Smart Packaging

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a smart metal, glass, paper-based, wood-based, or plastic packaging comprising at least one sensor or communication device, characterized in that a structural component of the packaging forms a component of the at least one sensor or communication device. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a smart packaging is provided comprising the steps of manufacturing a packaging and constituting at least one sensor or communication device on or in the packaging, wherein a structural component of the packaging is taken for constituting a component of the at least one sensor or communication device.

1 . A smart metal, glass, paper-based, wood-based, or plastic packaging comprising at least one sensor, characterized in that a structural component of the packaging forms a component of the at least one sensor, whereby said structural component is necessary to the packaging for functioning as a product container, and whereby said structural component is essential for the proper functioning of the sensor. 
     
     
         2 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural component has suitable electrical, dielectric, magnetic, electromechanical or semiconducting properties to form a component of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         3 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , whereby the structural component is inherently already present in the packaging as is before the sensor or communication device is fully constituted thereon. 
     
     
         4 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein a sensor is any type of the following list of sensors comprising: a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch-, push-, or force-sensing sensor, a motion sensor, a liquid level sensor, a sound sensor, a light or color sensor, an image sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a proximity sensor, a liquid or vapor detection sensor, or any sensor of the following sensor technologies: a photodiode, a thermistor, a resistive or piezo-resistive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a magneto-resistive sensor, a conductive strain sensor, a capacitance sensor, a radiation sensor, a thermocouple, a sensor array, a biosensor, or a chemical sensor. 
     
     
         5 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein said structural component of the packaging is a metal structural component forming an electrically conductive layer of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A smart packaging according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal structural component is a metal layer of a bottle or can, or the aluminum of a bottle or can. 
     
     
         7 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein a glass, wood-based, paper-based, or plastic structural component of the smart packaging forms an electrically non-conductive layer of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A smart packaging according to  claim 7 , wherein the glass or plastic structural component of the smart packaging is the glass body or neck of glass bottles, or the plastic body or neck of plastic bottles, or plastic lids, or the plastic or paper/cardboard of secondary packaging. 
     
     
         9 . A smart packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein metal, glass, plastic, or paper-based, wood-based structural component of the smart packaging comprises additives functionalizing the structural component for being used as an active layer of at least one sensor, or functionalizing an electrically non-conductive structural component for being used as an electrically conductive layer of at least one sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a smart packaging comprising the steps of manufacturing a packaging and constituting at least one sensor on or in the packaging, wherein a structural component of the packaging is taken for constituting a component of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A smart packaging according to  claim 10 , wherein said structural component of the packaging is selected based on its chemical, electrochemical, dielectric, optical, electromechanical, or semiconducting properties to form a component of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the manufacturing of the packaging and constituting the at least one sensor share at least one additional process step for constituting the remaining parts of the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising a step of functionalizing the structural component of the packaging for being used as a component of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the step of functionalizing the structural component of the packaging is performed in the process of manufacturing the packaging. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the step of functionalizing the structural component of the packaging for being used as a component of the at least one sensor comprises adding additives to the structural component. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising the step of geometrically functionalizing the structural component for being used as a component of at least one sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising the step of adding a power source and/or a communication means and/or a processing unit and/or a sensory perceptible output by at least partially printing it onto the smart packaging. 
     
     
         18 . A smart packaging according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal structural component is the aluminum of the lid, the tab, the body of a can, or a combination thereof, or a metal layer of a keg or any other type of metal container, or wherein the metal structural component is a component of a paper-based, wood-based or plastic-based smart packaging.