Cap and detection system

Abstract

A cap 100 for a container comprises an outer cap 110 and an inner cap 101. A wireless communication unit 300 and a primary battery are disposed in the inner cap 101. The primary battery comprises: a basic cell 210 equipped with a negative electrode 201, a positive electrode 203, and a separator 205; and an electrolyte solution 209 disposed apart from the basic cell. As a result of rotation of the outer cap, the basic cell is pressed against the electrolyte solution, the separator is brought into contact with the electrolyte solution, and power generation begins. The wireless communication unit operates using power generated by the primary battery and transmits notification of opening of the container.

Description

Cap and detection system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cap including a primary battery and a wireless communication unit, and a detection system.

[0002] Traditionally, alkaline batteries, manganese batteries, and air batteries have been widely used as disposable primary batteries. Furthermore, with the recent development of the Internet of Things (IoT), the development of scattered sensors that can be installed in various places in nature, such as soil or forests, has also progressed. Therefore, compact, high-performance lithium-ion batteries that are compatible with a variety of applications, including these sensors, as well as conventional mobile devices, are becoming widespread.

[0003] These conventional disposable batteries self-discharge because the electrodes are in contact with the electrolyte (electrolyte solution). Furthermore, the electrolyte used is a strong alkaline solution such as sodium hydroxide or an organic electrolyte, which poses safety and environmental concerns and makes them difficult to handle. Therefore, research is being conducted into batteries in which the electrolyte is injected into the battery cell during use.

[0004] JP 2014-114066 A JP 2005-321935 A JP 2011-213378 A

[0005] Nihon Giki Denshi Co., Ltd., "NOPOPO Water Battery for Disasters," online, searched July 28, 2016, Internet (URL: http: / / www.aps-j.jp / pdf / NWPx3.pdf)

[0006] A small AA or AAA water battery called NOPOPO (product name) is available for sale as an emergency battery for long-term storage (Non-Patent Document 1). This battery has an injection port for adding water or electrolyte when in use. However, the water or electrolyte must be injected using a special dropper, making injection difficult. Furthermore, there are concerns about issues such as the difficulty in determining the amount to be injected, the possibility of electrolyte leakage, and the inability to use the battery when there is no water or electrolyte to inject.

[0007] Furthermore, information display technology using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags is being used for product management. RFID tags can be customized to fit the shape of a product, and can be made smaller and thinner. They can also store several hundred bytes of data, and wireless communication is possible by bringing a reader / writer close to the tag (Patent Documents 1-3).

[0008] However, passive communication RFID tags do not have a built-in power source and operate by converting signals emitted from a reader / writer into electricity, so they can only function at close range, from a few centimeters to 2 meters from the reader / writer. Furthermore, when using the information from an RFID tag, it is necessary to bring the RFID tag close to the reader / writer, or the reader / writer close to the RFID tag, which is cumbersome.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cap for a container that can transmit information using a power source that can be stored for a long period of time.

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present disclosure is a cap for a container, comprising an outer cap and an inner cap, wherein a wireless communication unit and a primary battery are disposed in the inner cap, wherein the primary battery comprises a basic cell having a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator, and an electrolyte disposed apart from the basic cell, wherein rotation of the outer cap presses the basic cell against the electrolyte, causing the separator to come into contact with the electrolyte and starting power generation, and wherein the wireless communication unit is powered by power generation by the primary battery, and the cap sends a notification that the container has been opened.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure is a detection system comprising the above-mentioned cap and a server, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits an opening notification including a product ID of a product stored in a container of the cap, and the server comprises a detection unit that detects the opening of the container by receiving the opening notification.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a container cap that can transmit information using a power source that can be stored for a long period of time.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the configuration of a cap in an embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an inner cap and a battery lower plate. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing an inner cap and a battery case. FIG. 2C is a perspective view showing an inner cap and a basic cell. FIG. 2D is a perspective view showing an inner cap and a battery upper plate. FIG. 2E is a perspective view showing an inner cap and an outer cap. FIG. 2F is a perspective view of a cap with the outer cap placed on the inner cap. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the configuration of a detection system. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a server. FIG. 5A is a diagram of the configuration of a cap when there is one basic cell. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a battery case in which one basic cell is placed. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change in battery voltage over time when a primary battery is operating. FIG. 7 is an example of a hardware configuration.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Cap with Wireless Communication IC> Fig. 1 is a structural diagram (cross-sectional view) showing an example of the structure of a cap with wireless communication IC (hereinafter referred to as "cap") 100 according to an embodiment. The cap 100 (container lid) is a member for sealing a container body (hereinafter referred to as "container") (not shown), and closes the opening of the container and is placed over the container mouth. Various items such as beverages and food can be stored in the container.

[0016] The cap 100 of this embodiment includes an outer cap 110 and an inner cap 101, and a wireless communication IC 300 and a primary battery are disposed in the inner cap 101. The primary battery includes a base cell 210 including a negative electrode 201, a positive electrode 203, and a separator 205, and an electrolyte 209 disposed apart from the base cell 210. When the outer cap 110 rotates, the base cell 210 is pressed against the electrolyte 209, causing the separator 205 to come into contact with the electrolyte 209 and starting power generation. The wireless communication IC 300 operates using power generated by the primary battery and transmits a notification that the container has been opened.

