DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE OPENING OF A VESSEL

• US 20100283580A1
• Filed: 01/04/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Invent Logistic And Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Invent Logistic And Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sheng, Jun, Sheng, Xing
• Application Number:
  US12/864,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/22 Safety features floating covers B65D88/34; arrangements of indicating or measuring devices B65D90/48; fire-fighting A62C
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/10 Rotary bars
• 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: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0347 having padlock-type sealing means padlocks in general E05B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means

Abstract

A device and a method for detecting the opening of a vessel are disclosed, the device includes: a control circuit which stores and provides the identification data, an antenna which is connected to the control circuit forms a circuit loop together with the control circuit, and the antenna has an extending unit; the antenna provides the communication channel to the control circuit; the antenna and its extending unit and the control circuit are attached to the vessel, when the vessel is open, the antenna, the circuit loop or the control circuit is destroyed, thus the control circuit cannot provide the identification data. With the device and method, the vessel, such as container, is prevented from being illegally opened or replaced without knowing in the transporting or keeping process.

Claims

1. An apparatus that identifies whether a vessel has been opened, comprising of:

a control circuit, for storing and providing identification data;

an antenna connected to the control circuit;

said antenna and control circuit forming a circuit loop;

said antenna providing a communication channel to said control circuit;

one portion or the entire of said antenna or control circuit attached to said vessel, and upon said vessel being opened, said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit being damaged to stop said control circuit from providing identification data.

2. An identification apparatus as claim 1, wherein said antenna has an extending unit, and one portion or the entire of the extending unit of the antenna is attached to said vessel.

3. An identification apparatus as claim 2, wherein said identification data are passwords data, chip ID or user codes.

4. An identification apparatus as claim 3, wherein said vessel has a main locking mechanism, which is circled or pass through by said extending unit of the antenna, and once said main locking mechanism is opened, the antenna, the circuit loop or the control circuit will be damaged to stop the control circuit from providing identification data.

5. An identification apparatus as claim 4, wherein said identification apparatus comprises a tracking locking mechanism, on which said antenna, extending unit of the antenna and the control circuit are installed, attached to said mater locking mechanism and upon said mater locking mechanism being opened, said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit on the tracking locking mechanism will be damaged to stop the control circuit from providing identification data.

6. An identification apparatus as claim 5, wherein said tracking locking mechanism has a hasp string, for circling or inserting through the main locking mechanism, and said extending unit of the antenna is mounted within said hasp string of the tracking locking mechanism.

7. An identification apparatus as claim 2, wherein said antenna, the extending unit of the antenna and the control circuit are installed on a flexible film material, which is used to attach on said vessel, and once said vessel is opened, said flexible film material will be damaged which therefore leading to damages to said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit and stopping the control circuit from providing identification data.

8. An identification apparatus as claim 2, wherein said antenna, the extending unit of the antenna and the control circuit are installed between two flexible film materials to form a sheet, which is used to attach on said vessel, and once said vessel is opened, said sheet will be damaged which therefore leading to damages to said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit and stopping control circuit from providing identification data.

9. An identification apparatus as claim 1, wherein data stored in the control circuit can be read by a data acquisition device and while reading data, the data acquisition device provides electric power to said control circuit via said antenna and said control circuit provides data to said data acquisition device via said antenna.

10. An apparatus that identifies whether a vessel has been opened, comprising of

a control circuit (722), for storing and providing identification data;

an antenna (721) connected to the control circuit;

said antenna having an extending unit together with the control circuit forming a circuit loop;

said vessel having a main locking mechanism which being circled or inserted through by said extending unit of the antenna;

a tracking locking mechanism, on which said antenna, extending unit of the antenna and the control circuit are installed, and attached to said mater locking mechanism;

upon said mater locking mechanism being opened, said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit attached to the tracking locking mechanism being damaged which stopping the control circuit from providing identification data.

11. An identification apparatus as claim 10, wherein said identification data includes stored passwords data, chip ID or user codes.

12. An identification apparatus as claim 11, wherein said tracking locking mechanism has a hasp string, for circling or inserting through the main locking mechanism, and said extending unit of the antenna is mounted within said hasp string of the tracking locking mechanism.

13. An identification apparatus as claim 12, wherein said antenna is used to provide a communication channel to said control circuit

14. An identification apparatus as claim 13, wherein data stored in the control circuit can be read by a data acquisition device and while reading data, the data acquisition device provides electric power to said control circuit via said antenna and said control circuit provides data to said data acquisition device via said antenna.

15. An identification apparatus as claim 14, wherein said vessel refers to a container.

16. A control circuit, for storing and providing identification data;

an antenna connected to the control circuit and together with the control circuit forming a control circuit;

said vessel having a main locking mechanism;

a tracking locking mechanism, on which said antenna and the control circuit installed, attached to said mater locking mechanism;

upon the mater locking mechanism being opened, said antenna, circuit loop or control circuit on the tracking locking mechanism being damaged which stopping the control circuit from providing identification data.

17. An identification apparatus as claim 16, wherein said identification data includes stored passwords data, chip ID or user codes.

18. An identification apparatus as claim 17, wherein said tracking locking mechanism has a hasp string, for wrapping up or inserting through the main locking mechanism.

19. An identification apparatus as claim 18, wherein said antenna is used to provide a communication channel to said control circuit.

20. An identification apparatus as claim 19, wherein data stored in the control circuit can be read by a data acquisition device and while reading data, the data acquisition device provides electric power to said control circuit via said antenna and said control circuit provides data to said data acquisition device via said antenna.

21. An identification apparatus as claim 20, wherein said vessel refers to a container.