CA2248621A1 - Electronic security bonding device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic bonding device (1) provides a seal for containers and equipment and allows the status of the seal to be remotely monitored. The device (1) has a seal body housing sensing means (5) and communication means (7), and sealing means (3) for affixing the device to an item to be bonded. The sealing means (3) comprises a line (9) providing, between terminal end portions (11, 13), a circuit having a detectable characteristic. In one embodiment, the circuit is an optical fiber light transmission circuit. Alternatively, the circuit may be an electrical circuit. A change in the circuit characteristic, e.g., a break in the continuity (optical or electrical), is sensed by the sensor (5) and transmitted to a remote location by a transmitter, to indicate that tampering with the item has occurred. The line is provided with a protective sheath. In one embodiment, the sheath is a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip. In other embodiments, the sheath is a relatively rigid or flexible shackle member.

Description

W 097/34269 PCTrUS97/03475 ELECTRONIC S~CIIRITY BONDING DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices used to maintain and monitor the integrity of sealed containers and devices. More spe~ific~lly, the invention relates to electronic tamper detection devices.
In commerce, there are a myriad of situations requiring the integrity of a sealed cont~in.~r to be m~int~ined and monitored. For example, utilities equipment located in publicly ~cce~ihle areas (e.g. electric power meters and cable TV hook-ups) is typically sealed in cont~in~rs with a clasp having a crimped lead seal. Any tampering with the e~luip-ne-lt can be detected by a break or removal of the original seal. Another eY~mrle is provided by electronics equipment that may usea paper seal across screws or other co~ onents of the e,~te.ior case to prevent l)n~letPcted entry and possible mo~ific~tion of the circuitry. As yet another eY~mple, pallets of individual items may be wl~al~ped in plastic sh~ting and secured with a specially marked or form~ ted adhesive strip which prevents sembly of the pallet without visible damage to the sealing strip.
In an effort to improve upon the simple lead crim~type seal mPntioned above, numerous other shaclde-type sealing devices have been developed for sealing and allowing detection of tampering with cont~in~r~ See, e.g., U.S.
Patents Nos. 5,127,687 (Guiler); 5,056,837 (Fuehrer); 5,005,883 (Guiler);
4,946,210 (Fuehrer) 4,883,295 (~-sselm~n); 4,811,977 (Swiftet al.). In addition to utilities equipment box applications, such devices are described as suitable for use, alone or in conjunction with sep~te heavy-duty locking means (e.g., a padlock), to secure cargo containers (e.g., semi-tractor trailers, railway cars and the like), and to prevent and detect tampering with mechanical/electrical devices such as railway and high-voltage switches.
The practice of sealing goods and equipment used in commerce, to ensure that they have not been opened, altered, removed or otherwise tampered with, will be referred to as "bonding." All of the aforementioned bonding arrangements require a visual in~pection of a device to determine whether a seal violation has occurred. Such arrangements are less than ideal for certain applications in thatthey do not allow for such detection from a ~list~nce (i.e., remote detectinn).
Instead of relying solely on a visual in~pection, U.S. Patent No. 5,120,097 (Fattori e-t al.) di~closçs a shackle-type seal incol~o~ling a conductive strip and contact points that allow a manual check of electrical continuity as evidence of tampering.
This sealing arrangement likewise requires an individual up-close check to see whether the seal has rern~in~d intact.
The ability to remotely electronically monitor the status of a plurality of seals would sigrlific~ntly reduce the time and effort required to perform individual checks. For eY~mrlP. within a warehouse there may be a great many items which have been sealed, and it may be neces~ry or desirable to periodically verify that the seals within the warehouse are all intact. To do so would conventionally require one or more persons to travel throughout the warehouse to individually inspect and record the status of each seal. Such manual ch~l~ing is not only time and labor intensive, but is also prone to human error. On the other hand, remoteelectronic monitoring of seals would allow complete auLol.,alion of the task by col-,put,_r, thereby sul.s~n~;~lly rcduc-ing human labor and error.
Another ~itl-~tion wherein remote sensing would be highly useful arises in conn~tion with trucks used to convey one or more bonded items, e.g., cont~iners,or wl~?ed (bonded) pallets of individual items. At various times during transit it may be n~e~-y or desirable to verify the seal(s), such as when the truck leaves the point of origin, or when it passes through an int~rn~tion~l border. In such cases, it would be advantageous to have a means for verifying the seal(s) which does not require that the truck stop for in~pection.

