Passive Tamper-Resistant Seal And Applications Therefor

• US 20120235815A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solbyung Coveley
• Original Assignee: Solbyung Coveley
• Inventors: Coveley, Michael E., Milutinovic, Srdjan, Huang, Yuping
• Granted Patent: US 9,070,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• 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: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

A radio frequency identification seal comprises an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion and an RFID tag coupled and tuned to the antenna. The RFID tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a container body; and

a seal on at least a portion of said container body, said seal including an antenna and a tag tuned to said antenna, said tag becoming detuned when said antenna is compromised during opening of said container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to said antenna.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein said tag resonates in response to said scanning signal when tuned to said antenna and outputs a code unique to said tag.

4. A container according to claim 3 wherein said scanning signal is of a predetermined frequency.

5. A container according to claim 2 wherein said antenna includes a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion coupled to said main antenna portion, said at least one break-away portion separating from said main antenna portion when said container is compromised resulting in said tag becoming detuned from said antenna.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein said at least one break-away portion is coupled to said main antenna portion by one-time contacts.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said main antenna portion is provided on a door of said container and wherein said at least one break-away portion is provided on a doorjamb of said container.

8. A container according to claim 6 comprising a plurality of break-away portions at spaced locations along said antenna.

9. A container according to claim 6 wherein said main antenna portion is provided on a door of said container and wherein at least one of said break-away portions is provided on a doorjamb of said container.

10. A container according to claim 6 wherein another of said break-away portions is provided adjacent a lock on said door.

11. A container according to claim 6 wherein said tag and antenna are disposed on a substrate secured to said container.

12. A container according to claim 11 wherein said substrate is adhered to said container.

15. A radio frequency identification seal according to claim 12 wherein said at least one break-away portion is coupled to said main antenna portion by one-time contacts.

16. A radio frequency identification seal according to claim 15 comprising a plurality of break-away portions.

17. A system for monitoring at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) seal affixed to a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one RFID seal according to claim 1; and

at least one RFID reader mounted on structure, the at least one RFID reader outputting the scanning signal and receiving the signature.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a wireless transmitter mounted on the structure for transmitting the signature to a central location for verification.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the structure is one of a highway entrance structure, a roadway lighting pole, an entrance gate to a yard and an exit gate from a yard.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the vehicle is one of a truck, aircraft, automobile and shipping vessel.

13. A radio frequency identification seal comprising:

an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion; and

an RFID tag coupled and tuned to said antenna, said RFID tag outputting a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to said antenna.

14. A radio frequency identification seal according to claim 13 wherein said RFID tag outputs a unique code in response to said scanning signal.

21. A structural material comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) seal affixed to the structural material at a location prone to fatigue, the at least on RFID seal comprising;

an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion; and

an RFID tag coupled and tuned to said antenna, said RFID tag outputting a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to said antenna,

wherein when the structural material undergoes fatigue adjacent said location, the at least one break-away portion separates from the main antenna portion thereby to detune the RFID seal.

22. The structural material of claim 21, wherein the location is one or more of wings of an airplane, fuselage of an airplane, tail of an airplane, landing gear of an airplane, longerons of an airplane, spars of an airplane, ribs of an airplane, undercarriage of an airplane, boom of a crane, main trunnion support of a crane, counterweight of a crane, welding points of a crane, lifting harness of a crane, main spans of a bridge, pad bearings of a bridge, parapets of a bridge, expansion joints of a bridge, road decking of a bridge, submersible supports of a drilling rig, bridge footings, bridge/pier fastening, strapping, anchor, boilers, nuclear fuel rod casement, railway dolly assembly, blades of a wind turbine, spindles of a wind turbine, stanchions of a wind turbines and vessels.

23. The structural material of claim 21, wherein failure in the structural material comprises cracks, protrusions, chevron buckling, hair-line fracture, corrosion notching, skin notching, skin stiffness and strain creep.

24. A ribbon comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) seals on the substrate, different RFID seals detuning in response to differing tensile loads.

25. The ribbon of claim 24, wherein each RFID seal detunes in response to a differing tensile load.