JP2006138740A - Storage temperature control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage temperature control system which allows a consumer or the like, to directly read storage temperature information stored in an information medium and eliminates the occurrence of errors in temperature control due to battery exhaustion. <P>SOLUTION: The storage temperature control system for controlling the temperature information during storage or transfer of an object for temperature control B attaches the information medium 10, having a receiving section for receiving information in a noncontact manner and a display section 11, capable of displaying the information received by the receiving section, to the object for temperature control B. The storage temperature control system arranges an external device 30 at or in the vicinity of a housing area 50, wherein the external device 30 comprises a temperature sensor 32 for measuring the temperature in the housing area 50, in which the object for temperature control B is housed and a transmitting section 35 for transmitting the detection results of the temperature sensor 32 to the information medium 10 in a noncontact manner. The temperature information in the housing area 50, obtained by the temperature sensor 32, is transmitted to the information medium 10, and the received temperature information is displayed on the display section 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage temperature management system using an information medium that can communicate with the outside by radio waves.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) data that has a coiled antenna pattern on a base material such as plastic and that can receive and transmit radio waves of a certain frequency by forming a resonant circuit with this antenna pattern and capacitive element Carriers (IC tags) are used, and various applications using RFID data carriers have been proposed.
For example, there is one that performs temperature management of beverages that require refrigeration (Patent Document 1). It is important in terms of quality control to maintain beverages that require refrigeration, such as beer and wine, within a predetermined refrigeration temperature before being provided to the consumer by the manufacturer. However, since it is stored and transported by a plurality of persons such as wholesalers and dealers between the manufacturer and the consumer, it is difficult to grasp the actual temperature management during that time. Therefore, by attaching an RFID data carrier with a temperature sensor to a container such as beer or wine, the temperature management status from the manufacturer to the consumer can be acquired and read out from the RFID data carrier.
JP 2001-187611 A

However, in the technique described above, a dedicated reader is required to read the temperature data stored in the RFID data carrier. Therefore, when a consumer purchases beer, wine or the like, there is an inconvenience that the storage temperature information stored in the RFID data carrier cannot be directly known.
Further, since it is necessary to mount a battery in order to drive the temperature sensor or the like, there is a problem that it becomes impossible to manage the storage temperature when the battery runs out.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and enables storage and the like for consumers to directly read storage temperature information stored in an information medium, and does not cause a risk of temperature management failure due to battery exhaustion. The object is to provide a temperature management system.

The storage temperature management system according to the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The present invention is a system for managing temperature information when storing or transporting a temperature management object, a receiving unit that receives storage temperature information related to the temperature management object in a non-contact manner, and a storage temperature received by the receiving unit An information medium having a display unit capable of displaying information is affixed to a temperature management object, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in a storage area in which the temperature management object is stored, and a detection result of the temperature sensor as an information medium When a temperature control object with an information medium attached in the accommodation area is accommodated in the accommodation area or in the vicinity thereof, a temperature sensor is provided. The storage temperature information in the storage area obtained by the above is transmitted toward the information medium, and the received storage temperature information is displayed on the display unit.
According to the present invention, the temperature information when the temperature management object is stored or transported can be stored in the information medium attached to the temperature management object, so that the quality control of the temperature management object can be easily performed. (Temperature management) status can be confirmed. In particular, since the information medium has a display for displaying the quality control state of the temperature management object, the quality control state can be confirmed without using a special reading device. Furthermore, since it is not necessary for the information medium to include a temperature sensor or a battery, it is possible to reduce the cost and eliminate the risk of quality control failure due to battery exhaustion.

In addition, a plurality of storage areas are provided in the transport path where the temperature management object is stored or transported, and an external device is provided for each storage area.
Since the storage temperature information of the storage area where the temperature management object is stored can be grasped when the temperature management object is stored or transported, quality control without interruption can be performed.
In addition, if the information medium has flexibility and is stuck on the temperature management object, even if the surface of the temperature management object is a curved surface, the information medium should be well pasted on the surface. Is possible.
In addition, if the display unit has an irreversible display area, when information such as the date of manufacture of the temperature management object is displayed, the display is irreversible, so that unauthorized tampering is prevented. Can do.
In addition, when the storage temperature information received deviates from a predetermined temperature condition, the information medium displays warning information in the irreversible display area. When a problem occurs in quality control, warning information is displayed in the irreversible display area, thereby making it possible to easily identify a temperature management object having a problem in quality control.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a storage temperature management system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a so-called IC tag, is attached to an alcoholic beverage bottle and the storage temperature of the alcoholic beverage is recorded.

