MX2012006585A

MX2012006585A - Food safety indicator.

Info

Publication number: MX2012006585A
Application number: MX2012006585A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Warren Sandvick
Original assignee: Warren Sandvick
Priority date: 2009-12-11
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: WO2011072296A2; EP2510349A4; WO2011072296A3; CA2783966A1; EP2510349A2; AP2012006357A0; JP2013513805A

Abstract

A food safety device for placement on a product is disclosed. The food safety device comprises one or more sensors that are configured to measure at least one condition of the product and/or its environment, one or more visual indicators that are configured to display a visual indication of freshness and/or safety of the product, an antenna that is configured to transmit and receive data regarding the at least one measured condition of the product and the freshness and/or safety of the product, and a logic module that is configured to execute programmable logic to determine the freshness and/or safety of the product from the at least one measured condition of the product, to cause the one or more visual indicators to display a visual indication of the freshness and/or safety it determines, and to transmit and receive data regarding the at least one measured condition of the product and the freshness and/or safety of the product via the antenna.

Description

FOOD SECURITY INDICATOR CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED REQUESTS This application claims the benefit of the US Provisional Application No. 61 / 285,622, filed on December 11, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for indicating whether the products are safe for consumption. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that not only identifies whether the products are safe for consumption, but also tracks the source, location and destination of said products so that they can be efficiently and effectively identified and can be revoked if and when they are not safe for consumption.

Background of Related Matter The term "perishable" is used to refer to products that are subject to deterioration or disintegration. These products have a measurable lifespan, after which the product is no longer safe for use or consumption. Perishable products include, but are not limited to, frozen and minimally processed foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, films, batteries, ammunition and even blood, each of which has its own unique lifespan. Accordingly, the companies that make and / or sell these products have the continuous problem of identifying products that have exceeded their useful life. And as a result, these companies not only have difficulty in avoiding the sale of perishable products that have exceeded their useful life, but also have a significant difficulty in the revocation of such products after they were sold. Similar difficulties arise when a food is identified that has not exceeded its useful life, but that was stained or contaminated in some other way, such as by low manufacturing quality, transportation or storage conditions.

The inability to efficiently and effectively identify and revoke damaged or contaminated products is not only a serious problem for the companies that make and / or sell them, it is also a potential life-threatening problem for the final users of said products ( eg, the people who consume those products). In 2010, for example, outbreaks of products that involved food poisoning as varied as eggs, peanuts and spinach, sickened thousands of people and killed more than a dozen people. In 2008, a salmonella outbreak of contaminated peanut butter made under unhealthy conditions made hundreds of people sick and could have killed as many as eight people. And in 2004, it was discovered that an arthritis drug increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people who took the drug for at least eighteen months, so the drug manufacturer finally paid $ 4.85 billion to liquidate 27,000 resulting demands.

As these examples illustrate, the inability to efficiently and effectively identify and revoke damaged or contaminated products can not only cost companies that make such products significant amounts of money, but can also harm the end users of those products. . As a result, there is a need for an appliance and a method that not only identifies whether the products are safe for consumption, but also tracks the source, location and destination of those products so that they can be identified and revoked efficiently and effectively. when they are not safe for consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a food safety device that not only identifies whether the products are safe for consumption, but also traces the source, location and destination of said products so that they can be identified and withdrawn efficiently and effectively when they are not safe for consumption. The food safety device comprises one or more sensors that are configured to measure at least one condition of the product and / or its environment, one or more video indicators that are configured to display a visual indication of product freshness and / or safety, an antenna that is configured to transmit and receive data with respect to the at least one measured condition of the product, and freshness and / or security of the product, and a logic module that is configured to execute a programmable logic to determine the freshness and / or safety of the product from the at least one measured condition of the product, to cause one or more visual indicators to display an indication visual of the freshness and / or smoothness that it determines, and to transmit and receive data with respect to the at least one measured condition of the product and the freshness and / or safety of the product by the antenna. These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following written description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many aspects of the present invention can be understood in a better way with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are part of the description and represent exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasizing, on the contrary, the illustration of the principles of the present invention. And in the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Figure 1A is a plan view illustrating a non-limiting embodiment of the internal components of a food safety device according to the present invention; Figure IB is a plan view illustrating a non-limiting embodiment of the back face of a food safety device according to the present invention; Figures 1C-1E are plant views illustrating different non-limiting embodiments of the front face of a food safety device according to the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are elevational views illustrating the non-limiting embodiments of the food safety device of Figures 1A-1E placed in a product or product package, respectively; Y Figures 3A and 3B are schematic views illustrating a non-limiting embodiment of the use of the present invention throughout the life cycle of a product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for clarity purposes. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the specific terms selected, and it should be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

The present invention provides a non-expensive apparatus and method for the identification of products that are safe for consumption. For example, the present invention can determine whether or not a perishable product has exceeded its useful life based on a chemical reaction with the product that measures the deterioration / decay of the product. See, eg , U.S. Patent No. 4,003,709 to Eaton et al., ("The x709 patent"). The present invention can determine if a perishable product has exceeded its shelf life based on a chemical reaction that depends on the time and / or temperature that is initiated by a predefined condition, such as packing the product or having the product opened. . See, eg , US Patent No. 7,643,378 to Genosar ("the patent? 378"), US Patent No. 6,737,274 to Wright ("the patent, 274"), US Patent No. 5,053,339 to Patel ("the patent? 339") , U.S. Patent No. 5,045,283 to Patel ("the x283 patent"), and U.S. Patent No. 4,292, 916 to Bradley et al., ("the" 916 patent "). Or the present invention can determine if a perishable product has exceeded its useful life based on a circuit that depends on the time and / or temperature that is configured to measure the time and / or temperature differences. See, eg , U.S. Patent No. 7,675,426 to "Debord et al., (" The patent 25") and U.S. Patent No. 7,764,183 to Burchell et al., (" The 183 patent "). The content of the '709 patent, patent '378, patent 274, patent' 339, patent 283, patent 916, patent 25, and patent 183, are incorporated herein by reference as if they were fully established.

