Time-Temperature Indicator Using Metallic Layer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current time-temperature indicators (TTIs) lack effectiveness in providing a comprehensive and reliable summary of the elapsed time-temperature history of perishable goods, particularly in monitoring temperature thresholds and histories, which is crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of products like food and drugs.
Innovation Solution
A temperature indicator apparatus and method that utilizes a combination of passive and active reactants, with a metallic layer changing electrical or optical properties in response to time-temperature exposure, allowing for visual or instrumental detection of temperature thresholds and histories, including freeze and high-temperature breaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional visual TTI labels are used, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the measurement precision and reliability of time-temperature monitoring are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional visual/optical TTI systems with an electrical system. Electrical components (conductors, capacitors, RF circuits) substitute for visual indicators, enabling more precise electrical property measurements (capacitance, resistance, impedance) that correlate with time-temperature exposure. This substitution provides quantifiable electrical signals for accurate monitoring while maintaining practical device complexity through integration into labels or tags.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in electrical parameters (capacitance, resistance, impedance, conductivity) of materials in response to time-temperature exposure. By measuring these electrical property changes rather than visual changes, the system achieves higher measurement precision. The electrical parameters serve as sensitive indicators that provide quantitative data about the cumulative time-temperature history of the product.
2Reliability
If passive reactants alone are used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability and comprehensiveness of temperature threshold monitoring are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines passive reactants (which undergo phase changes or chemical reactions at specific temperatures) with active electrical components (conductors, capacitors, RF circuits). This merging creates a hybrid system where the passive reactant provides temperature-sensitive response and the active electrical component provides measurable electrical signal output. The combination enables reliable temperature threshold monitoring through electrical property changes while maintaining manageable device complexity through integrated design.
3Measurement precision
If visual detection methods are used, then the ease of operation is high, but the measurement precision and objectivity of temperature history detection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective visual detection with objective electrical measurement. Electrical properties (capacitance, resistance, impedance) provide quantitative, objective data that can be measured precisely with electronic instruments. This substitution eliminates human subjectivity in assessment and enables more accurate determination of temperature history, while the measurements remain relatively easy to perform with standard electrical testing equipment or RF readers.
4Loss of information
If simple visual indicators are used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the loss of information about detailed temperature profile occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes multiple electrical parameters (capacitance, resistance, impedance, conductivity) that can provide different aspects of temperature profile information. By measuring changes in these electrical properties, the system captures more detailed information about the temperature history than simple visual indicators. The electrical parameters serve as information-rich indicators that preserve data about cumulative time-temperature exposure while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of standard electrical components and materials.
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 accurate monitoring of temperature exposure, providing clear indications of product freshness and safety by correlating changes in electrical or optical properties with time-temperature history, thus enhancing the reliability of TTIs in ensuring product quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a metallic layer changing electrical or optical properties in response to time-temperature exposure
Implementation Method 2
a metallic layer changing electrical or optical properties in response to time-temperature exposure
Implementation Method 3
a substance that has a light characteristic that is altered irreversibly as a function of time and temperature
Implementation Method 4
passive and active reactants, with a metallic layer changing electrical or optical properties in response to time-temperature exposure
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method for a time temperature indicator (TTI) which is capable of providing a summary of the time and temperature history of a good to which it is coupled, optionally including with regard to providing an indication as to whether one or more temperature thresholds have been breached. According to other embodiments, the TTI specifically provides an indication as to whether a temperature threshold at or around the freeze point has been breached, optionally even without providing a time and temperature history.