Electronic security seal
US6265973A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T70/461
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A molded transparent thermoplastic housing has a programmable transmitting circuit for transmitting seal identifying serial number, seal location, container identification and other data to a local receiver. A door in the housing permits access to the circuit for programming the seal indicia and related data for transmission. A contact arrangement forms a switch upon insertion of a locking bolt into a locking mechanism in the housing and applies battery power through the bolt to activate the data generating circuit. A conductor along the bolt shank is connected to the circuit provides a tamper evident signal to the circuit when the bolt is severed. The circuit senses the removal of the bolt or severed bolt condition for generating a "tamper" signal which is transmitted to a local receiver/reader. The conductor at the bolt may be a wire in a plastic tube surrounding the shank, a conductive layer over an insulation layer on the shank and over the conductive bolt head in ohmic contact with the head or a wire in a hollow metal tube. Severing the bolt severs the wire or the ohmic contact between the head and coating or between the head and the wire in the tube to indicate tampering. The…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.