RFID cargo/storage container tamper seal

• US 8,026,816 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Min-Chih Chien
• Original Assignee: Jin-Hao Chao Cheng
• Inventors: Chao Cheng, Jin-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey; Renee
• Application Number:
  US12/315,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/51 Seal bolts

Abstract

An RFID cargo/storage container tamper seal consisting of a main insulating body, a locking rod and a circuit module is disclosed. The main insulating body has a helix-shaped antenna and a ring-shaped metal ring, wherein the inner surface of the metal ring has a C-shaped ring inlaid therein, and the antenna has an antenna probe extending and protruding from the metal ring. A first portion of the locking rod is cone-shaped and encapsulated by an insulating material, and a second portion thereof exposed from the insulating material has a ring-shaped groove disposed around its peripheral surfaces. The circuit module has an RFID chip embedded therein and is packaged inside the rod portion, thereby allowing an RFID reader to read electromagnetic waves/signals containing identification codes transmitted from the RFID chip of the RFID tamper seal via the antenna.

Claims

1. An RFID cargo/storage container tamper seal applicable to Customs safety cargo container inspection systems equipped with RFID readers, comprising:

a main insulating body;

a helix-shaped antenna installed in the main insulating body and comprising a probe;

a metal ring accommodated in the main insulating body and having a C-shaped ring inlaid around its inner surface;

a locking rod comprised of a hollow metal pillar, wherein a first portion of the locking rod is in a cone shape and is encapsulated by an insulating material and a second portion thereof uncovered by the insulating material has a ring-shaped groove disposed around its peripheral surfaces; and

a circuit module comprised of an RFID chip, an impedance module, a conductive elastic piece and a probe sheath, the circuit module being packaged in the hollow portion of the locking rod, one end of the RFID chip being connected with the conductive elastic piece while the other end of the RFID chip is electrically connected to one end of the impedance module, and the other end of the impedance module being electrically connected to the probe sheath via the conductive material plated on the circuit module.

2. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive material coated on the circuit module is copper.

3. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion of the rod portion is disposed in the metal ring of the main body, and the ring-shaped groove formed on the second portion engages with the C-shaped ring disposed on the metal ring.

4. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna probe protrudes into the metal ring.

5. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna probe is encapsulated by an insulating material.

6. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating material comprises Teflon or polyethylene.

7. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impedance module comprises metal wires of coils or an impedance matching device constituted by passive components.

8. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive elastic piece electrically connected to one end of the RFID chip comprises two ends that are both electrically connected to the metal pillar to form grounding antenna impedance, and the other end of the impedance module is connected with the probe sheath via a conductive material coated on the circuit module to form an electrical connection between the probe sheath and the antenna probe inserted into the probe sheath, thereby forming a matching probe antenna impedance with the grounding antenna impedance.

9. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metal cap for covering one of the two ends of the rod portion.

10. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive elastic piece is constituted by conductive metals.

11. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the conductive elastic piece is a V-shaped conductive elastic piece.

12. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 11, wherein after the circuit module is packaged in the rod portion, two ends of the V-shaped conductive elastic piece each respectively connect with the rod portion, and the convergent point of two ends of the V-shaped conductive elastic piece is electrically connected to the RFID chip.

13. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 11, wherein both ends of the V-shaped conductive elastic piece are connected with the rod portion to form grounding antenna impedance.

14. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the first portion of the metal pillar is a trumpet-shaped cone body.

15. The RFID tamper seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a dipole antenna.