Expiration Alarm Container with Sensor-Triggered Timing Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery-powered shelf-life indicators are ineffective for alerting users of expired products stored in concealed or infrequently visited locations, as they often run out of battery before the expiration date is reached, leading to false assumptions about product safety.

Innovation Solution

A container assembly with a sensor that triggers an alarm only when the container is opened after the expiration date has passed, preserving battery life by avoiding unnecessary alarms and ensuring alerts are given when the product is accessed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the alarm is triggered continuously or frequently to ensure users are alerted, then the reliability of expiration warning is improved, but the battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpiration warning reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm system uses periodic action by triggering the alarm only at specific moments when the container is opened, rather than continuously. The timing circuit monitors container access events and activates the alarm periodically only when both the expiration date has passed and the container is opened, thereby preserving battery life while maintaining warning reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Duration of action of moving object

If the alarm is triggered only when container is opened after expiration, then the battery life is preserved, but the alert timing may be delayed until access occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidalert delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and tracking the expiration date in advance. The timing circuit is always active in monitoring mode, ready to trigger the alarm immediately when the container is opened after expiration, thus minimizing delay while consuming minimal energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional shelf-life indicators are placed in concealed or infrequently visited places, then product storage flexibility is improved, but the effectiveness of expiration alerts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage location flexibilityVSAvoidexpiration alert effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-service by automatically detecting when the container is opened through the sensor and autonomously triggering the alarm without requiring user intervention or presence. This enables effective expiration alerts even in concealed or infrequently visited storage locations, as the system activates the warning only when the container is actually accessed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10589910B2Container with expiration date alarm

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A container assembly with an expiration date alarm that preserves its battery life by only triggering its alarm when needed. The container assembly includes a container for enclosing a food item, medication, or other product that should not be used after an expiration date; a sensor for sensing when the container has been opened; an alarm; and a timing circuit coupled with the sensor and the alarm for triggering the alarm only if the container is opened after the expiration date has been reached.