U.S. patent application number 13/982017 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-21 for method and apparatus for automated messaging in beverage containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAY IT CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Moore Greenberg, Marcel Illouz, Dustin McIntire, Nitzan Talor, Renee Talor. Invention is credited to Moore Greenberg, Marcel Illouz, Dustin McIntire, Nitzan Talor, Renee Talor.
Application Number | 20130307683 13/982017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46581101 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130307683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greenberg; Moore ; et
al. |
November 21, 2013 |
Method and Apparatus for Automated Messaging in Beverage
Containers
Abstract
An apparatus generates an audio and/or visual signal or message
when a container having an opening mechanism is opened. An
activation trigger is coupled to the container to determine when
the container has been opened. An integrated circuit is mounted on
or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the
activation trigger to determine the sealing status of the container
and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message when a
determination is made that the container has been opened. An output
device is coupled to the integrated circuit for outputting a signal
related to a status of container usage, a last opening of the
container and/or scheduled next opening of the container.
Inventors: |
Greenberg; Moore; (Valley
Village, CA) ; Illouz; Marcel; (Canoga Park, CA)
; Talor; Renee; (West Hills, CA) ; Talor;
Nitzan; (West Hills, CA) ; McIntire; Dustin;
(Newbury Park, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Greenberg; Moore
Illouz; Marcel
Talor; Renee
Talor; Nitzan
McIntire; Dustin |
Valley Village
Canoga Park
West Hills
West Hills
Newbury Park |
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAY IT CORPORATION
Valley Village
CA
|
Family ID: |
46581101 |
Appl. No.: |
13/982017 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 9, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/47072 |
371 Date: |
July 30, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61437539 |
Jan 28, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/539.1 ;
340/657 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 23/02 20130101;
G09F 23/0091 20130101; B65D 2203/12 20130101; A61J 7/0436 20150501;
A47G 19/2205 20130101; A61J 2200/30 20130101; G09F 27/00 20130101;
A47G 19/2227 20130101; A61J 7/04 20130101; B65D 55/028 20130101;
B65D 17/4012 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/539.1 ;
340/657 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for generating an audio and/or visual signal or
message when a container having an opening mechanism is opened
comprising: an activation trigger coupled to the container to
determine when the container has been opened, the trigger
characterized by an electrical parameter which is dependent on the
sealing status of the container; an integrated circuit mounted on
or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the
activation trigger to measure the electrical parameter to determine
the sealing status of the container and to generate the audio
and/or visual signal or message when a determination is made that
the container has been opened; an acoustic transducer coupled to
the integrated circuit; and a battery coupled to the integrated
circuit, where the integrated circuit, acoustic transducer and
battery are combined into a laminated stacked assembly coupled to
the container and coupled to the opening mechanism provided in or
on the container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the stacked assembly is
integrated into the opening mechanism provided in or on the
container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the stacked assembly comprises
the opening mechanism provided in or on the container.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 where the opening mechanism of the
container has a closure with a separable seam, the stacked assembly
being included on or in the closure and having a conductive path
through or across the seam, where the stacked assembly is activated
by separation of the seam upon opening of the closure.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the stacked assembly is disposed
on or in a resealable closure of a container through which closure
a interruptible circuit path is defined.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a clock to measure
or record the time, since the last loss of continuity on container,
where the assembly audible announces the time elapsed since the
last time container was opened.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a plurality of
stacked assemblies forming a peer-to-peer network or to a local
computer network and further comprising an RF communication module
included in the stacked assembly, which wirelessly communicates
information pertaining to container and/or opening mechanism and
its opening or closure to other ones of the plurality of stacked
assemblies forming the peer-to-peer network or to the local
computer network.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 where the stacked assembly is provided
with isolated onboard or intercommunicated intelligence from other
sources to interact with a user according to usage of the
containers as detected by the stacked assemblies.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 where the container comprises a
dispenser of an item and is arranged and configured not only to
allow detection of opening or closure of container, but dispensing
of the item.
10. An apparatus for generating an audio and/or visual signal or
message when a container having an opening mechanism is opened
comprising: an activation trigger coupled to the container to
determine when the container has been opened; an integrated circuit
mounted on or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled
to the activation trigger to determine the sealing status of the
container and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message
when a determination is made that the container has been opened;
and an output device coupled to the integrated circuit for
outputting a signal related to a status of container usage, a last
opening of the container and/or scheduled next opening of the
container.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 where the trigger is a membrane
switch and where the opening mechanism is a cap for the container,
the membrane switch being disposed between the cap and container
and activated by the closure or opening of the container by the
cap.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an adapter ring,
where the cap comprises a standardized design and where the adapter
ring couples the cap to the container, the container having one
predetermined design of a plurality of possible designs for sealing
the container, and where the adapter ring adapts the standardized
cap to the one predetermined design of the container.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a data connector
included within or on the opening mechanism or container and
coupled to the integrated circuit.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a wireless
transceiver included within or on the opening mechanism or
container and coupled to the integrated circuit.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a battery and an
inductive charging circuit coupled to the battery included within
or on the opening mechanism or container and coupled to the
integrated circuit.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a debouncing
circuit coupled to the integrated circuit to reliably detect
opening or closure of the opening mechanism by delaying activation
of the trigger by a predetermined time period after first detection
of an opening or closure.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a replaceable
overlay disposed on the standardized cap, the overlay selectively
provided with a symbol, word or graphic for identification of the
container to a user.
18. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a security device
coupled to the opening mechanism for selectively locking and
unlocking the opening mechanism based on user presentation of a
security key to the security device.
19. A method of management of drug or medicament usage comprising:
providing a container for holding or dispensing the drug or
medicament, the container having an opening mechanism for
selectively closing and opening the container; detecting a usage
status of the container, including an opening or closing of the
container, by means of a sensor included on or within the opening
mechanism or container; communicating the detected usage status of
the container from the sensor to an integrated circuit included on
or within the opening mechanism or container; and automatically
outputting a message to a user dependent on the detected usage
status of the container and dependent on an intended usage of the
drug or medicament by means of the integrated circuit and an output
device included on or within the opening mechanism or
container.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising communicating with
the integrated circuit with a computer or data source separate from
the opening mechanism and container to determine the message
communicated to the user by the integrated circuit and output
device.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/437,539, filed on Jan. 28, 2011,
which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is
claimed pursuant to 35 USC 119.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to devices which detect the opening or
closing of a container and more particularly to containers having a
signaling device which generates a message when the container is
opened or closed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Numerous audio generating devices have long been used for
use on beverage devices and pharmaceutical containers, including
pill bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans, tin cans, and paper
cups. In general these devices are intended to detect when the
vessel is moved in order to trigger playback of an audio signal.
Activation methods of these devices include light sensors, straw
suction, and vessel pressure sensors. Other additional activation
methods include the breaking of a sealing member of an aluminum
can, for example when the tab of the can is opened, or when
internal pressure within the can is released. The electronics
responsible for generating an audio signal may be disposed either
internally or externally on the beverage container. Examples are
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,575,383; 5,130,696; 7,888,898; 6,992,586;
6,557,728; 7,269,476 and US Patent Publication 2009/0281657.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The illustrated embodiments of the invention include a
method and apparatus for using a preexisting beverage container,
specifically a metal beverage can as a means for advertising
through an audio sample when the can has been activated. However,
it is to be expressly understood that the scope of the invention is
not limited to metal beverage cans, but in addition specifically
includes any kind of food, health and beauty, household and
industrial container now known or later devised. Further, the
invention includes not just a metal pull tabs, but also a plastic
pull tabs, metal/plastic twist offs, metal/plastic pop top and any
other release or opening device now known or later devised.
[0007] The illustrated embodiments of the invention include an
apparatus for playing an audio file when a container is opened. The
apparatus includes a stacked electronics assembly, and a device
activation trigger coupled to the pull tab of the container and the
stacked electronics assembly, where the device activation trigger
comprises means for detecting when the seal of the container has
been opened.
[0008] The device activation trigger is a resistive switch
comprising an actuation switch disposed across the stacked assembly
to an extended tab rivet; and a conductive path commencing and
terminating at the stacked assembly and forming a loop through the
actuation switch.
[0009] The device activation trigger is a mechanical switch,
magnetic switch, and/or inductive switch.
[0010] The stacked assembly includes a speaker, a substrate, a
battery; and an integrated chip-on-board assembly.
[0011] The illustrated embodiments of the invention include an
apparatus for generating an audio signal or message when a
container is opened, which comprises an activation trigger coupled
to the container to determine when the container has been opened,
the trigger characterized by an electrical parameter which is
dependent on the sealing status of the container, an integrated
circuit mounted on the container and coupled to the activation
trigger to measure the electrical parameter to determine the
sealing status of the container and to generate an audio signal or
message when a determination is made that the container has been
opened, a speaker coupled to the integrated circuit, and a battery
coupled to the integrated circuit, where the integrated circuit,
speaker and battery are combined into a laminated stacked assembly
coupled to the container and coupled to an opening mechanism
provided in or on the container.
[0012] The stacked assembly is integrated into the opening
mechanism provided in or on the container.
[0013] The stacked assembly comprises the opening mechanism
provided in or on the container.
[0014] The stacked assembly further comprises an acoustic resonator
cavity.
[0015] In another embodiment, programming of the audio data content
may be achieved through wireless transmission methods. In this
instantiation an additional wireless transceiver is included in a
chip-on-board (COB) component. The wireless transceiver receives
data from a programming terminal for the purpose of saving audio
data in the device's non volatile storage component.
