Apparatus and Method for Providing Product Information

Abstract

A sensor system comprises a tag. The tag comprises at least one sensor, a radio-frequency chip, and a first antenna. The sensor is adapted to provide an output analogous to a change in an environment of the sensor. The sensor produces an analog output and includes output terminals. The radio-frequency chip comprises a memory element, input terminals and output terminals. The input terminals are disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the sensor. The output of the sensor alters the value of at least one bit in the memory of the chip. The first antenna is disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the chip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor system comprising a tag, the tag comprising: at least one sensor adapted to transition from a first electrical state to a second electrical state in response to a predetermined change in an environment of the sensor, the sensor having at least one output terminal; a radio-frequency chip comprising a memory element comprising electrical storage of a binary coded word comprising at least one bit, input terminals and output terminals, the input terminal(s) disposed in electrical communication with the at least one output terminal of the at least one sensor and to at least one bit of memory; a first antenna disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the chip. 
     
     
         2 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one output terminal of the sensor is disposed in electrical communication with multiple bits of the memory. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  further comprising an interrogator comprising a power source and a second antenna adapted to generate electromagnetic radiation comprising a resonant frequency of the first antenna, and a receiver adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation and de-modulate the detected radiation extracting embedded data from the detected radiation. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the interrogator includes a network communications link. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor system according to  claim 3  wherein the interrogator comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor system according to  claim 3  wherein the embedded data comprises the value of the at least one bit. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor system according to  claim 3  wherein the interrogator further comprises: an analysis element adapted to interpret the extracted embedded data, and a display element adapted to display the results of the interpretation. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: chemical sensors, electrical sensors, biological sensors, mechanical sensors, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the first antenna comprises an omni-directional antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  further comprising a product wherein the tag comprises part of the product. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor system according to  claim 10  further comprising electrical shielding disposed between the antenna and product. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor system according to  claim 10  wherein the shielding comprises part of the tag. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein product comprises a portable power source. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a package containing a consumable good. 
     
     
         16 . A method of determining product information, the method comprising steps of:
 providing at least one product comprising a tag, the tag comprising at least one sensor adapted to transition from a first electrical state to a second electrical state in response to a predetermined change in an environment of the sensor, the sensor having at least one output terminal; a radio-frequency chip comprising a memory element comprising electrical storage of a binary coded word comprising at least one bit, input terminals and output terminals, the input terminals disposed in electrical communication with the at least one output terminal of the at least one sensor and to at least one bit of memory; a first antenna disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the chip;   providing, or having provided, an interrogator adapted to detect radiation associated with an environmental state of the tag sensor;   interrogating the state of the tag;   interpreting the state of the tag;   providing an output associated with the interpreted state of the tag.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the step of providing an interrogator further comprises providing an interrogator comprising a network communications link, the method further comprising the step of sharing data associated with the state of the tag over a network. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising the step of sharing data from the interrogator sensor over the network. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising the step of purchasing a unit of the product using the network.