W097/34269 - 3 - PCTrUS97/03475 The need for alternative methods of bonding is becoming more acute as electronic tr~n~ tions become more and more prevalent. For example, many - governments are eX~mining methods of arranging for goods to cross their borders whereby all customs and other information is passed electronically.
U.S. Patent No. 4,750,197 (Denn~k~mp et al.) dicclosçs a system for remotely monitoring cargo trip data. The system includes door mounted m~gnetic sensors for sensing the opening of a large freight co~lPiner, e.g., a semi-trucktrailer, and a cellular telephone for tr~n~mitting trip information, including signals from the door sensors, to a central p~oce~ing facility.
U.S. Patent No. 5,025,253 (DiLullo et al.) ~ cl- ses a system for remotely ch~ing the connP~ct/~i~connect status of a semi-tractor trailer. A cab mounted interface unit (~FU) is connected with an electronic tag (ide-ltifier) located on the trailer, through the truck's 12 volt power bus. When the trailer is di~connected, the IFU ~nses the absence of the electronic tag, and this result is tr~nsmitt~d to a central station via an on-board ~tlollite tr~nsmilt~r.
The above two systems may be useful for monitoring whether a truck trailer or the like has been di~colln~ d or opened, but both form an integr~l part of the vehicle. Thus, neither is suitable for direct applir~tion to an outside of mllltirle individual items, e.g., the cargo within a trailer, to thereby individually bond the items.
SIJMMARY OF THE INVI~ION
In view of the foregoing, it is a prinCir~l object of the present invention to provide bonding devices allowing remote electronic mor~itclring of the status of a seal, and which may be dil~;lly applied to an outside of individual items to be bonded.
It is a more s~-ific object of the invention to provide bonding device configurations which are readily adaptable for sealing a variety of co~ti~in~ "
packages and e~luip,-,el t, and which will not require any permanent or costly mo-lifit~tions to the items to be bonded.

W 097/34269 - 4 - PCTrUS97/03475 It is another obiect of the invention to provide bonding devices which are tamper resistant and which render difficult, if not impossible, an undetectable restoration of a broken seal.
These and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by a bonding device which provides a seal and allows remote electronicmonitoring of the seal. The device includes sealing means for affixing the device to an item to be bonded, in a manner such that tampering with the item will disturb the sealing means. The sealing means incl~ldes line means providing a circuit having first and second end terminals. The circuit eYhibitc a detectiblecircuit charactprictic. Sensing means are connectihle to the first and second end terminals. The sensing means produces a signal in~ tinE a disconnection of the sensing means from the first and second end termin~l~, and a change in the detectible circuit ch_racteristic, in~liç~ting t~mre ing with the affi~ing me_ns.
Commnni~ting means are provided for tr~n~mitting the signal to a location remotefrom the bonding device. A seal body is engageable with the sealing means and ;,.lp~l~ble thereby. The seal body houses the sensing means and communir~ting means as a unit.
These and other objects, featul~s and advantages of the invention will be appa~nt and fully understood from the following det~iled description of the ~re led embo-limt--nt~ taken in connectinn with the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a ~ gr~mm~tic depiction of the primary function~ nt~ of a bonding device in accor~ance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a sch~m~tic ~ gr~m illn~tr~tin~ an exemplary sensing circuit in acco~lance with the present invention.
Figure 3 is a persI-ective view of an application of one embodim~nt of the invention comrri~ing a padlock-like structure.
Figure 4 is a pef~ecli~e view of an application of a second embodiment of the invention including ~ffixing means in the form of an adhesive tape strip.Figure 5 is a close-up partial perspective view of an adhesive tape strip embodiment of the type shown in Fig. 4.

W O 97/34269 -5 - PCTrUS97/03475 DETAILED DESCRIPI'ION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to Fig. 1, a bonding device 1 in accordance with the present invention has as its principal components sealing means 3, sensing means 5 and comm~mic~tinE means 7. Sealing means 5 and commnnic~ting means 7 are housed together as a unit in a seal body 8 which is engageable with sealing means 3.
("Engageable" is used broadly to refer to both an eYisting engagement and an ability to become engaged, either perm~n~ntly or releasably.) Sealing means 3 serves as a structural member that can be affixed to an outside of an item to bebonded in such a manner that an attempt to open or otherwise tamper with the item will disturb the sealing means. Sealing means 3 also serves to support (on the item) body 8 such that no separate mounting or seourement of the seal body is necesc~ry.
Sealing means 3 also incorporates line means forming a circuit exhibiting a detectible circuit characteristic between first and second end terminals 11, 13.
Attempts to open or otherwise tamper with the item will disturb sealing means 3 and cause an ~lt~ration of the circuit ch~racteristic. Such a change will be sensed by sensing means 5, and a signal indic~ting the same will be tr~ncmitted to a remote rnonitoring location by comm~nie~ting means 7.
In the ples~.ltly pref~ d embodimPnt, the line means concicts of a single line 9 eYt~n~ing between end terminals 11, 13. Line 9 may be an optical fiber establishing a path of optical co~.~;.nlily, or an electric~l conductor, e.g., a wire, establishing a path of electrical continl-ity. With a simple single line arrangement, the detectihle circuit ch~r~-t~rictic may simply be the eYictenre of continlJity(elPctriç~l or optical). A break in continuity will be sensed by sensing means 5.
Sencing means S will gene~te a coll~onding seal status signal 14 and the signal will be tr~ncmitt~ to a remote monitoring location by comm~nir~ting means 7, to in~i~te the oc~iulrence of tampering. Likewise, a disco~ lion of end terminals 11, 13 from sensing means 5 will cause sensing means 5 to produce a signal in~ tin~ an occurrence of tampering.
For some applications, it may be desirable to provide a more complex line arrangement. For e~mrle, if an entire pallet of items is to be bonded as a single unit, it may be desirable to provide line means in the form of a web or net structure encompassing the pallet and forming an electrical circuit with a plurality of parallel and seAes branches. The branches could comprise resistive, c~pacitive or inductive ~lementc serving to establish one or more detectible overall circuit characteristics, e.g., impedance, capacitance, or inductance. In such an arrangement, a break in one or more of the branches would result in a change in one or more of the circuit characterictics (instead of a complete loss of continuity).
Such a change would be sensed by sensing means 5 and a Co~ ~nding signal would be tr~ncmitted to the remote sensing location by communicating means 7.
As another example, multiple electrical wires or fiber optic threads could be imbedded in an adhesive tape or other sheath structure and be individually monitored by the sensing means. This would increase the difficulty of "j~.,.pe~ing around" the seal, since each line would have to be individually bypassed.
Sensing means 5 may take a variety of forms. In its simplest form, the sensing means will operate by tr~ncmitting energy through line 9 and detecting the energy return through the loop. The tr~ncmitted energy could be electri~
optical, or some other form, depending on the nature of the circuit formed in sealing means 3.
The energy can be continuously l,~n~ l~l, ;n~ ;tle~ y trancmitt~ or tr~ncmitted only upon receipt by the commlmic~ting means of a seal status request 15 from an eytern~l system, e.g., the remote monilsling system, that the seal beverified. ConlilluoLs energy tr~ncmiccion affords the most security since it will not allow someone to disturb and then repair the circuit prior to seal v~rific~tit-n.
.~enCing means S produces a signal indicative of the status of sealing means 3 (including whether one of the terminal end portions has been det~ched from thesensing means) and supplies the signal to comm--ni~ting means 7. The signal may be analog, e.g., a measure of the impedance of line 9, or an analog to digital (A/D) converted signal.
Communicating means 7 may be selected based upon the physical constraints involved in ~r-cescin~ the seal. A low-power radio frequency transponder is an inexpensive technique ap~,o~liate to checking seal integrity over W 097/34269 7 PCT~US97/0347S