[0016] More specifically, the illustrated embodiments of the
invention include an apparatus for generating an audio and/or
visual signal or message when a container having an opening
mechanism is opened. An activation trigger is coupled to the
container to determine when the container has been opened, the
trigger characterized by an electrical parameter which is dependent
on the sealing status of the container. An integrated circuit is
mounted on or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled
to the activation trigger to measure the electrical parameter to
determine the sealing status of the container and to generate the
audio and/or visual signal or message when a determination is made
that the container has been opened. An acoustic transducer is
coupled to the integrated circuit. A battery is coupled to the
integrated circuit, where the integrated circuit, acoustic
transducer and battery are combined into a laminated stacked
assembly coupled to the container and coupled to the opening
mechanism provided in or on the container.
[0017] The stacked assembly is integrated into the opening
mechanism provided in or on the container. The stacked assembly
comprises the opening mechanism provided in or on the container.
The opening mechanism of the container has a closure with a
separable seam. The stacked assembly is included on or in the
closure and having a conductive path through or across the seam,
where the stacked assembly is activated by separation of the seam
upon opening of the closure. The stacked assembly is disposed on or
in a resealable closure of a container through which closure a
interruptible circuit path is defined.
[0018] The apparatus further includes a clock to measure or record
the time, since the last loss of continuity on container, where the
assembly audible announces the time elapsed since the last time
container was opened.
[0019] The apparatus is usable in combination with a plurality of
stacked assemblies forming a peer-to-peer network or to a local
computer network and further comprising an RF communication module
included in the stacked assembly, which wirelessly communicates
information pertaining to container and/or opening mechanism and
its opening or closure to other ones of the plurality of stacked
assemblies forming the peer-to-peer network or to the local
computer network.
[0020] The stacked assembly is provided with isolated onboard or
intercommunicated intelligence from other sources to interact with
a user according to usage of the containers as detected by the
stacked assemblies.
[0021] The container comprises a dispenser of an item and is
arranged and configured not only to allow detection of opening or
closure of container, but dispensing of the item.
[0022] The illustrated embodiments can also be characterized as an
apparatus for generating an audio and/or visual signal or message
when a container having an opening mechanism is opened. An
activation trigger is coupled to the container to determine when
the container has been opened. An integrated circuit is mounted on
or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the
activation trigger to determine the sealing status of the container
and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message when a
determination is made that the container has been opened. An output
device is coupled to the integrated circuit for outputting a signal
related to a status of container usage, a last opening of the
container and/or scheduled next opening of the container.
[0023] In one embodiment the trigger is a membrane switch and where
the opening mechanism is a cap for the container, the membrane
switch being disposed between the cap and container and activated
by the closure or opening of the container by the cap.
[0024] The embodiments may further include an adapter ring, where
the cap comprises a standardized design and where the adapter ring
couples the cap to the container, the container having one
predetermined design of a plurality of possible designs for sealing
the container, and where the adapter ring adapts the standardized
cap to the one predetermined design of the container.
[0025] The embodiments may further include a data connector
included within or on the opening mechanism or container and
coupled to the integrated circuit.
[0026] The embodiments may further include a wireless transceiver
included within or on the opening mechanism or container and
coupled to the integrated circuit.
[0027] The embodiments may further include a battery and an
inductive charging circuit coupled to the battery included within
or on the opening mechanism or container and coupled to the
integrated circuit.
[0028] The embodiments may further include a debouncing circuit
coupled to the integrated circuit to reliably detect opening or
closure of the opening mechanism by delaying activation of the
trigger by a predetermined time period after first detection of an
opening or closure.
[0029] The embodiments may further include a replaceable overlay
disposed on the standardized cap, the overlay selectively provided
with a symbol, word or graphic for identification of the container
to a user.
[0030] The embodiments may further include a security device
coupled to the opening mechanism for selectively locking and
unlocking the opening mechanism based on user presentation of a
security key to the security device.
[0031] The illustrated embodiments of the invention can still
further be characterized as a method of management of drug or
medicament usage including the steps of providing a container for
holding or dispensing the drug or medicament, the container having
an opening mechanism for selectively closing and opening the
container, detecting a usage status of the container, including an
opening or closing of the container, by means of a sensor included
on or within the opening mechanism or container, communicating the
detected usage status of the container from the sensor to an
integrated circuit included on or within the opening mechanism or
container, and automatically outputting a message to a user
dependent on the detected usage status of the container and
dependent on an intended usage of the drug or medicament by means
of the integrated circuit and an output device included on or
within the opening mechanism or container.
[0032] The method may further include the step of communicating
with the integrated circuit with a computer or data source separate
from the opening mechanism and container to determine the message
communicated to the user by the integrated circuit and output
device.