The present invention can also determine if a perishable product has exceeded its useful life by chemical and / or electronic measurement of exposure to moisture, sunlight, radiation or any other environmental factor that may contribute to deterioration and reduce the shelf life of a perishable product. Similarly, the present invention can chemically or electronically measure the amount of hazardous chemicals, toxins, foodborne pathogens, and other contaminants that may be present in a product and render it unsafe for its use and / or consumption. The present invention includes at least one of a visual, tactile and audible indicator to identify when a product has exceeded its useful life, or contains an unsafe level of contaminants.

In addition, the present invention includes functionality to track the source, location and destination of the products at various points during their life cycle (eg, manufacture, distribution, sale, etc.). When used in conjunction with functionality to identify service life and / or exceeded contaminants, such functionality allows products to be efficiently and effectively identified and removed when they are identified as unsafe for consumption. Moreover, it allows the point in the outbound cycle of a product in which any problem occurred to be identified and remedied. Accordingly, the present invention not only allows products to be efficiently and effectively identified and removed when they are not safe for consumption, but also allows the source of any contributing factor to be quickly identified and withdrawn.

Returning to the drawings, Figures 1A-1E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a food safety device (100) in accordance with the present invention. Figure 1A illustrates the internal workings of the food safety device (100). Figure IB illustrates the rear face of the food safety device (100). And Figures 1C-1E illustrate different modalities of the front face of the food safety device (100). The food safety device (100) is preferably small in size and substantially flat, so that it can be adhered, tied, or otherwise secured to a product or its packaging, without interfering with the handling, packing or use of the product. For example, the food safety device may be of the size and / or incorporated into a conventional label for a product (eg, the label in a bottle, medicine bottle, film box, or directly in the product).

Like it. Figure 1A illustrates, the food safety device (100) includes a logic module (102), a battery (104), and an antenna (106). The logic module (102) includes a data storage device that is configured to store the data about a product and / or a product container, as well as the environment of the product throughout the life cycle of the product, programmable logic which is configured to monitor the useful life and / or contamination of the product, as well as the environment of the product throughout the life cycle, and a processor and / or integrated circuit configured to execute the programmable logic so that the safety device food (100) may be used in the manner disclosed herein. The battery (104) provides power to the logic module (102) and the antenna (106) so that they can be operated in the manner disclosed herein. And the antenna (104) allows the logic module (102) to communicate the data wirelessly to the external devices in the manner disclosed herein. Preferably, the logic module (102), the battery (104) and the antenna (106), use micro and / or nanotechnology so that they can be assembled discretely substantially flat within the label of a product without interfering with handling, packaging and / or use of the product and / or product container in which said label is placed.

For example, the battery (104) may be a printed battery, such as the thin printed battery developed by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS. See, eg , "Fraunhofer ENAS presents a printed battery at the nano tech exhibition in Tokyo", Press Reléase, www.enas.fraunhofer.de (January 15, 2009). And the antenna (106), can be a thin antenna (eg, a few millimeters), flexible, self-repairing, such as the antenna developed by researchers at North Carolina State University. See, eg , Bryner, Jeanna, "Bendable Antennas Could Reshape Electronics", LIVESCIENCE, http://www.livescience.com/technology (Nov. 30, 2009). These printed batteries and flexible antennas are particularly suitable for small, thin and flexible applications, such as product labels.

The logic module (102), the battery (104), and the antenna (106) are printed on, attached to, or otherwise affixed to, the front face of a flexible backing sheet (108). These components are electrically connected to each other, as well as to several sensors (110) (Figure IB), (112) (Figures 1C and 1E), and (114) (Figure ID) and visual indicators (116-120) (Figures 1C) and 1E), (122) (Figure ID), and (124) (Figure 1E), by a series of conductors, such as copper traces (not shown), printed on, attached to, or otherwise affixed to the front face of flexible backing sheet (108). The back face of the flexible sheet (108) includes an adhesive or other suitable fixing mechanism for attaching the food safety device (100) to a product and / or product container. And as illustrated in Figure IB, the back face of the flexible sheet (108) may also include one or more sensors (110).

One or more sensors (110) may be provided on the back face of the flexible backing sheet (108), and, therefore, on the back face of the food safety device (100), to monitor one or more conditions of the product and / or container of the product in which the food safety device (100) is placed. Said sensors (110) are preferably placed on the rear face of the food safety device (100) so that they are in close proximity to the product and / or container of the product, and, therefore, will obtain more accurate measurements on the condition of the product. product and / or container of the product. When the food safety device (100) is placed directly on the product, at least one of the sensors (110) on the rear face, can be configured to protrude towards the product or be flush with the exterior surface of the product . And when the food safety device (100) is placed in the product container, at least one of the sensors (110) can be configured to protrude through the product container and into the product or to be flush with the product. the outer surface of the product container. A sensor (110) may protrude to measure conditions that indicate deterioration (eg, core temperature, PH level, etc.) and / or conditions that indicate contamination (eg, the presence of certain chemicals or bacteria, a change of pressure in the container, etc.). And a sensor can be flush with the outer surface of the product or product container to measure similar conditions that do not need to be obtained internally (eg, surface temperature, container breakage, etc.). The sensors (110) can operate based on chemical and / or electrical reactions to the condition being measured. Moreover, by measuring multiple conditions, the food safety device (100) can more accurately determine the remaining shelf life of a product and / or identify contaminants.

