DESC:Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic seal or lock, and more particularly to a radio frequency identification (RFID) based non-reusable electronic security seal to secure and to identify containers or any other objects.
Background of the Invention
In global transportation, security of transportation and a cargo is crucial due to unauthorized access, stealing etc. Unauthorized access to the interior of the cargo shipping containers is one of the challenges in the transportation industry. Such unauthorized access often leads to the theft of container contents, resulting in substantial financial losses for individuals, businesses and others involved in the transportation of goods.
In order to identify the container or object and its cargo and also to keep the cargo from being stolen or being exchanged with something else different types of seals are used. Existing RFID-based electric locks or seals are complicated in structure.
E.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,298,274 discloses passive RFID-based electric seals comprising a complicated structure which includes a lower body, an upper body, an upper sleeve, a central sleeve, a lower sleeve, two antennas, an RFID chip, and two sockets. However, the parts or elements may not be easily manufactured and assembled, and a large man-power is required to assemble the parts or elements together, such that the manufacturing cost for the electric locks or seals will be greatly increased.
Another RFID tag having a microprocessor and the antenna attached to the substrate, that is attached to the outside of the container, requires coding, adding additional information regarding the filling, authentication and quality control. This makes the container manufacturing and filling the closure assembly complicated. This can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs, and can customize the RFID tag complicated.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an electronic seal for container which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art.
Summary of Invention
An electronic seal for containers comprising a main housing having, a metallic spacer placed inside a bush, a conducting plate mounted above the metallic spacer, an antenna board placed perpendicularly above the conducting plate, a printed circuit board arranged in between the conducting plate and the antenna board, a spring mounted at the top of the antenna board, a cap fitted above the spring, and a locking pin inserted into the main housing. The antenna board having, a patch antenna board operates at a frequency of 900MHz, configured with two contact points, and an integrated circuit board having radio frequency identification (RFID) chip assembled thereon and two notches for locking the patch antenna board therein. The printed circuit board is configured with connecting points for the patch antenna board and the conducting plate. The locking pin is adapted for completing electrical circuit of RFID and the patch antenna by electrically coupling through the conducting plate, wherein by disengaging the locking pin, the electrical supply through the conducting plate breaks, and further deactivation of RFID. The patch antenna board mounted on the integrated circuit board by soldering subject to break at a point on the soldering region upon tampering to break the electronic seal.
Objects of the invention
An object of the present invention is to seal a container electronically.
Another object of the present invention is to manufacture and assemble the structure of electronic seal in quick manner.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to operate electronic seal by disabling the reuse and misuse of an antenna seal.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide tamper proof seal by ensuring the non-reusability of the RFID antenna.
Brief description of the drawings
The objective and advantages of the present inventions will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 shows exploded view of electronic seal in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an outer body of the electronic seal in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a male locking pin part of the electronic seal, in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a main housing of the electronic seal, in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 5 shows another cross sectional view of a main housing of the electronic seal, in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the present invention
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an electronic seal for container that can be easily and quickly manufactured and assembled.
This present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the table given below.
Table:
Component Name Component Number
Electronic seal 100
Locking Pin 1
Bush 2
Locking O ring 3
Spacer 4
Conducting plate 5
Printed Circuit Board 6
Antenna 7
Spring 8
First Antenna Housing 9
Second Antenna Housing 10
Main Housing 11
Cap 12
Referring to the figures from 1 to 5, an electronic seal (100) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The electronic seal (100) comprises a locking pin (1), a bush (2), a main housing (11) and a cap (12).
The main housing (11) further comprises a first antenna housing (9), a second antenna housing (10), a metal spacer (4), a conducting plate (5), a printed circuit board (PCB) (6), an antenna board (7) and a spring (8). In an embodiment, the first antenna housing (10) is made of plastic housing.
The antenna board (7) is placed vertically over the printed circuit board (PCB) (6) and is electrically connected to the locking pin (1) through the conducting plate. The antenna board (7) is a printed circuit board tightly placed in the first antenna housing (10). The first antenna housing (10) protects the antenna board (7) from shocks and vibrations.
The antenna board (7) consists of two parts namely an integrated circuit (IC) board and a patch antenna board. The IC chip board comprises a radiofrequency identification (RFID) chip embedded on it. The IC chip board comprises two notches that allows the patch antenna board inside and locks therein. The patch antenna board consists of two contact points that coincide with the notches and support the locking. In a preferred embodiment, the locking of the patch antenna board inside the notches is done by soldering. The IC chip board further comprises two connecting points wherein, a first connecting point for antenna and a second connecting point for metal plate for electrical connectivity. In an embodiment, the patch antenna etched on the patch antenna board comprises of a copper pour pattern capable of radiating at 900 MHz. The printed circuit board (6) contains placement pads for the circuit, connecting vias and PCB tracks.
The locking pin (1) is a metallic component that is attached to the main housing (11) using the bush (2). The locking pin (1) forms the bottom part of the electronic seal (100) and is inserted into the main housing (11) through the bush (2) and the locking ring. When the locking pin (1) is inserted it comes in contact with conducting plate (5) and further with the Antenna board (7). This contact leads to completion of the electric circuit and the antenna radiates in presence of an electromagnetic field. Hence removal of the same disturbs the continuity of the electrical circuit and terminates the functioning of the entire unit. The RFID does not radiate for required range at required frequency unless and until the locking pin (1) is connected. The locking pin (1) is optimized by eliminating any plastic coating over its outer diameter and giving high resistance to any mechanical cutting (like cutting with strong metal scissors). The cutting locations are provided over it to ensure this connectivity in case of any mechanical efforts to remove the assembled RFID on container. This is achieved without affecting the strength of the electronic seal (100).
The metallic pin (1) small end with the blind counter bore and bush (2) together are used as one of the connecting poles of the dipole IC.
Further, The IC board of the antenna board (7) has a contact point for electrically engaging with a metal pin via a metal plate. The antenna board (7) is designed in such a way that it breaks at the soldering region upon tampering or any act of trying to break the electronic seal (100). The antenna board (7) breaks upon trying to disengage the locking pin from the first antenna housing (10). The RFID cannot be used again after breaking of the antenna board (7). This provides security as compared to existing designs which fails at stopping the reuse of RFID. The spring (8) ensures completion of the electrical circuit through compensating the linear dimensional variations.
Again refereeing to the diagrams from 1 to 5, an operation of the electronic seal (100) in accordance with the invention is described. The operation is described in conjunction with the diagrams.
The antenna board provided with the integrated circuit board and the patch antenna completes the electrical circuit through the locking pin and the conducting plate (5). The patch antenna radiates according to the RFID and is operating in dipole mode, with the patch antenna forms a first pole and the locking pin (1) as second pole. The radiation continues until a break in the electrical supply. This happens upon the removal of the locking pin (1) or any unauthorized access to the electronic seal (100) that damages the antenna board (7).
Advantages of the invention

1. The main housing (11) of the electronic seal (100) is optimized as it uses 30% less plastic than the conventional designs.
2. Assembly time for the electronic seal (100) is reduced as it uses less number of components.
3. The electronic seal (100) provides increased range of RFID and optimized antenna gain.
4. The electronic seal (100) provides extra security feature by disabling the reuse and misuse of the RFID.
5. The locking pin (1) has no plastic over molding which saves plastic pollution
6. The electronic seal (100) of the present invention is easy to operate.
7. The electronic seal (100) has a structure that can be manufactured easily.
8. The range of RFID has been increased and the overall gain of antenna is improved.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An electronic seal for containers (100), the electronic seal (100) comprising:
a main housing (11) having,
a metallic spacer (4) placed inside a bush (2);
a conducting plate (5) mounted above the metallic spacer (4);
an antenna board (7) placed perpendicularly above the conducting plate (5), the antenna board having,
a patch antenna board configured with two contact points, and
an integrated circuit board having a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip assembled thereon and two notches for locking the patch antenna board therein,
a printed circuit board (6) arranged in between the conducting plate (5) and the antenna board (7), the printed circuit board (6) having connecting points for the patch antenna board and the conducting plate (5); and
a spring (8) mounted at the top of the antenna board (7);
a cap (12) fitted above the spring (8);
a locking pin (1) inserted into the main housing (11), the locking pin (1) adapted for completing electrical circuit of RFID and the patch antenna by electrically coupling through the conducting plate (5) and the antenna board (7), wherein by disengaging the locking pin (1) the electrical supply through the conducting plate (5) breaks, further deactivating RFID.
2. The electronic seal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna operates at a frequency of 900MHz.
3. The electronic seal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patch antenna mounted on the integrated circuit board is by soldering.
4. The electronic seal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conducting plate (5) is a metallic plate.
5. The electronic seal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board (6) is circular in shape.
Dated this on 21st day of November 2019

Prafulla Wange
(Agent for Applicant)
IN-PA/2058