a rlist~nce of a few hundred feet to several thousand feet. For example, radio frequency transponders manufactured by ~lghec/Delco of Fullerton, CA and Mark - IV of Toronto, ~n~ , for roadside to vehicle communications, could be adapted for use in device 1.
~ ughec/Delco manufactures a transponder, known as the "PrePass"
transponder, for the PrePass and I-75 commercial vehicle weight and cre~enti~lc programs. Its dimçncions are about 2"x2"x1.5". It has an RS-232 serial interfacethat could be used to receive a digital seal status signal from the sensing means, a 512 bit intern~l memory which could be written into when the sensing means is polled, and a range of several thousand feet. The device is designed to operate with an external power source, e.g., the power source of a vehicle.
Mark IV provides transponders generally col,lparable to the Hughes/Delco transponders. The Mark IV transponders can be read using in-the-road loop ~ntennAc, whereas the ~ughPs/Delco transponders are read with above-ground Al~P,i~nAC.
PAR CO~ ation of ~ Y~nrlr;~, VA has manufactured for the Federal ~Iighway ~rlminictration (FHWA) a transponder used to track hazardous rn~tlori~lcont~iners on board trucks or in warehouses. The transponder is roughly about the size of a quarter, incl~l(ling electronics, battery and ~ntenn~ and thus is well suited for use in a compact seal body in accordance with the present invention.
It has a 1000' range, 10 year battery shelf life, and a two year operating battery.
A wide variety of ~ltprn~tive communications schel--es are envisioned, in~ln/1ing but not limited to the following:
(1) When in~t~lled on a vehicle, or cargo therein, seal status information (digital or analog) can be h~ns"~ ed over the vehicle's power distribution network to other on-vehicle systems. In this inst~nçe, each bonding device could be suitably wired to the vehicle's power distribution network via a quick-connect/disconnect junction box or the like.
(2) The collllllunic~ting means could be directly wired to another system (vehicle or otherwise). For example, a digital signal tr~n~mi~ion could be provided to a personal computer via an RS-232 serial port or the like. In a vehicle application, the additional system could be a Hughes/Delco or Mark IV radio frequency transponder used to provide vehicle to roadside communication of seal status information.
(3) The tr~n~miccion means may be connected with a local area network (LAN) allowing it to communicate digital signal information to computers and other devices connected to the LAN. A wide variety of LANs could potentially be used. FY~mples include Ethernet and CEBus, as well as LANs being developed especi~lly for vehicles.

(4) The communic~ting means may communicate digital signal information over telephony and emerging personal communications systems, including terrestrial and s~t~lite based cellular telephone systems. It is contemplated that the communicating means itself could be a portable cellular phone and modem, or the communic~ting means could be connected to an eYtern~l cellular phone and modem. Cellular phone modems are available "off-the shelf" from Motorola. Bell South of Atlanta, GA is now offering a product called Cellemetry, which passes small data packets over cellular lines. The tr~ncmitting electronics board is about 3" by 1.5" and requires little power, making it potentially well suited for use as an intern~l comm-mi~ting means.
The sensing means and co,l----unicating means will generally each require a source of electric power. In the case of (1) above, power for both of the components could be provided by the vehicle's power distribution network.
Alternatively, power could be provided by b~tteries within the device, or via wiring to another external source. In any event, it is preferred that the sensing means be capable of sensing a loss of power and producing a coll~ sponding signal.
Such a signal could be the same as, or differ~ntiate~ from, the signal produced on detection of a break in sealing means 3. The signal could be generated and stored at a time just prior to complete power loss, when sllffiçient power is re."~inil-~ to perform these functions. A visual signal or other means for local deteçtion of the power loss condition could be provided and/or the signal could be tr~n~mitt~l toa monitoring station immexli~tely upon restoration of power.

