tag or card capable of exchanging data with a reader using radio frequency signals. In this, the top surface of the touch label is used for printing, and the back surface is adhesive, with release paper.

Electronic transponders are also known that use radio frequency tags, most often RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) with an external temperature sensor connected to the measuring input of the tag.

An RFID sensor device and a method for its production are known (WO 2022238614). The invention is a device for indicating at least one physical quantity and/or time lapse and for sending it electronically. The device consists of an RFID chip and an electrochemical cell or cell group connected to the input of the RFID chip. The discharge or charging of the cell or the last cell of the group of cells, or the change in the charging status of the cell affects the so-called security (antitamper) input of the RFID chip. The data is sent to a reading device with an antenna according to NFC, Bluetooth or UHF or LF technology. More than one cell, for example the last two, can also be directed to the security input, for example in food applications. The first cell can be set to be de-circuited with a tear strip, where the start time of the device can be set by the user. Said physical quantity may be temperature, relative humidity, electromagnetic radiation and/or vibration.

B KR 20110052192 A RFID refrigeration chain management system is provided which prevents a problem from occurring by starting a temperature maintenance device or providing a real-time alarm message. The invention is composed of an RFID tag including a temperature sensor and a reader that is connected to the RFID tag and receives information from it. A control unit receives information from the reader, the information including the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. If the measured temperature is outside the set temperature range, the control unit activates a temperature maintenance device or an alarm unit.

Well-known solutions with electronic transponders provide real-time temperature control and at the same time register and alarm for violations in the refrigeration circuit.

This type of transponders, however, require battery power, which makes them inconvenient to operate and comparable in price to chemical indicators, which practically limits their mass application. So, the main problem that prevents their mass use for controlling the refrigeration mode of goods, medicine and food is the cost and the need for service (battery replacement).

Technical nature of the utility model

The task of the utility model is to create a temperature transponder with increased reliability that does not need battery power, with the possibility of being implemented in the form of a label, which allows its automated placement on goods and articles and automated reading.

The offered temperature transponder is composed of a radio frequency (RFID) transponder with a reading device, to the circuit of the security input to which an energy-passive temperature-sensitive switch or capacitor is connected in series.

The temperature-sensitive switch and capacitor are memory and are implemented on a single substrate with the RF transponder and antenna that connects it wirelessly to the reader.

According to a variant embodiment, the temperature-sensitive switch is a metal wire with a negative temperature coefficient or heat-shrinkable plastic, glued or glued at both ends to both ends of the protective circuit with electrically conductive glue, realized on a common substrate of polyethylene terephthalate.

According to a second alternative embodiment, the temperature-sensitive circuit breaker is a container made of polyethylene filled with a liquid with a certain freezing point, the container being glued to both ends of the protective circuit by means of an electrically conductive adhesive surrounding the entire container in order to ensure the electrical integrity of the protective circuit. implemented on a common substrate.

According to another variant embodiment, a capacitor is connected in series to the security circuit of the transponder, one plate of which is a metal conductor with a negative temperature coefficient or heat-shrinkable plastic, glued or glued at one end to one end of the security circuit with electrically conductive glue applied to their whole surface. The other plate of the capacitor is formed by the free end of the guard circuit. The two plates are separated by a dielectric and are realized on a common substrate.

According to another alternative embodiment, one plate of the capacitor is a container filled with a liquid of a certain freezing point, glued to one end of the safety circuit with an electrically conductive adhesive, surrounding the entire container without reaching the free end of the safety circuit, which forms the second plate of the capacitor implemented on a common substrate.

The transponder thus described has the following advantages:

1. It does not need battery power, which makes it maintenance-free and significantly lowers its price compared to existing solutions.

2. It is implemented in the form of a label which:

• increases its operational reliability;

• allows its automated placement (sticking) on the goods and articles, as well as • automated reading, without the need for a special orientation of the goods and articles on the assembly line.

Explanation of the attached figures

An exemplary implementation of the utility model is presented in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the temperature transponder with a temperature-sensitive switch (thermostat);

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the temperature transponder with a capacitor;

Figure 3 - exemplary implementation of a temperature-sensitive switch (thermostat) with memory for temperatures above zero;

Figure 4 - exemplary implementation of a temperature-sensitive switch (thermostat) with memory for temperatures below zero;

Figure 5 - exemplary embodiment of a capacitor with memory for temperatures above zero;

Figure 6 - exemplary embodiment of a capacitor with memory for temperatures below zero.

Examples of implementation of the utility model

The proposed utility model is equipped with a radio frequency (RFID) transponder 1, in the security input circuit of which (intrusion detection input) 2 is connected in series, a temperature-sensitive switch (thermostat) 3 or a capacitor 4, which are memory - figure 1 and figure 2. The radio frequency transponder 1 is equipped with an antenna 5.

When its ohmic resistance is monitored in the security circuit 2, the temperature-sensitive switch 3 is normally on or off, which is fixed by the transponder 1. The transponder 1 monitors the integrity of the circuit 2 and when the temperature of the external environment equal to the temperature of which is set, the temperature-sensitive switch 3 changes its state to the opposite irreversibly and the radio frequency transponder 1 registers the new state of the security circuit 2 (fig. 1).

Temperature transponders with a temperature-sensitive switch (thermostat) 3 or with a capacitor 4 are realized on pads - for example, made of polyethylene terephthalate.

If its capacity is monitored in the security circuit 2, the transponder 1 measures and registers it. Upon reaching a temperature of the external environment equal to the temperature at which the capacitor 4 irreversibly changes its capacity, the transponder 1 registers the new value - figure 2.

The transponder 1 registers changes in the state of the security circuit 2 only when it communicates with an RFID reading device (specialized reader, mobile phone or tablet) 6, from which it is powered inductively, i.e. without a wire. The registration of the changed state of the security circuit 2 by the transponder 1 is possible thanks to the design of the temperature-sensitive switch 3 or the capacitor 4, which can store their changed state without the need for power supply. In this way, the temperature transponder 1 is energetically passive during the entire operating cycle, being read by the RFID reader 6 only at the end of the cycle to obtain information about a change in the state of its security circuit 2, i.e. information about a possible violation of the refrigeration (temperature) regime.

Depending on the type of security input of the transponder, the utility model is implemented in one of the following ways:

1) At an input that controls the ohmic resistance of the security circuit (closed/open) to the security input 2 of the transponder, with antenna 5 connected to it, the temperature-sensitive switch 3 (thermostat) is turned on sequentially, which, for temperatures above zero implement as follows:

The temperature-sensitive switch 3 (Fig. 3) is a metal wire with a negative temperature coefficient (for example, from Ni - Ti alloy) or heat-shrinkable plastic (for example, from polystyrene) 7, glued or glued at both ends to both ends of the protective circuit 2 with electrically conductive glue 8, realized on a common substrate - for example, from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 9. When the ambient temperature rises above the transformation temperature of the wire or plastic 7, the latter shrinks irreversibly and violates the electrical integrity of the security circuit, which is registered by the transponder 1 .

2) For zero temperatures, the temperature-sensitive switch 3 (Fig. 4) is composed of a plastic balloon (container) 10, made for example of polyethylene, filled with a liquid 11 with a certain freezing point (for example, antifreeze). The plastic balloon 10 is glued to both ends of the security circuit 2 by means of electrically conductive glue 8, which surrounds the entire balloon 10, ensuring the electrical integrity of the security circuit 2, implemented on a common substrate 9.

When the ambient temperature drops below the freezing temperature of the liquid 11, the bubble 10 is destroyed as a result of the increased volume of the frozen liquid 11, which irreversibly breaks the electrical integrity of the security circuit 2 and the event is registered by the transponder 1.

3) At an input that controls the change of the capacity of the security circuit 2 to the security input of the transponder, with antenna 5 connected to it, capacitor 4 is switched on in series, which for temperatures above zero is realized as follows:

One plate of the capacitor 4 (Fig. 5), which is a metal conductor with a negative temperature coefficient or a heat-shrinkable plastic 7, is glued or glued at one end to one end of the guard circuit 2 with an electrically conductive adhesive 8, which is applied to their entire surface. . The other plate of the capacitor 4 is formed by the free end of the protective circuit 2. The two plates are separated by a dielectric 12 and are realized on a common substrate 9.

When the ambient temperature rises above the transformation temperature of the wire or plastic 7, the latter shrink irreversibly, as a result of which the capacity of the security circuit 2 changes, which is registered by the transponder.

4) For zero temperatures, one plate of the condenser 4 (Fig. 6) is a plastic balloon (container) 10 filled with a liquid with a certain freezing point 11, glued to one end of the safety circuit 2 with electrically conductive glue 8, which surrounds the entire balloon 10, without reaching the free end of the protective circuit 2. The protective circuit 2 forms the second plate of the capacitor 4, implemented on a common substrate 9.

When the ambient temperature drops below the freezing temperature, the bubble 10 is destroyed as a result of the increased volume of the liquid 11, which irreversibly changes the capacity of the security circuit 2 and the event is registered by the transponder.

Application (use) of the utility model

The electronic temperature transponder thus described, with included thermostat 3 or capacitor 4 with memory depending on the type of security input 2 of the transponder, is converted into an electronic label by applying the known technologies for this type of products. This is feasible because the proposed designs of the thermostat 3 and the condenser 4 do not exceed the allowable thicknesses determined by these technologies. The converted electronic labels are produced on a roll, which allows their application to the protected goods using an applicator - manually or on an automatic tape. Another advantage is that in this way the possibility of printing them on a printer is preserved.

Wireless (radio) communication with the reader also allows automated reading of the transponders affixed to the goods, on a production line, without the need for special orientation of the goods' position.

Claims (1)

A temperature transponder consisting of a radio frequency (RFID) transponder (1) with a reading device (6), characterized in that an energy-passive temperature-sensitive switch (3) or capacitor ( 4), which have memory and are implemented on a substrate (9), and the radio frequency transponder (1) is equipped with an antenna (5) which is connected wirelessly to the reading device (6)