Patent Description:
Providing information by monitoring environments and products for the presence of various analytes or conditions can be useful to producers and distributors when transferring perishable products. In addition to such quality control applications, monitoring the presence of harmful analytes can also be extremely valuable for maintaining safe working environments and preventing pollution.

Previous sensor systems have often used complex constructions when monitoring environments and products. For example, previous assemblies have used integrated wireless communicators, bulky battery sources, biological materials, and intricate circuitries.

These expensive components are known to add additional functionality and/or reliability, but have been cost prohibitive, preventing sensors from being implemented in many processes.

Further prior art can be found in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In view of the above, there is a need for novel sensor constructions that allow for simplified, cost-effective monitoring of analytes and conditions.

The present disclosure addresses the aforementioned issues by providing economical sensor constructions that have a sensing element and indicator that are directly integrated into the sensor product. The sensing element relies on a graphene-based material configured to undergo a change in an electrical property in the presence of an analyte or condition. By combining the unique sensing properties of graphene and an indicator that is directly integrated with the sensor product, a cost-effective, compact construction is achieved.

In one aspect, a sensor product for detecting an analyte is provided having the features of independent claim <NUM>. In another aspect, a method of sensing an analyte or condition is provided having the features of independent claim <NUM>.

These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of some preferred embodiments of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as these preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodiments within the scope of the claims.

The example embodiment described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims is not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, within the scope of the claims.

Referring first to <FIG>, a schematic representation of a sensor product <NUM> (not forming part of the invention) is illustrated. The sensor product 10C has a body <NUM> and a circuit <NUM> integrated with the body <NUM>. The circuit <NUM> may be positioned within, or on the exterior of, the body <NUM> in whole or in part. The circuit <NUM> includes an electric power source <NUM>, a sensing element <NUM>, and an indicator <NUM> in electrical communication with one another. The indicator <NUM> includes a display element <NUM>. In this depiction, the electric power source <NUM> and sensing element <NUM> are both positioned within the body <NUM>. However, it is contemplated that the sensing element <NUM> might, for example be disposed on an exterior of the body <NUM>. As depicted, a filter <NUM> is positioned between the sensing element <NUM> and the environment surrounding the sensor product <NUM>. The sensor product <NUM> also includes an attachment element <NUM> in the form of an aperture.

As some examples, the body <NUM> may be a tag, sticker, or label, a card, or may be a container. The body may be formed of a flexible polymer or comparable material. The body may be disposable or reusable. Although an aperture is depicted for the attachment element <NUM>, various alternative components such as hooks, fasteners, and adhesives may be used to attach the sensor product to an external object. The attachment element may allow the sensor product to be placed in close proximity with an object or person of interest. For example, the attachment element may attach the sensor product to a worker, location in a manufacturing center, a shipping container, or a product. The unique component and material choices of the sensor product allow the body to have a compact size. For example, the body may be sized to fit within a <NUM> by <NUM> by <NUM> container, a <NUM> by <NUM> by <NUM> container, a <NUM> by <NUM> by <NUM> container, or a <NUM> by <NUM> by <NUM> container. The reduced size in comparison to previous systems will allow for new applications and placements of the sensor product.

The electric power source <NUM> may be configured to apply a voltage to the circuit <NUM>. The electric power source may be a battery. More specifically, the electric power source may be a thin film or printed battery. In order to determine a change in an electrical property of the sensing element, an electric current may be applied. The electric power source may configured to continuously apply such a current. Alternatively, the electric power source may repeatedly provide an electrical pulse of the current after a time interval. The time interval may be selected from the group consisting of between <NUM> second and <NUM> second, between <NUM> second and <NUM> seconds, between <NUM> seconds and <NUM> minute, between <NUM> minute and <NUM> hour, between <NUM> hour and <NUM> hour, between <NUM> hour and <NUM> hours, between <NUM> hours and <NUM> hours, and between <NUM> hours and <NUM> hours.

