Panel system and method with embedded electronics

• US 8,138,913 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Nagel, David J., Whiton, Justin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/017,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.11, 340/539.1, 340/531, 340/500, 340/5.73, 340/5.7, 340/5.2, 340/5.1, 340/825, 340/539.31, 340/693.5, 700/237, 700/232, 700/231, 700/213, 700/90, 700/236, 700/242, 700/244, 361/679, 206/461, 206/467, 206/335, 224/401
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 9/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods not provided for in groups G01V1/00 - G01V8/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A system and method for a panel system containing embedded electronic elements providing both housing for the electronics and structural support. A preferred embodiment of the system is for a container security system, which is constructed into or conforming onto the roof, walls, door, or base of a cargo container is provided. The panel system may consist of a variety of electronic elements, batteries or power elements, sensors, a processing element to collect the sensor data, and a communications element to transmit outside of the container.

Claims

1. A wall system configured to provide monitoring and structural support for a cargo container wherein the container is comprised of an interior area for holding goods and a plurality of wall components for enclosing the interior area, the wall system comprising:

at least one wall component having a housing enclosed within the body of the wall component for enclosing embedded electronics outside of the interior area, wherein the housing is comprised of six sections including an outer wall, and inner wall, roof section, a floor section, a front wall and a rear wall, further wherein at least one section operates as a door such that the housing may be opened and closed and sealed off from the interior area of the container, further wherein at least one section of the wall component provides structural support within the body of the wall component;

a high strength polymer composite sheeting, wherein the composite sheeting is arranged as an outer layer affixed to at least one section of the wall component; and

an electronics panel designed to support a suite of electronic components, wherein the suite of electronic components includes one or more components for monitoring the interior area of the container, and further wherein the electronics panel is removable from the housing.

2. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the electronics panel is configured to support:

at least one sensor element;

a communications element;

a processing element; and

a global positioning or GPS element.