[0017] The cap 100 shown in the figure includes an outer cap 110, an inner cap 101, a battery lower plate 102 (second plate), a battery case 103 (third plate), and a battery upper plate 104 (first plate). The inner periphery of the inner cap 101 is provided with a threaded portion (not shown) that engages with the threads on the outer periphery of the mouth of the container. The inner cap 101 also includes a wireless communication IC (wireless communication unit) 300 and a primary battery. The wireless communication IC 300 is housed in the inner cap 101, but is not limited to this. The primary battery includes at least one base cell 210 and an electrolyte 209. The wireless communication IC 300 and the primary battery will be described later.

[0018] 2A is a perspective view showing the inner cap 101 and the battery lower plate 102 disposed thereon. The inner cap 101 has a function of sealing the inside of the container and houses the wireless communication IC 300. The inner cap 101 includes a housing portion 1011 and a plurality of guides 1012. The housing portion 1011 houses the wireless communication IC 300. The wireless communication IC 300 is connected to the primary battery by electrical wiring. The guides 1012 are supports for preventing rotation of the battery lower plate 102, battery case 103, and battery upper plate 104 disposed on the inner cap 101.

[0019] The battery lower plate 102 (second plate) is disposed between the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 and holds the electrolyte 209. Specifically, the battery lower plate 102 (second plate) is disposed on the inner cap 101 and includes a plurality of shafts 1021, a plurality of electrolyte holding portions 1022, and electrode holes 1023. The shafts 1021 are supports for providing a space between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103. The electrolyte holding portions 1022 hold the electrolyte 209. In this embodiment, the battery lower plate 102 includes the shafts 1021, which allows a space to be provided between the electrolyte 209 held in the battery lower plate 102 and the base cells 210 of the primary battery placed in the battery case 103. The electrode holes 1023 are holes through which electrical wiring passes to connect the wireless communication IC 300 housed in the inner cap 101 to the primary battery (base cells 210).

[0020] 2B is a perspective view showing the inner cap 101 on which the battery lower plate 102 is disposed, and the battery case 103 disposed thereon. The battery case 103 (third plate) is disposed above the battery lower plate 102 with a space provided therebetween, and holds the basic cells 210. The illustrated battery case 103 has multiple inlets 1031, multiple shaft holes 1032, and electrode holes 1033.

[0021] The inlet 1031 is an opening for passing the separator 205 of the basic cell 210 through to the back side (bottom side) of the battery case 103. A portion of the separator 205 of the basic cell 210 is disposed through the inlet 1031 on the side of the battery case 103 facing the battery bottom plate 102. Four L-shaped basic cells 210 are disposed in the illustrated battery case 103. The separator 205 of the basic cell 210 is disposed on the back side of the battery case 103 through two inlets 1031 at both ends, so that the battery case 103 here has eight inlets 1031. Note that the portion of the separator 205 disposed on the back side of the battery case 103 through the inlet 1031 is attached to the back side of the battery case 103 with, for example, an adhesive so as not to come into contact with the electrolyte 209.

[0022] The shaft holes 1032 are holes corresponding to the shafts 1021 of the battery lower plate 102. In the initial state where no pressure is applied from above, the shafts 1021 do not fit into the corresponding shaft holes 1032, and the battery case 103 rests on top of the shafts 1021. Therefore, there is a space between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103. When pressure is applied from above by rotating the outer cap 110, the shafts 1021 fit (engage) into the corresponding shaft holes 1032. This eliminates the space between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103. This presses the battery case 103 against the battery lower plate 102, causing part of the separator 205 to come into contact with the electrolyte 209, and power generation begins.

[0023] Such a mechanism can be realized by making the size (for example, diameter) of the shaft hole 1032 the same as or slightly larger than the size of the shaft 1021. It can also be realized by slightly shifting the vertical positions of the shaft hole 1032 corresponding to the shaft 1021.

[0024] 2C is a perspective view showing the inner cap 101 in which the battery case 103 is placed, and the basic cells 210 placed thereon. Here, four L-shaped basic cells 210 are placed in the battery case 103. The basic cells 210 will be described later.

[0025] 2D is a perspective view showing the inner cap 101 in which the basic cell 210 is placed on the battery case 103, and the battery upper plate 104 placed thereon. The battery upper plate 104 (first plate) is placed between the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110, and is provided with multiple cams 1041 with inclined surfaces in the portion that contacts the outer cap 110. The battery upper plate 104 shown in the figure is provided with four cams 1041. The battery upper plate 104 also has multiple openings 1042 for ventilation.

[0026] The battery upper plate 104 is provided with a cam 1041, so that downward pressure is generated when the user rotates the outer cap 110. This causes the shaft 1021 of the battery lower plate 102 to fit into the shaft hole 1032 of the battery case 103, filling the space between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103, causing the electrolyte 209 held by the battery lower plate 102 to come into contact with the separator 205 attached to the back surface of the battery case 103, and starting power generation.

[0027] 2E is a perspective view showing the inner cap 101 on which the battery upper plate 104 is placed, and the outer cap 110 placed on top of it. The outer cap 110 is configured to cover the outer periphery of the inner cap 101 and has a mechanism that presses the battery upper plate 104 placed inside the inner cap 101 by rotation. Specifically, the outer cap 110 has multiple abutment portions 111 on its inside. As the outer cap 110 rotates, the abutment portions 111 slide while abutting against the cams 1041 of the battery upper plate 104.

[0028] 2F is a perspective view of the cap 100 in which the outer cap 110 is placed on the inner cap 101 of FIG. 2E. In the illustrated cap 100, the abutment portion 111 of the outer cap 110 abuts against a portion of the battery upper plate 104 other than the cam 1041 (here, the guide 1012 of the inner cap 101). That is, the abutment portion 111 does not contact the inclined surface of the cam 1041. In this state, no pressure is generated to press down the battery upper plate 104 and the battery case 103. Therefore, a space corresponding to the height of the shaft 1021 exists between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103. The separator 205 on the back surface of the battery case 103 is not in contact with the electrolyte 209, and power generation does not start.

[0029] When the user rotates the outer cap 110 in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle, the abutment portion 111 slides along the inclined surface of the cam 1041 and abuts against the highest point on the inclined surface. In the illustrated example, the user rotates the outer cap 90 degrees counterclockwise, causing the abutment portion 111 to abut against the highest point on the inclined surface. This generates pressure that presses down the battery upper plate 104 and the battery case 103, causing the shaft 1021 of the battery lower plate 102 to fit into the shaft hole 1032 of the battery case 103, eliminating the space between the battery lower plate 102 and the battery case 103. Therefore, the separator 205 on the back surface of the battery case 103 connects with the electrolyte 209, and power generation begins.

[0030] (Primary Battery) The primary battery contained in the cap 100 includes at least one base cell 210 and an electrolyte 209 .

[0031] The basic cell 210 includes an anode 201, an anode current collector 202 containing a conductive material, a cathode 203, a cathode current collector 204 containing a conductive material, and a separator 205 sandwiched between the anode 201 and the cathode 203. The cathode 203 is exposed to the atmosphere through an opening 1042 in the battery upper plate 104, except for the surface in contact with the separator 205. In other words, the cathode 203 is structured to take in air within the cap 100. The cathode 203 is a gas diffusion type positive electrode. The anode 201 contains a metal such as magnesium.

[0032] In this primary battery, rotating the outer cap 110 brings the electrolyte 209 into contact with the separator 205, thereby starting power generation. Specifically, a user rotates the outer cap 110 by a predetermined angle (here, 90°), causing the separator 205 attached to the back surface of the battery case 103 to come into contact with the electrolyte 209 held in the battery lower plate 102. The separator 205 absorbs the electrolyte 209, which is then taken into the basic cell 210 through the separator 205 by capillary action, and the electrolyte 209 comes into contact with the positive electrode 203 and the negative electrode 201, starting power generation.

[0033] In such a primary battery, the separator 205 may be any insulating material that has water absorption. For example, coffee filters, kitchen paper, paper, etc. can be used for the separator 205. Using a sheet of a material that is naturally decomposable while maintaining its strength, such as a cellulose-based separator made from plant fibers, for the separator 205 has a low environmental impact.

[0034] In order to allow the electrolyte solution 209 to retain water, agar, cellulose, a water-absorbing polymer, or the like may be added to the electrolyte solution 209. For example, when preparing the electrolyte solution 209, powdered agar may be heated, cooled, and mixed to form an electrolytic gel of the electrolyte solution 209, thereby enhancing the liquid (water) retention properties.

[0035] The material and shape of the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 are not particularly limited as long as they are capable of maintaining and operating the primary battery and wireless communication IC 300 inside. Furthermore, if the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 are made of a biodegradable material, they may be naturally occurring, microbially derived, or chemically synthesized. Examples of materials that can be used include polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyglycolic acid, modified polyvinyl alcohol, casein, and modified starch. Chemically synthesized materials such as plant-derived polylactic acid are particularly preferred. Examples of materials that can be used for the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 include commercially available biodegradable plastics and their films, as well as paper coated with a resin such as polyethylene used in milk cartons, and agar film.

[0036] Furthermore, the shapes of the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 are not limited as long as they are shapes that can be obtained by processing biodegradable plastics.

[0037] The battery lower plate 102, the battery case 103, and the battery upper plate 104 can be made of the same materials as the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110, and their shapes are not limited. In other words, the material selection policy for the components that make up the cap 100 is to use materials that have a low environmental impact.

[0038] The method for fixing the primary battery and the wireless communication IC 300 placed in the inner cap 101 includes, but is not limited to, heat sealing or adhesive. If it is difficult to adhere the inner cap 101 by heat sealing, it is preferable to use adhesive. The outer cap 110 may be provided with an opening (not shown) for supplying air to the primary battery, allowing air to be taken in.

[0039] The shapes of the negative electrode 201, negative electrode current collector 202, positive electrode 203, positive electrode current collector 204, and separator 205 are not limited as long as their arrangement for operating as a battery is not impaired. In this embodiment, a primary battery is formed by connecting four L-shaped basic cells 210, but the primary battery may also be used in the form of a rectangular or circular sheet in plan view, or in a rolled shape.

[0040] The positive electrode 203 of the basic cell 210 can be made of a conductive material used in the positive electrodes of general metal-air batteries. Examples include, but are not limited to, carbon materials. The positive electrode 203 can be made by a known process, such as molding carbon powder with a binder. However, in primary batteries, it is important to generate a large number of reaction sites inside the positive electrode, and it is desirable for the positive electrode to have a high specific surface area. In the case of a positive electrode made by molding carbon powder with a binder and forming it into pellets, when the specific surface area is increased, the binding strength between the carbon powder particles decreases, causing structural deterioration, making stable discharge difficult and resulting in a decrease in discharge capacity.

[0041] In contrast, for example, when a co-continuum having a three-dimensional network structure is used for the positive electrode, it is not necessary to use a binder, and the discharge capacity can be increased. Therefore, it is preferable to use a co-continuum having a three-dimensional network structure for the positive electrode 203.

[0042] The positive electrode 203 may also support a catalyst. The catalyst is not particularly limited, but preferably contains a metal oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Al, and Fe. That is, the metal oxide is preferably a metal oxide of one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Al, and Fe, or a composite oxide of two or more metals selected from this group.

[0043] Next, the negative electrode 201 will be described. The negative electrode 201 includes a negative electrode active material. This negative electrode active material is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can be used as a negative electrode material for a primary battery. For example, the negative electrode 201 includes at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and aluminum. Specifically, the negative electrode 201 may be made of one or more metals selected from this group, or may be an alloy containing one or more metals selected from this group as a main component. The negative electrode 201 can be formed by a known method. For example, a commercially available metal or alloy plate or foil can be formed into a predetermined shape and used.

[0044] Next, the electrolyte contained in the electrolyte solution 209 will be described. The electrolyte is not particularly limited as long as it is a substance that allows the transfer of metal ions and hydroxide ions between the positive electrode 203 and the negative electrode 201. For example, magnesium acetate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc. are preferably used as the electrolyte. However, when environmental impact is taken into consideration, it is preferable to use a neutral electrolyte. The electrolyte solution 209 refers to a solution containing the above-mentioned electrolytes. Furthermore, agar, cellulose, water-absorbing polymers, etc. may be added to the electrolyte solution 209 to retain water. For example, when preparing the electrolyte solution 209, powdered agar may be heated, cooled, and mixed to form an electrolytic gel, thereby improving the liquid (water) retention of the electrolyte solution 209.

[0045] Next, the positive electrode current collector 204 will be described. A known positive electrode current collector 204 can be used. For example, a carbon sheet, a carbon cloth, an Al plate, an Mg plate, or the like may be used. The basic cell 210 does not necessarily have to include the positive electrode current collector 204.

[0046] A known material can also be used for the negative electrode current collector 202. When a metal is used for the negative electrode 201, the basic cell 210 does not need to include the negative electrode current collector 202. In this case, a terminal may be directly taken out from the negative electrode 201 to the outside (here, the wireless communication IC 300).

[0047] Here, the electrode reactions at the positive electrode 203 and the negative electrode 201 will be described using the example of a primary battery using magnesium metal for the negative electrode. The positive electrode reaction proceeds as follows when oxygen in the air and the electrolyte come into contact with the surface of the conductive positive electrode 203.

[0048] 1 / 2O2+H2O+2e - →2OH - ...(1) Meanwhile, in the negative electrode reaction, the following reaction proceeds in the negative electrode 201 that is in contact with the electrolyte 209 supplied by the separator 205, and the magnesium constituting the negative electrode 201 releases electrons and dissolves in the electrolyte 209 as magnesium ions.

[0049] Mg → Mg 2+ +2e - ...(2) These reactions enable discharge. The overall reaction is as follows, which is the reaction that produces (precipitates) magnesium hydroxide. The theoretical electromotive force is approximately 2.7 V.

[0050] Mg+½O 2 +H 2 O→Mg(OH) 2 (3) In this way, in the primary battery, the reaction shown in formula (2) proceeds on the surface of the negative electrode 201 .

[0051] If the primary battery described above is made from biodegradable materials and used in a disposable device such as a soil moisture sensor, it will biodegrade over time, eliminating the need to collect the battery. Furthermore, because it is made from naturally occurring materials and fertilizer components, it can be used in the natural world, such as in forests and the ocean, with minimal environmental impact.

[0052] (Wireless Communication IC) Next, the wireless communication IC 300 will be described. The wireless communication IC 300 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) capable of wireless communication and storing arbitrary information, and operates using power generated by a primary battery. The wireless communication IC 300 shown in FIG. 1 includes a communication circuit 310, an arithmetic circuit 311, an antenna (communication antenna) 312, and a power supply circuit 313.

[0053] A plurality of basic cells 210 (primary batteries) connected in series are connected to the power supply circuit 313. If the voltage of the primary batteries is sufficient to operate the arithmetic circuit 311 and there is no need to boost the voltage, the power supply circuit 313 may be omitted.