[RFID]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage temperature management system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the RFID 10 used in the storage temperature management system. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the EPD 11.
As shown in FIG. 1, an RFID 10 is used in the storage temperature management system of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the RFID 10 includes an electrophoretic display device (display element, Electro Phoretic Display, hereinafter referred to as EPD 11), an IC chip 12, and an antenna 13.
As shown in FIG. 3, the EPD 11 includes an electrode film 211d, an electrophoretic display layer 211c, an electrode film 211b, and a surface protective layer 211a for protecting the display portion, which are laminated on a flexible plastic substrate 115. It is configured. The surface protective layer 211a can be omitted.

The electrode film 211b is formed by forming an electrode on a transparent plastic film having excellent dimensional stability such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polyimide. The electrode film 211d is also formed by forming a similar base electrode, but transparency is not necessarily required. The electrode film 211b and the electrode film 211d are electrically connected by the vertically moving electrode 211f.
The electrode film 211b serves as a common electrode to which the same potential is applied over the entire surface, while the active film electrode or segment electrode is formed on the electrode film 211d as a drive electrode.

The microcapsule 211 forming the electrophoretic display layer 211c has a composite shell of gum arabic / gelatin, urethane resin, urea resin, urea resin or the like as a capsule shell. The capsule shell can be prepared by an interfacial polymerization method, in-situ method. Known microencapsulation techniques such as a polymerization method, a phase separation method, an interfacial precipitation method, and a spray drying method can be employed. Electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium are enclosed inside.
As the migrating particles, organic or inorganic particles (polymer or colloid) are used. For example, black pigments such as aniline black and carbon black, white pigments such as titanium dioxide, zinc white, and antimony trioxide, azo pigments such as monoazo, diisazone, and polyazo, isoindolinone, yellow lead, yellow iron oxide, and cadmium yellow Yellow pigments such as titanium yellow and antimony, azo pigments such as monoazo, disazo and polyazo, red pigments such as quinacridone red and chrome vermillion, phthalocyanine blue, indanthrene blue, anthraquinone dyes, bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, etc. One or two or more of blue pigments, green pigments such as phthalocyanine green, and the like can be used. Dispersion medium is colorless or dyed water, alcohol solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, octanol, methyl cellosolve, various esters such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone Such as ketones, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane and octane, alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, hexylbenzene, hebutylbenzene, octylbenzene and nonyl Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzenes having a long chain alkyl group such as benzene, decylbenzene, undecylbenzene, dodecylbenzene, tridecylbenzene, tetradecylbenzene, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-di Halogenated hydrocarbons such as Roroetan, can be used by blending a surfactant or the like alone or a mixture thereof such as carboxylic acid salts, or various other oils.

  In electrophoresis, the electrophoretic particles are charged positively or negatively in advance, and the dispersion medium and the electrophoretic particles are colored different from each other. For example, when titanium oxide, which is white particles, is positively charged and carbon black, which is black particles, is negatively charged, an electric field is applied to the two electrode films 211b and 211d so that the electrode film 211b is a negative electrode and an electrode film. When 211d becomes a positive electrode, positively charged white particles are drawn to the electrode film 211b side, and black particles are drawn to the electrode film 211d side. Therefore, by setting the electrode film 211b as a transparent electrode, the electrode film 211b side When observed from above, the portion appears white. Conversely, when the electrode film 211b is a positive electrode and the electrode film 211d is a negative electrode, positively charged white particles are drawn to the electrode film 211d side, and black particles are drawn to the electrode film 211b side. When observed from above the electrode film 211b, the portion looks black.

Since the EPD 11 has a large number of the above-described microcapsules 211, by controlling the electric field of each address electrode of the electrode films 211b and 211d, a desired character, number, or symbol is displayed with white and black pixels. It is possible.
Note that when the microcapsule 211 is driven by an active matrix driving method, the electrode film 211d is independently patterned for each pixel as a pixel electrode, and includes a thin film transistor, a signal electrode, and a scanning electrode (not shown), and the electrode film 211b. Is a transparent common electrode uniformly formed on a light-transmitting substrate. In this case, if the electrode film 211b is a common electrode, the entire surface has the same potential (for example, the potential is set to zero). Therefore, by controlling the electric field of each address electrode on the electrode film 211d side (giving a positive or negative potential) Based on the principle described above, particles in the microcapsule 211 at the electrode position can be moved to display a desired image. Similarly, by using the electrode film 211d as a common electrode and controlling the electric field of each address electrode on the electrode film 211b side, the particles in the microcapsule 211 at the electrode position are moved to display a desired image. Also good.
In the case of time-division driving, the electrode films 211b and 211d are composed of transparent electrodes made of transparent conductors such as line-shaped ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) that are orthogonal to each other, and microelectrodes are formed in the region where both electrodes intersect. A capsule 211 is placed.
The driving method is not limited to the above-described one, and an optimal one may be selected according to the application. Further, various diameters of the microcapsule 211 can be adopted.
Such an EPD 11 has a memory property for storing a display image. Specifically, the image of the EPD 11 is held only by applying a voltage once between the electrode films 211b and 211d, and a display image remains in a state where no voltage is applied. Accordingly, it has a characteristic that an image once displayed is retained even when the power is turned off, and low power consumption can be realized.

In the EPD 11, a voltage is applied to the electrophoretic display layer 211c by using a thin film transistor. Such a thin film transistor is formed on the plastic substrate 115 by a peeling transfer technique such as SUFTLA (Surface Free Technology by Laser Ablation) (registered trademark). Specifically, for example, a low-temperature polysilicon TFT having excellent heat resistance and transparency, for example, is formed in advance on a glass substrate, and then a predetermined thin film transistor is peeled off by laser irradiation, and the thin film transistor is placed on the plastic substrate 115. It is formed by transferring. By using such a technique, a thin film transistor that has hitherto been formed only on a hard and heat-resistant substrate such as a glass substrate, such as a plastic whose heat resistance is inferior to that of a glass substrate. It becomes possible to transfer and form the plate.
Accordingly, it is possible to easily form a thin film transistor on the plastic base material 115 having flexibility, and the RFID 10 having the EPD 11 and having flexibility can be realized.

Returning to FIG. 2, the IC chip 12 includes an arithmetic processing unit 12 a, a storage unit 12 b, and a transmission / reception unit 12 c in the IC chip 12, and further includes a power supply unit 12 d that supplies power to the IC chip 12. . Based on a command from the arithmetic processing unit 12a, information obtained via the transmission / reception unit 12c is stored in the storage unit 12b, and desired characters, numbers, or symbols relating to the information are displayed on the EPD 11 as information.
Note that the arithmetic processing unit 12a defines that a part of the area 11a of the EPD 11 cannot be rewritten. That is, once a predetermined display is performed on the area 11a, the display is maintained semipermanently.

  The antenna 13 is used for input / output of information and transmission / reception (communication) between the RFID 10 and an external device 30 described later. That is, the antenna 13 electromagnetically transmits and receives input / output signals to and from the external device 30 when the RFID 10 is used. The antenna 13 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 12c of the IC chip 12 of the RFID 10, and transmits / receives input / output signals to / from the external device with the RFID 10.

The EPD 11, the IC chip 12, and the antenna 13 described above are held by being sandwiched by flexible cover films together with the wiring electrodes. Further, the RFID 10 is configured by being held between a plurality of transparent protective films and the like.
As the protective film, colored or colorless and transparent plastics such as polyvinyl carbonate (PVC), heat-resistant PVC, amorphous polyester resin (PET-G), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the like can be used. Printing may be performed on the protective film. You may provide functions, such as antireflection, moisture prevention, and scratch resistance, to a protective film.

  The RFID 10 described above is affixed to a container such as liquor that requires temperature control, for example, the surface of the bottle B so that it cannot be easily peeled off. Note that even if the surface shape of the bin B is a curved surface, the RFID 10 has flexibility, so that the bin B is attached in close contact.

