Container with a detection system

• US 10,109,169 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Mea Fze (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Mea Fze (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chevalier, Julien, Demaretz, Thierry, Lehovetzki, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US14/982,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20160117899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2451 Specific applications combined with EAS

Abstract

A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container comprising a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container; a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device; an activation means operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a verification means operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and a signal means for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user. The detector device may transmit an article absent signal and/or an unknown article signal. The detector device may comprise an external antenna configured to detect RFID-tagged articles outside the container.

Claims

1. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, wherein the container comprises:

a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, wherein the detector device is structured to be selectively detachable and is configured to activate an internal or external antenna for detecting RFID-tagged articles;

an activation means, wherein the activation means is at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button in communication with the detector device, and wherein the activation means is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container;

a verification means, wherein the verification means is at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator in communication with the detector device, and wherein at least one of the verification means is housed within a cavity in the container and is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate the internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list;

a signal means, wherein the signal means is at least one of an optical signal, an audible signal, or tactile signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user; and

wherein the user can selectively operate the detector device to activate the external antenna for detecting RFID tagged articles identified as absent in the reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container.

2. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector device is configured to signal an article absent signal upon detection of absence of a RFID-tagged article on the reference list and the detector device is configured to signal a unknown article signal upon detection of a RFID-tagged article not on the reference list.

3. The portable container as claimed in either one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the detector device is lockable against detection of the reference list, optionally wherein the detector device is configured to signal an initialisation signal upon location in the container of a RFID-tagged key configured to permit detection of the reference list.

4. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal means includes at least one LCD.

5. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal means includes at least one LED, optionally wherein the or each LED is a multicoloured LED.

6. The portable container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the container includes a translucent body optically coupled to the or each LED.

7. The portable container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the container includes a handle and wherein the translucent body forms at least part of the handle.

8. The portable container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal means includes a display configured to display the number and/or identity of RFID-tagged articles detected by the detector device in the container.

9. The portable container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the display is configured to display the article absent signal and wherein the article absent signal includes the number and/or identity of absent RFID-tagged articles.

10. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector device includes a transponder reader device further comprising an antenna reader and at least one internal antenna in communication with the antenna reader and wherein the or each internal antenna is configured to detect only RFID-tagged articles in the container.

11. The portable container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detector device includes an external antenna in selectable communication with the antenna reader and wherein the external antenna is configured to detect RFID-tagged articles outside the container, optionally wherein the external antenna is configured to detect only RFID-tagged articles on the initial reference list.

12. The portable container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the external antenna is portable in relation to the container.

13. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector device includes a data processing device having a central processing unit and a memory for recording at least the reference list.

14. The portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is one of a tool cabinet, a tool cupboard, a tool box, or a tool bag and configured for containment of one or more RFID-tagged tools.

15. A method of detecting removal and/or placement of articles in a container, wherein each article is tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, wherein the container has at least one opening into the container, a detector device structured to be selectively detachable and configured for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button in communication with the detector device, at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator in communication with the detector device, and at least one of an optical signal, an audible signal, or tactile signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) operating the at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container and optionally to detect a RFID-tagged key configured to permit detection of the reference list;

(b) operating the at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate an internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal detection of deviation from the reference list; and

(c) when deviation from the reference list is determined, selectively operating the detector device to activate an external antenna for detecting the RFID tagged articles identified as absent in the reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container.

16. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, wherein the container comprises:

a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, wherein the detector device is structured to be selectively detachable and configured to activate a pre-determined antenna for detecting RFID-tagged articles;

an activation button in communication with the detector device, wherein the activation button is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container;

a data processing device in communication with the detector device, wherein the data processing device is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate an internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and

an optical signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user, wherein the user can selectively operate the detector device to activate an external antenna for detecting RFID tagged articles identified in the deviation signal.

17. The portable container as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least the data processing device is housed within a cavity of a base in the container.