Panel system and method with embedded electronics

• US 8,823,514 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nagel, David J., Whiton, Justin C
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/305,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/693.5, 206/461
• 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, an inner wall, a 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;

wherein at least one section of the wall component is comprised of an outer layer, wherein the outer later is comprised of at least one material which is configured to enhance the transmission of signals through the wall of the container; 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.

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.

3. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the wall system performs at least one of the following functions:

structural support;

barriers to matter, energy and biological entities;

the exclusion or inclusion of humans in nearby spaces;

sound and impact absorbers;

or

windows for electromagnetic radiation, notably visible light and radio frequency waves.

4. The wall system of claim 1, wherein at least one section of the wall component is comprised of dielectric materials such that they will transmit or receive various forms of radiant energy.

5. The wall system of claim 1, wherein at least one section of the wall component is comprised of selective filters which may be transmissive to some forms of radio frequency energy but opaque to others.

6. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the electronics within the electronics components include at least one electronic device selected from the group of electronic devices containing:

conductors, semiconductors, resistors, glasses, polymers, liquid crystals, either active or passive components, or both, any combination of analog or digital devices, a battery or power source, antenna devices, devices for radio frequency transmission or reception, or sensor devices.

7. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the communications element comprises a wireless communications device comprised of a transmitter element, a complementary receiver element, and an antenna element.

8. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the processing element controls the system, collects data from the sensors, processes sensor data, and sends data to the communications element.

9. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the sensor element comprises one or more sensors, collects data from the sensors, processes sensor data, and sends data to the wireless communications device.

10. The wall system of claim 7, wherein the communications device comprises a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both.

11. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the sensing element includes at least one sensor selected from the group of sensors containing:

temperature sensor, visible light sensor, acoustic sensor, vibration sensor, motion sensor, microbolometer, radiation sensor, hazardous chemical sensor, explosives sensor, proximity sensor, infrared sensor, door switch sensor, and smoke detector.