The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 10, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 13, 2006
Jakob Ehrensvard, Taby, SE;
Fredrik Einberg, Huddinge, SE;
Robert Debrody, Wayne, NJ (US);
Richard Dreisbach, Andover Township, NJ (US);
George Lundberg, Pompton Plains, NJ (US);
Jakob Ehrensvard, Taby, SE;
Fredrik Einberg, Huddinge, SE;
Robert Debrody, Wayne, NJ (US);
Richard Dreisbach, Andover Township, NJ (US);
George Lundberg, Pompton Plains, NJ (US);
E. J. Brooks Company, Livingston, NJ (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a reusable locking unit and a one time use electrically conductive molded thermoplastic shackle loaded with carbon black particles and having a linear resistance that is periodically monitored. The locking unit includes an integrated circuit for measuring shackle impedance through terminals capacitively coupled to the shackle. The terminals allow for adjustment of the length of the seal shackle in the locked secured state. The terminals and shackle form an RC network having a complex impedance that manifests the locked adjusted shackle length. Two AC signals at two different frequencies are used to measure impedance, which is compared with an initially determined or continually generated reference impedance to determine a tampered state of the shackle. Temperature compensation is also disclosed. A time stamp is stored for noting the tampering time of occurrence. A battery may be used to operate the circuit internal components and power from the remote transceiver may operate the circuit communication portion. Monitoring may be automatically periodic or activated only upon an external command. LEDs provide visual indication of the seal tamper status.