The sensing element <NUM> comprises graphene or a graphene derivative. For example, the sensing element may comprise pure graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide. The sensing element may be in the form of a rod, thin film, block, or another suitable shape. The sensing element may be a functionalized form of graphene or a graphene derivative. The sensing element may be configured to undergo a change in an electrical property in the presence of an analyte or condition. The change may be brought on as a result of a reaction of the sensing element as a result of the analyte or the condition of the environment surrounding the sensor product. The electrical property may be the resistance, impedance, or capacitance. In some forms, the change in an electrical property may specifically be an increase or decrease of the resistance of the sensing element. The sensing element may be functionalized to undergo this change in the presence of a specific analyte.

The indicator <NUM> may be configured to display information indicating the presence of the analyte or condition when the change in an electrical property of the sensing element occurs. There are a number of means by which the indicator may display this information. The indicator may display a color or tone change of the display element. The color or shade change may be directly representative of the presence of the analyte or condition. The change in color or shade may correspond to the quantity of the analyte that is being detected. Alternatively, the color or tone change may result in the appearance or development of an alert word or symbol. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the display element may darken to form a word, such as "ALERT". The word or symbol may be representative of the analyte or condition. For example, words such as "HEAT", "WATER", "CHLORINE", or the like may be used. Alternatively, the display element may provide a generic warning or safety related word, phrase, or symbol that is not indicative of the detected analyte or condition. For instance, the display element may form an alert word such as "DANGER EVACUATE" or "CAUTION" in the presence of chlorine gas or elevated temperatures.

The indicator <NUM> may utilize a chemical reaction and provide an immediate alert a user. For example, the indicator may be a flare or controlled explosion, which may provide either a bright light or loud sound. Such an indicator may permanently burn, damage, or otherwise alter the sensor product, making the indication permanently visible on the sensor product after the flare or controlled explosion ceases. Alternatively, the indicator may include at least one light, such as a light-emitting diode. Although such alert signals are effective, they require a steady power supply to maintain in an alert state. Consequently, the indicator may alternatively include a device configured to undergo a permanent or semi-permanent change that does not require a continued power supply to maintain. For example, the indicator may comprise an electrochromic or electrophoretic display.

In response to a small electrical voltage, electrochromic materials will change their color. Similarly, electrochromic displays will undergo a change in color or tone when a voltage is applied. An important advantage of using an indicator with an electrochromic or electrophoretic material is the low power usage of these systems. Once a color or shade change has been effected, the new state exists with little or no input of power in what is called a "memory effect". In practice, this may allow the sensor product of the present disclosure to utilize extremely low-cost, compact batteries. The batteries may only be capable of performing a one-time, semi-permanent change of the display element to an alert state, thereby perpetually indicating to a user that the presence of an analyte. This may be particularly useful when monitoring products during shipping over the course of multiple days, an amount of time that would typically require a large capacity power source.

The indicator <NUM> may be configured to display information indicating the presence of multiple analytes or conditions. For example, the display may turn blue when contacted with liquid water and red when heated to above <NUM> degrees Celsius. Alternatively, the sensor product may further comprise at least one additional indicator or display element, wherein the additional indicator or display element is configured to display information indicating the presence of a second analyte or condition.

When the sensing element <NUM> undergoes the specific change in the electrical property, the indicator is configured to display information indicating the presence of the analyte. This interaction may result from a circuit opening or closing as a result of the change in the resistance across the sensing element. The change in the electrical property may open, close, or otherwise alter the properties of circuit to which the sensing element is integrated with. In this manner, the sensor product or the present disclosure may avoid using complex controllers. Factors such as the temperature of the sorbent body, the atmospheric pressure, and the phase, amount, and/or composition of the analyte may affect the change in the electrical property. The sensing elements may be specifically tailored and functionalized to adsorb specific analytes. Consequently, the sensing elements may be used to detect temperature changes, liquid detection, the presence of specific analytes, as well as other stimuli. The detected analyte may be in the form of a vapor. The analyte may specifically be a hazardous vapor, such as a chlorine. In some aspects, the analyte may be a harmful volatile organic compound, such as benzene.

If a filter <NUM> is present, the filter <NUM> may be positioned between the sensing element <NUM> and any external environment. The filter may configured to prevent certain compounds from contacting the sensing element. For example, the filter may adsorb, absorb, or physically block compounds that may affect a change in electrical property of the sensing component if they are not an analyte of interest.

