Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof

• US 7,417,543 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommerceGuard AB (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: CommerceGuard AB (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Sandberg, Eric, Bergman, Johan, Voigt, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam P
• Application Number:
  US10/989,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.1, 3405452-5458, 340/547, 340550-552, 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/539.23, 340/548, 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/686.6, 335151-154, 335205-207
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the integrity of a container specifically adapted for the system and constructed with at least one door. A sensor is secured in the container for detecting proximity of the at least one door relative to another area of the container and for providing sensor data that may be communicated from the container relative to its integrity.

Claims

1. A sensor system for monitoring security of a container, the system comprising:

a sensor secured to a first door of a container;

a plate attached to a second door of the container,

wherein the sensor is configured to measure a distance between the sensor and the plate, and

wherein the plate extends away from a hinge of the second door and is configured to restrict a movement of the second door when the first door and second door are in a closed position;

a processor configured to process data received from the sensor to determine whether an opening of at least one of the first door and the second door has occurred;

a power source configured to power the processor; and

a memory configured to store a determination of the processor.

2. A sensor system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory to a receiving device located outside of the container.

3. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to make the determination based upon a change in the distance between the sensor and the plate.

4. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the data received from the sensor is analog data.

5. A sensor system as in claim 4, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

6. A sensor system as in claim 5, wherein the Hall effect sensor comprises:

a ring magnet;

a ferrous ring displaced co-axially within the ring magnet; and

a Hall effect sensor card positioned co-axially adjacent to the ferrous ring.

7. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a metal.

8. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be inserted in an aperture formed in the first door of the container.

9. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the container is a shipping container.

10. A sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is insensitive to movement of the plate in a plane orthogonal to a sensor axis.

11. A method of monitoring security of a container, the container having a first door and second door, each movable between a closed position and an open position, the method comprising:

closing the first door of the container, the first door having a sensor secured thereto and positioned to define a sensor axis;

closing the second door of the container, the second door having a plate attached thereto and positioned along the sensor axis,

wherein the plate extends away from a hinge of the first door to restrict movement of the second door when the first door and the second doors are in the closed position;

wherein the sensor is configured to measure a distance between the sensor and the plate;

receiving data output from the sensor; and

processing the data output of the sensor to determine whether an opening of at least one of the first door and the second door has occurred.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the data received from the sensor is analog data.

13. A method as in claim 11, further comprising:

storing the determination of the processing in a memory of the sensor.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein the sensor is insensitive to movement of the plate in a plane orthogonal to the sensor axis.

15. A method as in claim 11, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the Hall effect sensor comprises:

a ring magnet;

a ferrous ring displaced co-axially within the ring magnet; and

a Hall effect sensor card positioned co-axially adjacent to the ferrous ring.

17. A method as in claim 11, wherein the plate comprises a metal.

18. A method as in claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to be inserted in an aperture formed in the first door of the container.

19. A shipping container, comprising:

an enclosure for storing an item, the enclosure having a first door and a second door for accessing an interior of the enclosure;

a plate attached to the second door, the plate configured to restrict a movement of the second door when the first door and the second door are in a closed position;

a sensor assembly secured to the first door and positioned to measure a distance between the plate and the sensor, the sensor assembly configured to output data indicative of the measured distance between the plate and the sensor;

a processor configured to receive and process the output data to determine whether an opening of at least one of the doors has occurred; and

a memory for storing the determination of the processor.

20. A shipping container as in claim 19, wherein the sensor is insensitive to movement of the plate in a plane orthogonal to a sensor axis.

21. A shipping container as in claim 19, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

22. A shipping container as in claim 21, wherein the Hall effect sensor comprises:

a ring magnet;

a ferrous ring displaced co-axially within the ring magnet; and

a Hall effect sensor card positioned co-axially adjacent to the ferrous ring.

23. A shipping container as in claim 19, wherein the plate comprises a metal.

24. A shipping container as in claim 19, wherein the sensor is configured to be inserted in an aperture formed in the first door of the container.