Fiber Optic Cable Lock System

• US 20120144885A1
• Filed: 12/12/2010
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mills, Ian Michael
• Original Assignee: Mills, Ian Michael
• Inventors: Mills, Ian Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/965,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/57.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/006 with retraction of the cable for storage E05B73/0029 takes precedence; for devices mounted to a fixed surface or a portable object E05B73/0011
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

A cable alarm system is provided that includes: a lock; a temper proof fiber optic cable coupled to the lock and operative to conduct a light signal; an LED and a light signal detector coupled to the fiber optic cable and operative to detect light from the LED; a battery; a GPS system and a wireless transceiver. On detection of light signal interruption, the cable alarm system sends a wireless message containing GPS information.

Claims

1. A tamper proof cable lock apparatus comprising a fiber optic cable,

wherein said fiber optic cable is configured to be coupled to said tamper proof cable lock system and to form a loop,

wherein said tamper proof cable lock system can be remotely armed and disarmed,

wherein a light signal can be transmitted through said fiber optic cable,

wherein on detection of disconnect of said light signal while said tamper proof cable lock system is armed,

said cable lock system sends current location information wirelessly to a remote destination.

2. The portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein on receipt of a wireless message containing a code, said cable lock system is armed or disarmed.

3. The portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless message is selected from the set comprising SMS, Bluetooth, GPRS message.

4. The portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein on receipt of a pin code from an onboard keypad, said cable lock system is armed or disarmed.

5. The portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light signal is generated using an onboard LED.

6. A portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus comprises a mechanical lock coupled to a second electronic fiber optic cable lock,

wherein a light transmitter transmits a light signal through a first end of a fiber optic cable,

wherein a light sensor detects a light signal on the other end of said fiber optic cable,

wherein on detection of a disconnect of said light signal,

said portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus sends current location information wirelessly to a remote destination.

7. Portable tracking and intrusion detection apparatus of claim 6 wherein said light transmitter is an LED.

8. A fibre optic cable lock, comprising:

a lock;

an electric cable having a first end and a removable second end configured to be coupled to said lock to form a closed loop and adapted to conduct a light signal;

a light detector coupled to said lock and configured to detect a light signal in said fibre optic cable when said second end is couple to said lock;

an alarm;

a GPS system for detecting current location information;

a transceiver for sending alarm message to remote destination;

wherein on detection of disconnect of said light signal;

said fiber optic cable lock sends current location information wirelessly to a remote destination.

9. The fibre optic cable lock of claim 8, comprising:

a protective gear, said protective gear prevents said fibre optic cable from bending.

10. The fibre optic cable lock of claim 8, wherein said fibre optic cable is retractable.

11. The fibre optic cable lock of claim 8, wherein said fibre optic cable lock is removable.