[0054] The arithmetic circuit 311 executes predetermined processing. The arithmetic circuit 311 of this embodiment controls the communication circuit 310 and the antenna 312 to transmit predetermined information. The arithmetic circuit 311 may transmit an opening notification of the container of the cap 100 as the predetermined information. The arithmetic circuit 311 may also transmit an opening notification including a product ID (identification information) of the product (product) stored in the container of the cap 100. It is assumed that the product ID is stored in the arithmetic circuit 311.

[0055] The communication circuit 310 transmits predetermined information using the antenna 312 under the control of the arithmetic circuit 311. The communication circuit 310 transmits predetermined information such as an open receipt using at least one of mobile communication, communication via a low-power radio station, and communication using sound waves. The low-power radio station includes at least one of radio stations of low-power data communication systems (wireless LAN, Bluetooth, etc.) and specified low-power radio stations conforming to ARIB standards (STD-T67, STD-T93, STD-T108, etc.). In the case of communication using sound waves, the antenna 312 can be replaced with a speaker.

[0056] As described above, the negative electrode current collector 202 and the positive electrode current collector 204 are insulated from each other when the separator 205 of the primary battery is not in contact with the electrolyte 209. The negative electrode current collector 202 and the positive electrode current collector 204 are also connected to the power supply circuit 313.

[0057] As described above, the cap 100 of this embodiment includes the inner cap 101 and the outer cap 110 shaped to cover the outer periphery of the inner cap 101. The outer cap 110 has a mechanism for pressing the battery upper plate 104 arranged on the inner cap 101 by rotating the outer cap 110. As the outer cap 110 rotates in this manner, the separator 205 arranged on the inner cap 101 comes into contact with the electrolyte 209, and the separator 205 absorbs the electrolyte 209, which is then taken into the basic cell 210 through the separator 205 by capillary action. The electrolyte 209 then comes into contact with the positive electrode 203 and the negative electrode 201, thereby starting power generation.

[0058] The wireless communication IC 300 operates using the generated energy and transmits predetermined information such as an opening notification, thereby allowing the server 1, which will be described later, to detect that the container of the cap 100 has been opened.

[0059] It is also desirable that the wireless communication IC 300 be made of materials that have an extremely low environmental impact even when used in nature, or that the amount of materials used that are of concern for their environmental impact be minimized. Materials that are of concern for their environmental impact include heavy metals and chemical substances that may affect humans, animals, and plants via the environment.

[0060] <Detection System> Next, the detection system of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the server 1 collects information transmitted from the cap 100 and performs processes such as health management of the user and product ordering.

[0061] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a detection system according to an embodiment. The detection system shown in the figure includes the cap 100 described above, a gateway 4, a server 1, a database (DB) 2, and an EC (Electronic Commerce) system 3. In the example shown in the figure, the cap 100 is a lid that seals a bottle (a beverage container) containing a drink.

[0062] When a user wants to drink a beverage from the bottle, he or she rotates the cap 100 (outer cap 110) to open the bottle. As the cap 100 rotates, the primary battery inside the cap 100 generates electricity, which drives the wireless communication IC 300. Information transmitted by the wireless communication IC 300 is sent to the server 1 via the gateway 4. Here, the wireless communication IC 300 transmits an opening notification including the product ID of the product stored in the container of the cap 100.

[0063] When the gateway 4 receives an opening notification including the product ID from the cap 100, it adds its own device ID to the opening notification and sends it to the server 1. Each user owns their own gateway 4. Therefore, the device ID of the gateway 4 serves as a user ID.

[0064] As described above, the communication circuit 310 of the cap 100 communicates with the gateway 4 using mobile communication, communication via a low-power radio station, sound waves, etc. Accordingly, the communication method of the gateway 4 through which communication is passed also differs.

[0065] It should be noted that an information terminal such as a smartphone owned by the user can also be used as the gateway 4. When a smartphone is used as the gateway 4, the smartphone can also be used as a user terminal used for notifications or inquiries from the server 1.

[0066] The server 1 may collect information from the cap 100 and perform processes such as inventory management of the cap 100, health management of the user, and information transmission. The illustrated server 1 includes a detection unit 11 and a processing unit 12.

[0067] The detection unit 11 detects that the container of the cap 100 has been opened by receiving information (opening notification) transmitted from the cap 100. The detection unit 11 may receive the opening notification, via the gateway 4, to which the device ID has been added by the gateway 4.

[0068] When the detection unit 11 receives an opening notification, the processing unit 12 may order the product with the product ID included in the opening notification depending on the service type of the user corresponding to the device ID included in the opening notification, or may issue an alert if the intake of the product exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0069] Specifically, the processing unit 12 may update the database 2 based on the opening notification. Furthermore, the processing unit 12 may issue alerts regarding health information or the like, and may cooperate with an external EC system 3 to process an order for the cap 100, in accordance with the service information (predetermined policy) subscribed to by each user.

[0070] Various types of information are registered in the database 2. In this embodiment, a user table, an inventory management table, a health management table, and a product information table are stored. The user table stores user information about each user who uses the services of the detection system. The user information includes, for each user, a product ID, a device ID of the gateway 4, a service type, etc.

[0071] The inventory management table stores the inventory quantity of products with product IDs for each user. The health management table stores the intake of specific managed items (nutritional components) such as sugar content and calories for each user. The product information table stores the various nutritional components contained in each product for each product ID.

