Apparatus for detecting tampering with a latch mechanism
US8111157B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 7, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/51
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.