Tamper indicating saw tag system and method for using same

• US 20060220855A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RF Saw Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RF Saw Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Paul S., Hartmann, Clinton S., Claiborne, Lewis T.
• Application Number:
  US11/083,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220855A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a tamper indicating system using surface acoustical wave tag devices. This is achieved by the use of at least two surface acoustical wave tag devices. In one embodiment, a first surface acoustical wave tag device returns an identification signal in response to an interrogation and a second surface acoustical wave tag devices returns an indication of tampering in response to an interrogation. An antenna assembly is provided comprising conducting elements each of which are deformed to form a partial helix. One element is spiraled in an opposite direction from the other and wherein the elements are arranged opposite each other in the form of a partial double helix

Claims

1. A tamper indicating system for providing a seal to a container, said system comprising:

at least one surface acoustic wave tag device;

an antenna coupled to said surface acoustic tag device; and

a tamper indicator.

2. A tamper indicating system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the surface acoustic wave tag device returns an identification signal in response to an interrogation;

and

wherein a second surface acoustic wave tag device returns an indication of tampering in response to an interrogation.

3. A tamper indicating system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second surface acoustic wave tag device coupled to the at least one surface acoustic wave tag device operable to produce a combined signal indicating a state of the seal.

4. A tamper indicating system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one and the second surface acoustic wave tag devices are mounted on a frangible plate and are coupled to an antenna through scribed lines in the frangible plate in such a way as the antenna connection is broken when the frangible plate is broken.

5. A tamper indicating system according to claim 3, wherein the identification signal provides an identity of the seal.

6. A tamper indicating system according to claim 3, wherein the identification signal provides an identity of the container.

7. A tamper indicating system according to claim 6, wherein identity of the container is provided even if the seal is broken.

8. A tamper indicating system according to claim 7, wherein tamper indicating system is permanently affixed to the container.

15. The tamper indicating system of claim 1 further comprising:

a bolt having a shaft and a bore hole within said bolt'"'"'s longitudinal axis of said shaft where the least one surface acoustic wave tag device may be disposed;

at least on conductive line coupled to said bolt;

an antenna coupled to said transmission line; and

an one-way locking means of securing bolt in such a way that

16. The tamper indicating system of claim 15 further comprising:

an agent within said bolt to change at least one property of the bolt.

17. The tamper indicating system of claim 16 wherein the change the properties of the bolt.

18. The tamper indicating system of claim 16 wherein the change the properties of the bolt.

9. A method for providing a tamper indicating system in the transport of articles, said method comprising:

placing a plurality of articles to be transported into a container;

applying a tamper indicating device to the container, said device responses to an interrogation signal and returns at least an identification of the container and an indication of tampering.

10. A method for of claim 9 wherein the tamper indicating device is applied to a seal to the container and in which tampering of the seal provides both a visual and electronic indication of tampering.

11. A method for of claim 10 wherein the seal is a tape has properties that change upon tampering to provide visual indication of tampering.

12. A method for of claim 11 wherein the tape is applied to the container by placing the tape across the opening of the container.

13. A method for of claim 12 wherein the seal is looped around at least two vertical bars of the containers wherein the at least two vertical bars must be rotated in order to open the container and wherein rotating the bars breaks the seal.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

applying a second tamper indicating device, wherein the second tamper indicating;

providing an identification signal from one of the tamper indicating devices; and

providing a tamper indicating signal.

19. An antenna assembly, comprising:

two conducting elements each of said elements deformed to form a partial helix one spiraled in an opposite direction from the other and wherein the elements are arranged opposite each other in the form of a partial double helix.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a dielectric encasement for the antenna assembly solid enough to prevent antenna assembly from being damaged.