RFID Food Transport Container for Battery-Free Temperature Logging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current documentation systems in the catering industry face challenges in reliably and efficiently tracking the temperature history of food from preparation to consumption, especially during transport, due to the need for manual measurement and registration, and the limitations of battery-powered devices which require frequent recharging.
Innovation Solution
A documentation system utilizing an RFID transponder integrated into an induction-capable multilayer transport container that harvests energy from an external electromagnetic field, eliminating the need for batteries and allowing seamless temperature monitoring and recording without user intervention, enabling complete documentation of food history from preparation to consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery-powered temperature measuring devices are used in transport containers, then temperature monitoring can be performed during transport, but the batteries require frequent recharging which introduces human error and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID transponder is designed to harvest energy autonomously from external electromagnetic fields during interrogation, eliminating the need for batteries or external power supplies. This self-powered mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable temperature monitoring without requiring manual battery management, thus improving reliability while reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical battery-powered measuring system with an electromagnetic field-based RFID transponder system. The transponder harvests energy wirelessly from the interrogating device's electromagnetic field, substituting the battery-powered mechanical system with a more reliable electromagnetic solution that eliminates recharging requirements
2Ease of manufacture
If manual measurement and registration of temperature is performed, then simple devices can be used, but the documentation is difficult to verify and human errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID transponder automatically records temperature data and provides feedback by transmitting this information wirelessly to the interrogating device. This automated feedback mechanism eliminates manual measurement and registration, ensuring reliable documentation without requiring complex manual procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and documentation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID transponder acts as an intermediary between the temperature sensing function and the documentation system. It automatically captures temperature data and transmits it to external systems, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring reliable and verifiable documentation, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability
3Reliability
If separate temperature measuring units are placed in transport containers, then temperature monitoring is possible, but the system requires intermediate containers and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID transponder integrates the temperature sensing, data recording, and wireless communication functions into a single compact unit that can be placed directly in the transport container with the food. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate measuring units, intermediate containers, and complex power supply systems, thus maintaining temperature control capability while reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides reliable, effortless, and comprehensive temperature control and documentation of food products during storage and transport, ensuring compliance with HACCP standards and reducing human error, while eliminating the need for intermediate containers and battery management.
Implementation Method 1
equipped with an RFID transponder as a measuring instrument, which usually does not require its own power supply, but its own Takes energy from an external electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
container for accommodating food made entirely of induction-capable multilayer material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a documentation system for the catering trade, comprising a transport container (10, 30) for food, provided with at least one measuring instrument for measuring and recording the temperature of the food or the environment thereof. The transport container (10, 30) comprises a container (10) which, as a whole, consists of an inductive composite material, or is composed of such a container. The measuring instrument comprises an RFID transponder (22) which is an integral part of the transport container (10, 30). Items of food can remain in one and the same transport container from the conditioning, the preparation and storage before and after preparation and until consumption, thereby allowing a complete, permanent and forgery-proof documentation of the history of the container contents using the documentation system.