ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETER OF A SHIPMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless data logger configured to monitor at least one environmental parameter of a shipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the expansion and growth of global sourcing in a supply chain, more prevalent interest has been placed on automatic electronic time and monitoring of environment related parameters to increase food and drug safety and improve food defence systems throughout all areas of production, processing, storage and transportation and operations. Food and drug require proper handling of environment related parameters such as temperature during transport to assure shelf quality, longevity, and safety.

Data loggers are electronic monitoring devices commonly used for these purposes, namely, to automatically monitor and record various environmental related parameters of a shipment, such as heat, humidity, vibration etc., using sensing devices such as temperature sensor, humidity sensor, accelerometer etc. incorporated into a housing of the data logger.

One of the very critical measuring parameters is the temperature measurement where environment conditions can easily affect the temperature measurement. This can as an example be when a data logger communicates with e.g. a cellular system to transmit with a modem measured environmental related parameters to an external data processing device. The heat created from the modem and other electronics can easily affect the temperature measurement and thus make the temperature measurement less reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide a data logger with improved temperature measurement.

In general, the invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art singly or in any combination. In particular, it may be seen as an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a data logger and a method that solves the above-mentioned problems, or other problems. To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a wireless data logger is provided configured to measure at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location and regularly communicate the measured at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device, comprising:

• at least one sensing device connected to a sensing circuitry for measuring the at least one environmental parameter,

• a communication module for communicating the at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device, and

• a memory for storing the measured at least one environmental parameter, wherein the data logger comprises a housing and where the at least one sensing device comprises a temperature sensor located outside and in the vicinity of the housing.

In one embodiment, the data logger further comprises an external cable extending from the sensing circuitry configured to be connected to an external computer device for charging a chargeable power source, such as any type of rechargeable batterie(s), comprised in the data logger and/or upload the measured at least one environmental related parameter from the memory, wherein the temperature sensor is incorporated into the external cable.

In one embodiment, the external cable comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable having a USB connector at a free end of the USB cable, and incorporated into a USB cable housing, the USB connector being configured to connect the data logger to the external computer device, wherein the temperature sensor in at least partly incorporated into the USB cable housing. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor in completely incorporated into the USB cable housing.

Accordingly, a data logger is provided where the temperature measurement may be completely isolated from any heat fluctuations caused by electronic components within the housing, e.g. when activating a modem comprised in the communication module when transmitting the stored at least one environmental parameter from to the external computer device, which makes the heat measurement more reliable.

Moreover, since the data logger communicates its data through cellular network or by other wireless means, there may be situations where cellular network or wireless connections are not available. Therefore, the logger must be equipped with such a USB plug or similar means to access the data on the logger and extract to another computer device.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the USB cable housing at least partially circumferentially surrounding the temperature sensor is adapted to a required response time for the temperature sensor incorporated into the USB cable housing. Accordingly, it is now possible to reduce the response time by reducing the thickness of the USB cable housing, which may be made of plastic material, or casted plastic material.

In one embodiment, the USB cable housing is made of thermally conductive material such as a plastic material e.g. comprising thermally conductive material agents. Thus, the temperature response time may be further enhanced. Also, this may also be considered as another alternative where reducing the thickness of the USB cable housing may not be necessary.

In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is located adjacent to an outer surface of the USB cable housing. Thus, a simple solution is provided in reducing the temperature response time by placing the temperature sensor as close as possible to the inner surface of the USB cable housing.

In another embodiment, the thermally conducting material at least partially locally surrounds the temperature sensor. The thermally conducting material may as an example comprise any type of conducting elements, such as any type of metals or metal alloys, that may in one embodiment reach towards the surface of the USB cable housing.

The term response time indicates the time it takes until the temperature measurement is stable and reliable. Thus, placing the wireless data logger into 0°C freezer, the time until the temperature measures 0°C can take several minutes, up to 20 minutes. Thus, this response time may be greatly reduced.

In an embodiment, the temperature sensor may be, but is not limited to, Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor.

