ACTIVE LOGISTICAL TAG FOR CARGO

• US 20090261975A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems Ltd. (Lyngsoe Systems Holding Nspk ApS)
• Original Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems Ltd. (Lyngsoe Systems Holding Nspk ApS)
• Inventors: Lagounov, Oleg, Paun, Micea, Patroi, Tudor, Nicolescu, Ioan, Ferguson, Don
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10405 the interrogation device including an arrangement for sensing environmental parameters, such as a temperature or acceleration sensor, e.g. used as an on/off trigger or as a warning means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

An active logistical tag for cooperation with cargo elements, said tag comprising: a housing compatible for attachment of said tag to said cargo; a sensor suite for sensing logistical prompts, said prompts including at least one of motion, static magnetic fields and incident electromagnetic radiation; and a transmitter coupled to said sensor suite, for communicating logistical information in response to said logistical prompts.

Claims

1. ) An active logistical tag for cooperation with cargo elements, said tag comprising:

a housing compatible for attachment of said tag to said cargo;

a sensor suite for sensing logistical prompts, said prompts including at least two of motion, static magnetic fields and incident electromagnetic radiation; and

a transmitter coupled to said sensor suite, for communicating logistical information in response to said logistical prompts.

2. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said logistical information varies corresponding to which of said logistical prompts are received.

3. ) The active logistical tag of claim 2 wherein said logistical information includes an indication of to which of said prompts said logistical information is responsive.

4. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein when said logistical information is responsive to said incident electromagnetic radiation, and an identification of a particular exciting low frequency transmitter is included as signal in received said incident electromagnetic radiation, an identification of said particular exciting low frequency transmitter is incorporated in said logistical information.

5. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein when said active logistical tag has been previously exposed to said incident electromagnetic radiation from at least one exciting low frequency transmitter, and an identification of said exciting low frequency transmitter was included as signal in received a most recent said incident electromagnetic radiation, an identification of a most recent exciting low frequency transmitter is incorporated in said logistical information.

6. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said logistical information includes an identification of said active logistical tag.

7. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said logistical information is Communicated by output electromagnetic radiation.

8. ) The active logistical tag of claim 7 wherein said output electromagnetic radiation and incident electromagnetic radiation have different fundamental frequencies.

9. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said sensor suite further comprises a circuit for sensing said incident electromagnetic radiation and said circuit may be activated and deactivated.

10. ) The active logistical tag of claim 9 wherein activation and deactivation of said circuit is dependant upon said motion or said static magnetic fields detected at said sensor suite.

11. ) The active logistical tag of claim 10 wherein said motion or said static magnetic fields corresponds to activation and rest or an absence of said static magnetic fields corresponds to deactivation.

12. ) The active logistical tag of claim 7 wherein said logistical information is relayed by a beacon signal.

13. ) The active logistical tag of claim 12 wherein said beacon'"'"'s periodicity varies according to which of said logistical prompts are received

14. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein when said active logistical tag has been previously exposed to said incident electromagnetic radiation from at least one exciting low frequency transmitter, and an identification of said exciting low frequency transmitter was included as signal in received a most recent said incident electromagnetic radiation, said sensor suite'"'"'s sensitivity to one or more said prompts is altered dependent on said identification.

15. ) A cargo element for with the active logistical tag of claim 1 cooperates, said cargo element comprising a rail for receiving said active logistical tag, said rail including a slot for facilitating reception of said incident electromagnetic radiation.

16. ) A cargo element for with the active logistical tag of claim 1 cooperates, said cargo element comprising a rail for receiving said active logistical tag, said rail including film for facilitating the stacking of said cargo unit without undesired electrical connections.

17. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said logistical information is communicated with random interval delays in order to avoid message collision.

18. ) The active logistical tag of claim 1 wherein said logistical information is communicated by an antenna, said antenna comprising a wire mounted 3.2 mm off a printed circuit board wherein said antenna is placed perpendicular to the edge of an outer rail of one of said cargo elements in which said active logistical tag is inserted.