For example, when measuring the temperature of a product, as well as the time that the product has been in its container, the logic module (102) of the food safety device (100) can actively determine the remaining shelf life1 of the product. As the temperatures increase during the life cycle of the product, the useful life of the product can be reduced. And as the useful life of a product is reduced, the moment from when the product was placed in its container until the moment when it is safe for consumption is reduced. Accordingly, the logic module (102) can accelerate a time circuit or subtract time from the useful life of the product based on temperature fluctuations. In that way, the food safety device (100) will indicate that the product has exceeded its useful life before a product that did not experience the same increases in temperature. The logic module (102) can also store data identifying the time, date and amount of said temperature increases to create a continuous record of the condition of the product throughout its life cycle.

The antenna (106) can also be used as a sensor. For example, the food safety device (100) will expand or contract with the product and / or product container to which it is fixed during temperature changes or pressure changes when the food safety device (100) is adhered to said food safety device (100). product and / or product container. And when the antenna (106) is a flexible antenna, as disclosed above, it will also expand and contract as the food safety device (100) expands and contracts. Said stretch will change the frequency of the antenna slightly, and said frequency changes may be directly correlated with changes in temperature and / or changes in pressure. Therefore, the antenna (106) can be used to measure fluctuations in temperature and / or pressure. Therefore, the antenna (106) can be used to measure temperature and / or pressure fluctuations in the same manner as an extensometer.

And as Figures 1C and ID illustrate, one or more sensors (112 and 114) can also be placed on the front face of the food safety device (100) to perform functions similar to those of the sensors (110) in the front face of the food safety device (100). However, the sensors (112 and 114) on the front face of the food safety device are preferably configured to measure one or more environmental conditions instead of one or more conditions of the product and / or container of the product. For example, a sensor (112) (Figures 1C and 1E) on the front face of the food safety device (100) can be used to measure the temperature, barometric pressure, exposure to light, and humidity of the various environments in the that the product and / or container of the product are present during its life cycle (eg, assembly line, warehouse, storage shelf, etc.). Said sensor (112) or other sensor (not shown) on the front face, can also measure any vibration, shock, acceleration, radiation, dangerous chemicals, toxins or food pathogens to which the product and / or container are exposed during its Lifecycle. The logical module (102) can store data and identify the time, date and quantity in which said conditions occurred to create a continuous record of the product's environment throughout its life cycle.

The logic module (102) may also use those environmental measurements to determine the shelf life of the product and / or identify the contamination in a manner similar to that previously disclosed with respect to the sensors (110) on the back face of the food safety device. . Moreover, by using the environmental measurements taken on the front face of the food safety device (100) together with the product conditions measured on the back face of the food safety device (100), the product's shelf life and / or contamination of the product, can be determined more accurately and in more ways. For example, if a rapid change of temperature and / or pressure is measured in the product and / or container of the product, but not in the environment in which the product and / or container of the product is present, the logic module (102) may determine that the product container has been opened and / or altered with, which may result in a loss of pressure and / or. change of temperature in the product container (eg, opening a sealed container under pressure). Moreover, by recording both the environmental measurements and the measurements of the condition of the product, these measurements can be compared to each other to identify any potentially erroneous reading.

A light sensor (114) (Figure ID), such as a photovoltaic solar cell, can also be provided on the front face of the food safety device (100) to measure the amount of sunlight at which the product and / or Product container are exposed. As with temperature, increased exposure to sunlight can also reduce the shelf life of a product. Sunlight can also deteriorate the container of a product over time. Accordingly, the logic module (102) can use the amount of exposure to sunlight measured with the light sensor (114) together with the time and temperature measurements to more accurately calculate the shelf life of a product and / or product container. The light sensor (114) can also be used to charge the battery (104) or to replace it as a power source for the other components of the food safety device (100).

As illustrated in Figures 1C-1E, a series of visual indicators (116-120) or a single mobile scale visual indicator (122) can also be arranged on the front face of the food safety device (100) to indicate freshness and / or product safety. Those visual indicators (116-124) can be provided in the form of a chemical strip (see, eg, patent? 274, patent ^ 339, and patent '283), or any other suitable visual indicator. The series of visual indicators (116-120) can be of different colors, each color representing a different level of freshness and / or product safety. And the mobile scale visual indicator (122) can progressively light up or change color, to represent different levels of freshness and / or product safety. For example, the first visual indicator (116) will show a green color when the product is fresh and / or uncontaminated. The second visual indicator (118) will display a yellow color when the product has experienced some condition that may contribute to deterioration or contamination (eg, passage of time, change of temperature, etc.) - And the third visual indicator (120) will show a red color when the product has deteriorated and / or contaminated. Or, alternatively, the mobile scale visual indicator (122) will gradually change from green to red as each of these conditions happens.

When the visual indicators (115.124) are chemical strips, they can react as litmus paper to changes in the condition of the product and / or changes in the environment of the product. For example, a chemical reaction of time release can be used to indicate the remaining shelf life of the product. Or the chemicals that react with specific toxins, radiation and / or pathogens (eg salmonella in the meat) can be used to indicate if and when a product has been contaminated. Similarly, when the visual indicators are LEDs or LCDs, the measurements taken by the sensors (110-114) can be used by the logic module (102) together with a time circuit to determine the remaining useful life of a product and / or to identify if and when said product was contaminated. The reactions that occur in the chemical strips can also be detected and used by the logic module (102) to determine the remaining useful life of a product and / or to identify if and when said product was contaminated. And the logic module (102) can store all this data, as well as the time and date in which they were recorded, to create a continuous record of the condition and environment of the product throughout the life cycle of the product.

