EP2895988A2 - Appareil et procédé servant à fournir des informations sur des produits - Google Patents

Appareil et procédé servant à fournir des informations sur des produits

Info

Publication number
EP2895988A2
EP2895988A2 EP13765917.3A EP13765917A EP2895988A2 EP 2895988 A2 EP2895988 A2 EP 2895988A2 EP 13765917 A EP13765917 A EP 13765917A EP 2895988 A2 EP2895988 A2 EP 2895988A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tag
antenna
product
interrogator
sensor system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13765917.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Grant Edward Striemer
Mathias Amann
Jonathan Livingston Joyce
Faiz Feisal Sherman
Jordan Todorov Bourilkov
Mark Wayne Morrow
Jose Tadeo Vergara De Castro
Stephan James Andreas Meschkat
Michael Franke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gillette Co LLC
Original Assignee
Gillette Co LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US13/616,428 external-priority patent/US20130162404A1/en
Application filed by Gillette Co LLC filed Critical Gillette Co LLC
Publication of EP2895988A2 publication Critical patent/EP2895988A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips

Definitions

  • the invention relates to systems and methods for determining information about a product.
  • the invention relates particularly to the remote interrogation of product information and the subsequent use of the acquired information.
  • Consumable goods having a useful life defined in terms of the consumption of the goods are well known.
  • the useful life may be viewed as one or more events associated with the consumption of at least a portion of the useful quantity of the goods.
  • In formation associated with the environment of use of the goods and/or the quantity of goods used and remaining available may exist but may also be generally inaccessible to the typical consumer of the goods. What is needed is a system and method for extracting product relevant information in a manner which makes the information readily accessible and usable by the consumer.
  • a sensor system comprising a tag.
  • the tag comprises at least one radio-frequency chip, a first antenna disposed in electrical communication with the chip and a non-conductive coating disposed upon a surface of the tag.
  • the chip comprises a memory element providing electrical storage of a binary coded word comprising at least one bit and output terminals.
  • the antenna is in electrical communication with the output terminals.
  • the non-conductive coating covers the chip and defines a perimeter. The perimeter is disposed over and exposes a portion of the antenna.
  • a method of determining product information includes the steps of: providing a product comprising a tag, and an interrogator adapted to detect radiation associated with the data of the tag; interrogating the state of the tag; interpreting the state of the tag; and providing an output associated with the interpreted state of the tag.
  • the tag comprises a digital memory storing data associated with the product.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 show s a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention.
  • a "chip” as described herein, may be supplanted by a chipless RFID element as is known in the art.
  • An LC resonant RF tag, or a multiresonator element may be used in place of the chip in the described embodiments.
  • a sensor system comprising a tag.
  • the tag may comprise one or more layers of conductive inks printed upon a substrate.
  • Exemplary substrate materials include: polyester, paper, high permittivity dielectric materials, and FR-4 material
  • Multiple layer structures may further comprise partial layers of non-conducting material separating at least portions of the conductive layers.
  • Exemplary conductive layers include copper and silver inks.
  • the tag comprises a radio- frequency chip, and a first antenna disposed as a circuit upon a card, coin, or inlay.
  • the chip may be an active or passive chip.
  • Exemplary chip/first antenna combinations include model numbers: RI-I03-112A-03 (13.56 MHz), and RI-INL-R9QM (134.2 kHz), or model TRF7970A, each available from Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX.
  • the antenna may be in the physical form of a coil or a dipole.
  • the chip/first antenna combination may be integrated into a unit tag available from Kovio, San Jose, CA.
  • the tag further comprises an outer non-conductive coating.
  • exemplary non-conductive coating materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
  • the coating is disposed upon a surface of the tag such that a portion of the tag is uncoated and exposed to the environment of the tag. The uncoated area is defined by a perimeter of the non-conductive coating.
  • the exposed portion of the tag may comprise a portion of the antenna up to and including all of the antenna.
  • the circuit configuration of the chip and antenna includes a gap such that the circuit is incomplete. In this embodiment, the gap remains exposed to the environment rather than being protected by the non-conductive coating.
  • the circuit of the tag may be completed by exposing the tag to a conductive environment such that conductive material provides the necessary electrical conductivity across the gap.
  • Conductive environments include conductive gels, powders or liquids wherein the gap is bridged by the conductive substance. Urine, blood and salt water are each conductive. Gels or powders comprising electrolytes would also constitute conductive materials.
  • the tag may be read using an radio frequency protocol such as the Near Field Communications (NFC) protocol.
  • NFC Near Field Communications
  • the sensor system may further comprise an interrogator.
  • the interrogator comprising a power source and a second antenna adapted to generate electromagnetic radiation comprising a resonant frequency of the first antenna, and a receiver adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation and demodulate the detected radiation extracting embedded data from the detected radiation.
  • the Bluetooth' 111 RFID Reader, model number 223012, available GAO RFID, of Toronto Canada, exemplifies one form of interrogator.
  • the model 223012 interrogator has the capacity to interrogate the radio frequency tag and to determine the state of the memory of the tag and thus extract information associated with the output of the sensor or sensors relating to the environment of the tag.
  • the 223012 further comprises a secondary network communications link utilizing the Bluetooth' 111 communications protocol for transmitting the information extracted from the tag to a secondary device or secondary interrogator, such as a Bluetooth' 111 enabled computer or smart phone.
  • the secondary interrogator may further analyze the information relating to the state of the tag and/or the tags environment and provide an output associated with a particular tag and/or tag environment state.
  • the interrogator may further comprise a display element such as an LCD or LED screen for displaying an output associated with the analyzed tag information.
