Abstract: Disclosed is a process to manufacture an environmental sensor. The process includes dispensing a dry powder material to a first area on a media element, wherein the powder material includes a plurality of microcapsules, each microcapsule encapsulating an environmental indicator material. The process further includes dispensing an adhesive to the media element. After the powder material and the adhesive have been dispensed to the media element, the powder material is in contact with the dispensed adhesive, and the adhesive holds the powder material in position.

Abstract: A temperature-activatable temperature indicator that includes a substrate and an indicator material supported by the substrate. The indicator material includes a mixture of a side-chain crystalline polymer and conductive particles and provides an electrical indication of exposure to increased temperature.

Abstract: Environmentally sensitive plant ID tags are disclosed herein. An example environmentally sensitive tag for use in a plant growing medium, includes; a substrate including a tag insertion end which is narrowed, pointed, or rounded; an indicator located on or in the substrate, the indicator having an initial state and at least one activated state, the indicator configured to transition from the initial state to the at least one activated state in response to exposure to moisture producing an observable change; and a wicking material disposed longitudinally along or in the substrate, from an area of the substrate proximate the tag insertion end to the indicator and configured to conduct moisture from the growing medium to the indicator when the tag insertion end is inserted in the plant growing medium.

Abstract: The use of encapsulated polar protic chemistries for RFID temperature monitoring are disclosed herein. An example activatable environmental indicator includes a substrate, an indicator material, and a plurality of microcapsules. The indicator material comprises a polar protic organic material. The plurality of microcapsules is on or embedded in the substrate and are configured to respond to at least one of an activation temperature and an activation pressure which allow the polar protic material to be released from the microcapsules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal transfer ribbon for use with a media processing device. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a carrier layer and a transfer layer operatively coupled to the carrier layer. The transfer layer includes an environmental indicator material encapsulated in a plurality of microcapsules. The plurality of microcapsules prevent the environmental indicator material from producing an observable effect in response to exposure to a predetermined environmental condition. The environmental indicator material is released from the plurality of microcapsules in response to the plurality of microcapsules being ruptured. After the environmental indicator material is released and exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the environmental indicator material produces the observable effect. The observable effect results from a change in the environmental indicator material from an original state to a second state in response to the predetermined environmental condition.

Abstract: Printer activatable environmental sensing through chemical encapsulation are disclosed herein. An example activatable environmental sensor print medium includes a substrate, an environmental indicator material configured to respond to a predetermined environmental stimulus, and a plurality of microcapsules on or embedded in the substrate. The microcapsules contain the environmental indicator material and are configured to respond to at least one of an activation heat and an activation pressure by allowing the environmental indicator material to be released from the microcapsules. The environmental indicator material, after being released from the microcapsules, is configured to respond to exposure to the predetermined environmental stimulus by causing a detectable response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media processing device. The media processing device including a printing assembly configured to process a media element as the media element passes through the printing assembly. The media element includes an environmental sensor where in activated configuration the environmental sensor is configured to change from an initial sensor state to a second sensor state in response to exposure to a predetermined environmental condition and in a non-activated configuration the environmental sensor is configured to remain in the initial sensor state in response to exposure to the predetermined environmental condition. The media element further includes an activation mechanism configured to apply a force equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold to at least a portion of the environmental sensor to transition the environmental sensor from the non-activated configuration to the activated configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media element including an environmental indicator material configured, in response to exposure to a predetermined environmental condition, to change from an initial state to a second state producing an observable effect. The media element further includes a plurality of microcapsules, each microcapsule encapsulating the environmental indicator material in a non-activated configuration and releasing the environmental indicator material when ruptured. The microcapsules prevent an occurrence of the observable effect while in the non-activated configuration and allow the occurrence of the observable effect when the environmental indicator material is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition after at least a portion of the plurality of microcapsules are ruptured. The media element further includes a bursting additive proximate the plurality of microcapsules.

Abstract: Activatable environmental sensing through chemical encapsulation are disclosed herein. An example activatable environmental indicator has a non-activated configuration that is unresponsive to a predetermined environmental stimulus, an activated configuration that is responsive to the predetermined environmental stimulus, and an exposed configuration after responding to the predetermined environmental stimulus. The activatable environmental indicator includes a first visual indicator when the activatable indicator is in the non-activated configuration, a second visual indicator when the activatable indicator is in the activated configuration, and a third visual indicator when the activatable indicator is in the exposed configuration.

