Barrier Bag Environment Monitor

Abstract

The present invention provides a structural means to monitor the environmental status on the inside of a sealed barrier bag. The device is installed in the wall of a barrier bag and allows for external transmission of internal sensor data where the sealed barrier bag would normally operate as a faraday cage. This arrangement allows the environment to be ascertained or monitored without unsealing the bag, which would potentially introduce additional unwanted environmental factors.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating transmission through a barrier bag, the apparatus comprising:
 an upper casing;   a lower casing;   a circuit board;   one or more sensors; and   one or more transmitters;   wherein
 the lower casing is a structure comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an exposure opening, and two or more legs; 
 the exposure opening is an extrusion between the lower surface and upper surface, allowing access above the lower casing from below the lower casing; 
 the two or more legs extend downward from the lower surface of the lower casing, elevating the lower surface to a position above any surface or platform below the lower casing on which the legs may rest; 
 the circuit board is attached to the upper surface of the lower casing, positioned over the exposure opening such that the underside of the circuit board is environmentally accessible from below the lower casing through the exposure opening; 
 one or more sensors are attached to the bottom of the circuit board, positioned such that the environment below the lower casing is environmentally accessible to the sensors through the exposure opening; 
 one or more transmitters are attached to the top of the circuit board and attached in electronic communication with the one or more sensors attached to the circuit board; 
 the lower casing is positioned to protrude upward through the wall of a barrier bag from within the barrier bag; and 
 the upper casing is attached to the lower casing and outer surface of the barrier bag along all points where the lower casing protrudes through the barrier bag, covering the circuit board and any components attached to the circuit board, and forming an environmental seal at the wall of the barrier bag along the perimeter of the intersection region between the barrier bag, upper casing, and lower casing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper casing is attached to the lower casing through a torsion screw mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further wherein one or more sensors are additionally attached to the top of the circuit board. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sensors attached to the top of the circuit bord is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor and a non-transitory storage device, wherein the microprocessor is attached to the circuit board, is in electronic communication with the one or more sensors, and records sensor data onto the storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising an electronic display wherein the electronic display is in electronic communication with the microprocessor, the display is visible through the upper casing, and the microprocessor is configured to present information from the one or more sensors on the display. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for facilitating transmission through a barrier bag, the apparatus comprising:
 an upper casing;   a lower casing;   a circuit board;   one or more sensors; and   one or more transmitters;   wherein
 the lower casing is a structure comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an exposure opening, and two or more legs; 
 the exposure opening is an extrusion between the lower surface and upper surface, allowing access above the lower casing from below the lower casing; 
 the two or more legs extend downward from the lower surface of the lower casing, elevating the lower surface to a position above any surface or platform below the lower casing on which the legs may rest; 
 the circuit board is attached to the lower surface of the upper casing; 
 one or more sensors are attached to the bottom of the circuit board; 
 one or more transmitters are attached to the top of the circuit board and attached in electronic communication with the one or more sensors attached to the circuit board; 
 the lower casing is positioned to protrude upward through the wall of a barrier bag from within the barrier bag; and 
 the upper casing is attached to the lower casing and outer surface of the barrier bag along all points where the lower casing protrudes through the barrier bag, the circuit board attached to the upper casing is positioned over the exposure opening of the lower casing, and the attachment forming an environmental seal at the wall of the barrier bag along the perimeter of the intersection region between the barrier bag, upper casing, and lower casing. 
   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the upper casing is attached to the lower casing through a torsion screw mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further wherein one or more sensors are additionally attached to the top of the circuit board. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the sensors attached to the top of the circuit bord is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a microprocessor and a non-transitory storage device, wherein the microprocessor is attached to the circuit board, is in electronic communication with the one or more sensors, and records sensor data onto the storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising an electronic display wherein the electronic display is in electronic communication with the microprocessor, the display is visible through the upper casing, and the microprocessor is configured to present information from the one or more sensors on the display. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for facilitating transmission through a barrier bag, the apparatus comprising:
 a barrier bag;   an upper casing;   a lower casing;   a circuit board;   one or more sensors; and   one or more transmitters;   wherein
 the lower casing is a structure comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an exposure opening, and two or more legs; 
 the exposure opening is an extrusion between the lower surface and upper surface, allowing access above the lower casing from below the lower casing; 
 the two or more legs extend downward from the lower surface of the lower casing, elevating the lower surface to a position above any surface or platform below the lower casing on which the legs may rest; 
 the circuit board is attached to the upper surface of the lower casing, positioned over the exposure opening such that the underside of the circuit board is environmentally accessible from below the lower casing through the exposure opening; 
 one or more sensors are attached to the bottom of the circuit board, positioned such that the environment below the lower casing is environmentally accessible to the sensors through the exposure opening; 
 one or more transmitters are attached to the top of the circuit board and attached in electronic communication with the one or more sensors attached to the circuit board; 
 the lower casing is positioned to protrude upward through the wall of the barrier bag from within the barrier bag; and 
 the upper casing is attached to the lower casing and outer surface of the barrier bag along all points where the lower casing protrudes through the barrier bag, covering the circuit board and any components attached to the circuit board, and forming an environmental seal at the wall of the barrier bag along the perimeter of the intersection region between the barrier bag, upper casing, and lower casing. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the upper casing is attached to the lower casing through a torsion screw mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , further wherein one or more sensors are additionally attached to the top of the circuit board. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the sensors attached to the top of the circuit bord is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a microprocessor and a non-transitory storage device, wherein the microprocessor is attached to the circuit board, is in electronic communication with the one or more sensors, and records sensor data onto the storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising an electronic display wherein the electronic display is in electronic communication with the microprocessor, the display is visible through the upper casing, and the microprocessor is configured to present information from the one or more sensors on the display