The chemical reaction that takes place in the battery (104), can also be used as a useful life indicator. For example, the battery (104) can have a size such that its working life corresponds to the useful life of the product to which the food safety device (100) is fixed. And as the battery (104) loses power, different visual indicators (116-122) can be illuminated and / or extinguished to indicate the freshness of said product. Therefore, the battery (104) can be used in the same way as a chemical strip with a chemical release reaction by time.

Preferably, when a series of visual indicators (116-120) is used, a visual indicator will cease to display its respective color when another visual indicator begins to display its respective color. In that way, the attention of an end user will be more clearly attracted to the current condition of a product. And still, as another alternative, a visual indicator (124) can display a barcode that can be scanned to determine the different levels of freshness of the product and / or its security, as illustrated in Figure 1E. In addition, instead of displaying different colors, the visual indicators (116-124) can display words or symbols that indicate the different levels of freshness and / or safety of the product. Said display of information can be by means of a chemical reaction in a chemical strip or by the illumination of an LED or LCD.

In addition to the visual indicators (116-124), the food safety device (100) may also include touch indicators (eg, a vibration device), audible indicators (eg, a horn), and / or a combination of the same (eg, a buzzer) to identify different levels of freshness and / or product safety. These indicators would also serve to obtain the attention of a potential end user. But because such indicators can be annoying if activated for long periods of time, they are preferably used only to indicate when a product has exceeded its useful life and / or has been contaminated. Moreover, if said indicators were used at other times, the power of the battery (104) would be more quickly finished, which is undesirable for products with longer life cycles.

And in addition to the visual indicators (116-124), touch indicators, and audible indicators, the logic module (102) can use the antenna (106) to wirelessly transmit a signal indicating the different levels of freshness and safety of the product. Said signals are received by a computer that tracks the product in which the food safety device (100) is placed, such that, when problems are detected, said product can be easily identified and removed from its life cycle before that is consumed. For example, if a product exceeds its useful life and / or becomes contaminated while it is stored in a warehouse or retail store shelf, a signal will be automatically sent to an inventory system to identify that product for immediate removal from the shelf. In this way, unsafe products can be effectively and efficiently identified and removed before they reach, and potentially damage, an end user.

As also illustrated in Figures 1C-1E, the various sensors (112 and 114) and the various visual indicators (116-124) of the food safety device (100) are arranged in a flexible cover sheet (126). The sensors (112 and 114) can be arranged on the front face or the back face of the flexible cover sheet (126). But because the light sensor (114) needs to be exposed to light, it is preferably arranged on the front face of the flexible cover sheet (126), which is exposed to the environment when the food safety device (100) it is arranged in a product or a product container. And when the other sensors (112) are disposed on the rear face of the flexible cover sheet (126), the flexible cover sheet (126) is preferably porous in the area adjacent said sensors (112), as illustrated in FIG. Figure 1E, whereby the molecules can pass through the flexible cover sheet (126) to said sensors (112).

The visual indicators (116-124) are arranged on the front face of the flexible cover sheet (126) so that they will be clearly visible to a user. The text that identifies what it means given indicator (116-120), or each location in each indicator (122) (eg, "Fresh", "Safe", "Caution", "Deteriorated", "Contaminated", etc.), can be printed on the flexible cover sheet (126) adjacent to each corresponding visual indicator (116-122). And because the food safety device (100) can be bent as a conventional product label, conventional product information can also be printed on the front face of the flexible cover sheet.

As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the back face of the flexible cover sheet (126) is adhered to, or otherwise fixed to, the front face of the flexible backsheet (108) with the logic module (102). ), the battery (104) and the antenna (106) there arranged. In that way, the logic module (102), the battery (104) and the antenna (106) are protected from the environment by the flexible backsheet (108) and the flexible cover sheet (126). Alternatively, the flexible back layer can be omitted and the logic module (102), the battery (104), the antenna (106), and their corresponding conductors, can be disposed on the rear face of the flexible cover sheet (126). In said alternative embodiment, the logic module (102), the battery (104), the antenna (106) and their corresponding conductors can be protected from the environment by covering them with a layer of adhesive on the back side of the flexible cover sheet ( 126).

When the flexible cover sheet (126) is placed on the flexible backing sheet (108), the various sensors (112 and 114) and the various visual indicators (116-124) are placed in electrical communication with the logic module (102). ), the battery (104), and the antenna (106).

Said electrical contact can be provided by contacts formed on the front face of the flexible backing sheet (108) in locations corresponding to the contacts of the sensors (112 and 4) and the visual indicators (116-124). The sensors (110) arranged on the rear face of the flexible backing sheet (108) are placed in electrical communication with the logic module (102), the battery (104) and the antenna (106) in a similar manner. In this way, the logic module (102), the battery (104), the antenna (106), the sensors (110-114) and the visual indicators (116-124) form a single integrated circuit within the food safety device (100) As discussed above, the food safety device (100) can be placed directly in a product (200) (Figure 2A) or in the container of a product (202) (Figure 2B). When the food safety device (100) is placed directly on the product (200), both the product (200) and the food safety device (100) can be placed in the container of a product (202). Depending on the material from which the container (202) is formed, it can be porous and allow at least some small molecules to pass through it from the environment and into the product container (202) so that the sensors (112) in the front face of the food safety device (100) can measure the environmental conditions. However, the material of the product container (202) is unlikely to be porous so as to allow contaminants from the environment to enter the product container (202) which can deteriorate and / or contaminate the product (200). Instead, it can only be porous enough to allow very small molecules to enter the product container (202), just as helium can escape very slowly through the material of a balloon. Therefore, similarly, the sensors (110) on the back face of the food safety device (100) placed on the outside of the product container (202) may also be able to measure certain product conditions of the molecules which pass from the product (200) to the product container (202) and to the food safety device (100).

