Apparatus and Method for Providing Product Information

Abstract

A sensor system comprises a tag. The tag comprises at least one radio-frequency chip and a first antenna. The chip comprises a memory element, the memory element comprising electrical storage of a binary coded word comprising at least one bit, and output terminals. The tag further comprises at least one conductive polymeric system disposed in electrical communication with at least one output terminal of the chip and adapted to change electrical state in association with a predetermined change in an environment of the conductive polymeric system. The first antenna is disposed in electrical communication with the output terminal(s) of the chip and the conductive polymeric system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor system comprising a tag, the tag comprising:
 a. a least one radio-frequency chip comprising a memory element, the memory element comprising electrical storage of a binary coded word comprising at least one bit, and output terminals; at least one conductive polymeric system disposed in electrical communication with at least one output terminal of the chip and adapted to change electrical state in association with a predetermined change in an environment of the conductive polymeric system;   b. a first antenna disposed in electrical communication with the output terminals of the chip and the conductive polymeric system.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor system of  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. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor system of  claim 2  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. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor system of  claim 2  wherein the interrogator further comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor system of  claim 2  wherein the interrogator further comprises a network communications link. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor system of  claim 1  wherein the first antenna comprises an omni-directional antenna. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor system of  claim 1  further comprising a product wherein the tag comprises part of the product. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor system of  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor system of  claim 8  further comprising electrical shielding disposed between the antenna and product. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor system of  claim 9  wherein the shielding comprises part of the tag. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor system of  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a package containing a consumable good. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor system of  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a portable power source. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor system according to  claim 1  wherein the tag comprises a passive radio frequency chip. 
     
     
         14 . A method of determining product information, the method comprising steps of:
 a. providing a product comprising a tag, a state of the tag associated with a state of a conductive polymeric system; providing an interrogator adapted to detect radiation associated with the bit of the tag;   b. altering the environmental state of the tag with respect to the environment of the conductive polymeric system;   c. interrogating the state of the tag after the environment of the conductive polymeric system has been altered;   d. interpreting the state of the tag;   e. providing an output associated with the interpreted state of the tag.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the step of providing an interrogator further comprises providing an interrogator comprising a network communications link, the method further comprising step of sharing the interpreted state of the tag over a network. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the step of sharing data from the interrogator sensor over the network. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the step of purchasing a unit of the product using the network.