WO2007138520A1

WO2007138520A1 - Electronic blister pack

Info

Publication number: WO2007138520A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/051881
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Zenz
Original assignee: Nxp B.V.
Priority date: 2006-05-30
Filing date: 2007-05-16
Publication date: 2007-12-06

Abstract

An electronic blister pack (1, 71, 81, 91) comprises a base (2) with a plurality of blisters (3A-3L) each holding a tablet (T), a retainer sheet (4) covering the plurality of blisters (3A-3L), circuitry (6, 76) having at least one input (11A-11L, 82), and an electric power supply (5, 72A-72L). The circuitry (6, 76 ) is configured for detecting a voltage present at or an electric current flowing through the at least one input (11A-11L, 82), and to record information about the detecting. The electronic blister pack (1, 71, 81, 91) is further configured so that each time, when one of the tablets (T) is removed from its blister (3A-3L), the electric power supply (5, 72A-72L) is connected to the at least one input (11A-11L, 82) for a time period at least sufficient for the detection only due to the action of removing the tablet (T).

Description

Electronic blister pack

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic blister pack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Blister packs are non-recloseable packages, particularly used for holding tablets.

The blister pack comprises a base with a plurality of blisters and a retainer sheet covering the blisters. The base may be made of PVC, PP, or suitable thermoplastic materials and the individual blisters are individual compartments each holding a tablet. The sheet, which is, for instance, a foil laminate, covers the blisters. A tablet can be removed from its blister by pushing the blister to force the tablet to break the sheet.

U.S. -patent 6,973,371 Bl discloses an electronic blister pack comprising a sensing network and monitoring and reporting circuitry. The sensing network is arranged about the retainer sheet and has a plurality of frangible electrical signal paths connected to a button type battery. Each signal path is arranged to extend across a receptive blister and is interrupted upon removing the respective tablet from its blister, so that the battery is disconnected for the respective signal path. The monitoring and reporting circuit comprises timer and memory circuits which record the time at each instance when one of the frangible signal paths is interrupted. Since signal paths to the battery are connected until the respective tablet is removed from its blister, the corresponding signal paths discharge the battery until the respective tablet is removed. The signal paths have to be probed in a certain time interval, resulting in an increased power consumption.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an electronic blister pack which consumes less energy.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of an electronic blister pack, comprising: a base with a plurality of blisters each holding a tablet; a retainer sheet covering the plurality of blisters; circuitry having at least one input, being configured for detecting a voltage present at or an electric current flowing through the at least one input, and being configured to record information about the detection; and an electric power supply; the electronic blister pack being configured so that each time when one of the tablets is removed from its blister, the electric power supply is connected to the at least one input for a time period at least sufficient for the detection only due to the action of removing the tablet.

The inventive electronic blister pack comprises the circuitry, which may be an integrated circuit and which may be powered by the electric power supply. The circuitry has at least one input and is configured for detection when a voltage is present at the input or when a current flows through the input. When the circuitry detects this voltage or current, then it records this event in, for instance, an internal memory.

The inventive electronic blister pack is particularly meant for recording each point in time when a tablet is removed. In order to be capable of recording these points of time, the inventive electronic blister pack may include an appropriate timer. The timer may be integrated into the integrated circuit. Thus, whenever the circuitry detects a voltage or a current at its at least one input, it records the corresponding point in time on the memory. The inventive electronic blister pack is configured so that the electric power supply is automatically connected to the at least one input for a time period at least sufficient for the aforementioned detection whenever a tablet is removed from its blister. As a result, the electric power supply is disconnected from the at least one input as long as no tablet is removed from its blister, resulting in less power consumption than if the power supply is connected to the at least one input from the very beginning. The electric power supply needs only to be connected to the at least one input for the time period sufficient for the detection of the voltage or current. The range of this time period can be as low as 50 to 100ms with today's technology, so that the electric power supply needs only to be connected for a relatively short time significantly less than one second. After the detection, the electric power supply is preferably disconnected automatically from the at least one input, which results in further energy saving.

In order to connect the electric power supply to the at least one input, the inventive electronic blister pack comprises a plurality of switches according to one embodiment. Each of the switches is associated with a respective blister of the plurality of blisters and each of the switches connects the electronic power supply to the at least one input when the relevant tablet is removed. Each blister has its corresponding switch, which is initially open as long as the relevant tablet is in its blister. If a tablet is removed from its blister, then the corresponding switch closes automatically and connects the electric power supply to the at least one input for the time period sufficient to detect the voltage or current at the input. As a result, no energy is drawn from the electric power supply for the purpose of detecting the removal of a tablet as long as the relevant tablet is in its blister and preferably also after the relevant tablet has been removed from its blister.

