Patent ID: 8152367

Claim:
An insulated container having an embedded temperature sensor, the container comprising: a plurality of walls defining a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container; a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency circuit and a radio frequency antenna; a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container; an electric circuit extending through at least a portion of at least one of the walls and interconnecting the temperature sensor with the radio frequency antenna so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and a battery that is at least partially disposed in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery, and wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing.