Patent · US Expired

Environmental indicator device and method

US4646066A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
14References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 1985
Grant dateFeb 24, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/122
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for monitoring environmental exposure includes an element whose electrical properties change, in a predetermined way, in response to the environmental exposure. The element may be part of a tuned circuit or of a shield for a tuned circuit. In either case, when the tuned circuit is interrogated, preferably by an r.f. or microwave signal, it emits a signal whose intensity depends on the electrical properties of the element. Thus, an incremental environmental exposure can be measured by a change in the signal intensity. The device is particularly useful for monitoring the condition of perishable materials, because it can be located with the perishable inside a packaging material during both storage and interrogation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.