Wireless active monitor system for containers and carts

• US 8,238,898 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ian A. Lerner
• Original Assignee: Ian A. Lerner
• Inventors: Lerner, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsieh, Ping
• Application Number:
  US12/475,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/423, 455/435.1, 455/458, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 340/901, 340/613, 340/539.13, 340/545.6, 340/585, 701/10, 701/25, 701/29, 701/32, 701/42, 701/207, 705/308, 177/135, 177/136, 177/137, 177/139, 180/65.1
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Wireless active monitor system for containers/carts that hold item(s). Includes a container mount, and sensor for example to weigh the item(s), and a wireless transmitter/transceiver to transmit sensor data from the sensor to a database for remote access. The sensor may be protected via shock pads to prevent damage to the sensor if the container is dropped. The system may be implemented with a printed circuit board having a central processing unit and memory that holds program code to execute on the central processing unit, for example to transmit sensor data via the wireless transmitter. May utilize a unique identifier associated with each container, and/or vehicle utilized to interface with the container. Enables rapid determination of the physical characteristics associated with items in the container without requiring physical contact with the container. For example, allows the weight of garbage containers to be determined remotely.

Claims

1. A wireless active monitor system for containers and carts comprising:

a container mount configured to couple with a container that is configured to hold at least one item;

a sensor coupled with the container mount wherein the sensor is configured to produce sensor data associated with the at least one item;

a wireless transmitter coupled with the sensor wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the sensor data;

a wheel casing configured to couple with a wheel wherein said wheel casing is further configured to contain said wireless transmitter; and

,

wherein a top portion of said wheel casing is directly coupled with a bottom portion of said sensor and wherein a top portion of said sensor is directly coupled with a bottom portion of said container mount and wherein said container mount is configured to couple with an existing bottommost flat portion of said container and wherein a height of said wheel casing and said sensor combine approximately to a height of all other wheels coupled with said container.

2. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 wherein the container is a cart that is mobile.

3. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to measure a physical characteristic.

4. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to measure weight.

5. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board coupled with the wireless transmitter.

6. The wireless active monitor system of claim 5 wherein the printed circuit board further comprises:

a central processing unit; and

,

memory that comprises program code configured execute on the central processing unit wherein the program code is configured to transmit the sensor data via the wireless transmitter.

7. The wireless active monitor system of claim 6 further comprising:

a wireless receiver coupled with the printed circuit board wherein the program code is configured to transmit the sensor data via the wireless transmitter upon receipt of a request at the wireless receiver.

8. The wireless active monitor system of claim 6 further comprising:

a wireless receiver coupled with the printed circuit board wherein the central processing unit is configured to wake-up at a time interval and transmit sensor data via the wireless transmitter.

9. The wireless active monitor system of claim 6 wherein the program code is configured to recalibrate the sensor after the container is disassociated with the at least one items.

10. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 further comprising a shock pad coupled with the sensor and further coupled with the container mount.

11. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a unique identifier associated with the container.

12. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 further comprising an energy source.

13. The wireless active monitor system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second wireless receiver configured to receive the sensor data from the wireless transmitter.

14. The wireless active monitor system of claim 13 further comprising a database coupled with the second wireless receiver.

15. The wireless active monitor system of claim 14 wherein the second wireless receiver is not coupled with a truck and wherein the second wireless receiver couples with the database and wherein the database receives sensor data obtained via the sensor without use of the truck.

16. The wireless active monitor system of claim 14 wherein the second wireless receiver is coupled with a truck and wherein the truck comprises a second wireless transmitter that is configured to transmit the sensor data obtained via the sensor to the database.

17. The wireless active monitor system of claim 16 wherein the second wireless transmitter is implemented with a cell phone coupled with the second wireless receiver wherein the cell phone is configured to transmit the sensor data obtained via the sensor to the database.

18. The wireless active monitor system of claim 14 further comprising a web server coupled with the database.

19. The wireless active monitor system of claim 13 wherein the wireless transmitter communicates the sensor data wirelessly with the second wireless receiver through use of a Zigbee protocol.

20. A wireless active monitor system for containers and carts comprising:

a container mount configured to couple with a container that is configured to hold at least one item;

a sensor coupled with the container mount wherein the sensor is configured to produce sensor data associated with the at least one item and wherein the sensor is configured to measure weight;

a shock pad coupled with the sensor and further coupled with the container mount;

a wireless transmitter coupled with the sensor wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the sensor data;

a printed circuit board coupled with the wireless transmitter;

a central processing unit coupled to the printed circuit board;

memory coupled to the printed circuit board that comprises program code configured execute on the central processing unit wherein the program code is configured to transmit the sensor data via the wireless transmitter;

wherein the program code is further configured to transmit a unique identifier via the wireless transmitter wherein the unique identifier is associated with the container associated with the wireless transmitter;

a wheel casing configured to couple with a wheel wherein said wheel casing is further configured to contain said wireless transmitter, said printed circuit board, said central processing unit, and said memory;

wherein a top portion of said wheel casing is directly coupled with a bottom portion of said sensor and wherein a top portion of said sensor is directly coupled with a bottom portion of said container mount and wherein said container mount is configured to couple with an existing bottommost flat portion of said container and wherein a height of said wheel casing and said sensor combine approximately to a height of all other wheels coupled with said container; and

,

a database configured to hold the sensor data received from the wireless transmitter.