  • the interrogator may further comprise one or more sensors for ascertaining information associated with the environment of the interrogator.
  • the sensors may include: temperature, humidity, acceleration sensors.
  • the interrogator may further comprise one or more cameras enabling the capture of images associated with a product, the tag or the environment.
  • the interrogator may comprise a Global Positioning capability enabling the interrogator to ascertain and share information relating to the geographic location of the interrogator.
  • the Smartphone may serve as the only interrogator.
  • the smart phone may interrogate the tag thereby ascertaining the information from the memory of the tag.
  • the interrogator may analyze or otherwise interpret the information and may create an output.
  • the output may be provided to a system user via an audio output, visual output, haptic output or combinations thereof.
  • the interrogator may utilize inputs from sensors or systems of the Smartphone in addition to the tag information in creating the output.
  • Exemplary smart phones suitably configured to perform as a system interrogator include: the Acer 1 TM E320 Liquid Express, the Blackberry 1111 Bold tm 970, available from Research In Motion of ; the Casio IT-800; the Google Nexus 7 tm , available from Google, Inc.
  • the sensor system may include a product.
  • product(s) is used in the broadest sense and refers to any product, product group, services, communications, entertainment, environments, organizations, systems, tools, and the like.
  • product group is personal and household products, such as used by a person, family or household.
  • Examples of a representative, and non-limiting list of product categories within the personal and household product group includes antiperspirants, baby care, colognes, commercial products (including wholesale, industrial, and commercial market analogs to consumer-oriented consumer products), cosmetics, deodorants, dish care, feminine protection, hair care, hair color, health care, household cleaners, laundry, oral care, paper products, personal cleansing, disposable absorbent articles, pet health and nutrition, prescription drugs, prestige fragrances, skin care, foods, snacks and beverages, special fabric care, shaving and other hair growth management products, small appliances, devices and batteries, services such as haircutting, beauty treatment, spa treatment, medical, dental, vision services, entertainment venues such as theaters, stadiums, as well as entertainment services such as film or movie shows, plays and sporting events A variety of product forms may fall within each of these product categories.
  • Exemplary products within the laundry category include detergents (including powder, liquid, tablet, and other forms), bleach, conditioners, softeners, anti-static products, and refreshers (including liquid refreshers and dryer sheets).
  • Exemplary products within the oral care category include dentifrice, floss, toothbrushes (including manual and powered forms), mouth rinses, gum care products, tooth whitening products, and other tooth care products.
  • Exemplary feminine protection products include pads, tampons, interlabial products, and pantiliners.
  • Exemplary baby care products include diapers, wipes, baby bibs, baby change and bed mats, and foaming bathroom hand soap.
  • Exemplary health care products include laxatives, fiber supplements, oral and topical analgesics, gastro-intestinal treatment products, respiratory and cough/cold products, heat delivery products, and water purification products.
  • Exemplary paper products include toilet tissues, paper towels, and facial tissues.
  • Exemplary hair care products include shampoos, conditioners (including rinse-off and leave-in forms), and styling aids.
  • Exemplary household care products include sweeper products, floor cleaning products, wood floor cleaners, antibacterial floor cleaners, fabric and air refreshers, and vehicle washing products.
  • Skin care products include, but are not limited to, body washes, facial cleansers, hand lotions, moisturizers, conditioners, astringents, exfoliation products, micro-dermabrasion and peel products, skin rejuvenation products, anti-aging products, masks, UV protection products, and skin care puffs, wipes, discs, clothes, sheets, implements and devices (with or without skin care compositions).
  • product groups include but are not limited to: sports equipment, entertainment (books, movies, music, etc), vision, and in-home-consumed medical and first aid, among others.
  • the tag may be attached to the packaging of the product such as the primary packaging of a liquid product, or a granular product.
  • the tag may be immersed in or float upon the surface of a packaged liquid or granular product.
  • the tag may be incorporated within the product such as within a disposable absorbent article such as within a diaper for the purpose of detecting an insult to the absorbent core of the diaper.
  • the tag may be disposed upon the surface of the product itself.
  • One way to prevent the effects arising from metal proximity to the antenna is to prevent the electromagnetic field from entering the metal. For example, by placing a material with suitable electromagnetic properties 5 and dimensions between the antenna and the metal surface the electromagnetic field may be diverted around the metallic / conductive body of the product. The properties of the diverter material depend on the exact metal used and the RFID frequency. The magnetic diverter effectively isolates the tag from the can.
  • a method of determining product information comprises steps of: providing a product comprising a tag as described above.
  • the tag comprising, at least one sensor adapted to provide an output analogous to a change in an environment of the sensor.
  • the sensor having at least one output terminal.
  • the tag also includes a radio-frequency chip comprising a memory element, input terminals and output terminals, and a first antenna disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the chip.
  • the method also includes providing an interrogator adapted to detect radiation associated with the data of the tag.
  • the interrogator may be an RF or NFC protocol reader coupled with a Bluetooth' 111 capability as described above, or a smart phone or other computing device comprising an RF, possibly NFC, capable reader.
  • the interrogator may be used to determine the current state of the tag utilizing an RF communications protocol such as the NFC protocol.
  • the interrogator may interpret the data received from the tag using a software application written for that purpose.
  • the method may be minimized to providing products including tags and providing software compatible with devices available in the market or in the possession of consumers.
  • a consumer may choose to avail themselves of the application software which will enable their device to functions as the described interrogator.
  • the tag may be used to convey the amount of a product remaining within a package.
  • the tag may be configured with a portion of the antenna exposed such that exposure to a conductive product will short circuit the tag rendering it inoperative until the exposed portion of the tag is free of the product due to a drop in the level of the product with respect the tag.
