Products having rfid tags for wireless interrogation

<u style="single">BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION</u>

Consumers often desire to know information regarding the many products in the household but the large number of consumer products makes keeping track of the condition of all products infeasible. Conditions that consumers often wish to know include age and time before replacement is necessary. At present, consumers often need to write a date on a product to keep track of its age of or continually check the amount remaining to estimate the time before replacement.

Many devices designed to dispense actives (also variously called dispensers) use refillable cartridges. Such devices include air fragrance dispensers. One problem encountered with such dispensers is that the cartridges are relatively long-lasting and when they finally do run out of product, the consumer is caught unprepared to replace the cartridge or they forget.

Document US-B1-6,483,473 shows a wireless communication device attached to a container of product. The device is a transponder able to provide identifying information about the product. It also has a sensor able to sense the constitution of the air around the package, or whether the package has been opened. This information is communicated to the user by the transponder.

There is a need in the prior art for a system able to track products in a household and give level of the products in their containers.

It is an object of the invention to provide consumers with information regarding products within the household.

<u style="single">SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION</u>

According to the present invention there is provided a system comprising: a container having a sensor including an RFID chip affixed to one portion thereof, a device for generating a signal from said sensor, and a remote receiver separate from said container for communicating said signal for alerting the user, characterized by contacts extending downwardly from said sensor and an electrical circuit broken when the level of product in said container falls below said contacts; said device for generating the signal being configured to generate said signal when said electrical circuit is broken for alerting a user that the level of product in the container is low.

The system alerts a consumer when a cartridge is near empty. An automated triggering and signaling device is applied to the dispenser or bait/ trap to signal the consumer when the cartridge is near empty or the trap is being used. Simple electrical or electromechanical mechanisms trigger the signaling device and communicate the status to the consumer via a hand-held PDA or other capable device. When the designated time period of the refill is known, a countdown can be started when the refill is installed, and an automated status of near empty can be signaled after a predetermined time.

<u style="single">BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

<b>FIGURE 1a</b> depicts a trigger spray container having a near-empty indicator;

<b>FIGURE 1b</b> depicts a trigger spray container having an alternative near-empty indicator;

<b>FIGURE 2</b> depicts an aerosol can having a functional label incorporating a near-empty indicator;

<b>FIGURE 3</b> depicts containers having near-empty indicators communicating with a central base station;

<b>FIGURE 4a</b> depicts a dispenser having an active refill incorporating a near-empty indicator;

<b>FIGURE 4b</b> shows a dispenser having an alternative refill incorporating a near-empty indicator;

<u style="single">DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION</u>

RFID is a type of automatic identification technology, similar to bar code technology, except that RFID uses radio frequency instead of optical signals. The reader (or reader/writer) produces a low-level radio frequency magnetic field, typically either at 125 KHz or at 13.56 MHz. It must be noted that other frequencies can be used depending on the application. This magnetic field emanates from the reader (or reader/writer) by means of a transmitting antenna, typically in the form of a coil. Meanwhile, an RFID tag, typically including an antenna and an integrated surface, can be placed on any product.

The RFID system can be either read-only or read/write. Read-only systems, as their name suggests, permit the reader to receive information from the tag, but not vice-versa. Read/write systems, on the other hand, permit two-way communication between the tag and the reader/writer, and each of these components typically include an electronic memory for storing information received from the other component.

Figure la depicts a trigger spray container <b>10</b> having a near-empty indicator. The near-empty indicator consists of an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag <b>12</b> attached to the interior of the container. The RFID tag <b>12</b> has a pair of contacts <b>14</b> extending downwardly from the tag. When the contents of the container reach a level below the end of the contacts <b>14,</b> an electrical circuit is broken, causing the RFID tag to send a signal to a monitoring unit <b>20.</b> Power for the RFID tag to signal the reader is provided by a printed battery. The monitoring unit <b>20</b> has a series of LED lights, each LED light designating a particular product being monitored. In response to a signal from the RFID tag <b>12,</b> the LED light will illuminate to indicate to the user or the consumer that the product will soon be in need of replacement. The signal may be audible.

Figure 1b depicts an alternative near-empty indicator. The trigger spray container <b>10</b> has a flexible printed circuit board <b>16</b> mounted thereon with a pair of contacts extending downwardly inside of the container. In a manner similar to the embodiment shown in Figure la, the reduction in level of product below the terminal ends of the contacts <b>18</b> causes the printed circuit board <b>16</b> to display a message on a display, such as e-paper attached to the container. Power for the printed circuit board and display is provided by a printed battery <b>25</b> adhered to the container exterior.

Figure 2 depicts the incorporation of a near-empty indicator on an aerosol can <b>30.</b> A functional label <b>32</b> is attached to the can. The functional label <b>32</b> includes a refill sensor <b>34.</b> When the contents of the container fall below a certain level, the refill sensor <b>34</b> sends a signal to a base monitor <b>38.</b> The base monitor <b>38</b> is able to display a printed message to the user indicating the need to replace the product in the very near future. The refill sensor is provided power by a printable battery <b>36</b> incorporated into the label.

Figure 3 depicts the ability for a plurality of containers to interact with a single central base station. The trigger spray container <b>10</b> has an RFID tag <b>12.</b> In this instance, the contacts <b>114</b> are molded into the container. The spray can <b>30</b> has a near-empty indicator attached to the interior of the can during manufacturing. Both of these containers communicate with a base monitor to alert the consumer that the level of product remaining in either respective container has reached a certain, predetermined low level.

Figure 4a shows a plug-in appliance for discharging fragrances, insecticides or similar actives. The actives are contained in a replaceable cartridge <b>42</b> received by the plug-in appliance <b>40</b> and having an RFID tag <b>44.</b> Contacts from the RFID tag extend downwardly from the tag and a reduction in the amount of liquid or gel contained in the refill breaks the electrical circuit when the product falls below a certain level. The signal sent from the RFID tag alerts the consumer of this condition. In this instance, the RFID tag causes indicator light 45 at the top of the plug-in appliance to illuminate. The plug-in appliance can also have an audible message in response to a signal from the RFID tag. An additional embodiment would have the RFID tag signal a timer in the heater 40 to start. When the timer reaches a set time limit a signal is activated indicating that the refill is near empty.

Figure 4b shows a similar plug-in appliance <b>46</b> having a different type of cartridge <b>48</b> incorporating an RFID tag <b>49</b> having contacts extending downwardly into the container that break an electrical circuit when the product falls below a certain level. In the same manner, after such an event occurs, the RFID tag causes an indicator light <b>45</b> to illuminate. An additional embodiment would have the RFID tag signal a timer in the heater <b>46</b> to start. When the timer reaches a set time limit a signal is activated indicating that the refill is near empty.

Although specific components, materials, configurations, arrangements, etc. have been shown and described with reference to several preferred embodiments, our invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that various modifications and variations are possible within our invention as defined by the accompanying claims.