US 12,345,574 B2
Temperature indicator
Anthony N. Fonk, Austin, TX (US); Johannes A. van Niekerk, Dallas, TX (US); and Phillip W. Barth, Portola Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to SHOCKWATCH, INC., Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by ShockWatch, Inc., Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/443,274.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/056,577, filed on Jul. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0026283 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. G01K 5/48 (2006.01); G01K 1/024 (2021.01); G01K 5/54 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01K 5/486 (2013.01) [G01K 1/024 (2013.01); G01K 5/54 (2013.01); G06K 7/10366 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A temperature indicator, comprising:
a micro-sensor having:
a cantilevered sensing element coupled to a support member, the sensing element having a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers defining a gap therebetween along at least a portion of their respective lengths, and wherein a first distal end of the first layer with respect to the support member is coupled to a second distal end of the second layer with respect to the support member, the first and second layers having different coefficients of expansion, the first and second distal ends of the sensing element configured to move from a first position to a second position in response to exposure to a temperature event;
detection circuitry configured to change from a first state to a second state in response to movement of the sensing element from the first position to the second position, the detection circuitry prevented from returning to the first state in response to changing to the second state; and
a latching element movable in a first direction in response to contact by the sensing element moving from the first position to the second position;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) module coupled to the detection circuitry, wherein the RFID module is configured to output a value indicating that the sensing element is in the second position; and
an activator element configured to maintain the sensing element in the first position until removal of the activator element from the micro-sensor.