Tamper-proof container
First Claim
1. A radiation detection system for a multisided container comprising:
- a plurality of liner panels each sized to line an interior wall of a respective side of the container;
each of the liner panels having an optical fiber embedded therein and extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel, the optical fiber having a first end and a second end;
the optical fiber being reactive to nuclear radiation impinging on the panel to cause an irreversible decrease in light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber;
the ends of the optical fiber of the plurality of liner panels being interconnected to provide a continuous optical path through the plurality of liner panels;
a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path of the interconnected liner panels for introducing light having a predetermined characteristic;
a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical path of the interconnected liner panels for receiving light from the optical path; and
a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect a change in the predetermined characteristic of the light in the optical fiber and to provide an indication thereof.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting radiation from a source in a container is disclosed. A continuous optical fiber path is disposed in a medium which is part of or associated with a container and which encloses the volumetric space of the container. The optical fiber path provides a volumetric mass of optical fiber which is reactive to radiation from a radiation source in the container to cause an irreversible change in the light carrying capacity or other characteristic of the optical fiber. A light source is coupled to one end of the optical fiber path for introducing light having a predetermined characteristic. A light detector is coupled to the other end of the optical path for receiving light from the optical path. A circuit is coupled to the light detector and is operative to detect a change in the predetermined characteristic of the light and to provide an indication thereof.
59 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A radiation detection system for a multisided container comprising:
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a plurality of liner panels each sized to line an interior wall of a respective side of the container;
each of the liner panels having an optical fiber embedded therein and extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel, the optical fiber having a first end and a second end;
the optical fiber being reactive to nuclear radiation impinging on the panel to cause an irreversible decrease in light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber;
the ends of the optical fiber of the plurality of liner panels being interconnected to provide a continuous optical path through the plurality of liner panels;
a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path of the interconnected liner panels for introducing light having a predetermined characteristic;
a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical path of the interconnected liner panels for receiving light from the optical path; and
a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect a change in the predetermined characteristic of the light in the optical fiber and to provide an indication thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A radiation detection system for a container comprising:
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a continuous optical fiber path disposed in a medium which is part of or associated with the container and enclosing the volumetric space of the container, the continuous optical fiber path providing a volumetric mass of optical fiber which is reactive to radiation incident thereon from a radiation source in the container to cause an irreversible change in light carrying capacity or other characteristic of the optical fiber;
a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path for introducing light having a predetermined characteristic;
a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical path for receiving light from the optical path; and
a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect a change in the predetermined characteristic of the light in the optical fiber and to provide an indication thereof. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of detecting radiation from a source in a container comprising the steps of:
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providing a continuous optical fiber path in a medium which is part of the container or associated with the container and which encloses the volumetric space of the container, the optical fiber being reactive to radiation incident thereon to cause an irreversible change in light carrying capacity or other predetermined characteristic of the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end;
introducing light into the first end of the continuous optical fiber path;
detecting light from the second end of the continuous optical fiber path;
determining a change in a predetermined characteristic of the light in the optical fiber path; and
providing an alarm signal in response to a predetermined change in the detected characteristic.
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24. A method of detecting radiation from or breach of a container comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially continuous container surface which encloses the volumetric space of the container and having an optical fiber embedded in the container surface to define a continuous fiber path having a predetermined resolution;
introducing light into one end of the continuous fiber path;
detecting light from the other end of the continuous fiber path; and
providing an alarm signal in response to a predetermined change in the detected light. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of detecting breach of a container comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially continuous container surface which encloses the volumetric space of the container and having a conductive wire embedded in the container surface to define a continuous wire path having a predetermined resolution;
introducing an electrical signal into one end of the continuous wirepath;
detecting the electrical signal from the other end of the continuous wirepath; and
providing an alarm signal in response to the absence of detected electrical signal.
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Specification