Vacuum insulation panel quality control systems and methods for using same

Abstract

A system and method for implementing quality control for a panel is described. For example, the panel may be configured as a vacuum insulation panel having sensors arranged within the panel and/or on a surface thereof. A radio frequency identification unit may be in operable communication with the sensor and may transmit panel information to an external radio frequency identification receiver. A data collation element in operable communication with the radio frequency identification receiver may be configured to receive and analyze aggregated panel performance data received from the radio frequency identification receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A quality control system for a panel, the system comprising:
 at least one sensor;   a radio frequency identification unit in operable communication with the sensor, the radio frequency identification unit being configured to receive panel information associated with the panel;   a radio frequency identification receiver configured to receive panel performance data transmitted from the radio frequency identification unit, the panel performance data comprising the panel information; and   a data collation element in operable communication with the radio frequency identification receiver and configured to analyze aggregated panel performance data received from the radio frequency identification receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a dielectric film. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification unit is in operative communication with the dielectric film. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a vacuum insulation panel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned within the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors positioned in multiple locations within the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric film is coated with a coating configured to change at least one property responsive to an event. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coating comprises an alumina coating configured to change an electrical conductance responsive to exposure to an oxidizing substance. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification unit is arranged within the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification unit is configured to transmit encrypted panel performance data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control system is configured as a thermal packaging unit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data collation element is configured to associate the aggregated panel performance data with production batch information associated with the panel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handheld unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, the handheld unit having the radio frequency identification receiver positioned therein,   wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to analyze aggregated panel performance data via the data collation element.   
     
     
         14 . A method of aggregating panel performance data, the method comprising:
 detecting panel information using a sensor;   transmitting, by the sensor, the panel information to a radio frequency identification unit;   transmitting, by the radio frequency identification unit, panel performance data to a radio frequency identification receiver, the panel performance data comprising the panel information;   aggregating panel performance data at a data collation element; and   analyzing the aggregated panel performance data by the data collation element.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor detects panel information using a dielectric film. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detecting a conductance of the panel via the dielectric film. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting identification information associated with the sensor to the radio frequency identification receiver via the radio frequency identification unit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein analyzing the aggregated panel performance data comprises determining a likelihood of failure of the panel based on panel performance data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the radio frequency identification receiver is configured to receive panel information from a plurality of radio frequency identification units associated with a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the panel information comprises manufacturer information and production batch information associated with the panel.