<FIG> depicts a schematic representation of a sensor product <NUM> according to the invention. The sensor product <NUM> has a body <NUM>, and a circuit <NUM> integrated with the body <NUM>. The circuit <NUM> includes an electric power source <NUM>, a sensing element <NUM>, and three indicators <NUM> in electrical communication with one another. Each of the indicators <NUM> includes a display element <NUM>. The sensor product <NUM> also has an identifier <NUM>. The identifier may be a product name, barcode, QR code, or similar identifier. In this depiction, the sensing element <NUM> is positioned on the exterior of the body <NUM>. This configuration directly exposes the sensing element to the environment surrounding the sensor product <NUM>, which may help improve the accuracy and response time of the product sensor.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor product <NUM> is used to provide information using three individual indicators and display elements when detecting the presence of a three separate analytes or conditions. Each indicator corresponds to a printed term on the sensor product, in this depiction "CHLORINE", "LIQUID", and "HEAT. The circuit <NUM> may contain components that allow for the sensing and indication of each analyte or condition using only a single sensing element. A change in resistance across the sensing element may vary between various analytes and conditions. Such a change in resistance may only by large enough to trigger a single indicator to change its display element to an alert state. Alternatively, the sensor product may have multiple sensing elements, each functionalized or configured to detect a specific analyte or condition.

<FIG> depicts a schematic representation of another sensor product <NUM> (not forming part of the invention). The sensor product <NUM> again has a body <NUM> and a circuit <NUM> integrated with the body <NUM>. The circuit <NUM> includes an electric power source <NUM>, a sensing element <NUM>, and an indicator <NUM> in electrical communication with one another. The indicators <NUM> includes a display element <NUM>. In this depiction, the electric power source <NUM> and sensing element <NUM> are positioned on the interior of the body <NUM>, behind the display element <NUM>. Although not shown, the exterior face of the body <NUM>, opposite the display element <NUM>, is coated with an adhesive.

As shown in <FIG>, the display element <NUM> comprises an electrophoretic or electrochromic material. The depicted alert state of the display element may be permanent.

In <FIG>, the circuit has been represented as dotted lines connecting the respective electric power sources, the sensing elements, and indicators. In general, one of skill in the art will recognize that the circuit, including the sensing element, electric power source, and indicator, may comprise any number of electronic components such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, processors, conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow, and additional electronic components in order to achieve the described functionality.

As shown in <FIG>, a method <NUM> of sensing an analyte or condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the electrical property in a sensing element comprising graphene or a graphene derivative, the sensing element configured to undergo a change in an electrical property in the presence of an analyte or condition <NUM> and displaying information indicating the presence of the analyte or condition when the change in an electrical property of the sensing element occurs, the information being displayed by an indicator on a sensor body to which the sensing element is integrated <NUM>. The method may utilize the sensor product configurations and materials described herein. The method may further comprise attaching the sensor body to a region of interest.

In yet another aspect (not forming part of the invention), a method of making the sensor product described herein is provided, the method comprising assembling the sensor product.

It will be appreciated that in the sensor products described herein, once the analyte or condition of interest is detected, this may trigger another reaction or condition which results in the indication of the condition being satisfied. In such instances, the chemical or electrical change detected may be relatively small and the detection of the condition can be used to trigger response involving a greater expenditure of energy to provide the indication. Put differently, the size of the energy associated the detection condition may be much smaller than the energy expended during the triggering event that results in the provided indication.

Claim 1:
A sensor product (<NUM>) for detecting an analyte or condition, the sensor product (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>); and
a circuit (<NUM>) integrated with the body (<NUM>), the circuit (<NUM>) comprising:
an electric power source (<NUM>);
a sensing element (<NUM>) comprising graphene or a graphene derivative, the sensing element (<NUM>) configured to undergo a change in an electrical property in the presence of three separate analytes or conditions, the three separate analytes or conditions being chlorine gas, liquid and heat; and
three individual indicators (<NUM>) and display elements configured to display information indicating the presence of the three separate analytes or conditions when the change in an electrical property of the sensing element (<NUM>) occurs, wherein each indicator (<NUM>) corresponds to a printed term on the sensor product (<NUM>), indicating chlorine gas, liquid and heat.