A visually sensible indicator of temperature including electronic temperature sensing circuitry sensing at least when a temperature exceeds at least one predetermined temperature threshold and providing at least one corresponding threshold exceedance output which is sensible as heat and a heat-responsive visually sensible display which is responsive to the at least one threshold exceedance output for providing at least one visually sensible indication indicating that the temperature has exceeded the predetermined temperature threshold.

A flexible sensor label including a reservoir chamber configured to store an activation medium. The flexible sensor label includes an irreversible chamber configured to store a first indicator medium. The first indicator medium is altered in response to the activation medium being released and the flexible sensor label being exposed to a first condition associated with the first indicator medium. The flexible sensor label includes a reversible chamber configured to store a second indicator medium. The second indicator medium is altered in response to the activation medium being released and the flexible sensor label being exposed to a second condition associated with the second indicator medium.

A sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule comprises a sensor unit (16) arranged for placement in or proximate to a chimney (6). The sensor unit comprises at least one sensor arranged to measure a parameter of the chimney (6) and use the measured parameter to generate chimney health data associated with the chimney (6). The sensor unit includes a transmission module arranged to transmit (20) the chimney health data to a remote analysis unit (18). The remote analysis unit (18) is arranged to receive chimney profile data associated with the chimney (6) and to estimate a chimney health level associated with the chimney (6) from the respective chimney health data and chimney profile data. The remote analysis unit (18) determines the chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level.

A sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule comprises a sensor unit (16) arranged for placement in or proximate to a chimney (6). The sensor unit comprises at least one sensor arranged to measure a parameter of the chimney (6) and use the measured parameter to generate chimney health data associated with the chimney (6). The sensor unit includes a transmission module arranged to transmit (20) the chimney health data to a remote analysis unit (18). The remote analysis unit (18) is arranged to receive chimney profile data associated with the chimney (6) and to estimate a chimney health level associated with the chimney (6) from the respective chimney health data and chimney profile data. The remote analysis unit (18) determines the chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level.

Provided herein is a label structure for tagging a product item. The label structure includes a first graphic pattern having a first number of pixels and printed on a first portion of the label structure; a second graphic pattern having a second number of pixels and printed on a second portion of the label structure, the second graphic pattern forming an optical code readable by an optical decoding device; and shielding means capable of hiding or making visible the first graphic pattern depending on the values taken by a physical quantity to which the label structure is exposed. The first and second graphic patterns can be observed in combination, when the first graphic pattern is made visible by the shielding means.

A method for determining the cooling rate of a weld, comprising locating at least one non-consumable thermal sensor at a predetermined location from a weld pool generated during an active welding process, wherein the thermal sensor is located within the same plane of travel as a welding device creating the weld pool; determining the travel speed of the welding device; using the at least one non-consumable thermal sensor to gather temperature data from the weld pool; and determining the time interval between when the weld pool has a first measured temperature and when the weld pool has a second measured temperature that is less than the first measured temperature, wherein the determined time interval represents the cooling rate of the weld.

A method for determining the cooling rate of a weld, comprising locating at least one non-consumable thermal sensor at a predetermined location from a weld pool generated during an active welding process, wherein the thermal sensor is located within the same plane of travel as a welding device creating the weld pool; determining the travel speed of the welding device; using the at least one non-consumable thermal sensor to gather temperature data from the weld pool; and determining the time interval between when the weld pool has a first measured temperature and when the weld pool has a second measured temperature that is less than the first measured temperature, wherein the determined time interval represents the cooling rate of the weld.

The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (in particular a cryotube) having a holding space for holding a biological sample and comprising at least one chamber, the interior of which is not fluidically connected to the holding space and is filled only partially with an indicator substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range of −20° C. to −140° C. In particular, the chamber can be formed by a container that is detachably or pivotably fastened to the sample container. Alternatively, the chamber is formed by a double-walled slide-on part or the holding space of the sample container is double-walled, wherein an intermediate space between the inner wall and the outer wall is partially filled with the indicator substance.

The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (in particular a cryotube) having a holding space for holding a biological sample and comprising at least one chamber, the interior of which is not fluidically connected to the holding space and is filled only partially with an indicator substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range of −20° C. to −140° C. In particular, the chamber can be formed by a container that is detachably or pivotably fastened to the sample container. Alternatively, the chamber is formed by a double-walled slide-on part or the holding space of the sample container is double-walled, wherein an intermediate space between the inner wall and the outer wall is partially filled with the indicator substance.

A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including at least a first barcode and at least a second barcode, the at least a second barcode being in a second barcode unreadable state prior to exceedance of the at least one threshold and upon exceedance of the at least one threshold the at least a first barcode becoming unreadable and generally simultaneously the at least a second barcode becoming readable.