US 12,298,289 B2
Freshness sensor devices and related methods
Adam Rigby, Fort Mitchell, KY (US); Chris Daniels, Southgate, KY (US); Addison Carter, Cincinnati, OH (US); Seth Blovits, Cincinnati, OH (US); Connor Rahm, Goshen, OH (US); Noe Alvarez, Cincinnati, OH (US); Olivia North, Cincinnati, OH (US); Brendan Payne, Cincinnati, OH (US); Michael Jordan, Park Hills, KY (US); and Fernando Eli Garcia, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to THE KROGER CO., Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by THE KROGER CO., Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/129,140.
Application 18/129,140 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/057083, filed on Oct. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/106,707, filed on Oct. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324356 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 33/02 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/04 (2006.01); G01N 33/12 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 19/06 (2006.01); G06K 19/077 (2006.01); H04B 5/77 (2024.01)
CPC G01N 33/02 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); G01N 27/041 (2013.01); G01N 33/12 (2013.01); G06K 7/10297 (2013.01); G06K 7/10366 (2013.01); G06K 19/06121 (2013.01); G06K 19/07718 (2013.01); G06K 19/0772 (2013.01); B01L 2300/022 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/16 (2013.01); H04B 5/77 (2024.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting freshness of a perishable item, comprising:
placing a sensor device for detecting freshness in proximity with the perishable item, the sensor device including:
at least one sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in the perishable item, wherein the at least one sensor is a binary sensor;
an integrated circuit for converting information detected by the at least one sensor into a data signal; and
an antenna portion for receiving and transmitting the data signal from the integrated circuit, whereby the at least one sensor, the integrated circuit and the antenna portion are printed on a single sheet such that the device is unitary,
wherein the antenna portion is configured to collect energy from an aerial device to activate the integrated circuit, and the integrated circuit is configured to pulse test a signal through the at least one sensor to detect voltage drop data for the analyte of interest across the at least one sensor, and cause the antenna portion to transmit to a receiving device the data signal including a unique identifier specific to the perishable item and the voltage drop data;
analyzing the data signal, via a software application running on the receiving device, including decoding the data signal and converting the decoded signal into useable information containing the unique identifier for the perishable item, the unique identifier linking to specific information of the perishable item via a database associated with the software application, the specific information of the perishable item including a predetermined time of harmful spoilage and a predetermined freshness equation:
Y=M2X2+M1X+M0  (1)
where Y represents the voltage drop data from the analyte of interest, X represents a time value in the freshness equation, and M2, M1, M0 represent predetermined coefficients corresponding to the perishable item;
determining, by the software application running on the receiving device, using the voltage drop data from the analyte of interest and the predetermined coefficients corresponding to the perishable item, the time value in the freshness equation by solving for X in equation (1) and a freshness value of the perishable item, the freshness value being a time remaining between the time value in the freshness equation and the predetermined time of harmful spoilage;
displaying the freshness value on a display screen of the receiving device; and
rejecting, disposing of, or dropping the price of the perishable item based on the freshness value.