Electronic seal
US5515030A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 7, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M17/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reusable electronic seal is provided for detecting whether the contents of a container may have been disturbed. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic seal is used in conjunction with a coin box of a pay telephone. The reusable electronic seal is adapted to permanently or removably attach to the lid of the coin box. The electronic seal includes a latch pin, a switch operatively connected to the latch pin, a timer chip operatively connected to the switch, a latch pin spring for securing the electronic seal to the latch of the coin box and for resetting the timer chip, and a crystal for generating a fixed frequency to the timer chip. The electronic seal further includes an infrared light emitting diode that modulates the light emitting diode and sends a signal to a communications device, and a phototransistor for reading the clock signal from the communications device and a battery for supplying power to the timer chip, the infrared light emitting diode, the phototransistor and the crystal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.