# US 11,993,452 B2 · Enclosure with UWB sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,452 B2 - Document ID: US11993452B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/057,470 - Filed: 2019-08-16 - Published: 2021-07-01 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-16 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Stella M. Oggianu; Ankit Anand Gupta; Siddesh Vishwanath - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993452B2 ## CPC - B65D 88/74: having means for heating, cooling, aerating or other conditioning of contents - G01S 7/003: {Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations} - B60P 3/20: Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) - G01S 7/411: {Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity (G01S7/415 takes precedence)} - G01S 13/0209: {Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband} - G01S 13/04: Systems determining presence of a target (based on relative movement of target G01S13/56) - G01S 13/06: Systems determining position data of a target - G01S 13/886: {for alarm systems (alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22)} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract Disclosed is an enclosure having: a first sensor and a first controller for controlling the first sensor, the first sensor being an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar sensor, wherein the first controller monitors for cargo in the enclosure by scanning the container periodically and/or in response to one or more trigger events, and identifying from scanned data one or more of cargo type and cargo quantity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transport refrigeration unit (TRU), comprising: an enclosure; a first sensor in the enclosure controlled by a first controller that is within the first sensor or remotely located, the first sensor being an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar sensor, wherein the first controller monitors for cargo in the enclosure by: scanning the enclosure periodically and/or in response to one or more trigger events, and identifying, from scanned data, cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution within the enclosure; a refrigeration system/air conditioner and a refrigeration system/air conditioner controller controlling the refrigeration system/air conditioner and communicating over a network with the UWB radar sensor, wherein upon the first controller identifying the cargo presence, the cargo type, the cargo quantity and the cargo distribution within the enclosure, the first controller: determines refrigeration/air conditioning requirements within the enclosure for the cargo based on the identified cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution, and instructs the refrigeration system/air conditioner to condition air in the enclosure based on the identified cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein the controller provides from scanned data, meta data indicative of a presence or absence of cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein when cargo is detected the TRU provides from scanned data relative positioning of cargo within a scanning field of the UWB sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein the first controller provides from scanned data reflected energy from cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a loading door, and when the door opens or closes the UWB sensor scans the enclosure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The TRU of claim 5, wherein the UWB sensor detects when the door opens or closes thereafter scans the enclosure for cargo. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein the first controller monitors for cargo in the enclosure by identifying, from scanned data, an angle of distribution of the cargo relative to the first sensor, and wherein upon the first controller identifying the cargo presence, the cargo type, the cargo quantity, the cargo distribution, and the angle of distribution of the cargo relative to the first sensor within the enclosure, the first controller: determines refrigeration/air conditioning requirements within the enclosure for the cargo, and instructs the refrigeration system/air conditioner to condition air in the enclosure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The TRU of claim 1, wherein the first controller provides an alert upon one or more of (1) receiving electronic communication identifying opening or closing of the door, (ii) identifying changes in cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The TRU of claim 8, wherein the first controller controls a visual display that visually displays the alert thereon, and/or the first controller transmits the alert to a remote monitoring facility. ### Claim 10 A method for monitoring an enclosure of a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), the enclosure including: a first sensor and a first controller for controlling the first sensor that is within the first sensor or remotely located, the first sensor being an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar sensor and wherein the TRU includes a refrigeration system/air conditioner and a refrigeration system/air conditioner controller controlling the refrigeration system/air conditioner and communicating over a network with the UWB radar sensor, the method comprising: monitoring, by the first controller, for cargo in the enclosure by: scanning the enclosure periodically and/or in response to one or more trigger events, and identifying from scanned data cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution within the enclosure, and wherein upon the first controller identifying the cargo presence, the cargo type, the cargo quantity and the cargo distribution within the enclosure, determining, by the first controller, refrigeration/air conditioning requirements within the enclosure for the cargo based on the identified cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution, and instructing, by the first controller, the refrigeration system/air conditioner to condition air in the enclosure based on the identified cargo presence, cargo type, cargo quantity and cargo distribution. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first controller provides from scanned data meta data indicative of a presence or absence of cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein when cargo is detected the first controller provides from scanned data relative positioning of cargo within a scanning field of the UWB sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first controller provides from scanned data reflected energy from cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes a loading door, and when the door opens or closes the UWB sensor scans the enclosure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the enclosure includes a door sensor and a controller controlling the door sensor and communicating over a network with the UWB sensor, and the UWB sensor receives from the door sensor an electronic communication identifying when the door opens or closes and thereafter scans the enclosure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the UWB sensor detects when the door opens or closes thereafter scans the enclosure for cargo. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first controller monitors for cargo in the enclosure by identifying from scanned data, an angle of distribution of the cargo relative to the first sensor, and wherein upon the first controller identifying the cargo presence, the cargo type, the cargo quantity, the cargo distribution, and the angle of distribution of the cargo relative to the first sensor within the enclosure, the first controller: determines refrigeration/air conditioning requirements within the enclosure for the cargo, and instructs the refrigeration system/air conditioner to condition air in the enclosure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first controller provides an alert upon one or more of (i) receiving electronic communication identifying opening or closing of the door, (ii) identifying changes in cargo within the enclosure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first controller controls a visual display that visually displays the alert thereon, and/or the first controller transmits the alert to a remote monitoring facility.