Magnetic vector field tag and seal
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Califronia
InventorsRoger G. Johnston, Anthony R. E. Garcia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a method for providing a container with a magnetic tag and seal. At least one magnet is placed near an object and the magnetic field strength and vector direction are measured using a magnetometer from at least one location near the object to provide a magnetic vector field tag and seal. Afterward, the magnetometer is moved away from the object to a location where it cannot be detected. Any change in the in the measurements indicates that the seal has broken. If the object is a container, this change can be used to aid in determining whether the container and anything inside the container have been tampered with.
Claims23
A method for providing an object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a magnetometer at a first location near an object;
- (b) placing at least one magnet at a second location near the object, the magnet providing a measurable magnetic field strength and vector direction at the first location of the magnetometer;
- (c) recording the magnetic field strength and vector direction using the magnetometer at its first location to provide the object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal;
- and
- (d) moving the magnetometer away from the object to a location where the magnetometer cannot be detected.
A method of providing an object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a magnetometer at a first location near an object;
- (b) placing each magnet of a plurality of magnets at a separate location near the object, the plurality of magnets providing a measurable magnetic field strength and vector direction at first location of the magnetometer;
- (c) recording the magnetic field strength and vector direction using the magnetometer at its first location to provide the object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal;
- and
- (d) moving the magnetometer away from the object to a location where the magnetometer cannot be detected.
A magnetic device, comprising:
- (a) a permanent magnet;
- (b) a wheel having a chamber sufficiently large for receiving said magnet and allowing it to tumble randomly inside when the wheel rotates about its axis;
- and
- (c) an axle coincident with the wheel axis about which said wheel can rotate.
A magnetic device, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of permanent magnets;
- (b) a wheel having a plurality of chambers, each chamber sufficiently large to receive at least one of the magnets and allow it to tumble randomly inside when the wheel rotates about its axis;
- and
- (c) an axle coincident with the wheel axis about which said wheel can rotate.
A movable tray, comprising:
- (a) a permanent magnet;
- (b) at least three wheels, one of said wheels having a chamber sufficiently large to receive the magnet and allow it to tumble randomly inside when the wheel rotates about its axis;
- (c) axles for each wheel, each axle being coincident with the wheel axis about which said wheel can rotate;
- (d) a substantially flat support having a first side for supporting objects thereupon and a second side for attaching said wheels thereto such that the support can be rolled across a surface;
- and
- (e) means for attaching said wheels to the support.
A magnetic device, comprising;
- (a) a wheel having a rotational axis, said wheel comprising a magnetic material;
- (b) an axle coincident with the rotational axis of said wheel;
- (c) a track configured to receive said wheel and allow the wheel to roll and slide therein as it moves within the track.
A magnetic device for providing an object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal, comprising:
- (a) a permanent magnet;
- and
- (b) a support for attaching said magnet thereto, said support being flexible enough that it can be wrapped around an object to provide the object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal by placing the device around the object and recording the magnetic field strength and vector direction from at least one direction near the object.
A magnetic device for providing an object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of permanent magnets;
- and
- (b) a support for attaching said magnets thereto, said support being flexible enough that it can be wrapped around an object to provide the object with a magnetic vector field tag and seal by placing the device around the object and recording the magnetic field strength and vector direction from at least one location near the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.