[0033] While the apparatus and method has or will be described for
the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it
is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly
formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily
limited in any way by the construction of "means" or "steps"
limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning
and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the
judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims
are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full
statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The invention can be better
visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like
elements are referenced by like numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit of the illustrated
embodiment showing an integrated circuit board coupled to a
permanent magnet speaker.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of a pop-top can on
which the illustrated embodiment has been deployed.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a diagram in enlarged scale of
the integrated package of the illustrated embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a side view of a screw cap container
with a tearable seam, the rupture of which is used to active the
assembly of the illustrated embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of the invention where
the assemblies are incorporated into or on a resealable closure and
provided with or communicated with a source of intelligent to
detect, record and manage use of the container relating to its
opening, closing or dispensing of contents.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with a
visual display incorporated in or coupled to the pill cap.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with a
membrane switch and adapter rings incorporated in or coupled to the
pill cap.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with a
data port incorporated in or coupled to the pill cap.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with a
wireless communication system incorporated in or coupled to the
pill cap.
[0043] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with an
inductive charging device communicated or coupled with the pill
cap.
[0044] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with an
acoustic resonator incorporated in or coupled to the pill cap.
[0045] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with an
overlay incorporated in or coupled to the pill cap.
[0046] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pill cap with
security devices incorporated in or coupled to the pill cap.
[0047] The invention and its various embodiments can now be better
understood by turning to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples
of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood
that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the
illustrated embodiments described below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The advertising beverage can of the illustrated embodiment
of the current invention requires several basic functions to be
implemented, principally first among these is a device activation
trigger used to determine when the can, generally denoted by
reference numeral 10 in FIG. 2, has been opened. Although a
beverage can is illustrated any kind or type of container for any
type of goods with any kind of opening seal or mechanism may be
employed with the illustrated embodiments of the invention. In one
embodiment, the can 10 comprises a stacked assembly 12 coupled to a
pull tab 16 of the can 10. The pull tab 16 is coupled to the can 10
by a tab rivet 20 which is surrounded by an extended rivet tab 22.
Coupled between to the stacked assembly 12 and the extended rivet
tab 22 is one-time use actuation switch 32. The actuation switch 32
is comprised of two halves, namely an assembly half 26 and a can
half 28. The assembly half 26 is permanently coupled to the stacked
assembly 12 while the can half 28 is permanently coupled to the
extended rivet tab 22 by means of soldering or conductive epoxy.
The assembly and can halves 26, 28 are temporarily coupled together
via a perforated tab tearing seam 24. A conductive path 30
comprised of light weight wire couples the stacked assembly 12 to
the actuation switch 3. The conductive path 30 forms a loop which
travels from the stacked assembly 12 through both halves 26, 28 of
the actuation switch 32 via the center of the perforated tab
tearing seam 24, and then back into the stacked assembly 12 as seen
in FIG. 2. The stacked assembly 12, conductive path 30, actuation
switch 32, and extended rivet tab 22 together form a resistive
switch as is known in the art. Briefly, resistive switches use
electrical current to detect whether a continuous electrical path
exists between two points. The cost of manufacturing resistive
switches is negligible as it can be implemented in standard
integrated circuit manufacturing processes as is known in the art.
Resistive switches help comprise an active circuit meaning that
power is discharged continuously in order to determine if the
switch is open or closed. Since the can 10 is made of a conductive
metal (aluminum), in one embodiment the structure of the can 10
itself can be used as a means to provide the switch `wiring` or
replace the conductive path 30.
[0049] With the conductive path 30 in tact as depicted in FIG. 2,
the stacked assembly 12 supplies a low electrical current through
the actuation switch 24. When the pull tab 16 is lifted from the
can 10, the actuation switch 32 tears along the perforated tab
tearing seam 24 causing the actuation switch 32 to break, leaving
the assembly half 26 and can half 28 coupled to the stacked
assembly 12 and extended rivet tab 22 respectively. The severed
actuation switch 32 interrupts the flow of electrical current
through the conductive path 30 causing an open circuit to be
detected by the stacked assembly 12 as discussed below. This open
circuit can then be used as the device activation trigger.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the device activation trigger
may be a plurality of magnetic switches. Magnetic switches use the
proximity of a magnetic field to determine if a switch is open or
closed. In this embodiment, iron additives are coupled or
integrated into the can lid 10 at a plurality of locations to make
the material ferrous. Additionally a permanent magnet is coupled to
the pull tab 16. In this embodiment, the conductive path 30 runs
from the stacked assembly 12 through the permanent magnet disposed
on the pull tab 16, through at least one iron additive or secondary
magnet disposed within the lid of the can 10 and then back into the
stacked assembly. Alternatively, the pull tab 16 itself may be
comprised of the permanent magnet. When the pull tab 16 is lifted
from the can 10, the permanent magnet is lifted away from the
secondary magnet severing the connection between the two magnets.
