Anti-theft method for detecting the unauthorized opening of containers and baggage

• US 5,406,263 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Glen
• Application Number:
  US08/151,599
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/542, 340/541, 340/572, 340/652, 340/547
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article

Abstract

A simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit associated with a shipping container monitors continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, if continuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electrical detection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag, will alert the owner or monitoring station. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a broken trip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuit concept can be reused repetitively. In a second embodiment a magnetic circuit and the detection device (RFID tag) are embedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferred detection device, an RFID tag, could also be a battery backed transceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could be mounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing. The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could be connected to a host computer. The interrogator and/or the host computer and/or other alarm devices would then monitor the shipping container'"'"'s status (opened or closed).

Claims

1. A continuity monitoring unit attached to an opening/closing structure, said unit comprising:

a) an RFID (radio frequency identification) transceiver tag having a battery, a first connection node and a second connection node; and

b) a continuity circuit for connecting said first connection node to said second connection node wherein, said continuity circuit spanning an open/close portion of said structure.

2. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said opening/closing structure comprises a container.

3. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said unit is attached to said structure by an adhesive.

4. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said unit is attached to said structure by being embedded in said structure.

5. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said battery comprises a replaceable battery.

6. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 5 wherein said RFID transceiver tag is monitored by a computer controlled transceiver unit.

7. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said battery comprises a rechargeable battery.

8. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 7 wherein said RFID transceiver tag is monitored by a computer controlled transceiver unit.

9. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 7 wherein said RFID transceiver tag is monitored by alarm producing devices.

10. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said continuity circuit comprises a continuous wire.

11. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said continuity circuit comprises first and second mating magnetic contacts located on opposite opening portions of said container whereby said contacts opposite each other make contact to one another upon closure of said container with one set of said mating contacts being electrically connected to said RFID transceiver tag.

12. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said continuity circuit comprises first and second mating electrical contacts located on opposite opening portions of said structure whereby said contacts opposite each other make contact to one another upon closure of said structure with one set of said mating contacts being electrically connected to said RFID transceiver tag.

13. The continuity monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said continuity circuit comprises first and second mating contacts on both sides of a structure latch which make contact with each other upon closure of said structure with one set of said mating contacts being electrically connected to said RFID transceiver tag.