Anti-theft system and container safeguarded by the same

• US 20070279223A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syris Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Syris Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chiu, Chien-Sheng
• Granted Patent: US 7,579,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.300
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

An anti-theft system includes a detecting device, a processing unit, and an alarm unit. The detecting device includes a first detecting unit that is operable so as to transmit a first signal, and a second detecting unit that transmits a second signal to the first detecting unit in response to the first signal. The processing unit verifies the second signal, and enables the first detecting unit to continue to transmit the first signal upon successful verification of the second signal. The alarm unit generates an alarm signal upon unsuccessful verification of the second signal. A container that is safeguarded by the anti-theft system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system, comprising:

a detecting device including first and second detecting units each capable of signal transmission and reception, said first detecting unit being operable so as to transmit a first signal for reception by said second detecting unit, said second detecting unit transmitting a second signal for reception by said first detecting unit in response to the first signal received from said first detecting unit;

a processing unit coupled electrically to said first detecting unit, and operable so as to verify the second signal received by said first detecting unit and so as to enable said first detecting unit to continue to transmit the first signal for reception by said second detecting unit upon successful verification of the second signal received by said first detecting unit; and

an alarm unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to generate an alarm signal upon unsuccessful verification of the second signal.

2. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first detecting unit includes a transmitter operable so as to transmit the first signal, and a receiver operable so as to receive the second signal, said second detecting unit including a transmitter operable so as to transmit the second signal, and a receiver operable so as to receive the first signal.

3. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitter of said first detecting unit is an infrared transmitter, and said receiver of said second detecting unit is an infrared receiver.

4. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitter of said second detecting unit is an infrared transmitter, and said receiver of said first detecting unit is an infrared receiver.

5. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to transmit wirelessly a warning signal upon unsuccessful verification of the second signal.

6. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a remote monitoring unit for receiving the warning signal wirelessly transmitted by said transmitting unit.

7. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transmitting unit includes a radio frequency transmitter.

8. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to provide a visual indication upon unsuccessful verification of the second signal.

9. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said indicator unit includes a light-emitting diode.

10. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm unit includes a buzzer.

11. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit verifies the second signal received by said first detecting unit by comparing the second signal to an identification code stored therein.

12. A container, comprising:

a container body including a container frame with an open side, and a door unit for closing and opening said open side of said container frame; and

an anti-theft system including

a detecting device that is mounted on said container body, and that includes first and second detecting units each capable of signal transmission and reception, said first detecting unit being operable so as to transmit a first signal for reception by said second detecting unit, said second detecting unit being operable so as to transmit a second signal for reception by said first detecting unit in response to the first signal received from said first detecting unit when said door unit closes said open side of said container frame,

a processing unit that is coupled electrically to said first detecting unit, and that monitors reception of the second signal by said first detecting unit and that controls transmission of the first signal by said first detecting unit, and

an alarm unit that is coupled electrically to and that is controlled by said processing unit to generate an alarm signal upon detection by said processing unit of irregularity in reception of the second signal by said first detecting unit.

13. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said container frame includes opposite frame parts at said open side, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on a respective one of said opposite frame parts of said container frame.

14. The container as claimed in claim 13, wherein said anti-theft system further includes a pair of mounting seat units, each of which is mounted on a respective one of said opposite frame parts of said container frame, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on a respective one of said mounting seat units, said processing unit being mounted on one of said mounting seat units.

15. The container as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said mounting seat units includes a first seat module mounted on a respective one of said opposite frame parts of said container frame, and a second seat module coupled pivotally to said first seat module, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on said second seat module of the respective one of said mounting seat units.

16. The container as claimed in claim 14, wherein said door unit includes first and second doors pivoted to said container frame, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on a respective one of said first and second doors.

17. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein said anti-theft system further includes a pair of mounting seat units, each of which is mounted on a respective one of said first and second doors, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on a respective one of said mounting seat units, said processing unit being mounted on one of said mounting seat units.

18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of said mounting seat units includes a first seat module mounted on a respective one of said first and second doors, and a second seat module coupled pivotally to said first seat module, each of said first and second detecting units being mounted on said second seat module of the respective one of said mounting seat units.

19. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said anti-theft system further includes a transmitting unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to transmit wirelessly a warning signal upon detection by said processing unit of irregularity in reception of the second signal by said first detecting unit.

20. The container as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a remote monitoring unit for receiving the warning signal wirelessly transmitted by said transmitting unit.

21. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said anti-theft system further includes an indicator unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to provide a visual indication of a current state of said door unit.

22. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said alarm unit includes a buzzer.

23. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said processing unit verifies the second signal received by said first detecting unit by comparing the second signal to an identification code stored therein.

24. An anti-theft system for a container body that includes a container frame with an open side, and a door unit for closing and opening the open side of the container frame, said anti-theft system comprising:

a detecting device adapted for mounting on the container body, said detecting device including first and second detecting units each capable of signal transmission and reception, said first detecting unit being operable so as to transmit a first signal for reception by said second detecting unit, said second detecting unit being operable so as to transmit a second signal for reception by said first detecting unit in response to the first signal received from said first detecting unit when the door unit closes the open side of the container frame;

a processing unit coupled electrically to said first detecting unit, said processing unit monitoring reception of the second signal by said first detecting unit and controlling transmission of the first signal by said first detecting unit; and

an alarm unit coupled electrically to and controlled by said processing unit to generate an alarm signal upon detection by said processing unit of irregularity in reception of the second signal by said first detecting unit.