The circuitry may have one input for all blisters or a plurality of inputs each connected to a respective switch of the plurality of switches. If the circuitry has only one input for all the blisters, then the switches are connected in parallel and the electric power supply must be disconnected from the input after a tablet has been removed. This requirement can be fulfilled, if, for instance, the switches are designed in such a way that the relevant switch opens automatically after the relevant tablet has been removed from its blister.

The circuitry may have a plurality of inputs each associated with a relevant blister of the plurality of blisters. Then, it is not only possible to detect when a tablet is removed, but it is also possible to detect which individual tablet is removed. This information, which is of particular advantage if the blister pack comprises different kinds of tablets, may also be stored.

The inventive electronic blister pack may comprise only one electric power supply for each of the blisters or a plurality of electric power supplies each associated with one relevant blister of the plurality of blisters. Particularly, the inventive electronic blister pack may comprise the plurality of electric power supplies, which may be a battery, especially a battery printed on the base or the retainer sheet, or may comprise a piezo- element. Moreover, the batteries may be printed at the locations of the blisters so as to save space compared to a battery that is printed at a dedicated separate location. It should also be noted that a single power supply may also comprise a plurality of power supplies (e.g. batteries printed at each blister) which are connected in series or in parallel.

If the inventive electronic blister pack comprises only one electric power supply for each of the blisters, then the inventive electronic blister pack is preferably designed so that the electric power supply is automatically disconnected from the relevant input in order to save energy. The electric power supply may be disconnected automatically by appropriately designing the switches assigned to the blisters. If the inventive electronic blister pack has the plurality of inputs, then the circuitry may have additional electronic switches, for instance, incorporated into the circuitry downstream of the inputs. The additional switches are preferably closed initially and the relevant additional switch opens automatically after the voltage or current is present at the corresponding input after a predefined time period sufficient for detecting the voltage or current. Alternatively, the relevant additional switch opens automatically after the relevant information is stored.

If the inventive electronic blister pack comprises only one electric power supply for all blisters, then this electric power supply may also be used for powering the circuitry. According to a restricted version of the inventive electronic blister pack, each of the electric power supplies of the plurality of electric power supplies has a different voltage or current level or capacity. Then, the circuitry can be configured so that it can detect which individual tablet is removed in response to the voltage or current level detected, even though the circuitry has only one input. This information is of particular advantage if the blister pack comprises different kinds of tablets.

The switches, which may be mechanical switches, may be designed so that the respective switch opens automatically after the relevant tablet has been removed from its blister. This feature may be realized by coating the switches with an initially electrically conductive material which becomes non-conductive when exposed to air. Then, the switches are designed so that they are not exposed to air as long as the relevant tablet is still in its blister. When a tablet is removed, then the relevant switch is closed automatically and is automatically exposed to air. After a while, the switch becomes non-conductive, which is equal to an open switch. Suitable coating materials are conductive organic materials, such as Poly acetylene.

The inventive electronic blister pack is particularly used for recording the points in time when each individual blister is removed. In order to determine these points in time, the inventive electronic blister pack may comprise a timer. Then, the inventive circuitry may be designed so that this timer is powered by a dedicated power supply. In a restricted version of the inventive electronic blister pack, the retainer sheet is configured only to connect the electric power supply to the at least one input when one of the tablets is removed from its blister. Then, the retainer sheet may be designed to represent the switches assigned to the individual blisters.

The retainer sheet may preferably comprise two superposed foils spaced apart by a distance so that the foils are caused to touch each other only when one of the tablets is removed from its blister and to connect the electric power supply to the at least one input when the foils touch each other. The two foils may be electrically conductive or may comprise electric tracks, so that the electric power supply is connected to the at least one input, when the two foils touch each other. The foils are spaced apart so that the power supply is disconnected from the at least one input. A tablet is removed from its blister by pushing the relevant blister to force its tablet to break the retainer sheet. Due to this force, the two foils are caused to touch each other and thus connect the electric power supply to the at least one input.

In order to prevent or at least decrease the likelihood of unintentionally causing the two foils to touch each other, the inventive electronic blister pack may comprise an electrically insulating sheet interposed between the foils. The electrically insulating sheet may have holes which form spaces within the retainer sheet directly above the blisters. Then, the two foils can be caused to touch each other during the removal of the relevant blister.

In a restricted version of the inventive electronic blister pack, the holes are filled with an electrically non-conductive liquid, visco-elastic material, and/or the holes are under overpressure. These measurements decrease the risk of the two foils touching each other unintentionally.

Preferably, the electric power supply may be disconnected automatically from the at least one input, after a tablet has been removed from its blister. This can be realized by coating the foils with an electrically conductive material, which becomes non-conductive when exposed to air. Then, the two foils touch each other when a tablet is removed from each blister, causing the electric power supply to be connected to the at least one input. After a while, the coating becomes non-conductive causing the electric power supply to be disconnected again from the at least one input. Suitable coating materials are conductive organic materials, such as Po Iy acetylene.

In order to break the retainer sheet at predefined locations when pushing a blister to force the tablet to break the retainer sheet, the foils may have perforations, each associated with a respective blister of the plurality of blisters, so that the foils break along the relevant perforation when a tablet is removed from the relevant blister. The circuitry of the inventive electronic blister pack may particularly be an RFID circuit, so that the circuitry can be easily read out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter, by way of non- limiting examples, with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Figs. 1 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of an inventive electronic blister pack; and

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate further embodiments of an inventive electronic blister pack.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 is a top-view, Fig. 2 is a side-view, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive electronic blister pack 1.

The electronic blister pack 1 comprises a blister carrier or base 2 with a plurality of blisters 3A-3L, which are basically compartments for tablets T. The base 2 is made of PVC and the blisters 3A-3L are made by cupping for the exemplary embodiment. The electronic blister pack 1 further comprises a retainer sheet 4 enclosing the tablets T in their respective blisters 3 A-3L. If a consumer wants to consume a tablet T, then he/she removes the relevant tablet from the relevant blister 3A-3L by pushing the relevant blister 3A-3L to force the tablet T to break the retainer sheet 4.

The electronic blister pack 1 further comprises a battery 5 printed on the base 2 and circuitry for detecting when a tablet T is removed from the electronic blister pack 1. The battery 5 may also be a button cell. The circuitry is an RFID integrated circuit 6 connected to an antenna 7 and is powered by the battery 5 for the exemplary embodiment. For the exemplary embodiment, the integrated circuit 6 comprises an internal timer and is configured to detect when a tablet T is removed from its blister 3A-3L and to store the associated point in time. For this reason at least the timer is powered by the battery 5. The stored points in time for the tablets T can be read out by means of an appropriate reader.

For the exemplary embodiment, the electronic blister pack 1 further comprises a plurality of conductive tracks 8A-8L, each assigned to one of the blisters 3A-3L, printed on the retainer sheet 4, and connected to respective inputs 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6. The retainer sheet 4 comprises an additional printed conductive track 9 connected, via the integrated circuit 6, to the battery 5.

For the exemplary embodiment, the retainer sheet 4, the conductive tracks 8A-8L, and the conductive track 9 are designed so that the conductive tracks 8A-8L normally do not contact the conductive track 9. Then, there is not an electric path between the battery 5 and the inputs 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 via the conductive tracks 8A-8L and the conductive track 9.

For the exemplary embodiment, the retainer sheet 4, the conductive tracks 8A-8L, and the conductive track 9 are further designed so that, if a tablet T is removed from its relevant blister 3A-3L, the relevant conductive track 8A-8L associated to the blister 3A-3L of the tablet currently being removed is automatically brought into electrical contact with the conductive track 9 due to the action of removing the tablet T. Then, the relevant conductive track 8A-8L and the conductive track 9 form an electric conductive path from the battery 5 to the relevant input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 and, thus, a voltage is present at the relevant input 1 IA-I IL. The integrated circuit 6 detects this voltage and stores the point in time of the detection in an internal EEPROM. Since each conductive track 8A-8L is assigned to a specific one of the blisters 3A-3L and an individual one of the conductive tracks 8A-8L is connected to an individual input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 for the exemplary embodiment, the integrated circuit 6 may also be configured to store information about the relevant blister 3A-3L from which the tablet T has been removed.

When the tablet T is removed from the electronic blister pack 1 , then the electric path between the battery 5 and the relevant input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuitry 6 is automatically broken. Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the retainer sheet 4 suitable for the above described steps of detecting when a tablet T is removed from its relevant blister 3A-3L.

The retainer sheet 4 of Figs. 4 and 5 is comprised of a first foil 41 and a second foil 42 which are superposed, made of, for instance, coated aluminum and being spaced apart utilizing electrically insulating spacers 43, 44A-44L interposed between the two foils 41, 42. The first foil 41 faces towards the base 2. The conductive tracks 8A-8L are printed on the first foil 41 and the conductive track 9 is printed on the second foil 42 in such a manner that they face each other. Fig. 4 shows only a part of the spacer 43 and spacer 44F associated with the blister 3F. Fig. 6 shows a top view of the spacers 43 and 44A-44L as used for the exemplary embodiment. The spacer 43 is a sheet of paper or a sheet of plastics having holes 45A-45L cut into the spacer 43. The holes 45A-45L are associated with and are dimensioned according to the size of the blisters 3A-3L. The spacers 44A-44L are associated with the blisters 3A-3L and are arranged inside the relevant holes 45 A-45L. The spaces defined by the two foils 41, 42, the holes 45A-45L and the spacers 44A-44L are empty for the exemplary embodiment (The size and shape of the holes can be adapted to the tablet size to ensure the proper functionality). Alternatively, these spaces can be filled with an electrically non-conductive liquid or be put under an over-pressure to ensure that the two foils 41, 42 do not touch each other during normal handling of the electronic blister pack 4. As a result, the conductive track 9 do not touch the conductive tracks 8A-8L during normal handling of the electronic blister pack 1.

For the exemplary embodiment, the two foils 41, 42 each have perforations associated with the blisters 3A-3L. Fig. 1 shows only perforations 10A- 1OL of the second foil 42. When the consumer wants to remove a tablet T from its blister 3A-3L by pushing the relevant blister 3A-3L to force the tablet T to break the retainer sheet 4, then the foils 41, 42 break along the relevant perforation 10A- 1OL. This is illustrated in Fig. 5.

After braking the foils 41, 42 along the relevant perforation 10A- 1OF, the tablet T causes the two foils 41, 42 to touch each other causing the relevant conductive track 8A-8F to touch the conductive track 9. For the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the conductive track 8F touches the conductive track 9, so that a voltage supplied by the battery 5 is present at the input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 associated with the blister 3F.

While the tablet T is removed from the blister 3F, the corresponding parts of the foils 41, 42 touch each other and the first foil 41 is continuously overstretched at a region 46, eventually causing the first foil 41 to rip at the region 46. Then, the conductive track 8F and the conductive track 9 are not connected electrically anymore and the battery 5 is again disconnected from the relevant input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6. In order to have the first foil 41 rip reliably at the region 46, the shape and size of the spacers 44 F are adapted adequately.

Figs. 10a to 1Od show an alternative embodiment of a retainer sheet 4. For this exemplary embodiment, the retainer sheet 4 comprises the first and second foils 41, 42 and the spacer 43. The spacer 43 has also holes 45A-45L. The first foil 41 is made of an elastic material that can also be pre-stretched or can only be pre-stretched in the regions of the blisters 3A-3L. Figs.10a to 1Od show only a part of the alternative embodiment of the blister pack 1 around the blister 3F. Initially, the tablet T is in its relevant blister 3A-3L, as shown in Fig. 10a. When the user wants to remove a tablet T, for instance, the tablet T of blister 3L, then he/she pushes the blister 3F to force the tablet T to break the two foils 41, 42. While pushing the blister 3F, the tablet T causes the first foil 41 to elongate causing the first foil 41 to touch the second foil 42, for instance, as is shown in Fig. 10b. As a result, the conductive track 8F touches the conductive track 9 and the voltage supplied by the battery 5 is present at the input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 associated with the blister 3F.

When the tablet T is pushed further, the second foil 42 breaks, as is shown in Fig. 10c, and finally the first foil 41 breaks, as is shown in Fig. 1Od. Since the first foil 41 is at least partly pre-stretched at the regions about the blisters 3 A-3L and is elastic, the first foil 41 becomes shorter (after break) at the region about the blister 3F, resulting in a reliable disconnection of the two foils 41, 42 and, thus, in a reliable disconnection of the conductive track 8F and the conductive track 9.