  • the tag may be configured such that the perimeter of the non- conductive coating exposes a gap in the circuit. In this embodiment, the tag will be readable as long as the gap is bridged by the presence of conductive product and will not be readable in the absence of product.
  • a dipole antenna may be coated with a non-conductive polymer.
  • the coating may include a series of gaps exposing the antenna leads to the environment of the tag.
  • the conductivity of the tag antenna will change as more or fewer gaps are covered with a conductive fluid.
  • the conductivity change may be predetermined and the purpose of the interrogation may be to ascertain the current state of the antenna conductivity as an indicator of fluid contact - i.e. level with respect to the tag/antenna.
  • An absorbent article may include a tag such that the interrogator will only receive an output when the product/tag has been insulted by use and the exposed portion of the tag circuit has come into contact with a conductive fluid such as blood or urine.
  • the product tag may be configured to provide an output to the interrogator until the product has been used/insulted and the tag has been shorted out by the exposure.
  • the tag may comprise a combination of the two configurations described above.
  • a first chip will be readable only in the absence of product while a second chip will be readable only in the presence of product. This embodiment provides the benefit of always providing an output to the interrogator regardless of the state of the product quantity.
  • a tag comprising a dual read configuration described above may be included within a diaper or other absorbent product.
  • the tag will provide an output to the interrogator in both an insulted state and a non-insulted state. The user will receive information regarding the state of the product and will not be left in doubt as to whether the product state has changed or if there is an issue with the tag.
  • the interrogator may incorporate a secondary network communication module affording the device an ability to send and receive data over a cellular phone or other networks including a local area or WiFi networks.
  • the interrogator may transmit data received from the tag and/or an analysis of the data from the tag.
  • the software application of the interrogator may analyze the data from the tag to determine if replenishment of the product associated with the tag in needed, or to project when such replenishment will be needed in view of usage history of the product established via a series of interrogations of the tag.
  • the application may be used to consummate a purchase of addition product via the network.
  • the application may be further utilized to offer the user related products for purchase, or to make offers of other products not directly related to the product.
  • the system tag may be subdivided into portions. One portion may contain at least a portion of the antenna and the chip, the other portion may contain the conductive polymer system and any remaining portion of the antenna.
  • the two portions of the tag may be disposed with the antenna and non-conductive coating exposed to the functional environment of an absorbent article, and the chip portion removed from exposure to the functional environment of the article.
  • the chip portion may be made removable and therefore reusable as well.
  • the sensor may be made removable while the antenna and chip portion is retained in the product.
  • a removable sensing element may be coupled to a resident chip/antenna element.
  • a personal care device such as a shaver or oral care implement
  • a personal care device such as a shaver or oral care implement
  • the sensing element may be removed for disposal or replacement or cleaning and reinstallation.
  • conductive hook and loop fasteners such as are available from APLIX Inc., of Charlotte, NC, may be used to create an interface between the functional environment of the article and the exterior of the article.
  • the attachment mechanism between the article, sensor and the removable tag to enable conductivity can be hook & loop, compression (e.g. elastic band, garter), adhesion (e.g. adhesive strip), magnetic, or combinations thereof.
  • the antenna and non-conductive coating system may be fabricated as an assembly in electrical contact with the conductive hook and loop pads which in turn are disposed upon an exterior surface of the article while the antenna and non-conductive coating are disposed within the interior of the article.
  • Matching pads may be incorporated as part of the assembly of the chip assembly and the two respective assemblies may be united using the matching hook and loop pads for operational use of the tag.
  • the more costly chip assembly may be rendered reusable thereby reducing the overall cost associated with using the system with a number of respective disposable articles.
  • the respective assemblies may be formed using conductive adhesive, such as is available from MG Chemicals, of Surrey, B.C., Canada to affix the electrical leads of the respective portions of the tags to their respective hook and loop fastener pads.
  • a system 1000 comprises an absorbent article 300, and an interrogator 200.
  • the absorbent article 300 comprises a tag 100.
  • the tag 100 comprises a removable chip 130, a non-conductive coating 115, which defines a perimeter 125, and an antenna 140.
  • the interrogator 200 comprises a sensor 210, a power source 220, an antenna 230, an analysis element 240, a display element 250, and a network link 260.
  • the absorbent article 300 comprises a tag 100.
  • the tag 100 comprises a removable chip 130, a non-conductive coating 115, which defines a perimeter 125, and an antenna 140.
  • the absorbent article 300 comprises a tag 100.
  • the tag 100 comprises a removable chip 130, a non- conductive coating 115, conductive leads 150, and an antenna 140.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Near-Field Transmission Systems (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de capteur comprenant une étiquette. L'étiquette comprend au moins une puce radiofréquence, une première antenne disposée pour communiquer électriquement avec la puce, et un revêtement non conducteur disposé sur une surface de l'étiquette. La puce comprend un élément de mémoire fournissant un stockage électrique d'un mot codé en binaire comprenant au moins un bit et des bornes de sortie. L'antenne communique électriquement avec les bornes de sortie. Le revêtement non-conducteur recouvre la puce et définit un périmètre. Le périmètre est disposé par-dessus une partie de l'antenne et expose cette partie de l'antenne.
EP13765917.3A 2012-09-14 2013-09-13 Appareil et procédé servant à fournir des informations sur des produits Withdrawn EP2895988A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/616,428 US20130162404A1 (en) 2011-12-27 2012-09-14 Apparatus and Method for Providing Product Information
PCT/US2013/059614 WO2014043445A2 (fr) 2011-12-27 2013-09-13 Appareil et procédé servant à fournir des informations sur des produits