The loss of contact between the two magnets stops the current
flowing through the conductive path 30 which signals the stacked
assembly 12 that the can 10 is open.
[0051] In yet another embodiment, a mechanical switch may be used
as the device activation trigger. A mechanical switch is passive
and uses the physical movement of objects to make a connection
between a power source and an audio playback device. This switch is
ideal from the standpoint that it uses no power until the switch is
closed and when a mechanical connection is made between the power
source and audio playback device. For example, when the pull tab 16
is pulled away from the can 10, a mechanical switch coupled to both
the pull tab 16 and slidably coupled within the stacked assembly 12
is moved accordingly. When the mechanical switch has moved far
enough, a circuit is created between a power source and an audio
playback device allowing an audio message to be heard. The
mechanical switch is maintained in the closed position until the
audio signal emitted from the audio playback device has been
completely played back to the user.
[0052] In a further embodiment, the device activation trigger is an
inductive switch which detects the proximity of a device in a
similar fashion to a traditional metal detector device. An
inductive switch determines the presence of a metallic objects by
generating an electromagnetic field and sensing changes in the
field. This type of device requires continuous power dissipation in
order to generate the electromagnetic field. In this embodiment,
the pull tab 16 comprises a primary inductive element and the lid
of the can comprises a secondary inductive element disposed
directly beneath that of the primary element when the seal 18 of
the can 10 is closed. The stacked assembly 12 is coupled to both
the primary and secondary inductive elements independently. When
the pull tab 16 is pulled away from the can 10, the primary
inductive element is pulled away from the secondary inductive
element causing a change in the magnetic field disposed there
between. This change in magnetic field creates a corresponding
change in electrical current flowing through the conductive path 30
which signals the stacked assembly 12 that the seal 18 of the can
10 is now open.
[0053] Turning now to FIG. 3, the plurality of components
comprising the stacked assembly 12 may be seen. The stacked
assembly 12 preferably comprises a piezoelectric speaker or
resonator 14, a substrate 34, a battery 36, and a chip-on-board
(COB) assembly or audio tone generator electronics 38. The
components of the stacked assembly 12 are laminated together into a
single unit which is sufficiently rigid and robust enough to be
used as a functional part of the pull tab 16. In other words, the
stacked assembly 12 may be pulled away from the can 10 in addition
to the pull tab 16 in order to open up the seal 18. All of the
components of the stacked assembly 12 comprise a reduced height to
provide a slim, easy to open replacement for the pull tab 16.
[0054] The speaker 14 of the stacked assembly 12 is preferably a
piezoelectric speaker or a piezoelectric resonator which uses an
electric field to cause a thin insulating substance such as quartz
to vibrate and generate acoustic sounds. These devices are
extremely thin and low cost due to their simple construction.
Alternatively, a wire wound speaker may be used. A wire wound
speaker is well known in the art and is used in a majority of
speaker applications. Briefly, a wire wound speaker uses a small
magnet and coiled wire to move a membrane which produces sound. The
cost of a wire wound speaker is driven by the need for both a
magnet and a significant amount of copper wire to drive the speaker
membrane. The thickness of the speaker 14 may be adjusted by
changing the amount of coiled wire employed.
[0055] The speaker 14 of the stacked assembly 12 is disposed on top
of the substrate 34 which is comprised of plastic, metal,
fiberglass, or a combination thereof. The substrate 34 comprises a
cavity or a hollow void in the center to allow the audio signal
that is emitted from the speaker 14 to resonate for effective audio
playback.
[0056] The battery 36 stores the electrical charge necessary needed
to drive the speaker 14 during audio playback. The battery 36
preferably only comprises enough storage to drive the speaker 14
once so as to reduce the cost of manufacturing of the battery 36
and to reduce its overall physical profile within the stacked
assembly 12. In one embodiment, the battery 36 is a chemical
battery. Chemical batteries are the most widely used charge storage
device. They are available in many different compositions including
lithium, alkaline, nickel hydride, and others. The most preferred
composition for the battery 36 is alkaline, which provides
approximately 1.5V. The stacked assembly 12 may therefore comprise
a plurality of at least two alkaline batteries coupled together in
series within the same layer of the stacked assembly 12. The
battery 36 may also comprise a voltage doubling circuit as is known
in the art so as to maintain a slim profile. Newer compositions of
batteries such as nickel-zinc or other non-toxic compositions now
known or later devised may also be used without departing from the
original spirit and scope of the invention. In another embodiment,
the battery 36 may be a capacitor capable of maintaining a large
energy density when fully charged.
