Container including a tamper-resistant seal and radio frequency identification seal

• US 8,063,779 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solbyung Coveley
• Original Assignee: Solbyung Coveley
• Inventors: Coveley, Michael E., Milutinovic, Srdjan, Huang, Yuping
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/081,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.6, 340/545.1, 340/541, 340/542, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/687, 340/539.31, 340/303, 235/375, 235/382, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A radio frequency identification seal comprises an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion and an RFID tag coupled and tuned to the antenna. The RFID tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

Claims

1. A cargo shipping container, comprising:

a container body;

at least one door coupled to the container body and moveable between an open condition and a closed condition; and

at least one seal on the container, at least a portion of the at least one seal being disposed between and secured to the at least one door and the container body when the at least one door is in the closed condition;

wherein the at least one seal includes;

an antenna; and

a tag tuned to the antenna; and

wherein the tag becomes detuned when the antenna is compromised during opening of the at least one door thereby to inhibit reading of the at least one seal.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the tag resonates in response to the scanning signal when tuned to the antenna and outputs a code unique to the tag.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the scanning signal is of a predetermined frequency.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes:

a main antenna portion; and

one or more break-away portions coupled to the main antenna portion;

wherein at least one of the one or more break-away portions separates from the main antenna portion when the at least one door is moved from the closed condition to the open condition, resulting in the tag becoming detuned from the antenna.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more break-away portions is coupled to the main antenna portion by one-time contacts.

7. The container of claim 5, wherein the main antenna portion is provided on the at least one door of the container, and

wherein at least one of the one or more break-away portions is provided on a door jamb of the container body.

8. The container of claim 6, comprising:

a plurality of break-away portions at spaced locations along the antenna.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the main antenna portion is provided on the at least one door of the container, and

wherein at least one of the one or more break-away portions is provided on a door jamb of the container body.

10. The container of claim 7, wherein at least one other of the one or more break-away portions is provided adjacent a lock on the door.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the tag and antenna are disposed on a substrate.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the substrate is adhered to the at least one door and the container body.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein the tag resonates in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the tag outputs a code unique to the tag.

19. The container of claim 1, wherein the tag resonates in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna and outputs a code unique to the tag.

20. The container of claim 2, wherein the tag resonates in response to the scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

26. The container of claim 5, wherein the at least one seal comprises:

an inner layer on which the antenna and tag are disposed; and

at least one compressible layer overlying the inner layer.

27. The container of claim 26, further comprising:

a pair of compressible layers between which the inner layer is sandwiched.

28. The container of claim 27, wherein the compressible layers are gel-foam layers.

29. The container of claim 27, further comprising:

an intermediate layer disposed between each compressible layer and the inner layer.

13. A radio frequency identification (RFID) seal, comprising:

an antenna;

an RFID tag coupled and tuned to the antenna;

an inner layer on which the antenna and RFID tag are disposed; and

at least one compressible layer overlying the inner layer;

wherein the antenna includes;

a main antenna portion; and

at least one break-away portion;

wherein the RFID tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna, and

wherein the RFID seal is sized and configured for disposition between a door and a door jamb of a cargo shipping container.

14. The RFID seal of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag outputs a unique code in response to the scanning signal.

15. The RFID seal of claim 13, wherein the at least one break-away portion is coupled to the main antenna portion by one-time contacts.

16. The RFID seal of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of break-away portions.

21. The RFID seal of claim 13, further comprising:

a pair of compressible layers between which the inner layer is sandwiched.

22. The RFID seal of claim 21, wherein the compressible layers are gel-foam layers.

23. The RFID seal of claim 21, further comprising:

an intermediate layer disposed between each compressible layer and the inner layer.

24. The RFID seal of claim 21, wherein the RFID tag resonates in response to the scanning signal.

25. The RFID seal of claim 21, further comprising:

adhesive on outer surfaces of the RFID seal to secure the RFID seal to the door and door jamb of the cargo shipping container.