Tamper evident packaging

• US 7,170,409 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cypak AB
• Inventors: Ehrensvard, Jakob, Einberg, Fredrik, Eriksson, Leif, Ehrensvard, Stina
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/794,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.26, 340/539.13, 340/539.19, 340/540, 340/541, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/00 Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room

Abstract

A packaging and a method for monitoring a packaging (10) of a disposable material in a chain of logistics. As an integral part of the packaging, the packaging has an electronic module (12) comprising electric energy supply means, data processing means, data storage nonvolatile memory means for storing information related to the packaging, time keeping means, and data transceiver means for transmitting and receiving said information in communication with a host computer (30). The electronic module also has sensor means (14, 20) for detecting a changed physical condition of the packaging and for signaling information representing said changed physical condition to the electronic module (12) to be stored in the memory means together with a notation of time from the time keeping means.

Claims

1. A packaging of a disposable material comprising, in operative connection and as an integral part of the packaging:

an electronic module comprising;

electric energy supply means,

data processing means,

data storage nonvolatile memory means for storing information related to the packaging,

a unique packaging identifier,

time keeping means, and

data transceiver means for transmitting and receiving said information in communication with a host computer; and

sensor means comprising electrically conductive elements printed to faces of the packaging, for detecting a changed condition comprising an analog change in impedance of the conductive elements when breaking the integrity of the packaging and for signaling information representing said changed condition to the electronic module to be stored in the memory means together with a notation of time from the time keeping means.

2. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive elements comprise electrically conductive traces, wherein said change in impedance comprises changing the conductivity by rupturing a conductive trace.

3. The packaging according to claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive traces are attached to said faces of the packaging, said conductive traces having variable adhesion to the substrate, said faces being attached by an adhesive, covering said conductive traces, said traces designed to, at least partially, rupture when said adhesive being subjected a destructive force.

4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive elements comprise electrically conductive traces, wherein said changed condition comprises a change in capacitance by conductive patches being moved relative to each other.

5. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said sensor means further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting a changed condition, wherein said changed condition is a changed temperature.

6. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an identity of a sender stored in the data storage nonvolatile memory means.

7. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising encrypted information stored in the data storage non-volatile memory means, for verifying an authenticity of the packaging by the host computer or a receiver of the package by a challenge-response mechanism.

8. A system for monitoring a packaging of a disposable material in a chain of logistics, comprising a host computer and a packaging according to claim 1.

9. A method of monitoring a packaging of a disposable material in a chain of logistics, comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to an electronic module integral with the packaging;

applying a printed pattern of electric conductive material on faces of said disposable material for forming sensors capable of detecting a changed condition comprising an analog change in impedance of the conductive material when breaking the integrity of the packaging;

repeatedly transmitting and receiving electric signals to and from said sensors to detect the change;

registering information including a unique packaging identifier and the changed condition together with a point in time when it occurred in the etectronic module; and

transmitting said information from said electronic module to a host computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further including registering initial information in said electronic module representing the impedance of the packaging in an initial stage of a chain of logistics.

11. The method of claim 9, further including registering said initial information in said electronic module through a wireless transceiver in said packaging.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said transceiver is a capacitive transceiver.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing an identity of a sender in the data storage nonvolatile memory means.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing encrypted information in the data storage nonvolatile memory means, for verifying an authenticity of the packaging by the host computer or a receiver of the package by a challenge-response mechanism.

15. A packaging of a disposable material comprising, in operative connection and as an integral part of the packaging:

an electronic module comprising;

an electric energy supply,

a data processor,

a data storage nonvolatile memory that stores information related to the packaging,

a unique packaging identifier,

a time keeper, and

a data transceiver that transmits and receives said information in communication with a host computer; and

a sensor comprising electrically conductive elements printed to faces of the packaging, that detects a changed condition comprising an analog change in impedance of the conductive elements when breaking the integrity of the packaging and that signals information representing said changed condition to the electronic module to be stored in the memory together with a notation of time from the time keeper.

16. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein said electrically conductive elements comprise electrically conductive traces, wherein said change of in impedance comprises changing the conductivity by rupturing a conductive trace.

17. The packaging according to claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive traces are attached to said faces of the packaging, said conductive traces having variable adhesion to the substrate, said faces being attached by an adhesive, covering said conductive traces, said traces designed to, at least partially, rupture when said adhesive being subjected a destructive force.

18. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein said electrically conductive elements comprise electrically conductive traces, wherein said changed condition comprises a change in capacitance by conductive patches being moved relative to each other.

19. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein said sensor further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting a changed condition, wherein said changed condition is a changed temperature.