Abstract: An excess heat exposure indicator and methods for making the same are disclosed. The excess heat exposure indicator includes a print media substrate comprising an indicator region, a data region, at least one first thermochromic composition is provided on the substrate within the indicator region of the substrate, a second thermochromic composition is provided on the substrate within the data region, the second thermochromic composition configured to change color state from a third color state to a fourth color state when heated above a second temperature threshold, the indicator region is configured to be selectively treated with heat above the first temperature threshold to place a first portion of the indicator region in the second color state, different than the first color state, forming a visible indicia, the visible indicia configured to change appearance when the indicator region is subsequently exposed to a temperature above the first temperature threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods of remotely monitoring a device are provided. An example includes a system comprising a deformable element configured to be in contact with a monitored device. An electrical property of the deformable element changes in response to at least one of deformation of the deformable element or exposure of the deformable element to an ionic material. The system further includes a communication module operatively coupled to the deformable element, the communication module having a logic circuit and an antenna. The logic circuit may be configured to determine a change in the electrical property of the deformable element, wherein, in response to receiving a signal from a transceiver, the communication module is configured to report the change in the electrical property via the antenna to a controller communicatively coupled to the transceiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods of an optimized multi-path loop system for condition change detection are provided. An example includes a system comprising a multi-path loop component, the multi-path loop component including a plurality of interleaved discontinuous conductive paths that form a parallel circuit component, and a logic circuit operatively coupled to the multi-path loop component. The logic circuit may be configured to detect whether a continuous circuit path has been formed by at least one of the plurality of interleaved discontinuous conductive paths in response to at least one environmental condition in an area defined by the plurality of interleaved discontinuous conductive paths. The logic circuit may also be configured to output a signal that indicates that formation of the continuous circuit path has been detected.

Abstract: Environmental indicators for monitoring a predetermined environmental exposure, for example, an historical heat exposure such as a cumulative ambient heat exposure and/or a peak ambient heat exposure, may include an environmental indicator material. The environmental indicator may be configured to attach to a host product for monitoring the predetermined environmental exposure of the host product.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for combining preprinted information together with coded sensor information within a two-dimensional barcode. The sensor information may be of an environmental, physical or biological nature, and records a cumulative change in status of the environmental or biological condition to which the labeled product has been exposed. A sensor dye chemistry is employed that undergoes a continuous chemical or physical state change in response to the occurrence of the environmental condition. The continuous change is between an initial state and an end state causing a change in the color state of the sensor dye embedded within the sensor-augmented two-dimensional barcode, encoding sensor digital information. Sensor information is recovered utilizing the error-correction feature during barcode decoding.

Abstract: Environmental indicators for monitoring a predetermined environmental exposure, for example, an historical heat exposure such as a cumulative ambient heat exposure and/or a peak ambient heat exposure, may include an environmental indicator material. The environmental indicator may be configured to attach to a host product for monitoring the predetermined environmental exposure of the host product.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for adding an overlay to a bar code symbol is disclosed. The bar code symbol is affixed to a perishable host product. The overlay includes a transparent substrate and an environmental exposure indicator material which is responsive to an environmental stimulus. When the overlay is affixed to the bar code symbol, both static and dynamic data regarding the perishable host product can be determined.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotary screen printing apparatus, comprising: a rotary cylindrical screen; a conduit which provides fluid communication to an internal volume of the rotary cylindrical screen; and, a heater whose output is directed towards the conduit.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon includes a carrier layer, a release layer, and a thermally transferable ink layer. The ink layer includes an active ink having a chemistry that is configured, responsive to the occurrence of an environmental, physical or biological condition, to undergo a chemical or physical state change causing a change in the color state of the active ink.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for producing a temperature exposure indicator is disclosed. The temperature exposure indicator includes a substrate and a mixture containing a first thermochromic material and a second thermochromic material. Each thermochromic material has an initial color state when the mixture is in a base temperature range and each thermochromic material is configured to change to an excursion color state at a certain temperature threshold. As a result, the mixture displays a low mixture excursion color state below a low temperature threshold and a high mixture excursion color state above a high temperature threshold.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for combining preprinted information together with coded sensor information within a two-dimensional barcode. The sensor information may be of an environmental, physical or biological nature, and records a cumulative change in status of the environmental or biological condition to which the labeled product has been exposed. A sensor dye chemistry is employed that undergoes a continuous chemical or physical state change in response to the occurrence of the environmental condition. The continuous change is between an initial state and an end state causing a change in the color state of the sensor dye embedded within the sensor-augmented two-dimensional barcode, encoding sensor digital information. Sensor information is recovered utilizing the error-correction feature during barcode decoding.