System and method for an integrated antenna in a cargo container monitoring and security system

• US 20070200765A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Ron, Meyers, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A system and method for an antenna which is constructed into or conforming onto the roof or wall of a cargo container is provided. The antenna system may have multiple antennas for short range wireless, cellular, global positioning, or satellite built into a single functional element. The antenna system may utilize a patch or phased array design. The method of construction of the antenna system may as part of the container fabricated or installed at the factory, applied as an adhesive film kit, or applied as a successive spray coating and etching process.

Claims

1. An integrated antenna system for providing robust communications for a container monitoring system comprising:

a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, each short range wireless communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element;

at least one long range communications device communications device associated with each container;

a global positioning or GPS element;

an antenna system which is integrated into the construction of each container wall or roof.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the short range wireless communications device located on each container is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a short range wireless communication protocol comprises any one of standards including Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11 series, and a proprietary short range wireless channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the long range communications device comprises a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular communications device includes a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element located on each container, capable of transmitting data and messages to a central monitoring station, and receiving data and messages from the central monitoring station.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cellular communications device implements one of a cellular standard and a proprietary wireless protocol and network suited to transmit data over a network between long distances of at least hundreds of miles.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite communications device including a transmitter element and a receiver element, may communicate with either a geosynchronous (GEO) or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite in a network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said antenna system includes a single unit for the transmission of the short range wireless communications device, the cellular communications device, or the satellite communications device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said antenna system is integrated into, and conforming to the actual roof of wall of the container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said antenna system is constructed using flat or planar design, conforming to the container construction and having a patch or phased array antenna design.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said antenna system is constructed using a method of dielectric and etched transmission elements on the container wall of roof, using a patch or phased array antenna, and includes multiple layer construction including:

a steel or other reinforcement material layer designed for wall strength;

a dielectric layer or layers providing electrical isolation; and

a conductive layer which may act as the antenna and transmission element.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said antenna system is a feed cable or connector which passes through the roof or wall of the container to the interior to easily connect to electronics location within the container interior.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said antenna system is constructed in a manner in which it is concealed such that each container appears from the exterior to have the same characteristics of a normal shipping container.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said antenna may electrically alters the beam pattern through the activation of various array elements such that the antenna achieves higher gain in tracking a LEO satellite as it crosses the horizon, or alternatively have the ability to point at different GEO satellites depending on the physical location of the container.

15. A method for construction of an antenna system for a container, wherein container walls are be constructed from a series of layered materials including a reinforcement layer which may be constructed from of steel or other hardened or rigid material and a dielectric layer consisting of an insulating material which characteristics of a predetermined dielectric constant, the method comprising:

incorporating a conductive layer, the conductive layer acting as the antenna and transmission element.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising combining the reinforcement layer with said dielectric layer, such that the resultant layer has the dielectric properties and the rigidity properties suitable for that of a durable transport container.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a construction that has been pre-manufactured and assembled as part of the container.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying said dielectric layer and conductive layers are separate films having self adhesive properties.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising successively applying said dielectric layer and conductive layers as a spray film.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein to improve antenna propagation characteristics, the dielectric and propagation layers are only applied to horizontal or vertical corrugated areas, and not applied to the angular corrugated areas.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein to improve antenna propagation characteristics, the dielectric and propagation layers are varied accord the surface of a container roof or wall for the horizontal or vertical corrugated areas and attenuated propagation for the angular corrugated areas.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying said dielectric layer and conductive layers as a separate film using an adhesive material applied to the reinforcement layer.