Self-Powered Package Display Using Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging lines for food products cannot dynamically update information on the package's shelf life after production, leading to potential consumer confusion about safety and increased food waste.
Innovation Solution
A package equipped with a displaying device powered by an energy harvester, such as a photovoltaic cell or thermoelectric energy harvester, that provides a countdown of the remaining safe consumption time after opening, eliminating the need for external devices and allowing for dynamic information display without batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If static printed information is used on the package, then manufacturing cost is reduced and simplicity is maintained, but the ability to provide updated shelf life information after production is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The package itself generates and displays shelf life information through an energy harvester that captures ambient energy (light, heat) to power the display device. The system serves itself by using environmental energy sources already present in the packaging context, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The package transitions from static printed information to dynamic digital display by changing the information presentation parameter. The display device can update the shelf life countdown in real-time, transforming the information state from fixed to variable based on actual product conditions.
2Loss of information
If a battery-powered display device is used to show real-time shelf life information, then information freshness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to battery requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester captures ambient energy from the environment (light, thermal energy) to power the display device autonomously. This eliminates the need for batteries or external power connections, allowing the package to self-power its information display function using energy already present in the surrounding environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy harvester acts as an intermediary that converts ambient environmental energy into electrical energy to power the display device. This mediator component bridges the gap between the environment and the power-hungry display, enabling operation without direct power sources.
3Loss of substance
If no dynamic information display is provided, then device complexity is minimized, but food waste increases due to consumer inability to assess product safety
Solution Approach 1:
The display device provides continuous feedback to the consumer about the remaining shelf life of the product. By showing real-time countdown information, the system enables consumers to make informed decisions about product safety and consumption timing, preventing both premature disposal and consumption of spoiled products.
Solution Approach 2:
The package autonomously provides shelf life information without requiring external monitoring devices or consumer guesswork. The integrated display system serves the consumer directly by presenting clear, real-time data about product freshness, enabling better consumption decisions.
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
Enhances food safety by ensuring consumers know when a product is safe to consume and reduces waste by providing real-time shelf life information directly on the package.
Implementation Method 1
the energy harvester 3 is a photovoltaic cell configured to provide power by means of environmental light
Implementation Method 2
the energy harvester 3 is a thermoelectric energy harvester... configured to generate power when the first thermal interface 30 is exposed to a first temperature and the second thermal interface 32 is exposed to a second temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is described a package (1), comprising: - a displaying device (2), configured to display data indicative of the package (1) and/or a content thereof, and - an energy harvester (3) connected to the displaying device (2) and configured to provide power thereto.