• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The device according to the invention relates to a wireless container tracking system, comprising a receiver unit for determining the position of said container (1), a transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication with a back-end system and / or another container (1), and a central data processing unit, all of which are housed in a ventilation hood (2) of said container (1), and a battery (3) for supplying electrical energy to said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central data processing unit, said battery (3) is arranged inside said container (1). The invention further relates to a container (1) comprising such a wireless container tracking system.
    公开号:BE1021562B1
    申请号:E2013/0489
    申请日:2013-07-12
    公开日:2015-12-14
    发明作者:Herbruggen Jan Georges Paul Van；Den Bulck Gustaaf Elisabeth Joseph Van
    申请人:Track4C Nv；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    WIRELESS CONTAINER FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM AND CONTAINER CONTAINING SUCH A WIRELESS CO NTAI NE RVO LG SYSTEM
    The invention generally relates to a wireless container tracking system for a container. Such a wireless container tracking system herein comprises a receiver unit for determining the position of said container, a transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication with a backend system and / or another container, a central processing unit and a battery for supplying electrical energy to each of the aforementioned components. These containers are well-known standard freight containers, and more specifically freight containers that meet the ISO 668 standard.
    More specifically, the invention relates to such a wireless container tracking system that is built into a ventilation hood (ventilation hood) of a container. Such a ventilation hood consists of a housing that covers a ventilation opening in the wall of the container. This ventilation opening is present here to allow ventilation between the outside and the inside of the container. By placing the wireless container tracking system in the ventilation hood of the container, the wireless container tracking system is anonymous in the container.
    [03] In WO 2010/133980 a ventilation hood is described which is provided for installation on a transport container. Inside the housing of this ventilation hood are a direct current power source, an antenna that is operatively connected to a circuit board and an ambient sensor. The printed circuit board can thereby be provided with a first interface for a satellite antenna, a positioning module such as GPS which is connected to the satellite antenna, a second interface for an antenna and a communication transmitter / receiver unit connected to this second antenna.
    [04] Since the direct current power source is located inside the housing of the relatively small ventilation hood, only a small power source with a short service life can be accommodated in the ventilation hood. Since ventilation openings are provided in the ventilation hood, the direct current source is exposed to moisture and is subject to weather influences, which means that it runs a high risk of being affected.
    There is therefore a need for a wireless container tracking system according to the preamble of the first claim, wherein a battery with a longer lifespan can be used, which battery is moreover less exposed to moisture, weather influences and damage.
    According to a first aspect, the invention provides a wireless container tracking system comprising a receiver unit for determining the position of said container, a transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication with a backend system and / or another container; and a central data processing unit; accommodated in a ventilation hood of said container, and a battery for supplying electrical energy to said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central data processing unit, said battery being arranged inside said container, said container comprising an inner wall with one or more inwardly facing ribs, and wherein said battery is arranged within the space delimited by said rib.
    [07] By providing the battery inside the said container and not in the ventilation hood as in the prior art, a larger battery with a longer life can be used. Moreover, this way the battery is better protected against moisture and weather influences. Providing the battery within a said rib also has the following advantages: there is no loss of space or loss of loading volume in the container; the chance of damage is minimal. More specifically, sometimes fork lifts with pallets are driven in and out of the container. Every protruding part within the space of the container thereby forms a risk of damage, both of the battery and of the load (e.g. cardboard boxes). the battery is in this way part of the container, so that this device does not require any special customs clearance.
    In an advantageous embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said battery is releasably arranged on said inner wall of the container.
    [09] In a more advantageous embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said container comprises at least one door and an inwardly facing rib with a U-shaped profile to which said door (s) are mounted and which is located just behind said door comprises, wherein said battery is releasably clamped in said rib with the U-shaped profile.
    [10] In a preferred embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said battery is covered by a cover plate.
    [11] In this way, the battery is additionally protected against damage.
    [12] More preferably, said cover plate is releasably mounted on said inner wall of said container.
    [13] This makes it possible to replace the battery when it is empty.
    [14] In a special embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said battery comprises a battery pack.
