Electronic storage cabinet

• US 10,513,379 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knox Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Knox Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: McBride, James, Rodrigues de Miranda, Hans, Pedersen, Jason, Mosier, Terry, Pavlovic, Bryan Edward, Edberg, Joshua Jacque
• Primary Examiner(s): Mortell, John F
• Application Number:
  US15/852,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20180186531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2255/00 Locking devices for actuation of aerosol containers B65D83/226; for lids B65D2251/1008, B65D2251/1016
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/14 Applications of locks, e.g. of permutation or key-controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00722 with magnetic components, e.g. magnets, magnetic strips, metallic inserts mechanical locks operated by permanent magnets E05B47/0038
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

A storage container can include at least one movement sensor in or on a frame of the storage container and at least one movement sensor in or on a door of the storage container. A processor can compare outputs of the movement sensors to determine whether the door is open.

Claims

1. A storage container, the storage container comprising:

a frame that defines a partially enclosed space configured to receive medical pharmaceuticals, wherein the frame defines an opening;

a door mounted to the frame so as to be movable between an open position, whereby access to the medical pharmaceuticals can be obtained, and a closed position whereby the medical pharmaceuticals can be secured within the partially enclosed space;

a locking mechanism that secures the door to the frame in the closed position; and

a lock verification system comprising;

a first accelerometer disposed in the door and configured to generate a first output,

a second accelerometer disposed in the frame and configured to generate a second output, and

a processor programmed to perform a calculation based on the first output and the second output to identify whether the door is open or closed, wherein the processor is further configured to determine motion of the frame by comparing the first output and the second output, and wherein determination of whether the door is open or closed is based at least in part on a determination of the motion of the frame.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

compute a first tilt angle based on the first output;

compute a second tilt angle based on the second output;

compute a difference between the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle; and

compare the computed difference with a threshold to identify whether the door is open.

3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the processor is further programmed to filter one or both of the first output and the second output prior to computing the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle.

4. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sensor and a magnet, one of the magnetic sensor and the magnet disposed in the door and the other disposed in the frame, such that when the door is closed, the magnet is brought into proximity with the magnetic sensor such that the magnetic sensor detects the magnet.

5. The storage container of claim 4, wherein the magnetic sensor comprises either a reed switch or a Hall effect sensor.

6. The storage container of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to analyze an output of the magnetic sensor to identify whether the door is open or closed.

7. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the first output and the second output in response to the magnetic sensor detecting the magnet.

8. The storage container of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to increase a sample rate of the first and second accelerometers in response to the magnetic sensor detecting the magnet.

9. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a lock sensor configured to detect whether the locking mechanism has actuated.

10. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the lock sensor comprises a switch.

11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a recess comprising one or more ports or holes.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the recess is disposed in a rear portion of the frame opposite a front portion of the frame that connects to the door.

13. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the recess extends partially along an upper portion of the frame.

14. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the recess comprises one or more of the following:

a power cable port, a network cable port, and a wireless antenna port.

15. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the recess is defined by a shelf adjoining two walls, each wall adjoining the other, wherein normal vectors to each of a plurality of planes defined by the shelf and the two walls are approximately orthogonal to each other.

16. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the cabinet includes an upper surface, a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, left and right side surfaces, a rear surface, and a door opposite the rear surface.

17. The storage container of claim 16, wherein the recess comprises a wall extending downward from the upper surface partially toward the bottom surface and a shelf extending forward from the rear surface toward the door, wherein the shelf and the wall intersect to at least partially form the recess.

18. A storage container, the storage container comprising:

a frame that defines a space configured to receive one or more items, wherein the frame defines an opening;

at least one door mounted to the frame so as to be movable between an open position, whereby access to the one or more items can be obtained, and a closed position whereby the one or more items can be at least partially enclosed;

a locking mechanism that secures the at least one door to the frame in the closed position; and

a lock verification system comprising;

at least a first movement sensor disposed in the at least one door and configured to generate a first output,

at least a second movement sensor disposed in the frame and configured to generate a second output, and

a processor programmed to perform a calculation based on the first output and the second output to identify whether the at least one door is open or closed, wherein the processor is further configured to determine motion of the frame by comparing the first output and the second output, and wherein determination of whether the door is open or closed is based at least in part on a determination of the motion of the frame.

19. The storage container of claim 18, wherein the storage container is a shipping container.

20. The storage container of claim 18, wherein the storage container further comprises one or both of a wireless transmitter and a memory that stores data regarding identifications by the processor of door opening events.

21. A storage container, the storage container comprising:

a frame that defines a partially enclosed space configured to receive items, wherein the frame defines an opening;

a door mounted to the frame so as to be movable between an open position, whereby access to the items can be obtained, and a closed position whereby the items can be secured within the partially enclosed space;

a locking mechanism that secures the door to the frame in the closed position; and

a lock verification system comprising;

a first accelerometer disposed in the door and configured to generate a first output,

a second accelerometer disposed in the frame and configured to generate a second output, and

a processor programmed to perform a calculation based on the first output and the second output to identify whether the door is open or closed, wherein the processor is further configured to determine motion of the entire storage container by comparing the first output and the second output, and wherein determination of whether the door is open or closed is based at least in part on a determination of the motion of the entire storage container.