Shipping container air-vent cover antenna housing

• US 7,339,482 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lauenstein, Peter S., Jaeger, Randy L., Riley, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George
• Application Number:
  US11/241,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/741 aerating by ambient air through openings in the wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome

Abstract

Apparatuses for mounting an antenna on a cargo container. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention comprises an antenna cover, disposed for mounting within a void of a corrugated wall of the cargo container, the antenna cover mounting over at least one opening in the corrugated wall of the cargo container, wherein the antenna is disposed through the at least one opening and mounted inside of the antenna cover, such that the antenna the antenna is disposed to perform a function selected from a group comprising transmitting radio frequency (RF) radiation from outside the cargo container and receiving RF radiation from outside the cargo container.

Claims

1. An air vent cover for mounting an antenna on a cargo container, comprising:

an antenna cover, disposed for mounting within a void of a corrugated wall of the cargo container, the antenna cover mounting over at least one opening in the corrugated wall of the cargo container, the antenna cover having at least one opening which is disposed to allow air to flow between an inside of the cargo container and an outside of the cargo container;

wherein the antenna is disposed through the at least one opening and mounted inside of the antenna cover, such that the antenna is disposed to perform a function selected from a group comprising transmitting radio frequency (RF) radiation from outside the cargo container and receiving RF radiation from outside the cargo container.

2. The air vent cover of claim 1, wherein a dimension of the antenna cover does not extend beyond a depth of the void of the corrugated wall of the cargo container.

3. The air vent cover of claim 2, wherein the antenna transmits RF radiation to report information related to the cargo container.

4. The air vent cover of claim 3, wherein the information comprises location of the cargo container.

5. The air vent cover of claim 4, wherein the information comprises an entry log of the cargo container.

6. The air vent cover of claim 5, wherein the antenna cover further comprises an RF transmissive material.

7. The air vent cover of claim 5, wherein the antenna cover is electrically coupled to the antenna such that the antenna cover is used as the antenna.

16. A method for tracking a cargo container with radio frequency (RF) transmissions using the apparatus of claim 1.

8. An apparatus for mounting an antenna on a cargo container in an air vent cover of the cargo container, comprising:

a protective cover mounted on the cargo container, the protective cover having at least one opening which is disposed to allow air to flow between an inside of the cargo container and an outside of the cargo container;

an attachment mechanism to attach the antenna to the protective cover, wherein the antenna is disposed to receive radio frequency (RF) radiation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the antenna is mounted underneath the protective cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the protective cover is electrically coupled to the antenna such that the protective cover is used as the antenna.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the antenna is interwoven with the protective cover.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the antenna transmits RF radiation to report information related to the cargo container.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information comprises location of the cargo container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information comprises an entry log of the cargo container.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an RF transmissive material coupled to the antenna.

17. A method for tracking a cargo container with radio frequency (RF) transmissions using the apparatus of claim 8.