Sensors and systems for detecting environmental conditions or changes

Abstract

Sensors and systems for detecting predetermined environmental conditions or changes may include a device capable of storing, representing, or providing information, and a shield. The shield may be disposed proximate the device. The shield may have a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition the shield is configured to prevent access to information stored in or on, represented by or provided by the device. In the second condition the shield is configured to permit access to information stored in or on, represented by or provided by the device. The shield may be configured to transition from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A system for detecting a predetermined environmental condition, wherein the system comprises:
 a device capable of providing information, wherein the device comprises a passive RFID transponder;   a non-human interrogator configured to read information provided by the device, wherein the interrogator comprises an RFID reader configured to transmit power to the passive RFID transponder, and the passive RFID transponder is configured to transmit information to the RFID reader when the passive RFID transponder receives power from the RFID reader; and   a shield, the shield having a first condition and a second condition, wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive material configured to preclude at least one of the transmission of power from the RFID reader to the passive RFID transponder and the transmission of information from the passive RFID transponder to the RFID reader, in the second condition the shield is configured to permit the transmission of power from the RFID reader to the passive RFID transponder and to permit the transmission of information from the passive RFID transponder to the RFID reader, and the shield is configured to transition from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition; and   wherein the interrogator indicates that the predetermined environmental condition exists when the shield transitions to its second condition, the passive RFID transponder receives power from the RFID reader and transmits the information to the RFID reader, and the RFID reader receives the information from the RFID transponder.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the predetermined environmental condition includes a fluid proximate at least one of the device and the shield. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the fluid includes a fluid discharged by a patient during an incontinence event. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein at least one of the device and the shield is disposed within a diaper such that the at least one of the device and the shield is positioned proximate at least one of a urine discharge orifice and a fecal discharge orifice of the patient when the diaper is worn by the patient. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive sheet. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive mesh. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of conductive ink, conductive paint, and conductive grease. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein at least a portion of the shield is at least partially soluble in the fluid such that the shield at least partially transitions from the first condition to the second condition when the at least a portion of the shield at least partially dissolves when the shield is exposed to the fluid. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the shield comprises a shielding layer and an at least partially soluble carrier, the shielding layer being at least partially disposed on the carrier, when the shield is in the first condition the shielding layer is configured to preclude the interrogator from reading information provided by the device, the at least partially soluble carrier is subject to breakdown when the carrier is exposed to the fluid, and the breakdown of the carrier at least partially transitions the shield from the first condition to the second condition. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the shield comprises a facilitator configured to at least partially enable the transition of the shield from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the facilitator is configured to increase in volume when exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the facilitator at least partially encloses the device, the conductive material encloses at least a portion of the device and at least a portion of the facilitator, and the increase in volume of the facilitator when it is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition induces stresses in the conductive material sufficient to at least partially rupture the conductive material. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the conductive material includes at least one stress enhancer, the shield is configured such that the stress enhancer induces stress concentrations within the conductive material when the facilitator increases in volume, and the stress concentrations within the conductive material are sufficient to at least partially enable rupture of the conductive material. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the shield further comprises a carrier that is subject to breakdown when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, when the shield is in the first condition the conductive material is deposited on and supported by the carrier with the conductive material having a first surface area, the facilitator includes a non-shielding material disposed within the carrier, and the non-shielding material has a second surface area greater than the first surface area such that when the carrier breaks down upon exposure to the predetermined environmental condition the shield transitions from the first condition to the second condition as the conductive material ruptures as it becomes deposited on the non-shielding material of the facilitator. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the information provided by the device is stored on the device. 
     
     
         67 . A method of detecting a predetermined environmental condition, wherein the method comprises:
 providing a device capable of storing information, wherein the device includes predetermined information stored thereon;   providing a non-human interrogator configured to read at least some of the information stored on the device;   providing a shield, the shield having a first condition and a second condition, wherein in the first condition the shield is configured to preclude the interrogator from reading at least some of the information stored on the device, in the second condition the shield is configured to enable the interrogator to read at least some of the information stored on the device, the shield is provided in the first condition, the shield is configured to transition from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the predetermined environmental condition includes a fluid proximate at least one of the device and the shield, and at least a portion of the shield is at least partially soluble in the fluid such that the shield at least partially transitions from the first condition to the second condition when the at least a portion of the shield at least partially dissolves when the shield is exposed to the fluid;   exposing the shield to the predetermined environmental condition such that the shield transitions from the first condition to the second condition;   reading with the interrogator the predetermined information stored on the device; and   indicating that the predetermined environmental condition exists in response to the interrogator reading the predetermined information stored on the device; and   wherein the shield comprises a shielding layer and a facilitator, when the shield is in the first condition the shielding layer is configured to preclude the interrogator from reading at least some of the information stored on the device, the facilitator is configured to at least partially enable the transition of the shield from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the facilitator is configured to increase in volume when exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the facilitator at least partially encloses the device, the shielding layer encloses at least a portion of the device and at least a portion of the facilitator, and the increase in volume of the facilitator when it is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition induces stresses in the shielding layer sufficient to at least partially rupture the shielding layer.   
     
     
         68 . A sensor for detecting a predetermined environmental condition, comprising:
 a device capable of providing information, wherein the device includes a passive RFID transponder configured to transmit information to an external reader in response to an interrogation signal from the external reader, the interrogation signal provides operating power to the passive RFID transponder, and the device provides information in a machine-readable format; and   a shield disposed proximate the device, the shield having a first condition and a second condition, wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive material configured to preclude at least one of the provision of operating power from the interrogation signal to the passive RFID transponder and the transmission of information from the passive RFID transponder to the external reader, in the second condition the shield is configured to permit the provision of operating power from the interrogation signal to the passive RFID transponder and to permit the transmission of information from the passive RFID transponder to the external reader, the shield is configured to transition from the first condition to the second condition when the shield is exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, and the sensor detects the predetermined environmental condition when the shield transitions to its second condition, the passive RFID transponder receives operating power from the interrogation signal, and the passive RFID transponder transmits the information to the external reader.   
     
     
         69 . The sensor of  claim 68 , wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive sheet. 
     
     
         70 . The sensor of  claim 68 , wherein in the first condition the shield comprises a conductive mesh. 
     
     
         71 . The sensor of  claim 68 , wherein in the first condition at least a portion of the shield is conductive ink, conductive paint, or conductive grease. 
     
     
         72 . The sensor of  claim 68 , wherein the device includes first and second opposed major sides, and the-shield is disposed on at least one of the first and second major sides of the device. 
     
     
         73 . The sensor of  claim 68 , wherein the predetermined environmental condition includes a predetermined fluid proximate at least one of the device and the shield, and at least a portion of the shield is at least partially soluble in the predetermined fluid such that the shield at least partially transitions from the first condition to the second condition when the at least a portion of the shield at least partially dissolves when the shield is exposed to the predetermined fluid. 
     
     
         74 . The sensor of  claim 73 , wherein the shield comprises a shielding layer and an at least partially soluble carrier, the shielding layer is at least partially disposed on the carrier, when the shield is in the first condition the shielding layer is configured to prevent access to information provided by the device, the at least partially soluble carrier is subject to breakdown when the carrier is exposed to the predetermined fluid, and the breakdown of the carrier at least partially transitions the shield from the first condition to the second condition. 
     
     
         75 . The sensor of  claim 73 , wherein the predetermined fluid includes a fluid discharged by a patient during an incontinence event.