Typically, the wireless data logger comprises a processor for operating the power source, the at least one sensing device and the communication module.

The term shipment may according to the present invention be understood as any type of food, beverages or drugs. The at least one environmental parameter of the shipment may be understood as ambience parameter such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, vibration, temperature, air pressure, surrounding the shipment. This may e.g. be within a container where the shipment may be placed on pallets, or within a closed compartment such as a closed box.

The step of transmitting the at least one environmental parameter to the external data processing device may include sending, which may be done regularly, environmental parameters such as the measured temperature, humidity, light intensity, acceleration etc. to the external data processing device where it may be checked if the measured environmental parameter of the shipment is okey, e.g. the ambience temperature for the shipment is below/above certain pre-defined value or is within a certain range. Such a regular transmission of the measured environment related parameters may thus be understood as real time monitoring of the shipment.

In one embodiment, the processor manages the communication module by means of turning-on the communication module when it transmits at least some of the measurement data to the external data processing device, and turning-off the communication module when it is not transmitting measurement data.

In an embodiment, the data logger further comprises another temperature sensor placed in the housing, and where the processing device is further configured to instruct the this another temperature sensor to measure the environmental related parameter while the communication module turning-off, i.e. while no transmission from the data logger is taking place. This may be of use to compare the result of the two temperature sensors, i.e. to check if they measurements are within a pre-defined threshold value. In case the two temperature values deviate by some pre-defined limit indicates that the data logger needs to be recalibrated.

In one embodiment, the communication module comprises a modem configured to communicated with the external data processing device via a cellular network, e.g. 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G network. One of the main heating sources in the data logger is namely the communication module, in particular the modem.

Therefore, in particularly for temperature measurements, measuring the temperature when the communication module is turned-off, or the modem, all excess heat from the communication module/modem, that would otherwise be present, will no longer disturb the temperature measurement which obviously makes the temperature measurement more accurate and reliable.

Turning the modem off is moreover of particular relevance in maintaining the power source, e.g. battery, charge as long as possible, but such data loggers need to be shelved for weeks or months without losing most of the power source charge. The term “waking up” the data logger may accordingly be understood as waking up the modem, i.e. turning it on, to connect to the cellular network to transmit said measurement data. This waking up frequency may be dependent on the type of transport, e.g. whether it is being transported by a ship/vessel or by a car. This wake-up frequency may thus vary from being once every hour to once every day or even less frequently.

In one embodiment, the other temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to the power source, e.g. said battery, where it is further configured to measure the temperature of the power source while charging the wireless data logger, where the processor is connected to this temperature sensor in the housing and is further configured to stop the charging when the temperature of the power source reaches a pre-defined temperature target limit.

The term transport from an origin location to a destination location may according to the present invention be understood as transport in a car/truck, with ships, aircrafts and any other type of transport.

The term wireless data logger, may also be understood as a real time logger, or simply a logger.

In an embodiment, the data logger (or simply the logger) is configured to in a simple communication connection to deliver environmental measurements such as said temperature, vibration, humidity, timestamps, location coordinates, and events. In a single communication connection, the logger is capable of synchronizing its internal clock for all messages and configurations from the cloud system, and information about its current location.

In a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for operating a wireless data logger configured to measure at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location and regularly communicate the measured at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device a communication module, comprising:

• measuring, using at least one sensing device connected to a sensing circuitry, at least one environmental parameter, communicating, using a communication module, the at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device, and storing, using a memory, the measured at least one environmental parameter, wherein the data logger comprises a housing, and wherein the step of measuring includes measuring ambience temperature of the shipment using a temperature sensor located outside and in the vicinity of the housing,

In a third aspect of the invention the present invention relates to a cloud-enabled supply chain monitoring system including a wireless data logger, which may also be referred to as a real time logger, a supply chain system user interface to communicate with the real time logger and a cloud computing system which receives logger data via a cellular network from the real time logger. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods for cloud- enabled supply chain monitoring of shipment directed by a logger, e.g. such as said data logger or real time logger. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a logger having sensors to communicate the environment conditions and events to the cloud platform, wherein the information is used for various purposes in the user interfaces and an automatic analysis process.

In general the various aspects of the invention may be combined and coupled in any way possible within the scope of the invention. These and other aspects, features and/or advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a wireless data logger according to the present invention configured to monitor at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location,

Figure 2 shows a more detailed view of a USB cable and a USB connector depicted in figure 1 in the absence of the USB cable,

Figure 3 shows a Wheatstone bridge, Figure 4 and 5 show two different embodiments to enhance temperature response time, and

Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention of operating a wireless data logger configured to measure at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location and regularly communicate the measured at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device a communication module.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a wireless data logger 100 according to the present invention, which may also be referred to as a real time logger, configured to monitor in real time at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location, where the data logger regularly communicates the measured at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device 104.

The data logger comprises a housing 105, at least one sensing device 101 connected to a sensing circuitry (SC) 102 for measuring the at least one environmental parameter, a communication module (CM) 103 for communicating the at least one environmental parameter 111 to an external data processing device 104, and a memory 105 for storing the measured at least one environmental parameter. All these components are arranged in the housing 105.

The at least one sensing device comprises a temperature sensor 101 located outside and in the vicinity of the housing.

The data logger further comprises a rechargeable power source 112, such as rechargeable battery, for powering the data logger.

As depicted here, the data logger comprises an external cable 106 extending from the sensing circuitry 102 configured to be connected to an external computer device for charging rechargeable power source 112 and/or upload the measured at least one environmental related parameter from the memory, wherein the temperature sensor 101 is incorporated into the external cable.

In this embodiment, the external cable comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable having a USB connector 108 at a free end of the USB cable incorporated into a USB cable housing 107. The USB connector is configured to connect the data logger to the external computer device and as shown here the temperature sensor 101 is at least partly, or preferably completely, incorporated into the USB cable housing 107.

Figure 2 shows a more detailed view of the USB cable 206 and the USB connector 208 in the absence of the USB cable housing. Different types of temperature sensors that are well known to a person skilled in the art may be implemented, such as, but not limited to, Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor connected to a Wheatstone bridge as shown in figure 3, where the resistance between wires 220, 221 of the NTC thermistor 201 changes with temperature which results in changes in the voltages Vchl and Vch2, where the thermistor resistance is:

As an example, the resistor values R0, R1 and R2 may all be lOkQ. If equality of the resistors is assumed the equation simplifies to:

R0 ■ Vch2 2 ■ Vchl — Vch2)

The voltages are measured, and the temperature calculated from the measured values. The temperature may then be calculated using the Steinhart-Hart relation:

1

T = - a + b ■ ln(Rt) + c ■ ln(Rt) ³ ) where a, b and c are the Stein-Hart coefficients.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment where the temperature sensor 401 is located adjacent to an outer surface of the USB cable housing to improve the response time for the temperature sensor incorporated into the USB cable housing to measure the actual ambience temperature in a short time frame, since such housings 407 are typically made out of plastic material that is not very thermally conductive so that this response time may in some situations be around

20 minutes or even more.

Figure 5 shows the embodiment shown in figure 4, but where thermally conducting material 520 at least partially locally surrounds the temperature sensor, in this embodiment, extends from the sensor 401 up and towards the surface level of the housing 407, and possibly partially outwards from the housings 407.

Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention of operating a wireless data logger configured to measure at least one environmental parameter of a shipment while transporting the shipment from an origin location to a destination location and regularly communicate the measured at least one environmental parameter to an external data processing device a communication module.

In step SI 601, at least one environmental parameter is measured.

In step S2 602, the at least one environmental parameter is communicated to an external data processing device.

In step S3 603, the measured at least one environmental parameter is stored, wherein the data logger comprises a housing, and wherein the step of measuring includes measuring ambience temperature of the shipment using a temperature sensor located outside and in the vicinity of the housing.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.