US6069563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seal system
Assignee: Hi G Tek Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-04
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2017-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The seal system is comprised of a custom integrated circuit utilizing a special CMOS gate-array technology that can be utilized to build inexpensive tamper-resistant electronic seals. The electronic circuit includes a special analog as well as digital, single-chip circuitry that senses the state of the seal, and when interrogated, transmits that state via a 35-bit data word to a seal reader device, allowing remote monitoring and control of containers and expensive goods. Any attempt to tamper with the seal will be recorded in the circuit for later transmittal to the hand-held seal reader/verifier. Each seal has a unique 20-bit identification number, combined with a 6-bit random seal code and a 6-bit resistance value. The seal electronics may be utilized in a way to provide several types of seals, namely, a shipping container seal, an event triggering seal, and event logging seal, and a tamper-proof seal as well as combinations thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven P. Kadner
- 👤 William M. Resnik
- 👤 Micha Auerbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1445; G08B13/1454; G08B13/06; G08B13/1409; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/437; Y10T70/446; Y10T70/452; Y10T70/459; Y10T70/461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A seal system comprising: (a) a pin containing a conductive loop; (b) a seat for accepting said pin, wherein said seat contains a monitor circuit which creates a circuit with the conductive loop when the pin is accepted by said seat, and wherein said monitor circuit comprises a tamper detector which detects at least tampering with said conductive loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A seal system comprising: (a) a pin containing a conductive loop; (b) a seat for accepting said pin, wherein said seat contains a monitor circuit which creates a circuit with the conductive loop when the pin is accepted by said seat, and wherein said monitor circuit comprises a tamper detector which detects at least tampering with said conductive loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The seal system of claim 1 wherein said monitor circuit comprises a plurality of spaced connectors for pressing contact with said wire loop, wherein an electrical resistance can be measured for the wire loop through said connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The seal system of claim 1 further comprises: (c) a remote activation means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seal system of claim 3 wherein said remote activation means comprises a radio frequency transceiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seal system of claim 3 wherein said remote activation means comprises a transceiver having a serial interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The seal system of claim 3 wherein said remote activation means comprises a polling means for determining if a tamper event has occurred.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A seal system comprising: (a) a seal body with loop engaging means; (b) a conductive loop having a nonuniform impedance engaged with the loop engaging means of the seal body; (c) resistance measurement means to measure a resistance formed in the loop; and (d) storage means to store the measured resistance indicative of the status of the seal system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A seal system comprising: (a) a seal body with loop engaging means; (b) a conductive loop having a nonuniform impedance engaged with the loop engaging means of the seal body; (c) resistance measurement means to measure a resistance formed in the loop; and (d) storage means to store the measured resistance indicative of the status of the seal system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The seal system of claim 7 wherein said conductive loop comprises wires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seal system of claim 7 wherein said conductive loop comprises a plastic wire loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seal system of claim 7 further comprises: (e) a remote interrogation device for interrogating said storage means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of detecting a tamper event for a container comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the container with a pin containing a conductive loop and a seat for accepting said pin; (b) measuring the resistance of the loop at a first time; (c) measuring the resistance of the loop at a second time; and (d) triggering an event indicating device if the resistance of the loop at said first and second times are not equal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of detecting a tamper event for a container comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the container with a pin containing a conductive loop and a seat for accepting said pin; (b) measuring the resistance of the loop at a first time; (c) measuring the resistance of the loop at a second time; and (d) triggering an event indicating device if the resistance of the loop at said first and second times are not equal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 and wherein said event indicating device is a digital camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |