Portable security bin

US10169980B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• USA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Tamara Baker · San Francisco, US
• Amedee Louis Beaudoin · Oakland, US
• Edward R. Jansson · Canton, US
• Peter Lessels · Stratham, US
• Allan Stewart · Savage, US
• Mandeep Arora · Milpitas, US
• Justin Grant · Berkeley, US
• Michael Marett · Atlanta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 2018
• Grant date: Jan 1, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/64
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A security bin and a security bin controller are described that measure fullness or height of secure contents in a security bin; listen to radio beacons over a short-range radio to determine a bin distance from a first radio, such as by measuring received radio power; determine one of three bin security states: home, caution or warning; and then broadcast a status message, warning message or alarm message over long-range radio, dependent on both the fullness of the bin and the security state. Embodiments include shredder bins, adapted to receive secure or confidential documents. Status messages may be used to initiate a search for a lost bin or to schedule bin service. Embodiments include measuring rate-of-fill. Alarm messages may be responsive to both bin location and fill volume. Embodiments and use of a controller include waste bins, including industrial or medical waste.