DE102008053200A1 - Goods i.e. food, storage and transport monitoring device for use in transport container, has microcomputer carrying out evaluation with respect to conditions of goods, where results of microcomputer is displayed in bistable display - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a microcomputer (1) with a data storage (2) and humidity and temperature sensors (3, 4) for measuring of different storage and transport conditions of goods. A transmitting and receiving device is provided for near field communicationwith an antenna of a radio-frequency identification transponder, where the microcomputer and the transmitting and receiving device are arranged on an interconnect device. The microcomputer carries out an evaluation with respect to the conditions of the goods, where results of the microcomputer is displayed in a bistable display (7).

Description

The The invention relates to a device for monitoring the Storage and transportation of environmental influences changing Goods and a system of several such devices to form a network.

durability of food, but also of medical and chemical products as well as various dangerous goods is caused by the environmental conditions affected. The best before date stated on food for example, applies only if a certain temperature is maintained, which is not constantly monitored. The history of a product thus has a significant influence on its residual durability, is usually not available directly.

The Recording climate data is meanwhile transported throughout Europe however, it becomes prevalent with a fixed in the van, such as a refrigerated truck, installed climate scanner realized. Capture these climate scanners the climate data at one point in space, allowing different packaging units due to flow conditions and shading actually different levels of environmental impact experienced by measuring with a localized Climatic scanners are detected insufficiently.

Indications of the "freshness" of foods are time temperature indicators (TTI) based on temperature-dependent chemical reactions ( WO 2006/015961 ) known. However, such indicators only indicate the current status.

From the publication R. Jedermann et al. "UHF RFID in the Food Chain - from Identification to Smart Labels" various proposals for recording temperature and humidity data are given. For example, reference is made to RFID data loggers which, in addition to an RFID interface, comprise temperature sensors, batteries and memories for recording a plurality of temperature values. Furthermore, tests are disclosed with RFID temperature labels, which include a microcontroller, on which the remaining shelf life of food is estimated. The tests essentially relate to the energy consumption of such a label over the shelf life. Finally, from this cited publication network-operated tempera ture sensors are known, which can be arranged in transport containers at different locations and can communicate with base stations. These active, energy self-sufficient temperature sensors can be combined into ad hoc networks and used to measure and monitor spatial temperature distributions when transporting temperature-sensitive goods. Such networks can allow worldwide in-situ access to the transport state via a gateway, whereby the sensors can also fulfill a relay function.

RFID labels are used on a variety of goods, for example in the clothing industry, but as already mentioned, in the transport industry, which also provide visual information permanently without its own power supply. For example, in the EP 1 779 312 A2 discloses a label for identifying mailer carriers as replacements for paper labels using a bistable display in the form of a monostable liquid crystal display or based on electronic ink. With the help of a read / write device, the displayed information can be changed wirelessly. However, these known labels do not permit the recording of storage and transport conditions.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a device for monitoring the storage and transport of by environmental influences to create changing goods, which is a record of significant environmental conditions over the life of the Good permits information about the current condition of the respective goods also in human and / or machine-readable Providing a way that is compact and food-hygienic Meets requirements and a label-like Form and allows a near field communication, wherein a Low energy consumption and high energy efficiency are ensured should.

These The object is achieved by the features of the main claim.

By the features specified in the dependent claims are advantageous Further education and improvements possible.

By having a digital logic, e.g. As a microcomputer with data storage, multiple sensors to measure different storage and transport conditions, a transmitting and receiving device z. B. a transponder for near field communication with at least one antenna designed as a coil and downstream circuit for transmitting and receiving, a rechargeable energy storage and a bistable display are provided, all arranged on a circuit carrier and the microcomputer depending on the sensor signals a state of Evaluating the goods, the result of which is available on the bistable display, an "intelligent label" is provided which provides important information tions, such as identification number, product type, state of the product and alarm messages can constantly display, and this in a human-readable manner, at any time a retrieval of the entire status history on the transponder, which may be designed as an RFID transponder is possible. Due to the bistable display, a good energy efficiency is provided.

By the possibility of recharging the energy storage, z. B. over the RFID interface is the repeated use smaller energy storage allows, depending on from their capacity along the logistics chain, eg. B. from neither have to be charged for a transport of goods.

By a complete encapsulation will be the food hygiene Requirements met and the inventive Device can thus be used as a label on transport containers be attached or integrated into this. Such a label is reusable and there is no disposal problem because of this reusability and consequently also the costs are kept smaller.

Thereby, that the antenna of the transponder or another as an antenna formed coil with a charge control device for charging the energy storage is connected, can charge at any time be made. Optionally, double layer capacities may be used be used for shorter minimum operating periods, the Allow shorter charging times as they have higher charging current densities support, but also a higher self-discharge exhibit. To the desired complete encapsulation allow the device to recharge the energy storage via Inductive coupling in the near field of a read / write device or another alternating field. For this purpose, the coil and the charge control device used with voltage adjustment. The charge with inductive coupling but can also be done on separate coils become.

advantageously, several energy storage technologies can be used which have different temperature behavior and dependent from the measured temperature are switchable to one each Energy storage to use, its optimal efficiency in the measured temperature range.

Preferably the device has a further antenna and a further downstream circuit for sending and receiving for far-field communication on, d. H. it can bridge larger distances and the trained as a radio front end communication arrangement preferably works in the worldwide released ISM band. It can thus from several devices according to the invention an ad hoc network will be formed, with the involved devices according to the invention are not mandatory must be equipped with the same sensors. By The formation of the wireless network can each be used as a relay station to a to cover greater distance. One optional gateway in this network uses infrastructures for Remote communication (eg AIS, GSM, UMTS, WLAN) to the measured and Calculated information on the worldwide in-situ monitoring of the To provide goods condition. In the network can also a position-determining network participant are involved, z. B. a navigation system of a vehicle. Over the network the current position information to the respective invention Devices supplied to the course of transport routes in the Device according to the invention for later Store evaluation without determining a position in each device Receiver, e.g. B. GPS or Galileo to integrate.

Preferably is the circuit carrier with Bauelemen th and encapsulation constructed in such a way that the entire device is credit card-like, d. H. flat in terms of length and width, d. H. with less Height is formed.

When Sensors can be used to measure temperature, humidity, Intensity of radiation, wavelength of radiation, Acceleration, vibration or the like used become.

In Advantageously, the data acquisition by the microcomputer and / or the display on the digital display timed and / or event-driven, with a timer and / or Comparators with threshold value can be provided. These options can optimally meet the energy requirements adapted to the circumstances.

embodiments The invention are shown in the drawing and are in the following description. Show it

1 a block diagram of the device according to the invention,

2 an exemplary structure of the device according to the invention in a schematic representation,

3 a representation of an ad hoc network as a sub-infrastructure with several devices according to the invention and

4 a representation of a standard trans Portkiste with integration of the device according to the invention and machine-readable display.

The device according to the invention comprises 1 a microcomputer 1 with associated data memory 2 and several sensors 3 . 4 . 5 For example, a humidity sensor 3 and a temperature sensor 4 and more sensors 5 that have an A / D converter 6 with the microcomputer 1 are connected. Furthermore, a bistable display 7 provided that via a display driver 8th also to the microcomputer 1 connected. A timer 9 for time-bound control may also be connected to the microcomputer.

For near-field communication, an RFID transponder is provided, which is an antenna or coil 10 for inductive coupling with an external read / write device and one with a high pass 11 connected transmitting / receiving circuit 12 includes. The send / receive circuit 12 is to the microcomputer 1 connected. The device also has a far-field communication device, which is an antenna 13 and a far-field transmitting / receiving circuit 14 the latter for creating or processing the transmit / receive signals with the microcomputer 1 connected is. The device has a secondary battery 15 , which is rechargeable via an inductive coupling in the near field of a read / write device or another alternating field. This will, as in 1 shown, the coil 10 used that over a low pass 16 , a rectifier circuit 17 and a charge controller circuit 18 with the energy storage 15 connected is. The far-field communication device is supplied by an integrated energy store, while the near field communication device or the transmitting / receiving circuit 12 is powered by inductive coupling from the alternating field of Le segeräts with energy. Excess energy can be transferred to the internal supply network 19 be delivered. Also the energy storage 15 is with the supply network 19 connected.

The device according to the invention 1 is assigned a unique identification in a memory 20 is stored.

In 2 is the schematic structure of a device according to 1 shown, in which case the individual electronic components are not shown. The device has a circuit carrier 21 on who the in 1 carries illustrated components and wired accordingly. On the circuit board 21 is for example a bistable liquid crystal display 22 arranged, which maintains its display state with interrupted power supply, so that the information is also readable when no voltage is applied. The ad 22 may be provided in the form of letters or numbers as a human-readable display, but may additionally include a machine-readable display, such as a bar or pattern code. Schematically is a battery 23 shown as energy storage, the below the display or on the display opposite side of the circuit substrate 21 lies. On the circuit carrier 21 imprinted or otherwise applied is an antenna 24 for wireless far-field communication as well as an antenna or coil 25 for near-field communication and inductive energy input. The whole arrangement after 2 is provided with an encapsulation, which as a housing, leaving the display 22 or by a plastic coating or coating can be realized.

In the microcomputer 1 For example, a program for determining the condition of the product based on, for example, foodstuffs based on the Arhenius model and, for example, the remaining shelf life of foodstuffs is dependent on environmental parameters generated by the sensors 3 to 5 be determined. For example, the quantitative dependence of the reaction rate constant on the temperature is described. Furthermore, in the microcomputer 1 Information and programs containing the communication via the transmit / receive circuits 12 . 14 as well as all other processes, such as data storage control. For this purpose, all common communication protocols are provided.

As stated, the device according to the invention has the sensors 3 to 5 for the measurement of various storage and transport conditions, whereby in case of transport of food, the microcomputer 1 as a processing unit depending on the stored program, the remaining shelf life of the product or the duration to other future events, such. B. Estimates the full maturity with the implemented models based on the history.

Usually, only the state of the goods, when requested by a reading unit, is transferred in order to keep the amount of data necessary for process control small, and the history history can be retrieved when there is a need to do so. For example, pieces may be sorted based on the first short condition request information. Since the information to be transmitted is short, a short residence time in the field of the reading unit, z. B. along a fast-moving conveyor belt. It is sufficient to read out the complete measured value protocol on suspicion after sorting out. A suspicion exists when the device signals the violations of allowable ranges of sensor values or based on the sensor data is a critical product state has predicted. The estimated remaining shelf life is shown on the display in addition to product-identifying information required for goods logistics 7 shown. With the above-mentioned information, the consumption of the goods can be planned for the remaining shelf life and the amount of goods discarded in accordance with the prior art, taking into account the printed statistical best-before date, can be reduced.

To consume no energy for the long-term display of information and thus the size of the energy storage to be carried 15 keeping it small is the bistable display 7 used, wherein the change of the display, which may also contain more information than stated above, such as name, origin and destination of the product, current and past violations of limits, state of energy supply. Likewise, the entire sequence of data acquisition and processing can be time-controlled and / or event-controlled. The timing requires periodic waking of the system by the permanently operated timer 9 from an energy-saving mode to ambient conditions over the sensors at defined times 3 to 5 query. The event-driven variant leads to the awakening of the system when a certain event, such. Eg in case of violation of limit values. Instead of the permanently active timer, energy-saving window comparator circuits are used for this purpose. Programmable resistors allow varying the thresholds of the comparators. However, it is a combined flow control conceivable that switches between two options and depending on whether the existing energy storage 15 Has possibilities to be charged, in which case the timing can be used or if there is no charging source as actually in transit. If, in the case of an event-controlled sequence control, the time of the infringement is to be logged in a specific application, then the remote field communication device can 13 . 14 a corresponding time signal will be requested.