    [15] In a first possible embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central processing unit are arranged in a housing inside said ventilation hood.
    [16] In a second possible embodiment of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention, said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central processing unit that are located inside the ventilation hood are cast in a resin.
    [17] Both the provision of a housing in which the receiver, transmitter / receiver are housed as a central processing unit, and the casting of these parts in a resin ensures that these different components are protected against moisture and weather influences. Moreover, when these components are cast in a resin, the components become more shock-resistant.
    According to a second aspect of the invention, a container is provided comprising a wireless container tracking system according to the invention as described above.
    [19] In a preferred embodiment of a container according to the invention, the container comprises a door control system for controlling the opening and closing of said doors, said door control system being adapted to be in communication with said wireless container tracking system.
    [20] In order to further clarify the features of this invention and to indicate additional advantages and details thereof, now follow a more detailed description of a wireless container tracking system according to the invention and a freight container provided with such a wireless container tracking system according to the invention. It is clear that nothing in the following description can be interpreted as a limitation of the protection demanded in the claims for this wireless container tracking system and the freight container provided with such a wireless container tracking system according to the invention.
    [21] In this description reference is made to the accompanying figures by reference numerals, in which: Figure 1 represents a perspective side view of a freight container provided with a ventilation hood in which a wireless container tracking system according to the invention is accommodated; Figure 2 represents an enlarged partial front view of an upper corner part of the container as shown in Figure 1 with the ventilation hood; Figure 3 represents an enlarged partial front view of a battery disposed in a vertically extending rib on the inside of the container as shown in Figure 1, and a portion of the cover plate covering this battery; Figure 4 shows a partial front view of a battery that is fitted in a U-profile that is located in the inner wall of the container just behind the door.
    [22] A freight container (1) as represented in the figure 1 is mainly made of steel or aluminum, with the exception of a floor not shown in the figures that can be made of wood or metal. Each side wall of the container (1) is provided with a number of ribs (4) extending vertically inwards and outwards.
    [23] As shown in figures 1 and 2, at the height of an upper corner of this freight container (1), at the freight container (1) as represented in figure 1, the top right corner is a ventilation hood (2) by means of bolts (6) attached to the outer wall of the freight container (1). This ventilation hood (2) covers a ventilation opening (not shown in the figures) which serves to allow ventilation between the inside and the outside of the freight container (1). This ventilation hood (2) then consists of a vertical surface (21) and an obliquely arranged surface (22) above and below this vertical surface. Various perforations (23) are present in the lower obliquely arranged surface (22) through which air can flow. This ventilation hood (2) is preferably made from a non-metallic material such as a highly durable plastic such that the electromagnetic radiation is prevented from being reduced or even completely screened off.
    [24] In order to be able to track and trace the freight container (1), a wireless container tracking system is provided. This wireless container tracking system consists of the following electronic components: a receiver unit (not shown in the figures) for determining the position of the freight container (1); a transmitter / receiver unit (not shown in the figures) for wireless communication with a back-end system and / or with another freight container (1); and a central data processing unit (not shown in the figures).
    [25] The position determination is preferably done via GPS ("Global Positioning System"). However, the position determination can also be done by means of other satellite-based position determination systems such as Galileo, by means of triangulation, and the like.
    [26] Wireless communication with the central software running on the back-end system is preferably via a UMTS ("Universal Mobile Télécommunications System") / GPRS ("General Packet Radio Services") network. However, this wireless communication can also be done via a WSN ("Wireless Sensor Network") radio from another freight container (1) which in turn then serves as a gateway to a GPRS / UMTS network. If a WSN with a connection to the internet is available at the place where the transported goods are unloaded from the freight container (1), the wireless communication can also take place via this route. However, wireless communication can also be done via other radio technologies such as Zigbee, WIFI, Bluetooth, 433 Mhz, and the like.
    Both the position determining receiver unit and the wireless communication transmitter / receiver unit are preferably provided with an antenna. Preferably, a separate GPS antenna is provided for the position-determining receiver unit, a UMTS / GPRS antenna for the transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication and a WSN antenna for wireless communication with a WSN radio. These antennas are mounted inside the room delimited by the ventilation hood (2) and are therefore hidden in this ventilation hood (2).
