Container security system
First Claim
1. A security system for monitoring the interior of an enclosed container said system comprising:
- a sensing unit including a housing having first and second ends carried by said container, said first end being disposed within said container, and said second end being disposed outside said container;
a sensor carried in said first end for monitoring conditions within said container and signaling changes in said conditions;
a central processing unit in said housing in communication with said sensor said central processing unit receiving information monitored by said sensor; and
comparing said information against a set of established parameters;
an external status indicator carried by second end of said housing for signaling current security status of the container as monitored by said sensor;
said indicator having a first condition signaling a secured status within said container and a second condition signaling a breach of said parameters has been detected by said sensor; and
a remote access device operatively associated with said sensor for deactivating and reactivating said sensor;
whereby said security system provides a signal on said exterior of the container whether the conditions within the container remain within said tolerances or have moved into a condition outside said tolerances indicating tampering or unauthorized access into said container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device for monitoring conditions within an interior of an enclosed container which is operative to detect changes in conditions within the container caused by tampering or unauthorized access to the container. The sensor device includes a sensor dome, having a sensor, positioned within the container. An external status indicator is positioned on an exterior of the container and in communication with the sensor. The status indicator signals the current security status within the container based the signal output of the sensor. The indicator has a first condition signaling a secured status and a second condition signaling a breached status. The signals include a visual signal for an inspector on the exterior of the container indicating an unbreached or a breached container.
83 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A security system for monitoring the interior of an enclosed container said system comprising:
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a sensing unit including a housing having first and second ends carried by said container, said first end being disposed within said container, and said second end being disposed outside said container;
a sensor carried in said first end for monitoring conditions within said container and signaling changes in said conditions;
a central processing unit in said housing in communication with said sensor said central processing unit receiving information monitored by said sensor; and
comparing said information against a set of established parameters;
an external status indicator carried by second end of said housing for signaling current security status of the container as monitored by said sensor;
said indicator having a first condition signaling a secured status within said container and a second condition signaling a breach of said parameters has been detected by said sensor; and
a remote access device operatively associated with said sensor for deactivating and reactivating said sensor;
whereby said security system provides a signal on said exterior of the container whether the conditions within the container remain within said tolerances or have moved into a condition outside said tolerances indicating tampering or unauthorized access into said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A sensor device for monitoring conditions within an interior of an enclosed container, said sensor device being operative to detect changes in conditions within said container caused by tampering or unauthorized access to the container, said sensor device comprising:
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a sensor dome including a sensor positioned within said container for monitoring conditions within said container;
an external status indicator positioned on an exterior of said container in communication with said sensor, said status indictor signaling a current security status within said container based on signal output of said sensor;
said indicator having a first condition signaling a secured status and a second condition signaling a breached status;
whereby said external status indicator provides a visual signal to an inspector on the exterior of the container indicating an unbreached and a breached container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of monitoring a shipping container comprising:
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providing an exterior monitor and securing said exterior monitor with an outside surface of said container;
providing an interior monitor and positioning said interior monitor within said container;
causing said interior monitor to sense conditions within said container and to send signals in response to said conditions between secure condition and breached condition;
providing a central processing unit in communication with said interior and exterior monitors which receives secured condition and breached condition signals from said interior monitor indicating conditions within said container;
providing said exterior monitor with a plurality of signaling elements and activating selected of said elements in response to signals from said central processing unit;
wherein,when said container is in a secured condition a first signal is continuously provided indicating said container is in said secured condition and when said container is in a breached condition a second signal is continuously sent indicating said container is in said breached condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification