Bag including an encodable device responsive to remote interrogation and an associated fabrication method

• US 5,635,917 A
• Filed: 11/03/1994
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ampac Trigon, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trigon Cambridge Limited
• Inventors: Todman, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/146,140
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.37, 340/825.54, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 340/541, 340/550, 340/568, 340/572, 340/652
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/34 with special means for indicating unauthorised opening B65D33/2516, B65D33/2585 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• 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 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• 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

Abstract

A security bag includes an electronic memory device which may be read remotely using non-visual means. A method of processing such a bag comprises the steps of encoding information onto the tag in non-visible form, retaining the device on or in the bag, and subsequently retrieving the information. A variant provides the memory device of the electronic tag and the electromagnetic or inductive coil being separately located and connected across the seal of the bag by a conductor designed to break upon attempted opening of the bag.

Claims

1. A bag comprising:

a body portion defining an interior region, said body portion also defining an opening in communication with the interior region;

a seal disposed across the opening defined by said body portion to thereby close the opening and seal the interior region defined by said body portion, wherein said seal is comprised of a sealing material having a first predetermined breaking strength; and

an encodable device disposed within said seal, said encodable device comprising;

memory means for storing predetermined data in a non-visible form;

reading means, operably connected to said memory means, for responding to remote interrogation of said encodable device; and

a conductor which extends at least partly through said seal to operably connect said memory means and said reading means, wherein said conductor has a second predetermined breaking strength, less than the first predetermined breaking strength of said seal, such that said conductor will break if said seal is removed from the opening to thereby disconnect said memory means and said reading means so as to prevent said reading means from responding to further remote interrogation of said encodable device.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said conductor is selected from the group consisting of a wire, a metallic film, a metallic foil and a conductive ink strip.

3. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said reading means is selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic coil and an inductive coil.

4. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said encodable device further comprises memory addressing means, responsive to said reading means and operably connected to said memory means, for accessing predefined portions of said memory means.

5. A method of electronically tagging a bag comprising the steps of:

providing a bag defining an interior region and an opening in communication with the interior region;

providing a seal on the bag which is adapted to be extended across the opening defined by the bag to thereby close the opening and seal the interior region;

storing predetermined data relating to the bag in a non-visible form in an encodable device, wherein the encodable device comprises memory means, reading means and a conductor that operably connects the memory means and the reading means, and wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing predetermined data relating to the bag in a non-visible form in the memory means of the encodable device;

disposing the encodable device within the seal such that the encodable device is securely attached to the bag, wherein said disposing step comprises the step of extending the conductor of the encodable device at least partly through the seal;

remotely interrogating the encodable device to access the at least portions of the predetermined data stored by the memory means of the encodable device, wherein said step of remotely interrogating the encodable device comprises the steps of transmitting interrogation signals to and receiving responsive signals from the reading means of the encodable device; and

providing an electronic indication if the seal is removed from the opening defined by the bag, wherein said step of providing an electronic indication comprises the step of breaking the conductor if the seal is removed from the opening such that the memory means and the reading means are disconnected to thereby prevent the reading means from responding to further remote interrogation signals.