The integrated circuit 6, however, needs only a time less than approximately 100ms to detect a voltage at its inputs 1 IA-I IL to detect the point in time when a tablet T is removed, and the two foils 41, 42 are very likely to touch each other for at least this time period while the tablet T is removed. Therefore, the two foils 41, 42 form switches 47A-47L for connecting the conductive tracks 8A-8L with the conductive track 9 while the relevant tablet T is removed from its blister 3A-3L. Before removing a tablet T from the electronic blister pack 1 , the switches 47A-47L are open. The same is true when the tablet T has been removed from the electronic blister pack 1. The switches 47A-47L are designed so that they automatically re-open after the relevant tablet T has been removed from the electronic blister pack 1. This is achieved by ripping the first foil 41 at the region 46. Alternatively or additionally, at least the conductive tracks 8A-8L or the conductive track 9 can be coated at the area around the blisters 3A-3L with a material that is electrically conductive and turns into an electric insulator when exposed to air after a certain time. Suitable coating materials are conductive organic materials, such as Polyacetylene. The electronic blister pack 1 may comprise optional switches, which may be integrated into the integrated circuit 6 as schematically indicated in Fig. 3. The switches 48 are connected in series with the relevant conductive tracks 8A-8L and are initially closed. If a tablet T is removed from the electronic blister pack 1 and the integrated circuit 6 detects the voltage at the corresponding input 1 IA-I IL, then the relevant switch 48 opens automatically after a predetermined time sufficient to detect and record the point in time of the removed tablet T. The time sufficient to conduct this procedure is less than 100ms, the predetermined time is 150ms and the switches 48 are FET-switches for the exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, the switches 48 are configured to open automatically right after the integrated circuit 6 has recorded the relevant point in time (In this case, the switches 47 do not necessarily have to be opened after the removal of the relevant tablet T).

Fig. 7 shows a circuit diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive electronic blister pack 71. If not explicitly mentioned, then components of the electronic blister pack 71 which essentially correspond to components of the electronic blister pack 1 are denoted by the same reference signs.

The essential difference between the electronic blister packs 1, 71 is that the track 9 of the electronic blister pack 71 is not connected to the battery 5 powering the integrated circuit 6. Instead, the electronic blister pack 71 has individual power sources assigned to a respective blister 3A-3L. For the exemplary embodiment, these individual power sources are batteries 72A-72L printed onto the second foil 42. Then, the relevant input 1 IA-I IL of the integrated circuit 6 is powered by the relevant battery 72A-72L when a tablet T is removed from its blister 3A-3L. For this exemplary embodiment, the electronic blister pack 71 does not need to be configured such that the relevant switch 47A-47L re- opens automatically after the relevant tablet T has been removed. Alternatively, the individual power sources can be piezo-elements.

Fig. 8 shows a circuit diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of an inventive electronic blister pack 81. If not explicitly mentioned, then components of the electronic blister pack 81 which essentially correspond to components of the electronic blister pack 1 are denoted by the same reference signs. The electronic blister pack 81 comprises an integrated circuit 86 for detecting and recording the points in time when a tablet T is removed from the electronic blister pack 81. The essential difference between the electronic blister pack 81 and the electronic blister pack 1 is that the integrated circuit 86 of the electronic blister pack 81 has only one input 82 for receiving a voltage to detect when a tablet T is removed from the electronic blister pack 81. Additionally, the electronic blister pack 81 does not comprise conductive tracks 8A-8L, but only one conductive track 88 connected to the input 82 of the integrated circuit 86. The conductive track 88 is also connected to the switches 47A-47L, which are connected in parallel by the conductive tracks 9, 88. After a tablet T has been removed, the relevant switch 47A-47L opens automatically.

The integrated circuit 86 may comprise an optional timer circuit. The timer circuit is configured to power the circuitry of the integrated circuit 86 for storing the information about the removal of a tablet T only if a voltage is detected at the input 82 of the integrated circuit 86. The timer may further be configured to power this circuitry only for the time needed to store this information.