    [28] The position-determining receiver unit, the wireless communication transmitter / receiver unit and the central processing unit are preferably arranged on a printed circuit board (not shown in the figure). The printed circuit board, together with the aforementioned electronic components mounted thereon, is preferably located either in a housing (not shown in the figures) which is located inside the space delimited by the ventilation hood (2), or they are cast in a synthetic resin .
    [29] Furthermore, a battery (3) is provided for supplying electrical energy to these components. As can be seen in figure 3, the battery (3) is arranged inside the freight container (1). In particular, it is delimited within the space by a rib (4) extending vertically on the inner wall of the freight container (1) and directed inwards. It is clear that the door profile on which the door (s) (9) is (are) suspended (mounted) is also at least partially part of the inner wall, and that an inwardly directed rib (4) is therefore also the U-profile (4a) ) may be located just behind the door (9) (see Figure 4).
    [30] The battery (3) is thereby releasably attached to the inner wall of the freight container (1), for example by means of Velcro. Another option here is, as can be seen in Figure 4, releasably clamping the battery (3) between the walls of an inwardly facing rib (4), for example between the walls of the U-profile (4a) that is located just behind the door (9).
    [31] To protect the battery (3) against damage, it is preferably covered with the aid of a cover plate (5) which is releasably, preferably by means of bolts (7), attached to the inner wall of the freight container (1). attached.
    [32] Such a battery (3) preferably consists of a battery pack. Such a battery (3) preferably has a typical life of up to 3 years.
    [33] The electrical energy is supplied to the other aforementioned electronic components by means of a power supply cable (8) which passes through an opening (not shown in the figures) in the wall of the freight container (1) from the inside to the outside of the freight container (1) extends into the space defined by the ventilation hood (2).
    [34] The wireless container tracking system may further comprise one or more sensors for monitoring one or more parameters. Such parameters are usually environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity, but can also be other parameters such as radiation hazard (radioactivity), percentage of a certain gas, leak detection, fumigation gases and the like. These sensors are arranged inside the freight container (1). The values of the parameters measured by the sensors are communicated wirelessly with the central data processing unit. These sensors can either be wireless sensors that are supplied with the load, and which transmits its parameters via the WSN network, or are wired sensors that are fixed in the container.
    [35] The freight container (1) is preferably further provided with a door control system (not shown in the figures) for controlling the opening and closing of the doors (9) (see figure 1) of the freight container (1). Since one door (9) cannot open without the other door (9) being opened first, the door control system is only installed on one of the doors (9). The door control system herein comprises a sensor which detects the opening and closing of the respective door (9) on which the door control system is installed.
    [36] The sensor of the door control system is thereby able to communicate with the wireless container tracking system, either via a wiring or wireless. The wireless transmission of the signals from the sensor of the container tracking system to the wireless container tracking system can thereby: either directly via the above-mentioned UMTS / GPRS network, this when the freight container (1) stands alone, for example when traveling on a truck, or when this freight container (1) is stacked between other freight containers (1) and can connect directly to this UMTS / GPRS network; - or via the above-mentioned WSN radio from another freight container (1) which in turn then serves as a gateway to a GPRS / UMTS network when the freight container (1) cannot make a direct connection to this GPRS / UMTS network , for example when it is in the middle of a stack of other freight containers (1).
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1]
    CONCLUSIONS
    A wireless container tracking system comprising a receiver unit for determining the position of said container (1), a transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication with a backend system and / or another container (1); and a central data processing unit; accommodated in a ventilation hood (2) of said container (1), and a battery (3) for supplying electrical energy to said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central processing unit, characterized in that said battery (3) ) is arranged inside said container (1), and said container (1) comprises an inner wall with one or more inwardly facing ribs (4), said battery (3) being delimited within the space by said rib (4) is arranged.
    [2]
    A wireless container tracking system according to claim 1, characterized in that said battery (3) is releasably mounted on said inner wall of said container (1).
