Patent Publication Number: US-2009222205-A1

Title: Data logger with indicia surface

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosed embodiments are directed to a data logger for recording environmental conditions. 
     During shipment, products may be subject to a number of environmental conditions including for example, variations in temperature, humidity, vibration, etc. Information regarding the range of environmental conditions that a product may have experienced during shipment is helpful in determining the condition of the product upon arrival at a destination. A data logger may be included with the product that may gather environmental data during transport. Upon arrival at a destination, the data may be retrieved and analyzed. Once acquired, the data may be used, for example, to determine the condition of the product, to enhance the packaging design, and to improve the design of the product itself. 
     When a number of data loggers are collected together, it may be difficult to identify one from the other, the product to be, or that has been, monitored, the route a product may take, different transportation methods that the product may experience, or to otherwise identify a particular aspect of an individual data logger, or the monitored product. Some data loggers include identifying bar codes but these are not human readable and require a device to decipher. A data logger may also have a serial number, however this may not provide the specific information required. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a data logger that is inexpensive, easily activated, having a form factor that allows use with existing packaging, and that provides easy access to collected data. It would be additionally advantageous to provide a surface on the data logger for providing markings or other indicia on the data logger. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a data logger includes an enclosure, one or more sensors within the enclosure for recording environmental conditions, and a base surface treated to facilitate marking and located within a perimeter of an outer surface of the enclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary data logger according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary data logger and a system interface for retrieving data from the data logger; and 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate mechanisms for providing markings or other indicia on the data logger. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary data logger  100  incorporating features of the disclosed embodiments is illustrated. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
     Data logger  100  generally includes a data acquisition and recording function performed by one or more sensors, a data communications function for exchanging data with an external device, and an identification function that allows a user to provide identifying indicia to the data logger  100 . 
     The exemplary data logger  100  is shown schematically in  FIG. 1  and has a form factor that may be easily included within a package without changing any packaging or shipping requirements. Data logger  100  may include control circuitry  120 , memory  115 , a power source  125 , one or more sensors  130 , a sensor interface  160  to accommodate additional sensors, a communications port  165 , and an activation switch  170 . 
     Control circuitry  120  may include logic circuitry for generally controlling the operation of data logger  100  including analog to digital and digital to analog converters, level shifters, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and any other circuitry for providing the functions described herein. Control circuitry  120  may operate in conjunction with memory  115 . For example, control circuitry  120  may include a processor that operates programs  117  stored in memory  115 . Memory  115  may provide storage for measurements acquired by the one or more sensors  130 . Memory  115  may be configured as a non-volatile memory which retains its contents in the event of a power loss. 
     Power source  125  may use any suitable battery of power cell construction and generally supplies power to the components of data logger  100 . 
     The one or more sensors  130  may include sensors for detecting various types of conditions, for example environmental conditions, locations, or time periods. More particularly, sensors  130  may include, for example, a humidity sensor  135 , a temperature sensor  140 , an accelerometer  145 , a timer  150 , and a global positioning system (GPS) sensor  25 . Each of the one or more sensors  130  may include suitable support circuitry, for example, amplifiers, filters, and converters, and may be capable of providing an analog output or a digital output as required. Each of the sensors  130  may be connected individually or via a bus to other circuitry, and may also be capable of generating an interrupt, alarm, or some other type of alert in the event that one or more particular conditions exist, or that any number of thresholds have been exceeded or have not been met. One or more of the sensors  130  may include a “sample and hold” capability where a particular measurement may be latched or otherwise held until read from the particular sensor. Any number of the sensors  130  may also include identifying circuitry for allowing another device to determine the presence, location, type, and capabilities of each sensor  130  having such circuitry. 
     Timer  150  may be capable of measuring elapsed time or particular time periods. Timer  250  may also be capable of providing a time stamp for measurements made by other sensors. Timer  150  may be a programmable device capable of starting or stopping upon receiving a trigger and of generating a signal upon the expiration of a particular period. Timer  150  may be triggered by other sensors of data logger  100 . For example, timer  150  may be used to measure total time spent in the distribution channel, an amount of time spent at a particular humidity level, or an amount of time spent below a particular temperature threshold. 
     GPS sensor  155  is generally capable of receiving signals from the Global Positioning System and providing information related to the global location of data logger  100 . GPS sensor  155  may include support circuitry for converting the received signals to coordinates and for conveying those coordinates to other circuitry of data logger  100 . 
