System and method for determining a pre-existing characteristic and pre-existing state of an article

摘要

The present invention relates to systems, methods and devices for determining one or more pre-existing characteristics, pre-existing states or both of a combination absorbent article and electrical circuit after connecting an electronic device to the combination absorbent article and electrical circuit. The method and system is particularly, although not exclusively, suitable for determining pre-existing characteristics such as absorbent article size, type, capacity and a pre-existing state such as whether or not the electrical circuit of the combination absorbent article and electrical circuit has been previously connected to the electronic device or another like electronic device. These pre-existing characteristics, pre-existing states or both are derived from measured electrical variables of the electrical circuit which may include one or more components, such as a resistor or a capacitor or a variable such as charge on a capacitor after the connection of an electronic device, which may include a transmitter or a transceiver. The method includes: measuring an electrical variable after connection of an electronic device to the combination article and electrical circuit to generate data indicative of the electrical variable at sequential time values; and processing the data with a processor including applying an If-Then rule based function comprising two or more conditions to determine a pre-existing characteristic, a pre-existing state or both of the combination absorbent article and electrical circuit.