[External device]
Returning to FIG. 1, the external device 30 that inputs and outputs predetermined information to and from the RFID 10 in a non-contact manner includes a host computer 31, a temperature sensor 32, and a reader / writer 35.
The temperature sensor 32 detects the temperature of the installed area, and transmits the detection result to the host computer 31.
The host computer 31 processes information from the temperature sensor 32 and transmits the processed information (for example, temperature and its measurement date and time) to the reader / writer 35 at a predetermined timing.
The reader / writer 35 includes a control unit 36, an antenna 37, an input / output unit 38, and the like. The antenna 37 electromagnetically transmits and receives input / output signals to / from the RFID 10. The input / output unit 33 is connected to the host computer 31, and various information is input / output between the reader / writer 35 and the host computer 31. The control unit 36 controls the reader / writer 35 in an integrated manner. When various types of information are input from the host computer 31 to the input / output unit 33, the information is transmitted from the antenna 37 to the RFID 10. Control to do.

  The external device 30 described above is installed in the vicinity of the refrigerator 50 that houses the bin B with the RFID 10 attached to the surface thereof. In particular, the temperature sensor 32 is installed inside the refrigerator 50 and measures the temperature in the refrigerator 50. The reader / writer 35 is provided in or near the refrigerator 50. Then, communication is performed with respect to the RFID 10 attached to the bin B accommodated in the refrigerator 50.

  The external device 30 transmits the storage state (storage temperature) of the bottle B filled with alcohol to the RFID 10 attached to the bottle B, so that the bottle B filled with alcohol is sent from the manufacturer to the consumer. Are installed in all the refrigerators 50 that exist in the sales channel until they are delivered to the market. For example, it is also installed in a truck with a refrigerator for transporting a bottle B filled with liquor.

[Storage temperature management system]
Next, the operation of the storage temperature management system having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the storage temperature management system.
First, the RFID 10 is attached to the surface of the bin B. When the alcoholic beverage manufacturer fills the bottle B with alcoholic beverages, the alcoholic beverage production information (production date, expiration date, etc.) is stored in the storage unit 12b in the IC chip 12 of the RFID 10 by a predetermined information input device. Let At the same time, the stored liquor is stored at the upper limit temperature when stored. Such information may be displayed on the EPD 11 of the RFID 10.

Then, the bottle B filled with the liquor is transported from the manufacturer to the store or the like and stored in the store or the like. At the time of transportation and storage, the bottle B filled with the liquor is stored in a cool dark place or a refrigerator. 50 mag.
As described above, the external device 30 is installed in the refrigerator 50 or the like in which the bottle B filled with liquor is accommodated. The internal temperature of the refrigerator 50 or the like, that is, the storage temperature of the bottle B filled with liquor is measured by the temperature sensor 32 (step S1), and the measurement result is sent to the host computer 31.
The host computer 31 processes the measurement result of the temperature sensor 32 and obtains storage temperature information of the bottle B filled with the liquor (step S2). The storage temperature information is, for example, information on the temperature, the measurement date and time of the temperature, and the location. Further, a process for confirming whether or not the storage temperature of the bottle B filled with liquor has deviated from the set upper limit temperature is performed (step S3), and abnormal information is added when deviation is recognized (step S3). Step S4).
Then, all or a part of the obtained storage temperature information, for example, storage temperature information for every hour is transmitted to the reader / writer 35. The timing at which the storage temperature information is transmitted to the reader / writer 35 may be every predetermined time, or may be just before carrying out the bottle B filled with alcohol from the refrigerator 50 or the like.

When the reader / writer 35 receives the storage temperature information of the bottle B filled with alcohol from the host computer 31, the reader / writer 35 is controlled to transmit the information from the antenna 37 to the RFID 10 (step S5).
Then, each RFID 10 affixed to the surface of each bottle B filled with liquor receives the storage temperature information transmitted from the reader / writer 35 (step S6). The received storage temperature information information is stored in the storage unit 12b of the IC chip 12, and a part thereof is displayed on the EPD 11 (step S7).

In this way, the EPD 11 displays the storage temperature information of the storage temperature of the liquor, the storage temperature history, and the like.
According to such a storage temperature management system for alcoholic beverages, storage temperature information of alcoholic beverages filled in the bottle B can be favorably stored and displayed. In particular, since the EPD 11 is provided in the RFID 10, the storage temperature information of the alcoholic beverages filled in the bottle B can be confirmed without using a special reading device.

