Tamper proof container

• US 20050151067A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: Tamperproof Container Licensing Corp.
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,098,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/227.150
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room

Abstract

A liner sheet lines at least a portion of an interior surface of a shipping container or box and defines an optical path extending across at least a portion of the sheet, such that a breach of the interior surface also alters an optical characteristic of the optical path. For example, an optical fiber can be woven into, or sandwiched between layers of, the liner sheet. The optical path is monitored for a change in an optical characteristic. If the container or box interior surface is breached, one or more portions of the optical fiber are severed or otherwise damaged, and the optical path is altered. The detected change in the optical path can be used to trigger an alarm, such as an annunciator, or to send a message that includes information concerning the container'"'"'s contents or time or location of the container when the breach occurred to a central location, such as a ship'"'"'s control room or a port notification system.

Claims

1. A tamper detection system for a container having one or more interior surfaces, comprising:

at least one first liner sheet for lining at least a portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container, the first liner sheet having an area and defining an optical path extending across at least a portion of the area such that a breach of the at least a portion of the container interior surface causes a change in an optical characteristic of the optical path.

2. The tamper detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit configured to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

3. The tamper detection system of claim 2, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical path; and

a light detector optically connected to another end of the optical path, wherein the circuit uses a signal from the light detector to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

4. The tamper detection system of claim 3, further comprising an alarm connected to the circuit, the circuit being configured to activate the alarm if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

5. The tamper detection system of claim 4, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber.

6. The tamper detection system of claim 5, wherein the at least one first liner sheet is configured for attachment to the at least a portion of the interior surface of the container.

7. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber.

8. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber is woven into the at least one first liner sheet.

9. The tamper detection system of claim 8, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises a carpet.

10. The tamper detection system of claim 8, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises a semi-rigid panel.

11. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber is molded into the at least one first liner sheet.

12. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber is sandwiched between two layers of the at least one first liner sheet.

13. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber is attached to a surface of the at least one first liner sheet.

14. The tamper detection system of claim 7, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical fiber;

a light detector optically connected to another end of the optical fiber; and

a circuit connected to the light detector and configured to activate if an optical characteristic of the optical path changes.

15. The tamper detection system of claim 14, further comprising an alarm connected to the circuit and configured to be activated if the optical characteristic of the optical path changes.

16. The tamper detection system of claim 14, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and configured to transmit a signal if the circuit activates.

17. The tamper detection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive the signal; and

an alarm connected to the wireless receiver and configured to provide an indication if the optical characteristic of the optical path changes.

18. The tamper detection system of claim 14, further comprising a wireless system aboard a vessel configured to notify a port system of an approach of the vessel, the wireless system being fiber configured to notify the port system if the optical characteristic of the optical path has changed.

19. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises a flexible, rollable material that can be unrolled prior to attachment to the at least one of the interior surfaces of the container.

20. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises a rigid panel.

21. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises a plurality of hinged panels.

22. The tamper detection system of claim 21, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises four hinged panels.

23. The tamper detection system of claim 21, wherein the at least one first liner sheet comprises six hinged panels.

24. The tamper detection system of claim 21, wherein each hinged panel is sized to correspond to one of the interior surfaces of the container.

25. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein the container is a rectangular shipping container.

26. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein the container is an aircraft shipping container.

27. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein the container includes at least one curved surface.

28. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein the at least one liner sheet comprises six hinged panels.

29. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein the at least one liner sheet comprises four hinged panels.

30. The tamper detection system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the hinged panels comprises a plurality of hinged sub-panels.

31. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the at least one first liner sheet includes a first optical connector optically attached to an end of the optical fiber.

32. The tamper detection system of claim 31, further comprising:

a second liner sheet for lining at least at least a second portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container, the second liner sheet having a second area and including a second optical fiber extending across at least a portion of the second area such that a breach of the second portion of the container interior surface causes a change in an optical characteristic of the second optical fiber; and

a second optical connector optically attached to an end of the second optical fiber;

wherein the optical fiber of the first liner sheet is optically coupled to the second optical fiber of the second liner sheet via the optical connectors.

33. The tamper detection system of claim 32, wherein the second liner sheet comprises a plurality of hinged panels.

34. The tamper detection system of claim 33, wherein the second liner sheet comprises four hinged panels.

35. The tamper detection system of claim 33, wherein each hinged panel is sized to correspond to one of the interior surfaces of the container.

36. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the first liner sheet includes a second optical fiber extending across at least a portion of the area of first liner sheet, the second optical fiber providing a second optical path.

37. The tamper detection system of claim 36, wherein the two optical fibers are optically connected together in series to form an extended optical path;

and further comprising;

a light source optically connected to an end of the extended optical path;

a light detector optically connected to the other end of the extended optical path; and

a circuit connected to the light detector and configured to activate an alarm if an optical characteristic of the optical path of either optical fiber changes.

38. The tamper detection system of claim 36, wherein the two optical fibers are optically connected together in parallel;

and further comprising;

a light detector circuit connected to the two optical fibers and configured to activate an alarm if an optical characteristic of both optical fibers changes.

39-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method of monitoring a container or detecting presence of a substance within the container, the container having one or more interior surfaces, comprising:

lining at least a portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container with a material having an optical fiber extending across at least a portion of the material;

illuminating one end of the optical fiber; and

monitoring the illumination at the other end of the optical fiber.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

detecting a cessation of the illumination at the other end of the optical fiber, and

responsive to detecting the cessation of the illumination, activating an alarm.

65. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

detecting a change in a characteristic of the illumination at the other end of the optical fiber.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein detecting the change in the characteristic of the illumination at the other end of the optical fiber comprises detecting a decrease in the illumination.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the change in the characteristic, activating an alarm.

68. The method of claim 43, wherein the optical fiber is such that an optical characteristic of the optical fiber is affected by radiation impinging on the optical fiber.

69. The method of claim 43, wherein the optical fiber is such that an optical characteristic of the optical fiber is affected by nuclear radiation impinging on the optical fiber.

70. The method of claim 43, wherein the optical fiber is such that an optical characteristic of the optical fiber is affected by gamma radiation impinging on the optical fiber.

71. The method of claim 43, wherein the optical fiber is such that a light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber is affected by nuclear radiation impinging on the optical fiber.

72. The method of claim 43, wherein the optical fiber is such that a light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber is affected by gamma radiation impinging on the optical fiber.

45. A method of detecting tampering with a container or presence of a substance within the container, the container having one or more interior surfaces, comprising:

lining at least a portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container with a material that defines an optical path extending across at least a portion of the material; and

monitoring the optical path for a change in an optical characteristic thereof.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

responsive to a change in the optical characteristic of the optical path, activating an alarm.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

responsive to a change in the optical characteristic of the optical path, sending a wireless signal.

73. The method of claim 45, wherein monitoring the optical path comprises monitoring the optical path for a decrease in a light-carrying capacity thereof.

74. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path is such that an optical characteristic of the optical path is affected by radiation impinging thereon.

75. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path is such that an optical characteristic of the optical path is affected by nuclear radiation impinging thereon.

76. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path is such that an optical characteristic of the optical path is affected by gamma radiation impinging thereon.

77. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path is such that a light-carrying capacity characteristic of the optical path is affected by nuclear radiation impinging thereon.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein monitoring the optical path comprises monitoring the optical path for a decrease in light-carrying capacity of the optical path.

79. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path is such that a light-carrying capacity characteristic of the optical path is affected by gamma radiation impinging thereon.

80. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber, an optical characteristic of which is affected by nuclear radiation impinging thereon.

81. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber, an optical characteristic of which is affected by gamma radiation impinging thereon.

82. The method of claim 45, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber, the optical characteristic of the optical path is a light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber, and the light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber is reduced by radiation impinging thereon.

48. A shipping container, comprising:

at least one wall having an area and defining an optical path extending across at least a portion of the area of the wall, wherein the optical path has an optical characteristic and, if a portion of the wall is breached, the optical characteristic is changed.

49. The shipping container of claim 48, further comprising a circuit configured to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

50. The shipping container of claim 49, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical path; and

a light detector optically connected to another end of the optical path, wherein the circuit uses a signal from the light detector to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

51. The shipping container of claim 50, further comprising an alarm connected to the circuit, the circuit being configured to activate the alarm if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

52. The shipping container of claim 51, wherein the optical path comprises an optical fiber.

53. The shipping container of claim 52, wherein the optical fiber is sandwiched between layers of the wall.

54. The shipping container of claim 52, wherein the optical fiber is attached to a surface of the wall.

55. A tamper detection system for a container having one or more interior surfaces, comprising:

at least one first liner sheet for lining at least a portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container, the first liner sheet having an area, and defining an optical path extending across at least a portion of the area such that a breach of the at least a portion of the container interior surface causes a change in an optical characteristic of the optical path;

a location determining system; and

a circuit connected to the location determining system and configured to;

detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path; and

, if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path,

determine the location of the container.

56. The tamper detection system of claim 55, further comprising a memory, the circuit being further configured to store the location of the container in the memory if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

57. The tamper detection system of claim 56, the circuit being further configured to store a time at which the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

58. The tamper detection system of claim 55, further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and configured to the location of the contain if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

59. The tamper detection system of claim 57, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the time at which the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

60. The tamper detection system of claim 55, further comprising a memory, the circuit being further configured to store information about persons having access to the interior of the container in the memory.

61. The tamper detection system of claim 60, further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and configured to transmit the information about persons having access to the interior of the container if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

62. The tamper detection system of claim 55, further comprising a memory, the circuit being further configured to store a history of contents of the container in the memory.

63. The tamper detection system of claim 62, further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and configured to transmit the information about persons having access to the interior of the container if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical path.

64. The tamper detection system of claim 55, further comprising a memory, the circuit being further configured to store the location of the container in the memory under at least one predetermined condition.

83. A radiation detection system for a container having one or more interior surfaces, comprising:

at least one liner sheet for lining at least a portion of at least one of the interior surfaces of the container, the liner sheet having an area and having an optical fiber extending across at least a portion of the area, such that nuclear radiation impinging on the optical fiber causes a change in an optical characteristic of the optical fiber.

84. The radiation detection system of claim 83, wherein the change in the optical characteristic is a decease in light-carrying capacity.

85. The radiation detection system of claim 84, wherein the nuclear radiation includes gamma radiation.

86. The radiation detection system of claim 84, wherein the nuclear radiation includes neutron radiation.

87. The radiation detection system of claim 83, wherein the nuclear radiation includes gamma radiation.

88. The radiation detection system of claim 83, wherein the nuclear radiation includes neuron radiation.

89. The radiation detection system of claim 83, further comprising:

a circuit configured to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical fiber.

90. The radiation detection system of claim 89, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical fiber; and

a light detector optically connected to another end of the optical fiber, wherein the circuit uses a signal from the light detector to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the optical fiber.

91. The radiation detection system of claim 90, further comprising an alarm connected to the circuit, the circuit being configured to activate the alarm if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the optical fiber.