[0072] The EC system 3 is a system in which multiple companies and individual stores operate online. Note that the numbers of caps 100, gateways 4, servers 1, and databases 2 in the detection system are not limited to those shown in Fig. 2, and can be changed depending on the scale of operation.

[0073] <Operation of Server> Next, the processing of the server 1 when it receives an opening notification from the cap 100 will be described.

[0074] 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the server 1. The detection unit 11 of the server 1 receives the opening notification transmitted from the cap 100 (S11). The opening notification includes the product ID of the container of the cap 100 set by the wireless communication IC 300 and the device ID added by the gateway 4.

[0075] The detection unit 11 refers to the user table and determines the legitimacy of the received open notification (S12). Specifically, if the combination of the product ID and device ID included in the open notification in the database 2 is registered in the user table, the detection unit 11 determines that the open notification was sent from a legitimate user, and if the combination is not registered in the user table, the detection unit 11 determines that the open notification was not sent from a legitimate user.

[0076] If it is determined that the receipt is not from a legitimate user (S12: NO), the detection unit 11 discards the received receipt (S26), thereby making it possible to eliminate receipts sent in error.

[0077] If it is determined that the opening notification is from a valid user (S12: YES), the processing unit 12 refers to the user table and acquires the service type (operation policy) of the user corresponding to the device ID (S13).

[0078] For example, if the service type is an ordering service, the processing unit 12 may manage the inventory of the product with the product ID included in the opening notification, and when the inventory becomes low, may send an ordering instruction to the EC system 3. Specifically, when the processing unit 12 receives the opening notification, it assumes that the user has consumed the product in the cap 100, and updates the inventory quantity of the product in the inventory management table for that user by subtracting one (S14).

[0079] The processing unit 12 determines whether the updated inventory quantity is smaller than the threshold value N (S15). If the inventory quantity is smaller than the threshold value N (S15: YES), the user is eligible for automatic ordering (S16: YES), and user confirmation is not required when placing an order (S17: NO), the processing unit 12 sends an order instruction to the EC system 3 to order a predetermined number of products with the product ID specified in the open notification (S18). The processing unit 12 then adds the ordered quantity to the inventory quantity in the inventory management table and updates the inventory management table (S19). Note that the threshold value N in S15 to S19, whether the user is eligible for automatic ordering, and whether user confirmation is required are set in the user table.

[0080] If user confirmation is required when placing an order (S17: YES), the processing unit 12 sends a message to the user terminal asking whether or not to place an order (S20), and if an order instruction is received from the user terminal (S21: YES), the processing unit 12 places an order with the EC system 3 (S18) and updates the stock quantity in the stock management table (S19). If the stock quantity is equal to or greater than the threshold N (S15: NO), or if the user does not place an automatic order (S16: NO), the processing unit 12 ends the process.

[0081] In addition, if the service type is a health management service, the processing unit 12 may register the intake amount, nutritional components, etc. of the product (food) identified by the product ID included in the opening notification in the health management table of the database 2, and may send an alert to the user terminal if the intake amount of sugar, calories, etc. exceeds a preset threshold.

[0082] Specifically, when the processing unit 12 receives the opening notification, it assumes that the user has consumed the product in the cap 100, and updates the intake amount in the health management table for that user (S22). The health management table contains settings for the intake amounts of predetermined managed items (nutritional components), such as sugar content and calories. The processing unit 12 obtains each managed nutrient component for that product ID from the product information table in the database 2, and adds the obtained values ​​to the numerical values ​​of the managed items, such as sugar content and calories, in the nutrition management table.

[0083] The processing unit 12 determines for each item whether the updated intake amount exceeds threshold M (S23). Threshold M is set for each item. If the intake amount for at least one item exceeds threshold M (S23: YES), and the user requests an alert (S24: YES), the processing unit 12 sends an alert (warning message) to the user terminal (S25). The threshold M for S23 to S24 and whether the user requests an alert are set in the user table.

[0084] For any item, if the intake amount is equal to or less than the threshold value M (S23: NO), or if the user does not request an alert (S24: NO), the processing unit 12 ends the process.

[0085] The flowchart shown in the figure is an example and can be modified using various numerical values ​​and logic.

[0086] <Modifications> Although the primary battery of this embodiment has a plurality of unit cells 210 connected in series to increase the operating voltage, it is also possible to use a single unit cell 210A, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B. Figure 5A is a structural diagram (cross-sectional view) of the cap 100 in the case of one unit cell 210A. Figure 5B is a top view of the battery case 103 in which one unit cell 210A is placed, as seen from directly above.

[0087] Example Next, an example of a primary battery built into the cap 100 shown in Fig. 1 will be described. In the example, a primary battery using carbon nanofibers for the positive electrode 203 was fabricated.

[0088] (Fabrication of Primary Battery) First, a method for fabricating the positive electrode 203 will be described. A commercially available carbon nanofiber sol [dispersion medium: water (HO), 0.4 wt %, manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich] was placed in a test tube, and the test tube was immersed in liquid nitrogen for 30 minutes to completely freeze the carbon nanofiber sol. After completely freezing the carbon nanofiber sol, the frozen carbon nanofiber sol was transferred to an eggplant flask and dried in a freeze dryer (manufactured by Tokyo Rikakikai Co., Ltd.) under a vacuum of 10 Pa or less, yielding a stretchable bicontinuum having a three-dimensional network structure containing carbon nanosheets.