Furthermore, since the EPD 11 is provided with a region 11a whose display is irreversible, that is, cannot be rewritten, the date of production of alcoholic beverages and the expiration date information can be displayed in this region 11a to prevent information from being falsified. . Furthermore, when the storage temperature of the bottle B filled with the liquor deviates from the set upper limit temperature, that is, stored in a high temperature state, the information is displayed on the irreversible area 11a of the EPD 11 to display the information. It becomes possible to easily know the quality related to the storage temperature of the liquor filled in the bottle B.
Therefore, the consumer can purchase only commodities (alcoholic beverages) whose quality is well controlled based on the storage temperature information displayed on the EPD 11. In addition, since liquor dealers also strictly manage storage temperature so as not to reduce the value of goods, it can be expected that products with careful management of storage temperature will be provided.

  Further, since the EPD 11 has a property that it can be maintained for a long time without power supply, the storage temperature information can be reliably displayed until the bottle B filled with the liquor reaches the consumer's hand. it can. When the display capability of the EPD 11 is limited, for example, only the latest storage temperature information may be displayed, or it may be expressed that the storage temperature is appropriate.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the specific materials and layers mentioned in the embodiment can be added. The configuration is merely an example, and can be changed as appropriate.
For example, the target to which the RFID 10 is attached is not limited to the bin but may be a paper pack.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, although liquor was mentioned as a temperature control target object, it may be a soft drink and fresh vegetables, meat, fish, etc. may be sufficient.

Further, it is not always necessary to provide the host computer 31 alone as the external device 30. For example, the reader / writer 35 may be provided with a function for processing the detection result of the temperature sensor 32. Moreover, although the case where the external apparatus 30 is provided in the vicinity of the refrigerator 50 etc. was demonstrated, for example, in the case of beer, it is also possible to attach to the beer bottle case which accommodates a beer bottle.
The external device 30 may be provided with a humidity sensor and the like in addition to the temperature sensor 32.

Further, in the host computer 31, a process for confirming whether or not the storage temperature of the bottle B filled with the liquor has deviated from the set upper limit temperature has been performed, but such a determination process is performed in the IC chip 12 of the RFID 10. May be performed.

  Further, the irreversible region 11a of the EPD 11 may be a partial region of the EPD 11 or may be provided separately.

In addition, when the display capability of the EPD 11 of the RFID 10 attached to the building B is limited and not all the information stored in the EPD 11 can be displayed simultaneously,
Information stored in the RFID 10 may be read by the reader / writer 50 or the like and displayed on the host computer 31 or the like to be used for various quality control.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a storage temperature management system. It is a top view which shows RFID10. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of EPD11. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of a storage temperature management system.

Explanation of symbols

B ... Bin temperature (management object), 10 ... RFID (information medium), 11 ... EPD (display unit), 11a ... region (irreversible display region), 13 ... antenna (receiving unit), 30 ... external device, 32 ... Temperature sensor, 35 ... Reader / writer (transmitter), 50 ... Refrigerator (accommodating area)

Claims (5)

A system for managing temperature information when storing or transporting a temperature management object,
While affixing to the temperature management object an information medium having a receiving unit that receives storage temperature information related to the temperature management object in a non-contact manner and a display unit capable of displaying storage temperature information received by the receiving unit;
The external device comprising: a temperature sensor that measures a temperature in a storage area in which the temperature management object is stored; and a transmission unit that transmits a detection result of the temperature sensor to the information medium in a non-contact manner. Placed in or near the area,
When storing the temperature management object with the information medium affixed in the storage area, the storage temperature information in the storage area obtained by the temperature sensor is transmitted toward the information medium, The storage temperature management system, wherein the storage temperature information received is displayed on the display unit.   The said accommodating area | region is provided with two or more in the conveyance path | route in which the said temperature management target object is preserve | saved or transported, The said external apparatus is provided with respect to each said accommodating area | region. Storage temperature management system.   The storage temperature management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information medium has flexibility and is stuck to the temperature management object.   The storage temperature management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit has an irreversible display area. 5. The storage temperature management system according to claim 4, wherein the information medium displays warning information in the irreversible display area when the received storage temperature information deviates from a predetermined temperature condition.

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