Time-temperature indicating device

Abstract

The present invention is generally in the field of measuring and indicating techniques and relates to a time-temperature indicating device and methods of manufacturing and reading this device. More specifically, the time-temperature indicator (TTI) device comprises at least one active reactant being at least a part of a component that is configured to be either an electrical component or transformable into an electrical component, said at least one active reactant being selected to be affectable by a chemical and/or physical reaction effecting a change in at least an electrical property of said electrical component at a rate that is time-temperature dependent.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A time-temperature indicator device comprising at least one active reactant being at least a part of an electrical component, said at least one active reactant is selected such that it intrinsically changes at least an electrical property of said electrical component at a rate that is time-temperature dependent. 
     
     
         18 . A time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 (i) at least one active reactant being at least a part of an electrical component, said at least one active reactant being selected to be affectable by a chemical and/or physical reaction effecting a change in at least an electrical property of said electrical component at a rate that is time-temperature dependent; and   (ii) at least one first passive reactant in the form of a viscous substance, said chemical and/or physical reaction being a reaction between said at least one active reactant and said at least one first passive reactant and wherein said at least one first passive reactant is selected such that it causes time-temperature dependent development of said chemical and/or physical reaction.   
     
     
         19 . A time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 (i) at least one active reactant being at least a part of an electrical component, said at least one active reactant being selected to be affectable by a chemical and/or physical reaction effecting a change in at least an electrical property of said electrical component at a rate that is time-temperature dependent;   (ii) at least one first passive reactant in the form of a viscous substance; and   (iii) at least one second passive reactant,   wherein said chemical and/or physical reaction is a reaction between said at least one active reactant and said at least one second passive reactant and wherein said at least one first passive reactant is selected such that it causes time dependent transfer of heat towards said at least one second passive reactant, thereby causing time-temperature dependent development of said chemical and/or physical reaction.   
     
     
         20 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , wherein said electrical component is selected from the group consisting of resistor, capacitor, diode, inductance coil and antenna and wherein said electrical component is preferably configured as at least one element of an RF circuit. 
     
     
         21 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 18 , wherein said chemical and/or physical reaction is selected from the group consisting of acid-base reaction, oxidation-reduction reaction and salt forming reaction. 
     
     
         22 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one active reactant is a polymer transformable from its initial non-electrically conductive state to an electrically conductive state. 
     
     
         23 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one active reactant is polythiophene and the passive reactant is iodine. 
     
     
         24 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one active reactant is polyaniline and the passive reactant is a peroxydisulfate species. 
     
     
         25 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , wherein said electrical component is a capacitor, preferably being configured as an element of an RF circuit and wherein said at least one active reactant is a dielectric material presenting a dielectric spacer in said capacitor. 
     
     
         26 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 18 , wherein said chemical and/or physical reaction consists of mixing said at least one active reactant and said at least one first passive reactant, thereby causing a change in permeability of the at least one active reactant. 
     
     
         27 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 , configured as a multi-layer structure, including a substrate layer of an electrically insulating, material, carrying a layer structure configured to form said electrical component and, preferably, wherein said layer structure comprises first and second electrode layers spaced by a dielectric layer, thereby forming the capacitor-type electric component. 
     
     
         28 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 18 , configured as a two-part device, wherein one of the two parts includes at least the at least one active reactant, and the other part includes the at least one first and/or second passive reactant, the two parts being configured to be attachable to one another to thereby induce said chemical and/or physical process and thereby put the device in operation. 
     
     
         29 . A method of time temperature indication comprising the step of causing a chemical and/or physical reaction between at least one active reactant and at least one passive reactant in the form of a viscous substance effecting a change in at least an electrical property of an electrical component wherein said at least one active reactant is at least a part of a component that is configured to be either an electrical component or transformable into an electrical component and wherein said at least one passive reactant is selected such that, when being exposed to a temperature higher than a certain temperature specific for said at least one passive reactant, thereby causing time-temperature dependent development of said chemical and/or physical reaction. 
     
     
         30 . A printing ink or printing ink concentrate, comprising an active reactant that intrinsically changes at least an electrical property of an electrical component at a rate that is time-temperature dependent, a passive reactant affectable by a chemical and/or physical reaction with an active reactant, wherein the passive reactant causes time-temperature dependent development of said chemical and/or physical reaction that intrinsically changes at least an electrical property of an electrical component and/or a passive reactant that causes time dependent transfer of heat towards another passive reactant thereby causing time-temperature dependent development of a chemical and/or physical reaction between the other passive reactant and an active reactant that intrinsically changes at least an electrical property of an electrical component. 
     
     
         31 . A packaging material or a label, comprising the time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         32 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 19 , wherein said chemical and/or physical reaction is selected from the group consisting of acid-base reaction, oxidation-reduction reaction and salt forming reaction. 
     
     
         33 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one active reactant is polythiophene and the passive reactant is iodine. 
     
     
         34 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one active reactant is polyaniline and the passive reactant is a peroxydisulfate species. 
     
     
         35 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 19 , wherein said chemical and/or physical reaction consists of mixing said at least one active reactant and said at least one first passive reactant, thereby causing a change in permeability of the at least one active reactant. 
     
     
         36 . The time-temperature indicator device according to  claim 19 , configured as a two-part device, wherein one of the two parts includes at least the at least one active reactant, and the other part includes the at least one first and/or second passive reactant, the two parts being configured to be attachable to one another to thereby induce said chemical and/or physical process and thereby put the device in operation.