As also discussed above, the various components of the food safety device (100) are preferably manufactured using micro and / or nanotechnology so that they can be thin, flexible and small so that they can be attached to a product (200) and / or container of product (202) without interfering with the manufacture, handling and / or use of the product (200). And if the food safety device (100) is very thick in some applications, the product container (202) can be formed with a corresponding notch or opening that is configured to receive its food safety device (100). Said notch or opening may be configured to ensure that the food safety device (100) does not interfere with the manufacture, handling and / or use of the product (200).

In operation, the food safety device (100) of the present invention monitors the shelf life and / or potential contamination of a product (200) throughout the life cycle of the product (eg, from manufacture to consumption) . The logic module (102) can communicate with several external systems (eg, an inventory system, a packaging machine, etc.) to exchange data about the product (200) and / or the product container (202). Said exchange of data allows the food safety device (100) of the present invention, to identify exactly if certain products (200) are safe for consumption., and it tracks the source, location and destination of said products so that they can be efficiently and effectively identified and removed from their life cycle when they are not safe for consumption. Moreover, the data recorded by the food safety device (100) can be used to extrapolate and determine the expected useful life of a product (200) based on different events that occur during said product life cycle (200), which is extremely useful for inventory control purposes (eg, products with a shelf life that will be exceeded sooner than that of the other products that can be distributed to the end user before those other products).

To exchange data with various external systems, the antenna (106) of the food safety device can be configured to send and receive data via radio frequency (RFID) (such as an RFID reader) or other wireless technology, such as BLUE TOOTH wireless technology. The logic module (102) and the antenna (106) can also be configured to emit and receive signals that identify the geographical location of the food safety device (100) and, therefore, the product (200) to which it is attached . Said location can be determined by transmitting and / or receiving geographic coordinates obtained with an internal and / or external global positioning system (GPS), or it can be determined by storing the transmission and / or reception of data that would otherwise identify the location of the product. (200) (e., A shelf number and / or aisle). Along with the time and date information, the food safety device (100) can use said location data to create a continuous record of the location of the product (200) throughout its life cycle. Furthermore, said data allow the product (200) to be located and tracked in real time at any point throughout its life cycle, from the origin to the end user.

Said feature is particularly useful when the product (200) has been identified as unsafe for consumption, and needs to be located for removal.

The food safety device (100) can be programmed in a number of ways, such as by means of a preprogrammed microprocessor card installed in the logic module (102) or instantaneous programming of the logic module (102) in the site. The programming of each food safety device (100) is equal to the specific product (200) to which it will be fixed based on the expected useful life of that product (200) and / or any potential type of contamination that can return to said product. (200) Unsafe for consumption. Or, each food safety device (100) may include programming for multiple different types of products (200) with the specific program to be executed by the logic module (102) being selected when the food safety device (100) is activated. In addition, the battery (104) can be programmed so that it is not necessary to provide a separate logic module (102) (eg, the logic module can be integrated with the battery).

By way of example, the food safety device (100) could be programmed or pre-programmed for 6 days when used for bread. When the bread is packed, a countdown timer in the logic module (102) would be activated. The food safety device (100) would indicate that the bread is fresh during the first 24 hours from the date of packing. For 2-3 days, the food safety device (100) would indicate that the bread is still usable, but less fresh. From days 4-6, the food safety device (100) would indicate that the bread is beginning to deteriorate. After 7 days, the food safety device (100) would indicate that the bread is possibly damaged. Also, if the moisture inside the package is high, the food safety device (100) would indicate that the bread is probably moldy after 5 or 6 days.

In addition, the food safety device (100) can be configured for a number of uses and can be incorporated into a number of different packaging methods for easy delivery to, for, or as part of the product container (202). For example, it can be fixed as an adhesive strip during packaging, a label, shrink pack, or as part of the same packaging material. In addition, the food safety device (100) can be directly printed on the product container (202) and start counting the time for expiration automatically when printing. Accordingly, each product (200) preferably has its own food safety device (100) so that the freshness of said product (200) in particular, is easily determined. The food safety device (100) is preferably tamper-proof, so that it can not be removed without damaging the product (200) and / or product container (202) in a manner easily recognizable by the end user.

The food safety device (100) may also be activated in a number of ways. A manufacturer / packer can activate the food safety device (100) at the time of production or packaging by activating the battery, activating the light, wireless activation, thermal activation, activation under pressure, liquid activation, magnetic activation, or other activation technique. For example, the food safety device (100) can be activated by removing by pulling a strip to place the battery in electrical communication with the logic module (102) (eg, battery activation); removing an adhesive paper from the light sensor (114) to expose it to light (eg, activation by light); sending an RFID or wireless signal to the logic module (102) through the antenna (106) (eg, wireless activation); imparting a drastic temperature or change of pressure in the food safety device (100) which is detected by a sensor (110 or 112) (eg, thermal or pressure activation); exposing the food safety device (100) to a specific type of liquid that is detected by a sensor (110 or 112) (eg, liquid activation); or by imparting a magnetic field in the food safety device (100) which is detected by the antenna (106) or a sensor (110 or 112) (eg, magnetic activation). The activation can be for a period of days, months or years, depending on the expected life cycle of the product (200). Therefore, when a battery (104) is used to activate the food safety device (100), it must have the proper size.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that is being implemented throughout the life cycle of a product (200) (eg, milk). In step A, the food safety device (100), (eg, an adhesive paper or label) is placed in the container of a product (202) (eg, a bottle) to provide a labeled container (300) . The data is stored in the food safety device (100) about the source of the container (202) (eg, the identity of the manufacturer of the bottle, the time and date of manufacture, the location of the manufacturer, etc.) and the person or machine (not shown) that places the food safety device (100) in the container (202) (eg, the serial number of the machine, the time and date of the placement, the location of the machine, etc.). In that way, if the problems are subsequently discovered with the product containers (202) from that source or with that machine, the containers of that source and / or handled by that machine, can be easily identified with the data stored in the device. of food safety (100). Similarly, problems with the container (202) and / or with the application of the food safety device (100) to the container (202) can be traced back to the source of the container (202) and / or the machine that applied the food safety device (100) to the container (202) using the data stored in the food safety device (100).

In step B, the product (200) is placed in the container labeled (300) by a packaging machine (302) (eg, a bottle filler). In step C, the labeled container (300) and / or the product (200), are processed by a processing machine (304) (eg, a pasteurizer) to prepare the product for consumption, such as by the addition of other components to it, mixing it and / or treating it in a way that will increase its useful life. And in step D, the labeled container (300) and the product (200) are inspected at an inspection station (306) (eg, a leak detection system), to identify any problems with the labeled container (300 ) and / or the product (200).

The labeled container (300) and the product (200) are automatically transported from the packaging machine (302) to the processing machine (304) and from the processing machine (304) to the inspection station (306) by a system of transportation (308). And although only one step of packing (step B), a processing step, (step C), and an inspection step (step D) are illustrated in Figure 1A, any number of each of said steps may be provided in any manner as required for packaging, processing and inspection of the labeled container (300) and the product (200). For example, the product (200) can be processed by a second processing machine (304) (eg, a separator) before being placed in a container labeled (300) by the packaging machine (302), and a station of inspection (306) can be placed after each machine (302 and 304) (eg, a full level detection station after a bottle filler).

In steps B to D, the data is stored in the food safety device (100) about each machine (302 and 304) and each inspection machine 8306) through which the labeled container (300) and the product (200) pass. The data identifies the specific machines (302 and 304) and the specific inspection stations (306) through which the labeled container (300) and the product (200) pass. These data can also identify the time and date in which the labeled container (300) and the product (200) passed through said machines (302 and 304) and inspection stations (306), the facilities where said • machines (302 and 304) and inspection stations (306) are located, and / or the assembly line in which said machines (302 and 304) and inspection stations (305) are located.

If a problem is identified with the product (200) and / or product container (202) at any point between steps A and D, the logic module (102) will identify said problem and cause one of the visual indicators (e.g. , visual indicator (120)) of the food safety device (100) is displayed (eg, illuminating a red LED), thus providing a visual indication that a problem has occurred with said product (200) and / or product container (202) in case the product in some way facilitates it to an end user. The logic module (102) will also identify the date, time and location at which the problem occurred and store said data so that it can be used to identify any machine (302 or 304) that may be associated with said problem. These data can also be transmitted via the antenna (106) to an external computer that is controlling and / or monitoring the manufacturing / packaging process to immediately bring the problem to the attention of the manufacturer / packer, thus allowing the problem to be quickly remedied . Moreover, the fact that there is a problem with the product (200) and / or the product container (202) can be transmitted by the external computer or the food safety device (100) to a machine (not shown) that It will remove said product from the manufacturing / packaging process so that the problematic product (200) and / or product container (202) never reach an end user. In that way, the problems can not be quickly remedied to reduce the amount of time wasted by the manufacturing / packaging process, the products (200) and / or unsafe product containers (202), can be quickly identified and removed from the manufacturing / packaging process so that unsafe products are not consumed by an end user.

In step E, the products (200) and product containers (202) that pass through steps A through D without any problem being identified, are packaged for distribution. For example, those products (200) and product containers (202) are placed in boxes (310). A second food safety device (100 ') is placed in each box (310) so that both the box (310) and its contents can be tracked and also the environment in which the box (310) and its contents are located , can be monitored. The placement of an additional food safety device (100 ') on the outside of the box (310), is particularly useful for monitoring the environment, because the food safety devices (100) attached to the box may not be able to to obtain exact readings from inside the box (310). Moreover, the additional food safety device (100 ') provides a source of additional data that can be used to verify the data stored in the food safety devices (100) in the products (200) and / or product containers (100). 202) within each box (310).

The food safety device (100 ') placed in the box (310) stores data identifying each product (200) and / or product container (200) placed there (e., the quantity and unique identification of each product (200) and / or product container (202), as well as all the data for each of said products (200) and / or product containers (202)), as well as all the data for each of those products (200) and / or product containers (202) (eg, the data stored in each food safety device (100) in each product (200) and / or product container (202) )). In that way, the food safety device (100 ') on the outside of the box (310), can be used to identify the contents of the box (310), as well as the condition of said content. And both food safety devices (100 and 100 '), store data about the packaging process (eg, the serial number of the machine, the time and date of packaging, the location of the machine, etc.), and the destination of the package (eg, the address of a warehouse, the address of a retail store, etc.).

