Apparatus for detecting tampering with a latch mechanism
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a latch mechanism of a door of a shipping container, said latch mechanism having a stationary component and a movable component, comprising:
- an emitter of electromagnetic flux disposed on said movable component of said latch mechanism;
an array of at least first and second sensors, responsive to said flux, disposed on said stationary component of said latch mechanism;
a set of detection zones defined proximate said movable and stationary components of said latch mechanism; and
a processor configured to receive and analyze output signals from said at least first and second sensors to distinguish tampering attempts from authorized or incidental movements among said components of said latch mechanism.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring and detecting movement of components of a shipping container latch. A latch monitor may embody an electromagnetic sensing unit and a nearby magnet or light emitter for measuring and characterizing the profile of a nearby electromagnetic field. The field profile is monitored to detect a change in the profile, log the change, and report any abnormal disturbance to the electromagnetic field, indicating a breach of the integrity of a latching mechanism on a shipping container. An alert of a breach event may be sent via a communication network to an authority for response. The invention can distinguish authorized, incidental, and tampering events, and also store and upload an electronic manifest for a shipping container.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a latch mechanism of a door of a shipping container, said latch mechanism having a stationary component and a movable component, comprising:
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an emitter of electromagnetic flux disposed on said movable component of said latch mechanism; an array of at least first and second sensors, responsive to said flux, disposed on said stationary component of said latch mechanism; a set of detection zones defined proximate said movable and stationary components of said latch mechanism; and a processor configured to receive and analyze output signals from said at least first and second sensors to distinguish tampering attempts from authorized or incidental movements among said components of said latch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lock detector for a shipping container latch member having a longitudinal axis and configured to rotate about or slide along said longitudinal axis, comprising:
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an emitter of electromagnetic flux having an axis of emission and integral with said latch member wherein said axis of emission is disposed substantially along a radius of said latch member in a direction outward from said longitudinal axis of said latch member; a detector of said electromagnetic flux comprising at least first and second detection elements fixedly disposed proximate said emitter and on a line perpendicular to said axis of emission wherein said line lies in the plane of motion of said emitter respectively whether it rotates about or slides along said longitudinal axis;
wherein furthersaid first and second elements are disposed substantially equidistant on either side of said axis of emission when said container latch member is in a closed and latched condition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification