SHIPPING CONTAINER INTEGRITY DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20100201486A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MACH 1 Development Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MACH 1 Development Incorporated
• Inventors: Greene, Paul Llewellyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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: 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Disclosed is a remotely monitorable shipping container security and integrity system and radio frequency identification device. The system permits remote monitoring of shipping containers via RFID devices capable of data storage. The RFID devices are adapted to become at least partially non-functional in the event of substantial tampering.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a reception block with a substantially planar reception surface and a reception block width;

a chipset with a primary integrated circuit chip supported by said reception block;

an elongate mast assembly, extending from said reception block, with a mast assembly width substantially less than said reception block width that increases distally from said reception block, and said mast assembly having a mast assembly separation zone adapted to transversely dislocate a portion of said elongate mast assembly; and

a closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, supported by said reception block and extending along said elongate mast assembly, with an antenna separation zone contacting said mast assembly separation zone and having a primary signaling capacity with a primary signal range.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said mast assembly includes:

a mast, extending from said reception block, having a mast width and a terminus; and

a mast cap, dimensioned to internally accept said mast terminus, having a mast cap width greater than said mast width and less than said reception block width and adapted to grasp said antenna separation zone.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said mast cap includes an antenna bridge with exposed antenna mast cap contacts and said closed loop antenna includes a discontinuous antenna loop portion, wherein said antenna map cap contacts are adapted to create said closed loop antenna upon contact with said discontinuous antenna loop portion.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said antenna separation zone is formed between said discontinuous antenna loop portion and said antenna mast cap contacts.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a closed loop secondary antenna, in signaled communication with said chipset, having a secondary signaling capacity with a secondary signal range, wherein said secondary antenna is disposed in a location consisting of said reception block.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said secondary signal range is less than said primary signal range.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said chipset includes a secondary integrated circuit chip, on said reception block, in signaled communication with said secondary antenna.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said primary signaling capacity operates in a frequency range selected from a group consisting of UHF, VHF, and combinations thereof.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said primary signaling capacity operates in a UHF frequency range.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said secondary signaling capacity operates in a VLF frequency range.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said primary antenna peripherally spans said reception surface.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said secondary antenna is positioned on said reception surface completely within said primary antenna span.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein said secondary antenna and said primary antenna transmit data at substantially distinct frequencies.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said primary integrated circuit chip is in electrical communication with transmission means consisting of said primary antenna, and said secondary integrated circuit chip is in electrical communication with transmission means consisting of said secondary antenna.

15. A remotely monitorable shipping container security system comprising:

a shipping container body with a latch defining a latch aperture with a latch aperture diameter and a substantially planar container sidewall; and

a radio frequency identification device comprising;

a reception block with a substantially planar reception surface and a reception block width dimensioned to prevent an axial rotation of said reception block greater than 30 degrees when positioned proximate to said sidewall;

a chipset comprising a primary integrated circuit chip supported by said reception block;

an elongate mast assembly, extending from said reception block, and having a mast assembly width substantially less than said reception block width that increases distally from said reception block, wherein a reception block proximate portion of said mast assembly includes said mast assembly width less than said latch aperture diameter and a reception block distal portion of said mast assembly includes said mast assembly width greater than said latch aperture diameter, and said mast assembly having a mast assembly separation zone adapted to transversely dislocate a portion of said elongate mast assembly;

an external physical identifier, visibly situated on location selected from a group consisting of said reception block and said mast assembly, bearing a representation corresponding to an electronic security number of said chipset; and

a closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, on said reception surface and extending along said elongate mast assembly, with an antenna separation zone contacting said mast assembly separation zone and having a primary signaling capacity with a primary signal range.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a closed loop secondary antenna, in signaled communication with said chipset, having a secondary signaling capacity with a secondary signal range, wherein said secondary antenna is disposed in a location consisting of said reception block.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said chipset includes a secondary integrated circuit chip, on said reception block, in signaled communication with said secondary antenna.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a transmission module adapted to write and read data from said primary antenna and write and read data from said secondary antenna.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a central authority, in signaled communication with said transmission nodule, adapted to accept and send distanced transmissions from said transmission module relating to data from said primary integrated circuit chip and said secondary integrated circuit chip.

20. A radio frequency identification kit comprising:

a reception block with a substantially planar exposed reception surface and a reception block width;

a primary integrated circuit chip supported by said reception block;

a secondary integrated circuit chip supported by said reception block;

an elongate mast, extending from said reception block, having a mast width and a terminus and a mast separation zone;

a closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said primary integrated circuit chip and positioned on said reception surface and peripherally extending along said elongate mast, with an antenna separation zone contacting said mast separation zone and having a primary signaling capacity with a primary signal range;

a closed loop secondary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said secondary integrated circuit chip, having a secondary signaling capacity with a secondary signal range, wherein said secondary antenna is disposed in a location consisting of said reception block; and

a mast cap, dimensioned to internally accept said mast terminus, having a mast cap width greater than said mast width and less than said reception block width and adapted to grasp said antenna separation zone and said mast separation zone.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said mast cap includes an antenna bridge with exposed antenna mast cap contacts and said closed loop antenna includes a discontinuous antenna loop portion, wherein said antenna map cap contacts are adapted to create said closed loop antenna upon contact with said discontinuous antenna loop portion.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said antenna separation zone is formed between said discontinuous antenna loop portion and said antenna mast cap contacts.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein said secondary signal range is less than said primary signal range.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein said primary signaling capacity operates in a frequency range selected from a group consisting of UHF, VHF, and combinations thereof.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said primary signaling capacity operates in a UHF frequency range.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said secondary signaling capacity operates in a VLF frequency range.

28. The device of claim 26 wherein said secondary antenna and said primary antenna transmit data at substantially distinct frequencies.

29. A radio frequency device comprising:

a substantially solid reception block with an internal reception surface and a reception block width;

a chipset with a primary integrated circuit chip encased by said reception block;

a substantially solid, elongate mast assembly, extending from said reception block, with a mast assembly width substantially less than said reception block width that increases distally from said reception block, and said mast assembly having a mast assembly separation zone adapted to transversely dislocate a portion of said elongate mast assembly; and

a closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, encased by said reception block and extending within said elongate mast assembly, with an antenna separation zone contacting said mast assembly separation zone and having a primary signaling capacity with a primary signal range.

30. The radio frequency device of claim 29 further comprising a physical identifier in a location selected from a position consisting of said reception surface of said reception block and said mast assembly.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein said device comprises a chipset with:

a primary integrated circuit chip encased within said reception block; and

a secondary integrated circuit chip encased within said reception block.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein said device comprises the closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said primary integrated circuit chip;

and a closed loop secondary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said secondary integrated circuit chip, having a secondary signaling capacity with a secondary signal range, wherein said secondary antenna is encased within said reception block.

33. The device of claim 29 further comprising a verification integrated circuit, encased within said mast cap, bearing verification information adapted to verify said primary integrated circuit and said secondary integrated circuit as belonging to a verified unit.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein said device comprises a chipset with:

a primary integrated circuit chip encased within said reception block; and

a secondary integrated circuit chip encased within said reception block.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein said device comprises the closed-loop, multiple-loop primary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said primary integrated circuit chip;

and a closed loop secondary antenna, in sole signaled communication with said secondary integrated circuit chip, having a secondary signaling capacity with a secondary signal range, wherein said secondary antenna is encased within said reception block.

36. The device of claim 29 wherein all antennae encased within said reception block possess a single orientation upon at least one reception surface.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein all antennae encased within said reception block are co-planar about said reception surface.