In step F or F ', the boxes (310) are placed in a truck (312 or 312') that will transport the product (200) to its destination. This step completes the manufacturing / packaging process and starts the distribution process. Although the product (200) and / or product container (202) are already outside the control of the manufacturer / packer after step F or F ', the functionality of the wireless data transmission of the food safety devices (100 and 100) '), allow the manufacturer / packer not only to continue tracking the product (200) throughout the distribution process, but also allows them to continue monitoring the condition of the product (200) and / or the product container (202) to throughout the distribution process. In this way, the manufacturer / packer can ensure that the product (200) does not become unsafe for consumption after it leaves its control. If the product (200) becomes unsafe for consumption after it leaves the manufacturer / packer's control, it can quickly identify the location (eg, GPS coordinates) of said product (200), and remove it, replace it, or replace it. another way, remove it from its life cycle. Therefore, the food safety devices (100 and 100 ') of the present invention allow the manufacturers / packers to maintain a good degree of control over their product (200), in such a way that they can ensure product quality ( 200) that reaches the end user.

To provide such a level of control, the food safety devices (100 and 100 ') continue to monitor the condition and environment of the product (200) and / or product container (202) as the product (200) is transported to your next destination The sensors (110-114) of the food safety devices (100 and 100 '), not only monitor the condition and environment of the product (200) and / or container of the product (202) as the product is transported to its Next destination, you can also identify the transportation method. For example, one of the sensors (112) may include an accelerometer that measures the acceleration. And the logic module (102) can correlate said acceleration with a specific mode of transportation (eg, correlating large values of acceleration with an airplane, average values of acceleration with a truck, and small values of acceleration with a train) or with a specific event (eg, correlate a sudden stop in acceleration with which the container is thrown).

If the product (200) and / or container of the product (202) are damaged in transport, the manner in which the damage occurred (eg, throwing the box (310), overturning the box (310), etc.) and the part that caused the damage can be identified with the data measured and stored by the food safety devices (100 and 100 ') · In that way, any cost associated with the repair or replacement of the product (200) and / or product container (202) damaged, can be assigned appropriately. Moreover, the damaged product (200) and / or product container (202) can be removed from its life cycle before it reaches the end user.

In step G, the truck (312) delivers the product (200) in a hold (314), wherein the boxes (310) are unloaded and stored in racks (316) in step H. the hold (314) can use a computer system similar to that used by the manufacturer / packer to communicate wirelessly with the food safety devices (100 and 100 ') in the products (200) and / or product containers (202) in the boxes (310). These data can be used to identify the location of the product (200), as well as its condition, simplifying the inventory of the product. Again, if the product (200) and / or product container (202) are damaged at some point during said steps, the manufacturer / packer and / or warehouse (314) can quickly identify said product (200) and / or container of product (202) and remove it from its useful life, so that a potentially unsafe product (200) does not reach the end user.

In step I, the product (200) is placed in another truck (318) and transported from the hold (314) to a retail store (310). Both the warehouse (314) and the manufacturer / packer can use the food safety devices (100 and 100 ') to track the product and monitor the condition and environment of the product (200) and / or product container (202) to as the product (200) is transported to its next destination. Again, if the product (200) and / or product container (202) are damaged during transport, the manufacturer / packer and / or warehouse (314) can quickly identify the product (200) and / or product container ( 202), and remove or repair the damaged product (200) and / or product container (202).

Instead of a truck (312) carrying the product (200) to a hold (314) in step F, before it is taken to a retail store (320) by another truck in step I, a truck (312) ') can take the product (200) directly to the retail store (320) in step F'.

In step J, the product (200) is unpacked and placed on the shelves (322) of the retail store (320) where it can be purchased by an end user in step K. The retail store (320) can use a computer system similar to that used by the manufacturer / packer and / or warehouse (314) to communicate wirelessly with the food safety devices (100) in the products (200) and / or product containers (202). These data can be used to identify the location of the product (200), as well as its condition, simplifying the inventory of the product. Again, if the product (200) and / or product container (202) are damaged at some point during that step, the manufacturer / packer, the warehouse (314), and / or the retail store (320) can quickly identify said product (200) and / or product container (202) and remove it from its life cycle so that a potentially unsafe product (200) does not reach the end user.

In step L, the product (200) reaches the end user in its packaged container (300). Using the wireless data transmission technology of the food safety device (100), the manufacturer / packer, the warehouse (314) and / or the retail store (320), can identify the product (200) and remove it, replace it or instruct to the final user who has it, if it is discovered that the product (200) is unsafe at any point for consumption. The manufacturer / packer, the hold (314) and / or the retail store (320) can also send a signal to the food safety device (100) to activate any of its indicators (eg, visual indicators (116-124). ), touch indicators and / or audible indicators) at any point in their life cycle to alert the end user that it is potentially unsafe.

Using the functionality of the present invention, food producers, wineries, retail stores and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), can track products, rotate products on expiration, avoid having to throw away products, and avoid sale prohibited products that have health issues, all of which reduces overhead. Moreover, the wireless data exchange functionality of the present invention can be used by end users to access the specific information of a product on their cell phones, while remaining in a retail store (320) with that product. (200) in the hand. And the manufacturer / packer, the warehouse (314) and / or the retail store (320), can use the data to identify the exact location in which the products (200) were consumed by the end user (eg, the location). where the end user lives), which can be used advantageously for marketing purposes.