[0089] Next, a method for fabricating the primary battery ( FIG. 1 ) in this example will be described. The negative electrode 201 and negative electrode current collector 202 were fabricated by cutting a commercially available pure magnesium plate into an L-shape using a fiber laser marker LW-EF 50W (manufactured by Laser Works) or similar. The negative electrode current collector 202 was provided with a tab (terminal) for connection to the positive electrode current collector 204 of another basic cell 210 connected in series.

[0090] The electrolyte 209 was a solution prepared by dissolving magnesium acetate tetrahydrate (manufactured by Kanto Chemical) in pure water at a concentration of 1 mol / L and adding and mixing 1 wt % of agar powder.

[0091] The separator 205 was a cellulose-based separator for batteries (manufactured by Nippon Koshi Kogyo Co., Ltd.) cut into a shape with a tab long enough to allow part of the L-shape to be immersed in the electrolyte 209 in the electrolyte holding portion 1022 when the outer cap 110 was rotated.

[0092] Carbon cloth was used for the positive electrode current collector 204, and was cut into an L-shape with a tab for connecting to the negative electrode current collector 202 of another basic cell 210 connected in series. The positive electrode 203 was cut into the same shape as the negative electrode 201 using a fiber laser marker.

[0093] The electrolyte 209 is poured into the electrolyte holding portion 1022 of the battery lower plate 102, and the battery case 103 is placed on top of it. The negative electrode current collector 202 is placed on the battery case 103, the negative electrode 201 is placed on the negative electrode current collector 202, and the separator 205 is placed on the negative electrode 201. At this time, the tab portion of the separator 205 is exposed to the battery lower plate 102 side through the inlet 1031 of the battery case 103 (see FIG. 1 ). Then, the positive electrode 203 and the positive electrode current collector 204 are placed in this order on the separator 205. In this manner, a basic cell 210 is produced. Here, four basic cells 210 are placed in the battery case 103. The battery upper plate 104 is then placed on top of the basic cells 210.

[0094] The total weight of the primary battery thus obtained (four elementary cells and electrolyte) was about 1 g.

[0095] (Creation of Wireless Communication IC) A BLE circuit CYALKIT-E02 Solar-Powered BLE Sensor Beacon Reference Design Kit (manufactured by Cypress), which was improved so that it could transmit radio waves when driven by a primary battery, was used as the wireless communication IC 300. The exterior and solar panel of this BLE circuit were removed and the circuit was stored in the inner cap 101 of the cap 100, and the positive electrode current collector 204 and negative electrode current collector 202 in an unpowered state were connected to the BLE circuit.

[0096] 5A and 5B, if the primary battery is configured with one basic cell 210A, it is expected that the wireless communication IC 300 will not operate due to insufficient battery voltage. For this reason, it is necessary to boost the voltage using a power supply circuit 313 (DC-DC converter).

[0097] (Creating the Cap Housing) The outer cap 110, inner cap 101, battery upper plate 104, battery case 103, and battery lower plate 102 used as the housing were designed to accommodate the primary battery and wireless communication IC 300 and to seal the PET bottle container. Specifically, these cap plates 110, 101-104 were created by melting and laminating PLA filament (manufactured by Raise3D) using the FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) method with a Raise3D Pro2 (manufactured by Raise3D). These materials are made of polylactic acid, a material with low environmental impact.

[0098] (Evaluation of Primary Battery and Wireless Communication IC) By rotating the outer cap 110, the battery upper plate 104 and the battery case 103 in the inner cap 101 sink, and the tab portion of the separator 205 and the electrolyte 209 come into contact with each other.

[0099] 6 shows the change in voltage between the positive electrode 203 and the negative electrode 201 when the outer cap 110 is rotated to allow the separator 205 to absorb the electrolyte 209. It is desirable to prepare a sufficient amount of electrolyte 209 in the electrolyte solution holding portion 1022 so that the separator 205 can absorb the electrolyte 209 by capillary action. When the electrolyte 209 is absorbed from the separator 205, the voltage rises, and a stable voltage is obtained in about 70 seconds from the start of absorption.

[0100] With a stable voltage, the radio waves emitted by the wireless communication IC 300 were received by a BLE-USB Bridge and Debug Board (manufactured by Cypress) that can receive the radio waves used by the LT-100, and it was confirmed using the CypressBLE-Beacon for PC software that the specified product ID was set in the radio waves. Furthermore, by further rotating the outer cap 110 in the same direction, the PET bottle could be opened and the drinking water inside could be drunk.

[0101] After the operation was completed, the cap 100 was placed in soil, and the decomposition of the housing of the cap 100, except for the commercially available wireless communication IC 300, was visually confirmed in about two months. This indicates that the cap 100 was metabolized and decomposed by microorganisms in the soil.

