Abstract:
A simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit associated with a shipping container provides continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, if continuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electrical detection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag, will alert the owner or monitoring station. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a broken trip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuit concept can be reused repetitively. In a second embodiment a magnetic circuit and the detection device (RFID tag) are embedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferred detection device, an RFID tag, could also be a battery backed transceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could be mounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing. The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could be connected to a host computer. The interrogator and/or the host computer and/or other alarm devices would then monitor the shipping container&#39;s status (opened or closed).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This applicationMore than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,531, which reissue applications are the present reissue application Ser. No. 12/038,473, filed Feb. 27, 2008, and a reissue continuation application Ser. No. 12/057,270, filed Mar. 27, 2008, which is a continuation application of the present reissue application, which is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,531, granted from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/827,037 filed Mar. 25, 1997, which is a continuation of application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/421,571 filed Apr. 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,592, which is a continuation application of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 08/151,599 filed Nov. 12, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,263, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/921,037 filed Jul. 27, 1992, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to anti-theft devices and in particular to a method for detecting unauthorized opening of containers and baggage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Protecting personal property has become a major industry from a security system standpoint. Security systems today can be as elaborate as those installed to protect banking institutions, equipped with video cameras, hooked-up as alarms to the local police station and security guards, or be as simple as a car alarm that is sounded when the door is forced open. 
     Likewise, the shipping industry is faced with an increasingly growing security problem in that containers, packages, baggage, luggage and mail (all of which may be referred to as simply “shipping container” hereinafter) are vulnerable to being opened by unauthorized personnel, who might steal the contents. As this problem increases it becomes necessary to protect these articles in order to protect the customer&#39;s property. 
     Due to the smaller size and larger quantity of the shipping articles mentioned above, the protection system used must be compact for concealment purposes, and somewhat simple in operation, thereby making them easy to produce and install in mass quantities while being fairly easy to monitor and operate. 
     The anti-theft method of the present invention conveniently addresses all of these issues to provide a workable and fairly inexpensive solution to securing safe transportation of articles shipped in some type of enclosed shipping container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention introduces a method for protecting against the unauthorized opening of shipping containers which is disclosed in the several embodiments following. 
     A first embodiment comprises a simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit that provides continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, if continuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electrical detection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) transceiver tag (or simply RFID tag), will alert the owner or monitoring station. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a broken trip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuit concept can be reused repetitively. 
     A second embodiment comprises the magnetic circuit approach of the first embodiment by having the magnetic circuit and the detection device embedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferred detection device, and RFID tag, could also be a battery backed transceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could be mounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing. The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could be connected to a host computer. The interrogator and/or the host computer would then monitor the shipping container&#39;s status (opened or closed) . The RPID tag could also have an output that changes state upon alarm, so that another device could be connected to indicate the alarm via sound, flashing lights or other means. 
     Implementation of the present invention will become readily understandable to one skilled in the art in the detailed descriptions that follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a process flow diagram showing the major processing stations and fabrication stages used in an overall manufacturing process of an RFID tag; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of an RFID tag as constructed in accordance with the process flow of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A through 3E  are cross sectional views of  FIG. 2  showing the major processing steps used to construct the RFID tag; 
         FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram showing the major signal processing stages within the RFID integrated circuit chip described herein and also within the interrogation unit used to interrogate the chip; 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram showing the communication between several RFID tags and interrogation unit; 
         FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B depict a shipping container (luggage) on which a first embodiment of the present invention has been installed; and 
         FIGS. 7 ,  7 A and  7 B depict a shipping container (luggage) on which a second embodiment of the present invention has been installed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the process flow diagram shown in this figure includes nine (9) major processing stations or fabrication stages which are used in the overall manufacturing process steps that may be used to fabricate an RFID (radio frequency indentification) tag unit used in the anti-theft method of the present invention. These stages are described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3A  through  3 E. Initially, a circuit pattern is formed on a polymer base material in station  10 , whereafter the circuit pattern is cured and an epoxy conductive material is applied to station  12  before aligning an integrated circuit chip onto the polymer base in station  14 . Next, batteries (batteries added to the RFID package is optional) are aligned onto the polymer base in station  16  whereafter the epoxy is cured in station  18 . 
     In the next step, the rear battery epoxy is applied in station  20  before adding a stiffener and then folding the polymer base over onto the top cover as indicated in station  22 . The epoxy material is then cured in station  24  before providing a final sealing step in stage  26  to complete the package as described in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an RFID tag is depicted that includes a base support member  30  upon which an integrated circuit chip  32  is disposed on the near end of the device and connected to a dipole antenna consisting of metal strips  34  and  36  extending laterally from the chip  32  and typically screen printed on the upper surface of the base support member  30 . 
     A pair of rectangular shaped batteries  38  and  40  are positioned as shown adjacent to the IC chip  32  and are also disposed on the upper surface of the base support member  30 . The two rectangular batteries  38  and  40  are electrically connected in series to power the IC chip  32  in a manner more particularly described below. The device or package shown in  FIG. 2  is then completed by the addition of an outer or upper cover member  42  which is sealed to the exposed edge surface portions of the base member  30  to thereby provide an hermetically sealed and completed package. The integrated chip  32  has transmitter, memory, logic, and receiver stages therein and is powered by the two batteries  38  and  40  during the transmission and reception of data to and from an interrogator to provide the interrogator with the various above identified information parameters concerning the article or person to which the RFID tag  30  is attached. The integrated chip may be designed to contain the needed circuitry one skilled in the art needs to accomplish the desired task and therefore may or may not contain all the circuitry listed above. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , there is shown a plan view of the geometry of the base support member  30  and the cover member  42  which, during the initial manufacturing stage, are joined at an intersecting line  44 . The dipole antenna strips  34  and  36  shown positioned on each side of the IC chip  32 , and the two conductive strips  46  and  48  serve to connect the tops of the batteries  38  and  40  into the IC chip  32 . A conductive strip  50  is provided on the upwardly facing inside surface of the top cover  42 , so that when the cover  42  is folded by 180° C., its outer boundary  52  is ready to be sealed with the outer boundary  54  of the base support member  30 , and simultaneously the conductive strip  50  completes the series electrical connection used to connect the two batteries  38  and  40  in series with each other and further in the series circuit with the integrated circuit chip  32  through the two conductors  46  and  48 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3B through 3E ,  FIG. 3B  shows in cross section the IC chip  32  bonded to the base support member  30  by means of a spot button of conductive epoxy material  56 . The conductive strip  48  is shown in cross section on the upper surface of the base support member  30 . This figure would correspond generally to the fabrication stations  10 ,  12 , and  14  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3C , the battery  40  is aligned in place as indicated earlier in  FIG. 2  and has the right hand end thereof connected to the upper surface of the conductive strip  48 .  FIG. 3  would therefore correspond to stations  16  and  18  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , a stiffener material  58  is applied as shown over the upper and side surfaces of the IC chip  32 , to provide a desired degree of stiffness to the package as completed.  FIG. 3D  would therefore correspond to stations  20  and  22  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Next, a conductive epoxy is applied to the upper surfaces of the two batteries  38  and  40 , and then the polymer base material  30  with the batteries thereon are folded over onto the cover member  42  to thus complete and seal the package in the configuration shown in  FIG. 3E  and corresponding to the remaining stations  24  and  26  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the rectangular outer boundary  159  in this figure defines the active area on the integrated circuit chip in which the integrated circuit transceiver has been formed using state of the art MOS planar processing techniques. These MOS planar processing techniques are well known in the art and are, therefore, not described in detail herein. Within the chip active area there is provided an RF receiver stage  160  which is connected to an antenna  161  and via one or more lines or circuit connections  162 , to a control logic stage  164 . The control logic stage  164  is in turn connected via one or more integrated circuit connections or lines  166  to a memory stage  168 . The control logic stage  164  is further connected via a line  170  to a transmitter stage  174 , and the memory stage  168  is also connected via line  172  to the trasmitter stage  174 . The memory stage  168  is operative to provide input data to the transmitter stage  174  upon request, and functions in a manner operationally described in the example given below. 
       FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram showing a method of communication between several RFID tags and an interrogation unit in light of the anti-theft detection units later described in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , Host/CPU  51  interacts with interrogator/transceiver unit  52  and instructs unit  52  to interrogate RFID tags A ( 53 ) and B ( 54 ) for alarm data. If interrogator  52  receives no reply from either tag A or tag B the host  51  continues to instruct unit  52  to interrogate tags A and B as often as internal software demands it. However, if tag A responds (in an alarm state) the interrogator unit  52  communicates that information to the host  51  and an appropriate alarm is sounded to notify personnel that unauthorized opening of a container has just taken place. 
     By using the communication approach taken in  FIG. 5 , a first embodiment of an “unauthorized opening detection device” is shown in  FIG. 6  with variations of this embodiment shown in expanded views of  FIG. 6  presented in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     Referring now  FIG. 6 , shipping container  60  (luggage in this case) is adorned with an “unauthorized opening detection unit” enclosed by outlined dashed circle  62 . Expanded view  6 A of dashed circle  62  shows a continuous wire  63  attached to both sides of container  60  at a first connection node  64 , then to second connection node  65 , continuing to RFID tag  67  (which is affixed to label  66 ) onto which wire  63  is attached. Wire  63  then completes its continuity path by attaching tag  67  to starting point node  64 . If continuity is disrupted (wire  63  breaks by unauthorized opening of container  20 ) tag  67  would then signal the interrogator or some other device to sound an alarm and alert the owner or possibly security personnel in case of airline luggage transportation. Disarming the detection unit may be done by command from the interrogator or by the software at a given site, say at the container&#39;s destination, which may simply ignore the “opened” signal. 
     Expanded view of  FIG. 6B  shows a second means of installing a detection device wherein continuous wire  63  attaches to a first connection node  64 , continues to a second connection node  65 , routes to RFID tag  67  (which is affixed to label  66 ) and routes back to node  65  and finally to node  64 . 
     Both attaching methods serve as examples of how the opening detection unit may be attached to containers or doors that open. It would be preferred to have the wire attached so that it is not easily detected by casual observance and not easily broken by accident. Tag  67  could be affixed to label  66  with tag  67  itself being adhered to a self-adhesive paper, such as stamp, and then applied to the label. 
     A second embodiment of an “unauthorized opening detection device” is shown in  FIG. 7  with this embodiment shown in expanded views  7 A and  2 B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , shipping container  70  (luggage in this case) is adorned with an “unauthorized opening detection unit” enclosed by outlined dashed circles  71  and  72 . In expanded view  7 A of dashed circle  71 , in the edge of container  70  a magnetic contact  73  is embedded. This magnetic contact  73  is preferably located in close proximity to a latch of container  70 , or magnetic contact  73  may also function as half the latching mechanism to the container. In expanded view  7 B of dashed circle  72 , an RFID tag  78  is affixed to the top face of container  70 . Electrical connections  74  extend from RFID tag  70  and attached to magnetic contacts  75  and  76 . Magnetic contacts  75  and  76  may also function as the other half of the latching mechanism to the container. When container  70  is closed, contacts  75  and  76  mate with contact  73 , thereby completing an electrical circuit. Unless disabled by the owner, should the container be forced open and continuity between contacts  73 ,  75  and  76  be disrupted, an alarm state bit is set in (in the alarm flagging circuitry) tag  78  which will signal the interrogator or other controlling device to sound an alarm to alert the owner or security personnel. Tag  78  will remain in an alarm state until the alarm state bit is reset by the interrogator/controlling unit. 
     The detection device of  FIG. 7A  could be further enhanced by providing a replaceable battery  79 , a power enabling means, for powering tag  78 . It would be logical to have the battery only accessible from the inside of container  70  which would mean tag  78  would need to be embedded into container  70  and preferably embedded during the manufacturing of container  70 . With a replaceable battery powered tag, tag  78  would now have the capability to send an alert signal to an interrogator unit or other device (such as a computer controlled transceiver unit) which would monitor the status of container  70  over its entire lifetime. 
     The methods of the embodiments discussed above, can easily be implemented into security systems. For example, by attaching the RFID tag and continuity completing circuitry to span between an entry/exit door and the framework supporting the door, unauthorized entry can now be monitored by activating the system when the door is to remain closed. Other such security schemes could also use the monitoring methods of the present invention. 
     It is to be understood that although the present invention has been described in several embodiments, various modifications known to those skilled in the art, such as applying these techniques to any kind of containers (mail, freight, etc.) or by various methods of attaching the detection device to the container, may be made without departing from the invention as recited in the several claims appended hereto.