In 3 a network is shown consisting of several schematically illustrated devices 26 corresponding 1 exists and that can be put together ad hoc. This may or may not be a gateway 27 be used, as shown, infrastructures for remote communication, z. As AIS, GSM, UMTS, WLAN uses in the present case with mobile phones 28 with PCs 29 or database servers 30 to provide the measured and calculated information for worldwide in-situ monitoring of the status of goods. In the network and a position-determining network participants can be involved, for. For example, the navigation system of a vehicle to communicate over the network the distribution of the current position information to the various devices 26 to give, whereby the course of the transport routes is stored in the respective data memory for later evaluation. Activation and deactivation of the ad hoc network functionality may be required via the near field communication device 10 . 11 . 12 be performed.

Despite the complete food-grade encapsulation of the system, the exchange of information and the recharging of the integrated energy storage via the inductive coupling by modulation of the near field is possible as soon as the device is in the field of a reader. Compared with the radio communication described above, the desired information can be read out immediately. The use of anti-collision mechanisms known in the RFID field permits the reading and writing of several devices 1 in the same field. In this case, the waking up of the device when it is in energy-saving mode can be triggered by energy input via inductive coupling.

To save energy during storage and storage 15 To recharge autonomously and thus increase the duration between two inductive charging, generators can be provided, for example, solar cells on the surface of the device according to 1 or integrated piezo vibrators, which are activated by vibrations during transport.

Corresponding 4 holding a transport box 31 shows, the device according to the invention can be fixed to the container 31 be connected, z. B. by embedding in the side wall. In the present case, the display or the display 22 to recognize different information, such as the identification number, the type of product, remaining durability, warning information, etc. can be displayed.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - WO 2006/015961 [0004]
• - EP 1779312 A2 [0006]

Cited non-patent literature

• R. Jedermann et al. "UHF RFID in the Food Chain - from Identification to Smart Labels" [0005]

Claims (13)

Device for monitoring the storage and transport of environmentally changing goods using digital logic ( 1 ) with data memory ( 2 ), several sensors ( 3 - 5 ) for measuring different storage and transport conditions, a transmitting and receiving device for near-field communication with at least one coil ( 10 ) trained antenna and downstream circuit ( 12 ) for sending and receiving and a rechargeable energy storage ( 15 ) and a bistable display ( 7 ), wherein all components for forming a flat unit are arranged on a circuit carrier and wherein the digital logic ( 1 ), depending on the sensor signals, carries out an evaluation concerning the condition of the goods, the result of which is sent to the bistable display ( 7 ) is available. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the circuit carrier ( 21 ) are provided with components with an encapsulation. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the coil ( 10 ) formed antenna or another coil with a charge control device ( 18 ) connected to charge the energy store ( 15 ) is connected to this. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the circuit carrier ( 21 ) another antenna ( 13 . 24 ) and another downstream circuit ( 14 ) are provided for transmission and reception for far-field communication. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that circuit carrier ( 21 ) are formed with components and encapsulation check card-like. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensors ( 3 - 5 ) are those for measuring temperature, humidity, light intensity, vibration or the like. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data acquisition and processing by the microcomputer ( 1 ) and / or the representation on the bistable display ( 7 ) are time-controlled and / or event-driven feasible. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that a timer ( 9 ) are provided for the timing and / or comparators with threshold value for the event control. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of switchable energy storage ( 15 ) are each provided with optimum efficiency in different temperature ranges. System consisting of several devices ( 26 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9 for the formation of networks for the exchange of information. System according to claim 10, characterized that the network is assigned a gateway. A system according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized characterized in that in addition to the devices at least a position-determining network subscriber is provided, wherein via the respective network received position data in the devices are storable. Transport container for transporting and storing environmentally changing goods, in the at least one device according to one of the claims 1 to 9 is firmly integrated.