     Sensor interface  160  provides a connection point for any additional sensors that may be desired. Sensor interface  160  may include one or more connectors, clips, pads, or other devices for providing electrical contacts for connecting sensors within data logger  100 . In addition, sensor interface  160  may include through holes, pins, standoffs or other mounting devices for physically supporting the additional sensors. 
     Communications port  165  provides a communications interface to an external device such as a computer. Communications port  165  may provide any suitable wired or wireless interface including, but not limited to, cellular, Bluetooth®, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), and Zigbee® protocols, RS 232, 422, or universal serial bus (USB). Communications port  165  may include a connector  175  for a wired interface. 
     Activation switch  170  may be coupled to one or more of the components of the data logger  100  and may operate to cause the data logger  100  to begin operations. Upon operating the activation switch, controller  120  may initialize and cause the other components of the data logger  100  to initialize. Programs  117  may then cause the controller  120  to determine the presence type and capabilities of sensors  130  and set thresholds and alert parameters as appropriate for measuring particular conditions. Individual ones of sensors  130  may also set up to generate interrupts upon reaching or failing to reach certain thresholds, or generally upon measuring certain conditions. Timer  150  may also be programmed to generate an interrupt for controller  120  on a periodic or other basis. In other embodiments, operating the activation switch may cause initialization and operation of the data logger to occur at a later time which may be user selectable. 
     After completing the above mentioned initialization and setup procedures, controller  120  may then enter a “sleep” mode having limited functionality and power requirements. Upon receiving an interrupt from timer  150  or any of the other sensors  130 , controller  120  may exit the sleep mode, examine the interrupt and identify a service routine to be performed. For example, an interrupt may be serviced by reading the current humidity from humidity sensor  135 , the current temperature from temperature sensor  140 , and a time value from timer  150 . A date and time stamp may then be generated from the time value, associated with the temperature and humidity measurements, and then the measurements and associated time and date stamp may be stored in memory  115 . The contents of memory  115  may be retained until the data logger  100  reaches a destination. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary data logger  100  and a system interface  210  for retrieving the contents of memory  115 . In one embodiment, the contents of memory  115  may be obtained by plugging a suitable connector into connector  175  of communications port  165 . In other embodiments, the contents of memory  115  may be obtained by a wireless request or communication from system interface  210 . Upon receiving the request, controller  120  may cause the measurements stored in memory  115  to be transmitted to the system interface  210 . The system interface  210  may convey the retrieved measurements to another device for processing and analysis, either directly or through a network. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate mechanisms for providing markings or other indicia on the data logger  100 . In  FIG. 3A , an enclosure  300  of the data logger includes a display window  310 . The display window  310  includes a base surface  315 , recessed below an outer surface  325  of enclosure  300 , surrounded by side walls  320 . Side walls  320  extend between base surface  315  and outer surface  325 . An opposed pair of sidewalls  330  may be provided with grooves  335  opening toward each other, to capture a flexible display material or clear protective window between them. The display material may have indicia affixed or marked thereon directly. In  FIG. 3B  base surface  315 ′ is raised above outer surface  325 ′ and sidewalls  320 ′ extend outwardly from the outer surface  325 ′ of enclosure  300 ′. In both  FIGS. 3A and 3B , sidewalls  320 ,  320 ′ operate to protect base surface  315 ,  315 ′ from inadvertent wiping or other motion that may dislodge or otherwise deface indicia on the base surface.  FIG. 3C  shows an embodiment where base surface  315 ″ is located flush or on outer surface  325 ″ of enclosure  300 ″. 
     Any suitable indicia may be positioned on base surface  315 ,  315 ′,  315 ″ by affixing written or printed labels, by marking directly, or by any other marking scheme. Base surface  315 ,  315 ′,  315 ″ is generally located within a perimeter of an outer surface  325 ,  325 ′,  325 ″ of enclosure  300 ,  300 ′,  300 ″ and may be textured or otherwise treated to facilitate marking as well as removal of markings. Base surface  315 ,  315 ′,  315 ″ is advantageous because it allows a user to apply indicia, for example, human readable indicia, to data logger  100 . The applied human readable indicia may be read without machine assistance, for example, without utilizing a reading device, a bar code reader, scanner, computer or other device. 
     While the disclosed embodiments have been discussed in the context of recording shipping conditions, it should be understood that the present invention may also be used to monitor conditions during any phase of a product life cycle. For example, data logger  100  could be used to detect improper storage or operating temperatures that may void a warranty for sensitive equipment. Data logger  100  may also be used to sense conditions that may signify abuse or use beyond rated specifications. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.