[0057] The COB assembly or audio tone generator and electronics 38
is an integrated circuit as seen in FIG. 1 within the stacked
assembly 12 that is responsible for generating an electrical audio
signal which converted into audible sound waves by the speaker or
resonator 14. The COB assembly 38 comprises a microcontroller and a
ROM chip containing a pre-recorded or pre-programmed audio file.
The audio file may be any sort of audio file desired including but
not limited to advertisements, music, or the like.
[0058] The battery 36 and COB assembly 38 work in conjunction to
provide constant, low electrical current running through the
conductive path 30 when the seal 18 of the can 10 is closed. The
conductive path 30 is shown in FIG. 1 as part of activation trigger
39, which includes any kind of mechanism or circuit element which
can be used to trigger COB assembly 38 to detect an activation
event, whether it be a container opening, closing or other
manipulation of the container. When the pull tab 16 is lifted from
the can 10, the seal 18 is opened and the conductive path 30 is
severed by one of the device activation triggers discussed above.
With the conductive path 30 severed, the microcontroller on the COB
assembly 38 executes a pre-programmed routine that renders the
pre-programmed audio file stored on the ROM chip into an electrical
signal. This signal is then transmitted to the speaker 14 for
conversion into an audible tone. After the audio file has been
initiated by the microcontroller, it continually plays through the
speaker 14 until the battery 36 expends the last of its stored
charge and the COB assembly 38 powers down, thus ceasing any
further audio playback through the speaker 14.
[0059] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of the assembly 12 of FIG. 3
mounted on or in a lid or cap 42 of a pharmaceutical, food, health
and beauty, household or industrial container 40. It is to be
expressly understood that the teachings of the illustrated
embodiments applied to and can be extended to all types of
containers or packaging now known or later devised. Thus it is to
be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments of the
invention include not just a metal pull tabs, but a plastic pull
tabs, metal/plastic twist offs, metal/plastic pop top, screw top
caps and lids and other release or opening devices. Cap 42 includes
a tearing seam 44 integrated into cap 42. Separable, tearable or
rupturable seams 44 are conventional and well known to those of
ordinary skill in the packaging arts. A conductive path 46 is
coupled from assembly 12 through cap 42 through or across seam 44,
so that when cap 42 is opened and seam 44 torn, separated or
ruptured, path 46 is broken or becomes electrically discontinuous.
The discontinuity is detected by assembly 12, which is then
activated.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a diagram of another embodiment of the invention
in which assembly 12 is disposed on or in a resealable closure 48
of a container 50 through which closure 48 a interruptible circuit
path 56 is defined. There are virtually an unlimited number of ways
in which circuit path 56 could be devised. One embodiment includes
a conductive lead 64 from assembly 12 on the inside threading or
interior compression sealing surface of cap 48. A corresponding
conductive lead 62 is provided on the exterior threading or
exterior compression surface of the connection portion of container
50 which mates with cap 48. These two leads 62 and 64 overlap 58
when cap 48 is disposed on container 50 and arranged in the closed
configuration. The overlap 58 defines a pair of electrical contacts
to establish electrical continuity. When cap 48 is opened by
unscrewing or snapping off container 50, the overlap 58 is lost and
electrically continuity is interrupted. This interruption is
detected by assembly 12 and can be exploited in a multiplicity of
ways for plurality of objects.
[0061] For example, assembly 12 comprises a clock (not shown) which
may either be synchronized with the chronological time or may be a
timer recording the time which has past since the last loss of
continuity on container 50. The sound recording stored in assembly
12 may then audible announce the time elapsed since the last time
container 50 was opened. This information is a material utility in
the case that container 50 is a pharmaceutical container and drug
dosage management is being performed. The user is thus reminded
that he or she probably took a dosage of the drug at the time
announced by assembly 12. This prevents accidental overdoses, which
may have deleterious and even possibly fatal results.
[0062] Further, assembly 12 in some embodiments further comprises
an RF communication module, like RFID chips, which wirelessly
communicates information pertaining to container 50 and its opening
or closure to other ones of a plurality of similar assemblies 12
forming a peer-to-peer network or to a local network through router
54 to computer 52. The information includes not only the event and
time of opening or closure of container 50, but the expected
contents of or identity of container 50 as well. Thus, among a
plurality of containers 50 so equipped, drug interactions can be
checked according to stored programs in memories and
microprocessors included in assemblies 12 or via stored programs in
memories in computer 52. Computer 52 may be communicated to the
internet 60 by conventional means and thus be connected with an
external network, which may include the user's physician, pharmacy
or wellness provider. The user's drug compliance can then be
monitored and recorded directly by an external monitoring expert
system. Failure of compliance or misuse can be detected and
automatic messages via computer 52 or the telephone can be
initiated to remind the user to take or refrain from taking a
particular course of action with respect to drug usage as
determined by actual openings of the pharmaceutical containers. A
message may then be communicated to assembly 12 through computer 52
or from the onboard memory of the appropriate container 50 among a
plurality of containers to provide a customized message concerning
the usage of the drug in the container 50. Further, all messages
announced by assemblies 12 can be selectively programmed to provide
the messages in a language which is native to the user on a
case-by-case basis. Such monitoring is particularly useful for
senior patients, whose cognitive ability to maintain reliable drug
compliance usages may be impaired by age. In other words,
assemblies 12 may be provided with isolated onboard or
intercommunicated intelligence from other sources to interact with
the user according to usage of the containers 50 as detected by
assemblies 12.