Fig. 9 shows a circuit diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an inventive electronic blister pack 91. If not explicitly mentioned, then components of the electronic blister pack 91 which essentially correspond to components of the electronic blister pack 91 are denoted by the same reference signs. The essential difference between the electronic blister packs 81 and 91 is that the track 9 of the electronic blister pack 91 is not connected to the battery 5 powering the integrated circuit 86. Instead, similarly to the electronic blister pack 71, the electronic blister pack 91 comprises batteries 72A-72L assigned to the blisters 3A-3L and printed onto the second foil 42. Then, the input 82 of the integrated circuit 86 is powered by the relevant battery 72A-72L when a tablet T is removed from its blister 3A-3L. The batteries 72A-72L can have the same or different voltages. If the batteries 72A-72L have different voltage levels, then the integrated circuit 86 can be configured to detect which of the tablets T is removed. The switches 47A-47L open automatically after the tablets T have been removed. The electronic blister packs 1, 71, 81, 91 have each an integrated circuit 6, 86 for detecting and storing the point in times when a tablet T is removed. The integrated circuits 6, 86 are RFID integrated circuits which can be read with an external reader for the exemplary embodiments described. The scope of the invention is not restricted to RFID technology. Other appropriate circuitries can be used which do not need to be circuits which can be read contactlessly. Finally, it should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The words "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, do not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electronic blister pack, comprising: a base (2) with a plurality of blisters (3A-3L) each holding a tablet (T); a retainer sheet (4) covering the plurality of blisters (3A-3L); circuitry (6, 86) having at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82), being configured for detecting a voltage present at or an electric current flowing through said at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82), and being configured to record information about said detection; and an electric power supply (5, 72A-72L); said electronic blister pack (1, 71, 81, 91) being configured so that each time when one of said tablets (T) is removed from its blister (3A-3L), said electric power supply (5, 72A-72L) is connected to said at least one input (1 IA-I IK, 82) for a time period at least sufficient for said detection only due to the action of removing said tablet (T).

2. The electronic blister pack of claim 1, comprising a plurality of switches (47A- 47L), wherein each of said switches (47A-47L) is associated with a respective blister (3A-

3L) of said plurality of blisters (3A-3L) and each of said switches (47A-47L) connects said electronic power supply (5, 72A-72L) to said at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82) when the relevant tablet (T) is removed.

3. The electronic blister pack of claim 2, wherein said electric power supply is a plurality of electric power supplies (72A-72L), each associated with a respective switch (47A-47L) of said plurality of switches (47A-47L), or wherein said electric power supply is a single power supply (5) associated to each of said switches (47A-47L).

4. The electronic blister pack of claim 2, wherein said switches (47A-47L) are connected in parallel.

5. The electronic blister pack of claim 3, wherein each of said electric power supplies (72A-72L) of said plurality of electric power supplies (72A-72L) has a different voltage or current level or capacitance.

6. The electronic blister pack of claim 2, wherein said switches (47A-47L) are designed so that the respective switch (47A-47L) opens automatically after the relevant tablet (T) has been removed from its blister (3A-3L).

7. The electronic blister pack of claim 6, wherein said switches (47A-47L) are mechanical switches (47A-47L) and/or coated with an electric conductive material which becomes non-conductive when exposed to air, humidity, and/or ambient conditions.

8. The electronic blister pack of claim 1, wherein said circuitry (6, 86) comprises a timer used for recording the point in time when said circuitry (6, 86) detects said voltage present at or said current flowing through said at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82).

9. The electronic blister pack of claim 1 , wherein said retainer sheet (4) is configured only to connect said electric power supply (5, 72A-72L) to said at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82) when one of said tablets (T) is removed from its blister (3A-3L).

10. The electronic blister pack of claim 1, wherein said retainer sheet (4) comprises two superposed foils (41, 42) spaced apart by a distance; said foils (41, 42) being caused to touch each other only when one of said tablets (T) is removed from its blister (3A-3L) and said foils (41, 42) being configured to connect said electric power supply (5, 72A-72L) to said at least one input (1 IA-I IL, 82) when said foils (41, 42) touch each other.

11. The electronic blister pack of claim 10, wherein said foils (41, 42) are coated with an electrically conductive material which becomes non-conductive when exposed to air, humidity and/or ambient conditions.

12. The electronic blister pack of claim 10, wherein said foils (41, 42) have perforations (10A-10L), each associated with a respective blister (3A-3L) of said plurality of blisters (3A-3L), so that the foils (41, 42) break along the relevant perforation (10A- 10L) when a tablet (T) is removed from the relevant blister (3A-3L).

13. The electronic blister pack of claim 10, comprising a sheet (43) interposed between said foils (41, 42); said sheet (43) having holes (45A-45L) which form spaces within said retainer sheet (4) directly above said blisters (3A-3L).

14. The electronic blister pack of claim 13, wherein said holes (45A-45L) are filed with an electrically non-conductive liquid and/or wherein said holes (45A-45L) are under overpressure.