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2895988A2 true EP2895988A2 (fr) 2015-07-22

Family

ID=49226587

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13765917.3A Withdrawn EP2895988A2 (fr) 2012-09-14 2013-09-13 Appareil et procédé servant à fournir des informations sur des produits

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2895988A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2015528615A (fr)
CA (1) CA2881927A1 (fr)
IN (1) IN2015DN00906A (fr)
MX (1) MX353766B (fr)
RU (1) RU2601508C1 (fr)

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RU2621602C2 (ru) * 2012-09-14 2017-06-06 Дзе Жиллетт Компани Устройство и способ для обеспечения информации о продукте
JP2015535977A (ja) * 2012-09-14 2015-12-17 ザ ジレット コンパニー 製品情報を提供するための装置および方法
RU196151U1 (ru) * 2019-03-13 2020-02-18 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Интеллектуальные Системы Управления Бизнесом" Радиочастотная идентификационная метка
RU2704279C1 (ru) * 2019-03-13 2019-10-25 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Интеллектуальные Системы Управления Бизнесом" Радиочастотная идентификационная метка
RU2745001C1 (ru) * 2020-04-20 2021-03-18 Дмитрий Анатольевич Иванников Система дистанционной маркировки материальных объектов и их идентификации

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JPH07239990A (ja) * 1994-03-01 1995-09-12 Nippondenso Co Ltd 濡れ状態報知装置及びそれに用いる尿検出装置
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2881927A1 (fr) 2014-03-20
JP2015528615A (ja) 2015-09-28
MX353766B (es) 2017-11-13
MX2015003346A (es) 2015-06-05
RU2601508C1 (ru) 2016-11-10
IN2015DN00906A (fr) 2015-06-12

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