[0063] It is also contemplated within the scope of the invention
that containers 50 may be arranged and configured not only to allow
detection of opening or closure of container 50, but also to be
structured as dispensers. In other words, instead of simply a
bottle with a cap, container 50 may dispense the medicaments by
dosage units like a candy dispenser in which case assemblies 12
detect the dispensing of a dosage unit directly rather than by
presumption. The various mechanisms whereby tablets or other
dosages units of a drug or item may be effected is again virtually
limitless and are well known to those with ordinary skill in the
packaging arts. Regardless of the specific dispensing mechanism,
the dispensing of a dosage unit occurs through the actuation of
some kind of a mechanical element, which actuation can be
electrically detected by assembly 12 and exploited as disclosed
above.
[0064] The embodiments of the invention are further illustrated in
the context of a pharmaceutical container or pill cap 66. The pill
cap 66 has many feature variations. In one embodiment, a visual
electronic display 68 is included or coupled to the pill cap 66 for
the purpose of indicating to the patient when a medication dose is
next scheduled as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. Display 68 may
be comprised of one or more light emitting diodes (LED). The LED's
may be of multiple colors to indicate status information to the
patient, namely whether the pill cap 66 has been opened and a
dosage dispensed, showing for example a black color, is to be
dispensed at a future date, showing for example a green color, and
time or is overdue for dispensing, showing for example a red color.
The display may show a different color, sound an audible alarm or
enter a flashing mode, for example, if opened for dispensing a
dosage, which would be duplicate dosage if taken. Display 68 could
also comprises an embedded liquid crystal display (LCD) capable of
displaying text or graphical information to the patient. The LCD
display 68 may also contain an LED backlight light source (not
shown) to make viewing in low light conditions easier. The display
68 may be viewed from the top and/or in a side profile of the pill
container 66 simultaneously as shown in FIG. 6 to allow the pill
cap 66 to be effectively utilized in either a horizontal or
vertical stacking arrangement. The display 68 may be modified to
contain specific images, such as universal man/woman gender symbols
or patient selected identifiers.
[0065] The illustrated embodiments also include a universal
mechanism for indicating when a pill cap 66 has been removed. The
mechanism is comprised of an elastomeric membrane switch 72 inset
on the inside of the pill cap as depicted in FIG. 7. When the pill
cap 66 is attached or coupled to the pill container body 70, the
membrane switch 72 is compressed between the cap 66 and top of the
pill bottle 70, forcing the membrane switch 72 to be in the closed
position. When the pill bottle cap 66 is removed, the membrane
switch 72 is no longer compressed between the cap 66 and pill
container body 70, thus it is in the open position. An additional
time delay is added in programmable circuitry (not shown) coupled
to switch 72 between the opening and closing to prevent false
detection of a cap removal due to cap misalignment.
[0066] In addition to the elastomeric switch 72 to provide the pill
cap status, a set of pill cap adapter rings 74 is included. The
adapter rings 74 are sets of keyed threads designed to mate with
the various pill container bodies 70 including those with safety
cap features. It is known that the safety features of different
off-the-shelf pill container bodies 70 vary by manufacturer. The
pill cap 66 with the combination of universal membrane switch 72
and threaded adapter rings 74 provide a method to attach to a wide
variety of pill bottles 70 with a single cap design and maintain
the ability to detect cap installation and removal events across
the entire set of pill bottle varieties.
[0067] In one embodiment the pill cap 66 may contain a cabled
programming port 76 (via USB or any other standardized or
proprietary wired interface) as depicted in FIG. 8. A programming
cable 78 is connected between the pill cap 66 and a personal
computer or some other electronic device such as a smart phone 80 .
The purpose of the connection allows the following actions to be
performed: data stored on the pill cap 66 may be uploaded to a
personal computer or iphone 80. This data may contain information
related to the pill cap's usage patterns and battery status.
Information regarding the number of times the pill cap 66 was
removed and how long it was removed from the pill bottle 70 can be
used to derive the frequency of use. Data may be downloaded from
the personal computer or iphone 80 to the pill cap 66. The data may
contain changes to the dose information including frequency of use
or clock update information to circuitry (not shown) included in
pill cap 66. This could be used to adjust prescription dosing
mid-course. For instance, the patient's doctor can determine that
based on at home vital signs or symptoms, that the dosage frequency
needs modification. Power may be provided from the programming port
76 to recharge the pill cap battery (not shown). This allows a
permanent battery to be installed without the requirement for
patient to periodically replace the primary battery. The visual
display elements (LED or LCD) may be used to display the charge
level of the primary battery to warn the patient of low battery
status.
