SHIPPING CONTAINER INTEGRITY DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20100238032A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MACH 1 Development Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MACH 1 Development Incorporated
• Inventors: Greene, Paul Llewellyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

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 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.

2. The system 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.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said chipset includes a secondary integrated circuit chip, on said reception block, in signaled communication with said secondary antenna.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a transmission module adapted to write and read data from said primary antenna and write and read data from said secondary antenna.

5. The system of claim 4 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.

6. 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 surface portion; 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 container surface portion;

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; 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.

7. The system of claim 6 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.

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

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a transmission module adapted to write and read data from said primary antenna and write and read data from said secondary antenna.

10. The system of claim 9 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.