Tamper-Evident Sealing Device With Conductive Strap Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tamper-evident sealing devices lack the ability to provide real-time tracking and tracing capabilities, making it difficult to detect unauthorized access or tampering during transit and complicating supply chain management, especially in the food and beverage industry where regulatory compliance and product recalls are challenging.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident sealing device with a conductive element embedded in a strap that irreversibly engages, triggering a wireless transmission of a unique device ID, current geolocation, and date/time upon detachment, utilizing a GPS or mobile relay device for location data, and storing records in a distributed ledger for immutable traceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional tamper-evident sealing devices are used, then the sealing function is provided, but real-time tracking and tracing capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single sealing device: the physical sealing function (strap and latch), tamper detection (conductive element break detection), and tracking/tracing (GPS receiver and wireless transmitter). This integration ensures that loss of information is eliminated by providing real-time tracking data, while reliability is maintained through the conductive element that detects unauthorized access attempts.
2Reliability
If a conductive element is embedded in the strap to detect break, then tamper detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tamper detection mechanisms with a simple conductive element embedded in the strap. When the strap is cut or tampered with, the conductive element breaks, causing a detectable change in electrical continuity. This substitution of a mechanical sensing system with an electrical/conductive sensing system reduces overall device complexity while improving reliability of tamper detection.
3Loss of information
If GPS and wireless transmitter are integrated into the sealing device, then real-time tracking is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously provides physical sealing, tamper detection, GPS tracking, and wireless communication. By making the device universal and capable of performing multiple functions, the patent eliminates the need for separate tracking devices, thereby reducing overall system manufacturing costs despite the added capabilities within the sealing device itself.
4Reliability
If the attachment ends are configured to irreversibly engage, then security against reuse is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reversibility function from the engagement mechanism by designing attachment ends that irreversibly engage. The first attachment end includes a body with a receptacle and a locking mechanism that permanently secures the second attachment end. This extraction of the reuse capability ensures that once sealed, the container cannot be resealed with the same device, improving security and reliability for single-use applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides real-time alerts of unauthorized access, enhances supply chain security, facilitates efficient product recalls, and ensures regulatory compliance by immutably logging critical tracking events, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A conductive element is embedded in the strap and electrically connected to a computer processor. The computer processor is configured to detect a break in the conductive element
Implementation Method 2
a wireless receiver in signal communication with a Global Positioning System (GPS). Based on detecting a break in the conductive element, the computer processor may obtain from the GPS the current geolocation of the sealing device
Implementation Method 3
The sealing device, in these examples, also includes a wireless transmitter and wirelessly transmits, via the wireless transmitter, a message with the sealing device ID, current geolocation, and current date and time. The sealing device wirelessly transmits the message in one or more wireless signals according to a cellular network standard
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to sealing devices, methods, and systems. A sealing device may be configured to seal a container. The sealing device may send or trigger a message indicating the current geographic location of the sealing device based on the sealing device being removed from the container.