W 097/34269 9 PCT~US97/03475 Sensing means S could produce a real time signal in~icating a seal status.
With such an arrangement, the signal could be processed externally, e.g., by a computer, to create an alarm con~ition and/or to make a record of the time and date of any seal violation. Preferably, however, some data processing and storage will occur internally, e.g., by signal processing and storage means included within the sensing means and/or the communicating means blocks. Preferably, the sensing means will permanently record (e.g. in non-violatile memory) any break in the seal, and tr~ncmi~cion of this result will occur when the seal is "polled" by a remote reader. In addition, the sealing means could be operative to record thetime and date of a seal violation or power loss, for later tr~n~mission by the communicating means.
An exemplary sensing circuit 17 is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the line means comprises a fiber optic loop 18. An emitter circuit comprises a square wave generator l9, nominally lO Hz, and an LED 21. LED 21 is optically coupled with an end of fiber optic loop 18. A ~letector circuit comprises a diode 23 optically coupled with an ~posile end of loop 18. A Schmidt trigger 25 is provided to sharpen edges and provide hysterisis. A bistable multivibrator (D flip-flop) 27, compares the square wave source to the received signal and provides a low signal if the circuit is intact. A latch 29 will provide a low output so long as the circuit remains intact. The output of the latch will remain high if the circuit is ever broken. In this manner, the output of latch 29 provides a seal status signal that is provided to the communication means for tr~n~mi~ci~7n to a remote monitoring location.
Particular physical configurations of bonding device 5 will now be described. In large part, the most appru~liate physical configuration will be depend on the bonding application, i.e., the nature of the cont~iner or other item to be bonded. Bonding device S can, on one hand, serve primarily as a sign~11ingdevice, affording little to no physical impe~im~nt to opening or other tamperingwith the bonded item. In such cases, the bonding device may be used with other security devices that do afford physical protection. For eY~mp1P7 if the item to be W097134269 - 10 - PCTrUS97/03475 bonded is a container or piece of equipment designed to be locked with a padlock, two possibilities arise.
First, a standard padlock could be used along side a bonding device in accordance with the invention to provide both physical security and ~ign~lling of any seal violation. In such a case, the circuit forming sealing means 3 could take the form of an in~ul~ted but otherwise unprotected loop of wire or optical fiberthat would be run parallel to the shackle of the padlock, through the lock receiving structure of the item to be bonded. The seal body could be made of a relatively lightweight low-strength mate~ such as molded plastic. In this variation, an optical fiber circuit would be much more difficult to splice back together than wire (in an attempt to mask a violation of the seal).
A second option would be to provide the bonding device itself as a padlock-like structure 1', as shown in Fig. 3, in order to provide both security and tamper protection. In this embodiment, seal body 8' comprises a heavy armor of hardened steel plates or the like, for housing the sensing means, communi~ting means, and, possibly, a battery. The tr~n~mit ~ntenn~ for transponders such as the PAR device can be very small. For example, the ~ntçnn~ could comprise a simple "patch" mounted on the eYt~rior of the armored lock body. Despite the fact that the antPnn~ would be susceptible to damage by tampering or otherwise, the seal itself would be quite secure. In some applications, it will be desirable to have the remote sensing station set up to detect and generate a signal indic~ting a loss of signal tr~n~mi~ioll. In this manner, an ~tten-l~nt will be alerted to the possibility of ~n~enn~ damage or other malf -nction, or removal of the bonded item from the monitoring area.
The sealing means 3' forms a high strength shackle member comprising a circuit definin~ line (not visible) encased by a sheath of high strength m~t~ri~l.
The sheath could be relatively rigid, formed of hardened steel or the like, or relatively flexible, formed of steel cabling or Kevlar fibers. The length and configuration of sealing means 3' can obviously be varied to suit the needs of the particular application.

