Container tamper-proof protection by use of printed fiber optics manufacturing and integrated sensors

• US 9,990,866 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpticalLock, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OpticalLock, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanchez, Jorge, Fuller, Carol E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Charlie Y
• Application Number:
  US15/252,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20170011667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/00 Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures tamper-indicating closures without means for discouraging, see the relevant groups, e.g. B65D41/32, B65D51/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/088 of optical fibres; Mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/30 Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/31 with a light emitter and a light receiver being disposed at the same side of a fibre or waveguide end-face, e.g. reflectometers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0273 Labels for bottles, flasks
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a method for tamper-proof protection of containers used for shipment of goods. An optical fiber is embedded in an Optical Shield Wallpaper which lines all interior surfaces of any size of a shipping container, package, box, barrel or other shaped container. Wallpaper is manufactured using large scale rollers that press fibers with encapsulated adhesives onto an appropriate medium. Small medicine containers are protected with a fiber optic shield and sensors manufactured using ink jet printing techniques. Light is applied to the optical fiber and a measurement of optical fiber characteristics is performed. Digital signal processing is used to generate pedigree information, which may include items such as shipping location, serial numbers and lot numbers for the goods. The status of the autonomous anti-tampering system is monitored real-time for unauthorized intrusions. Intrusions detected are relayed to an authorized recipient via a variety of communication channels.

Claims

1. A system for detecting tampering of an object, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one waveguide that is inkjet printed on the substrate, the waveguide comprising an inkjet printable material;

one or more sensors inkjet printed on the waveguide and configured to detect light transmitted through the waveguide, the one or more sensors comprising an inkjet printable material; and

a detection device configured to receive a signal from the sensors and process the signal, which includes information regarding physical characteristics of the waveguide,

wherein the detection device is further configured to encrypt the information and transmit the encrypted information to a remote server configured to identify whether object tampering has been detected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are attached to ends of the waveguide.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are located along a length of the waveguide.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensors are spaced apart from one another at a regular interval.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to detect light transmitted through a portion of the waveguide.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes shrink wrap material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide and substrate are located around a cap of a medicine container.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical characteristics includes movement of the waveguide.

9. A method of manufacturing a waveguide for anti-tampering detection, comprising:

printing at least one waveguide via an ink-jet printing process on a substrate;

printing at least one sensor on the waveguide;

coupling the at least one sensor to a detection device, the detection device configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, process the signal which includes information regarding physical characteristics of the waveguide, encrypt the information, and transmit the encrypted information to a remote server configured to identify whether container tampering has been detected; and

placing the substrate including the waveguide around a container.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one sensor is located at an end of the waveguide.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one sensor is located along a length of the waveguide.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors that are spaced apart from one another at a regular interval.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the container includes a cap, and wherein the placing of the waveguide includes placing the waveguide and the attached sensor around the cap.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the container contains medicine.