[0068] In another embodiment, a wireless communications device 82
is included in pill cap 66. The communications device 82 includes a
passive, near field communications device using backscatter
techniques such as that provided by conventional RFID tags. In this
embodiment the patient places the pill bottles 70 on or near a tag
reader device 84, which detect which medications are present by
interrogating the pill cap 66 through methods such as that
conventionally provided by RFID readers.
[0069] Wireless battery charging of pill cap 66 using an inductive
charging process can be employed. The patient sets the pill bottles
70 on a tray or mat 84 that serves as a charging station. The pill
caps 66 need not be removed from the pill bottle 70 for charging to
occur. Using off the shelf technology for inductive charging is
possible with the integration of a spiral PCB antenna (not shown)
incorporated in the cap 66. The antenna would be coupled to a
battery charging circuit included in cap 66.
[0070] Cabled programming and wireless communication disclosed
above may be combined into a single capability that provides both
data communications and power transfer. In this embodiment, the
tray or mat 84 previously used for charging also contains a
wireless communications device using RF tag technology. When the
patient places the pill bottle 70 on the mat 84, the data
synchronization with the patient's personal computer or smart
device 80 begins. Simultaneously the battery charging function
begins using the inductive charging technique disclosed above.
[0071] Integration of a real time clock into the pill cap 66 is
contemplated as a feature in various ones of the illustrated
embodiments. The clock maintains the current local time and
compares local to a downloaded pill-dispensing schedule. The real
time clock is synchronized when connected via the programming port
or is set with wireless programming.
[0072] An acoustic resonator 86 is included in or coupled to cap 66
for generation of audio tones. The sounds may be simple tones or
speech playback. The audio tones will be generated from data stored
in memory circuitry (not shown) included in the pill cap 66. This
data is updated through either the wired programming port or
through the wireless data transfer. When the pill cap 66 is
removed, a "debouncing period" begins to prevent false detection of
a removal. After a fixed period of time if the lid of pill cap 66
remains detached from bottle 70, the audio tone generation begins.
The tone samples can be selected based upon patient information
such as time of day, required dosage, and/or the next dose
schedule.
[0073] The modularized pill cap design provides the ability to
create custom decorative or marked overlays or skins 88 for pill
cap 66 as depicted in FIG. 12. Since the cap 66 utilizes keyed
adapter rings 74 in order to fit to multiple types of pill bottles,
the basic pill cap outline is the same for all pill bottles 70
fitted with the adapter rings 74. Using the fixed outline of the
pill cap 66, the decorative or marked overlays 88 may be fabricated
to a single design specification. The overlays 88 allow the patient
to install custom visual identifiers onto the pill cap 66 to
quickly locate medication based on familiar or customized queues
selected by the patient.
[0074] In another embodiment the pill bottle 70 may contain an
access security device for PRN Class 2 medications. One method for
access security is through the wireless communications feature
disclosed above. The patient is issued a paired communications
device 90 similar to a key fob. In order for the pill bottle 70 to
be opened or opened without an unlawful entry being stored in the
pill cap memory, the fob device 90 needs to be in proximity to the
pill cap 66. When the fob device 90 and pill bottle were within
communications range the pill cap LED 68 changes colors to indicate
the bottle 70 is authorized to be open. A another security
embodiment includes the integration of a biometric sensor 92 such
as a fingerprint scanner as is conventionally used in consumer
electronics devices, such as laptops. The fingerprint scanner 92
needs to be accessed by the patient's contact of an index finger,
whose finger print pattern has been pre-scanned and downloaded into
cap 66, in order to change the pill cap LED color and to allow
authorized entry.
[0075] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those
having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that
the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes
of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the
invention as defined by the following invention and its various
embodiments.
[0076] Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated
embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and
that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by
the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that
the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain
combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention
includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements,
which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in
such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a
claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing
for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not
combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in
other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the
invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the
invention.
[0077] The words used in this specification to describe the
invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only
in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by
special definition in this specification structure, material or
acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an
element can be understood in the context of this specification as
including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be
understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by
the specification and by the word itself.
[0078] The definitions of the words or elements of the following
claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not
only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but
all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to
obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore
contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more
elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims
below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more
elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as
acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such,
it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a
claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the
combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a
subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
[0079] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as
viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or
later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently
within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions
now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are
defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
[0080] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is
conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and
also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the
invention.
* * * * *