W O 97/34269 ~ PCTrUS97/03475 In a further embodiment, the sealing means 3" is provided in the form of one or more circuit deftning lines (multiple lines shown in Fig. S) encased - (sheathed) by a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip. The ends of the tape strip are connected with sensing and communiç~ting means housed as a unit within seal body 8". This embodiment is particularly well suited for sealing cartons and/or pallet-loads of individual items, as seen in Fig. 4.
The tape could be provided in standard lengths, with the circuit defining line(s) pre-termin~ted at each end with suitable connectors 31a,b. ~lt.orn~tively, the tape could be provided on rolls, and a tool provided for affixing connectors to the ends of a piece of tape which has been cut to length. The tape could be reinforced with fiberglass, Kevlar or other fiber materials. This would not onlylend ~d-iition~l p~ck~ging strength but would render more difficult at~e.llpts to locate and splice lines 9" (in an effort to cover-up a seal violation), particularly if line 9" is provided as an optical fiber. Security can also be enh~n~ed by using multiple lines 9", and randomly directing the eYten-ling directions of lines 9", as seen in Fig. 5.
The present invention has been described in terms of presently preferred embo~im~ntc thereof. Numerous other embo~imentc, mo~ifi~tionc and fe~tul~s within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons having ordin~y skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A bonding device for providing a seal and allowing remote electronic monitoring of the seal, comprising:
sealing means for affixing said device to an item to be bonded, in a manner such that tampering with the item will disturb the sealing means, said sealing means comprising line means providing a circuit having first and second end terminals, said circuit exhibiting a detectible circuit characteristic;
sensing means connectible to the first and second end terminals, said sensing means producing a signal indicating a disconnection of the sensing meansfrom the first and second end terminals, and a change in said detectible circuitcharacteristic, indicating tampering with said sealing means;
communicating means for transmitting said signal to a location remote from said bonding device; and a seal body engageable with said sealing means and supportable thereby, said seal body housing said sensing means and communicating means as a unit.
2. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises an optical fiber light transmission circuit.
3. A bonding device according to claim 2, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises optical continuity between said first and second end terminals, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a loss of optical continuity.
4. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises an electrical circuit.
5. A bonding device according to claim 4, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises impedance, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a change in impedance.
6. A bonding device according to claim 5, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises electrical continuity, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a loss of electrical continuity.

7. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means consists of a single line extending between said first and second end terminals. 8. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means comprises a plurality of lines extending between said first and second end terminals.
9. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means is encased in a protective outer sheath.
10. A bonding device according to claim 9. wherein said outer sheath is a relatively flexible sheath.
11. A bonding device according to claim 10, wherein said relatively flexible sheath comprises Kevlar fiber.
12. A bonding device according to claim 9, wherein said outer sheath comprises a relatively rigid shackle member.
13. A bonding device according to claim 9, wherein said sheath comprises a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip.
14. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said communicating means comprises a radio frequency transponder.
15. A bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical power source housed within said seal body.
16. A bonding device according to claim 15, wherein said power source comprises a battery.
17. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates continuously.
18. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates intermittently.
19. A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates in response to a seal status request received by the communicating means.
20. A bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising signal processing and data storage means within said seal body, said signal processing means for receiving signals from said sensing means and producing data concerning the same, said storage means for storing said data.

21. A bonding device according to claim 20, wherein said communicating means transmits said data in response to an externally generated seal status inquiry.