    [3]
    A wireless container tracking system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said container (1) comprises at least one door (9) and an inwardly facing rib (4a) with a U-shaped profile on which said door (s) (9) and which is located just behind said door (9), said battery (3) being releasably clamped in said rib (4a) with the U-shaped profile.
    [4]
    The wireless container tracking system according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said battery (3) is covered by a cover plate (5).
    [5]
    A wireless container tracking system according to claim 4, characterized in that said cover plate (5) is releasably arranged on said inner wall of said container (1).
    [6]
    A wireless container tracking system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said battery (3) comprises a battery pack.
    [7]
    The wireless container tracking system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central processing unit are arranged in a housing inside said ventilation hood (2).
    [8]
    A wireless container tracking system according to claim 7, characterized in that said receiver, transmitter / receiver and central processing unit located within the ventilation hood (2) are cast in a resin.
    [9]
    Container (1) comprising a wireless container tracking system according to one of claims 1 to 8.
    [10]
    Container (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the container (1) comprises a door control system for controlling the opening and closing of said door (9), said door control system being adapted to be in communication with said wireless container tracking system.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US9720480B2|2017-08-01|Portable computing device and method for asset management in a logistics system
    CN101099182B|2010-05-26|Method for the securing and monitoring of containers and container with securing and monitoring means
    US20090061897A1|2009-03-05|Tracking, security and monitoring system for cargos
    US7333015B2|2008-02-19|Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof
    CA3014870A1|2017-09-28|Systems, apparatus, and methods for self-adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network
    US8392339B2|2013-03-05|Cargo tracking apparatus, system and method
    CN105745675B|2021-12-10|Method and system for managing shipment of items using a wireless node network
    CN1906643B|2011-06-15|Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof
    CA2949285A1|2015-12-03|Node-enabled delivery notification using elements of a wireless node network
    KR20060093341A|2006-08-24|System for sending information of container and system for tracing container comprising the same
    Santa et al.2012|Telematic platform for integral management of agricultural/perishable goods in terrestrial logistics
    EP1540620A1|2005-06-15|Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof
    CN108712987A|2018-10-26|Transport container and system for monitoring the content in transport container
    JP2015524782A|2015-08-27|Integrated tracking system and method
    US20140111334A1|2014-04-24|Sensor pod
    BE1021562B1|2015-12-14|WIRELESS CONTAINER FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM AND CONTAINER CONTAINING SUCH A WIRELESS CONTAINER FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM
    KR200484160Y1|2017-08-08|Apparatus for Monitoring of Location and Sensing the Closing Status of Container Door for Container Security
    KR100779200B1|2007-11-23|Terminal for containers
    KR102099717B1|2020-04-13|Appratus for traking container
    EP3837567A1|2021-06-23|Enclosure with uwb sensor
    US20200090294A1|2020-03-19|Method and system for pool management of transportation assets
    US20210207995A1|2021-07-08|Irradiation decection in data collection devices
    JP2019075730A|2019-05-16|Object tracking system
    CN114186922A|2022-03-15|Association management in a wireless node network
    CN114186921A|2022-03-15|Context management for wireless node networks
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    BE1021441B1|2015-11-20|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US20040041705A1|2002-08-27|2004-03-04|Hi-G-Tek Ltd.|Smart container monitoring system|
    US20070075075A1|2005-09-30|2007-04-05|The Boeing Company|Shipping container air-vent cover antenna housing|
    US20090073077A1|2006-05-29|2009-03-19|Reel Reinheimer Elekrronik Gmbh|Arrangement of an antenna on a container|
    WO2010133980A1|2009-05-21|2010-11-25|Loginno Logistic Innovations Ltd.|Shipping container vent cover for theft detection, theft prevention and logistics management and method for securing a shipping container|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    BE2012/0648|2012-10-01|
    BE2012/0648A|BE1021441B1|2012-10-01|2012-10-01|WIRELESS CONTAINER FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM AND CONTAINER CONTAINING SUCH A WIRELESS CONTAINER FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM|
    [返回顶部]