In addition, the food safety device (100) can generate a variety of predetermined or customized reports based on the stored data. For example, a report can be generated that indicates the maximum, minimum and average temperature of a product (200) during its life cycle, as well as the dates and times in which said temperatures happened. The report can be displayed on an LCD of the food safety device (100) or transmitted by the antenna (106) to the printer. The data can also be transmitted via the antenna (106) to a processor or computer in a local or central location that can generate the reports for that particular product (200) or for a variety of products (200).

The data stored in the food safety device (100) can also be used to determine the time it takes a product to go from being manufactured / packaged to a retail store (320) or end user, to a manufacturer / packer, warehouse (314) or retail store (320) in particular. Or, the data can be used to determine the time that a certain type of product (200) is below a predetermined temperature; to determine the distance traveled by a given product (200) (eg, from the origin to the end user, from one warehouse (314) to another, from the warehouse (314) to the retail store (320), from the store retailer (320), the end user, etc.); or to ensure and confirm that the product has been handled in accordance with government regulations, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Although the present invention has been described for use with perishable products, other suitable uses will be apparent. For example, the food safety device (100) can be used as a label to track wildlife, thus providing invaluable environmental data. This could be achieved by trapping and releasing to track animals such as tuna or salmon in the wild. It could also be used on farmed fish to ensure that fish are raised in the proper environment to maintain a safe food supply.

The foregoing description and drawings should be considered only as illustrative of the principles of the invention. The invention can be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes, and is not intended to be limited by the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, instead of transmitting data wirelessly to external systems via the antenna (106), said data can be read from a bar code displayed by one of the visual indicators (126). Therefore, it is not desirable to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed herein, or to the exact construction and operation herein shown and described. On the contrary, all suitable and equivalent modifications can be appealed, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A food safety device for placement in a product, comprising: one or more sensors configured to measure at least one condition of the product and / or its environment; one or more visual indicators configured to display a visual indication of freshness and / or product safety; an antenna configured to transmit and receive data in relation to the at least one measured condition of the product, and the freshness and / or safety of the product; Y a logic module configured to execute programmable logic to determine the freshness and / or safety of the product, of the at least one measured condition of the product, to cause one or more visual indicators to display a visual indication of the freshness and / or safety that determines , and to transmit and receive data related to the at least one measured condition of the product, and the freshness and / or safety of the product through the antenna.

2. The food safety device of claim 1, further comprising a battery printed on the food safety device and configured to activate the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the logic module.

3. The food safety device of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic solar cell that is configured to measure an amount of light to which the product is exposed, and to activate the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators , the antenna and the logic module.

4. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the one or more sensors include: at least a first sensor configured to measure the environment of the product; Y at least one second sensor configured to measure the condition of the product.

5. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that: the at least one first sensor measures an amount of at least one of temperature, pressure, exposure to light, humidity, vibration, shock, acceleration, radiation, dangerous chemicals, toxins and food pathogens in the environment of the product; Y the at least one second sensor measures an amount of at least one of temperature, pressure, exposure to light, moisture, radiation, dangerous chemicals, toxins and food pathogens in the product.

6. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to identify a current location of the product in which the food safety device is positioned and to transmit said location to another device by means of the antenna.

7. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to identify a current location of the product in which the food safety device is positioned and to transmit said location to another device by means of the antenna.

8. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to receive and store data about at least one of a machine that packages the product, a machine that processes the product, and an inspection station where the product is inspected.

9. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the logic module, are provided in a substantially flat label that is configured to be fixed to the product and / or packaging in which the product is placed.

10. The food safety device of claim 1, characterized in that the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the logic module, are provided as part of the package in which the product is placed.

11. A method for making a food safety device, comprising the steps of: providing one or more sensors configured to measure at least one condition of the product and / or its environment; provide one or more visual indicators configured to display a visual indication of freshness and / or product safety; providing an antenna configured to transmit and receive data related to the at least one measured condition of the product and the freshness and / or safety of the product; Y providing a logic module configured to execute programmable logic to determine the freshness and / or safety of the product of the at least one measured condition of the product, to cause the one or more visual indicators to display a visual indication of the freshness and / or safety that determines, and for transmitting and receiving data related to, the at least one measured condition of the product and the freshness and / or safety of the product by the antenna.

12. The food safety device of claim 11, further comprising the step of printing a battery in the food safety device that is configured to activate the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the module logical.

13. The food safety device of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a photovoltaic solar cell that is configured to measure an amount of light to which the product is exposed, and to activate the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna and the logic module.

14. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the one or more sensors include: at least a first sensor configured to measure the environment of the product; Y at least one second sensor configured to measure the condition of the product.

15. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that, the at least one first sensor measures an amount of at least one of temperature, pressure, exposure to light, humidity, vibration, shock, acceleration, radiation, dangerous chemicals, toxins and food pathogens in the environment of the product; Y the at least one second sensor measures an amount of at least one of temperature, pressure, exposure to light, moisture, radiation, dangerous chemicals, toxins and food pathogens in the product.

16. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to identify a current location of the product in which the food safety device is positioned and to transmit said location to another device by means of the antenna.

17. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to identify a current location of the product in which the food safety device is positioned and to transmit said location to another device by means of the antenna.

18. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the logic module is further configured to execute programmable logic to receive and store data about at least one of a machine that packages the product, a machine that processes the product, and an inspection station where the product is inspected.

19. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the logic module, are provided in a substantially flat label that is configured to be attached to the product and / or packaging in which the product is placed.

20. The food safety device of claim 11, characterized in that the one or more sensors, the one or more visual indicators, the antenna, and the logic module, are provided as part of the package in which the product is placed.