Signal processing device, seal breakage detecting module, program, seal breakage detecting method, and article packing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11186420-B2
Application number	US-201414896816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2014
Priority date	Jul 19, 2013
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

To be able to detect seal breakage of a container portion for containing an article by a simpler scheme, there is provided a signal processing device including: a processor that executes a program; and a memory that stores the program for causing the processor to function as a detection unit that transmits a signal to one or more signal lines formed of a breakable material in such a manner that the signal passes through regions corresponding to one or more respective container portions of a package for containing articles, and detects seal breakage of each container portion on the basis of whether the transmitted signal returns via each region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A signal processing device comprising:
a processor that is configured to execute a program; and
a non-transitory computer-readable memory that is configured to store the program for causing the processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
transmitting a signal to one or more signal lines formed of a breakable material in such a manner that the signal passes through regions corresponding to one or more respective container portions of a package for containing one or more respective articles; and
detecting seal breakage of each container portion on the basis of whether the transmitted signal returns via each region,

wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the transmitted signal returns by checking a status of a general purpose input/output (GPIO) of the processor,
wherein seal breakage of a first container portion is detected in a case in which a first signal does not return via a first region when a predetermined delay time has elapsed since a transmission time of the first signal that is to pass through the first region corresponding to the first container portion, and
wherein the first signal comprises a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width, the predetermined pulse width being determined according to a fluctuation of a delay time of the signal transmitted to the one or more signal lines.

2. The signal processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more signal lines are one or more branch lines that branch from a common line, and
wherein the first signal is transmitted to a first branch line that extends through the first region corresponding to the first container portion, and seal breakage of the first container portions is detected according to whether the first signal returns from the common line.

3. The signal processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more signal lines are one or more branch lines that branch from a common line, and
wherein the first signal is transmitted to the common line, and seal breakage of the first container portions is detected according to whether the first signal returns from a first branch line that extends through the first region corresponding to the first container portion.

4. The signal processing device according to claim 1 , wherein no further determination whether the first signal returns via the first region is performed once the breakage of the seal of the first container portion is detected.

5. The signal processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
outputting seal breakage time data recorded with respect to each container portion, to an external device via a communication interface of the signal processing device.

6. The signal processing device according to claim 5 , wherein the seal breakage time data is recorded in association with an identifier of the user acquired in advance via the communication interface.

7. The signal processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more articles comprise medicine, and
wherein the administration schedule data is acquired in advance.

8. The signal processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the method executed by the processor further comprises:
performing a first alarm pattern that notifies a user when the detected seal breakage occurs after a timing indicated by administration schedule data and performing a second alarm pattern that notifies the user when the detected seal breakage occurs before the timing indicated by the administration schedule data,
wherein the first alarm pattern is different from the second alarm pattern.

9. The signal processing device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the one or more articles comprise medicine, and
wherein the first alarm pattern and the second alarm pattern notify the user according to a type of an administration error of the medicine that is determined using seal breakage time data recorded with respect to each container portion.

10. The signal processing device according to claim 8 , wherein the first alarm pattern is different from the second alarm pattern with respect to at least one of a warning sound, a light emission color, a light emission pattern, and a vibration pattern performed according to each alarm pattern.

11. The signal processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined delay time is set according to the predetermined pulse width.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Kosaka Hideo

Classifications

• B65D75/327 Primary

  and forming several compartments · CPC title

• B65D2203/12

  Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D83/04

  for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills · CPC title

• A61J7/0409

  with timers · CPC title

• A61J7/0481

  working on a schedule basis · CPC title