Self-Powered TTI with Enzymatic Voltage Output for RFID Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-temperature integrators (TTIs) used in food distribution systems are limited by their reliance on color changes, which are not suitable for IT-based systems and do not efficiently monitor the quality of perishable foods in a quantitative and cost-effective manner.
Innovation Solution
An RFID-integrated self-powered TTI that outputs an electric signal indicating the storage state of food, using an enzymatic reaction to generate voltage, which is used as operating power for the RFID, connected to a calculation and display unit through wired or wireless networks, with a condenser to minimize measurement load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional color-change TTIs are used to monitor food quality, then the monitoring can be performed at low costs, but the function is limited and not suitable for IT-based distribution systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/color-change detection mechanism with an electrical signal generation mechanism. The TTI now generates electrical signals through enzymatic reactions that can be directly read by RFID systems, enabling integration with IT-based distribution systems while maintaining quantitative monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an RFID tag as an intermediary between the TTI and the IT-based distribution system. The RFID tag receives electrical signals from the TTI and transmits them to the system, enabling compatibility without requiring direct integration between the TTI and the IT system.
2Measurement precision
If continuous voltage measurement is performed by RFID to monitor food quality, then accurate quality prediction is achieved, but the load on RFID and calculation unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a condenser (capacitor) that performs preliminary integration of the voltage signals before they reach the RFID and calculation unit. By pre-integrating the continuous voltage data into cumulative values, the system reduces the computational burden and data processing requirements while maintaining accurate quality prediction capabilities.
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
Enables continuous, quantitative monitoring of food quality by converting the enzymatic reaction into a measurable voltage, allowing for accurate prediction of food quality and minimizing the burden on the RFID and calculation unit, suitable for IT-based distribution systems.
Implementation Method 1
output an electric signal indicating a storage state of the food... The electric signal output from the self-powered TTI may be a voltage corresponding to a rate of a change in quality of the food
Implementation Method 2
a condenser which is connected in parallel between the negative electrode and the positive electrode to minimize the load of the continuous voltage measurement by the RFID and the burden of the calculation borne by the calculation unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a radio frequency identification (RFID)-integrated self-powered time-temperature integrator (TTI), which comprises an RFID and a self-powered TTI which is attached to the exterior of a package of food to output an electric signal indicating a storage state of the food and supplies the electric signal as an operating power of the RFID, in which the electric signal output from the self-powered TTI is a voltage corresponding to a rate of a change in quality of the food accompanied, the quality is calculated by an integration value of time-voltage, and an integration algorithm uses an integrated value, obtained by adding the voltage measured every hour, as a quality variable of the food.