[0102] The cap 100 of the container of this embodiment described above comprises an outer cap 110 and an inner cap 101, and a wireless communication IC 300 and a primary battery are arranged in the inner cap 101, and the primary battery comprises a basic cell 210 having a negative electrode 201, a positive electrode 203, and a separator 205, and an electrolyte 209 arranged apart from the basic cell 210, and when the outer cap 110 rotates, the basic cell 210 is pressed against the electrolyte 209, and the separator 205 comes into contact with the electrolyte 209, thereby starting power generation, and the wireless communication IC 300 operates using power generated by the primary battery and sends a notification that the container has been opened.

[0103] In this way, in the primary battery of this embodiment, by rotating the outer cap 110, the separator 205 of the basic cell 210 comes into contact with the electrolyte 209, and as a result, the electrolyte 209 is supplied into the basic cell 210, thereby starting power generation, and the wireless communication IC 300 is driven using this primary battery.

[0104] As a result, the wireless communication IC 300 does not operate under normal circumstances, but operates and sends an opening notification only when the user rotates the outer cap 110 to open the container, so there is no self-discharge during storage and long-term operation is possible even if the product's expiration date has passed.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user simply rotates the outer cap 110, following the same procedure as for opening a conventional container, to start power generation in the primary battery, and by continuing to rotate it, the entire cap 100 can be removed from the container and opened. A stopper is provided at a predetermined position on the outer wall of the inner cap 101, and once the outer cap 110 is rotated by this stopper to a predetermined angle (e.g., 90 degrees), the inner cap 101 will rotate accordingly when the outer cap 110 is subsequently rotated in the same direction. The inner periphery of the inner cap 101 is provided with a threaded portion (not shown) that engages with the threads on the outer periphery of the mouth of the container, so the user can remove the cap 100 from the container by performing a normal opening procedure.

[0106] Furthermore, the wireless communication IC 300 is not a passive communication type like conventional RFID tags, and is therefore capable of transmitting information over medium to long distances.

[0107] Furthermore, the server 1 can manage the user's product intake status by receiving the opening notification from the cap 100, and can also automatically order products by coordinating with the EC system 3. This can improve user convenience.

[0108] <Hardware Configuration> The server 1 described above can be, for example, a general-purpose computer system as shown in Fig. 7. The computer system shown in the figure includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit, processor) 901, a memory 902, a storage 903 (HDD: Hard Disk Drive, SSD: Solid State Drive), a communication device 904, an input device 905, and an output device 906. The memory 902 and the storage 903 are storage devices. In this computer system, the CPU 901 executes a predetermined program loaded on the memory 902, thereby realizing each function of the server 1.

[0109] The server 1 may be implemented as one computer or as multiple computers. The program of the server 1 may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a HDD, SSD, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, CD (Compact Disc), or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or may be distributed via a network. The computer-readable recording medium may be, for example, a non-transitory recording medium.

[0110] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. That is, it is clear that many modifications and combinations can be implemented by a person skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present disclosure.

[0111] 100: Cap with wireless communication IC 101: Inner cap 1011: Storage section 1012: Guide 102: Battery lower plate (second plate) 1021: Shaft 1022: Electrolyte holding section 103: Battery case (third plate) 1031: Inlet 1032: Shaft hole 104: Battery upper plate (first plate) 1041: Cam 1042: Opening 110: Outer cap 111: Contact section 201: Negative electrode 202: Negative electrode current collector 203: Positive electrode 204: Positive electrode current collector 205: Separator 209: Electrolyte 300: Wireless communication IC (wireless communication section) 310: Communication circuit 311: Arithmetic circuit 312: Antenna 313: Power supply circuit

Claims

1. A cap for a container comprising an outer cap and an inner cap, wherein a wireless communication unit and a primary battery are disposed in the inner cap, wherein the primary battery comprises: a base cell having a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator; and an electrolyte disposed away from the base cell, wherein rotation of the outer cap presses the base cell against the electrolyte, causing the separator to come into contact with the electrolyte and starting power generation, and wherein the wireless communication unit is operated by power generation by the primary battery and sends a notification that the container has been opened.

2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the primary battery comprises a plurality of the basic cells, the plurality of the basic cells being connected in series.

3. The cap according to claim 1, further comprising a first plate disposed between the inner cap and the outer cap, the first plate having a plurality of cams with inclined surfaces at a portion where the first plate comes into contact with the outer cap, and the outer cap having a plurality of abutment portions which slide while abutting against the cams as the outer cap rotates.

4. The cap described in claim 1, comprising: a second plate disposed between the inner cap and the outer cap and holding the electrolyte; and a third plate disposed above the second plate with a space therebetween and holding the basic cell, wherein a portion of the separator is disposed on the side of the third plate facing the second plate, and rotation of the outer cap presses the third plate against the second plate, causing a portion of the separator to come into contact with the electrolyte and starting power generation.

5. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits the opening notification using at least one of mobile communication, communication with a low-power wireless station, and communication using sound waves.

6. A detection system comprising the cap described in claim 1 and a server, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits the opening notification including a product ID of a product stored in a container of the cap, and the server comprises a detection unit that detects the opening of the container by receiving the opening notification.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, further comprising a processing unit that receives the opening notification, to which a device ID has been added by the gateway, via the gateway, and orders the product of the product ID according to the type of service of the user corresponding to the device ID, or notifies an alert when consumption of the product exceeds a predetermined threshold.

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