Tamper-proof container

• US 20060261259A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: Tamperproof Container Licensing Corp.
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/227.150
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0425 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

An inflatable sheet includes an optical fiber extending across at least a portion of its surface to detect a breach or nuclear radiation. The sheet can line at least a portion of a container or several such sheets can line several walls of the container. A breach of the sheet or radiation within or near the sheet reduces optical transmissibility of the fiber. The fiber integrates the radiation over time and/or over the length and volumetric mass of the fiber, making the fiber sensitive to even low-level radiation. The optical fiber is monitored for a change in its transmissibility. A reduction in the transmissibility, such as to below a threshold, can trigger an alarm, such as an annunciator, a self-destruct circuit or send a message that includes information about the time or the container'"'"'s contents or location when the breach or radiation is detected to a central location, such as a ship'"'"'s control room or port notification system.

Claims

1. A tamper detection system for a multisided container, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable liner panels, each of the liner panels having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and operable to transmit a signal if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the path.

5. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of liner panels comprises a regidizable material.

6. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of liner panels is sized to line at least a portion of an interior wall of a rectangular shipping container.

7. The tamper detection system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of liner panels is sized to collectively line at least five interior walls of the rectangular shipping container;

the tamper detection system further comprising a second inflatable liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the second liner panel, the second liner panel being sized to line another interior wall of the rectangular shipping container and hinged to swing and provide access to the interior of the shipping container.

8. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of liner panels inflate in a predetermined sequence.

9. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of liner panels is sized and shaped to line at least a portion of an interior wall of an aircraft shipping container.

10. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber includes a dopant comprising a fissionable material.

11. The tamper detection system of claim 10, wherein the fissionable material comprises Uranium.

12. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber of each of the plurality of liner panels extends in a serpentine path across substantially the entire area of the panel.

13. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the liner panels has a second optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel.

14. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of at least some of the plurality of inflatable liner panels has at least two layers of optical fiber.

15. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 980 nm.

16. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 600 nm.

17. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 540 nm.

18. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 502 nm.

19. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 472 nm.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the disposing the at least one inflatable liner panel comprises disposing at least one inflatable liner panel that, collectively, has at least 1 km of optical fiber.

20. A method of detecting nuclear radiation, comprising:

disposing at least one inflatable liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel inside a shipping container;

inflating the liner panel;

illuminating one end of the optical fiber;

exposing the optical fiber to the nuclear radiation for at least one day, thereby integrating the effect of the nuclear radiation on the optical fiber over time; and

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

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting a reduction in the transmissibility of the optical fiber.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the reduction in the transmissibility of the optical fiber, activating an alarm.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the exposing the optical fiber to the nuclear radiation comprises exposing the optical fiber to nuclear radiation from within the shipping container.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the exposing the optical fiber to the nuclear radiation comprises exposing the optical fiber to nuclear radiation from outside the shipping container.

26. A tamper detection system for a multisided container, comprising:

a first U-shaped liner panel comprising;

a first rectangular sub-panel;

a second rectangular sub-panel spaced apart from the first sub-panel, the second sub-panel being substantially equal in size and parallel to the first sub-panel; and

a third sub-panel perpendicular to the first and second sub-panels, one edge of the third sub-panel being connected to one edge of the first sub-panel, and an opposite edge of the third sub-panel being connected to one edge of the second sub-panel to form a U shape, the first, second and third sub-panels bounding a rectangular volume on at least three surfaces thereof;

wherein each sub-panel has an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the sub-panel;

a second U-shaped liner panel substantially equal in size and shape to the first U-shaped liner panel, each sub-panel of the second U-shaped liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the sub-panel; and

a third liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel;

wherein the first U-shaped liner panel is configured to nest in the second U-shaped liner panel with the third sub-panel of the first U-shaped liner panel overlapping the third sub-panel of the second U-shaped liner panel, such that when the first and second U-shaped liner panels are so nested, the first and second U-shaped liner panels bound a rectangular volume on at least five surfaces thereof, and wherein the third liner panel is sized to bound at least a portion of the sixth surface of the rectangular volume.

27. The tamper detection system of claim 26, wherein the third liner panel includes a hinged portion to provide access to the rectangular volume.

28. A tamper detection system, comprising:

a first hollow member;

a second hollow member shaped and sized to nest within the first hollow member; and

a membrane sandwiched between the first and second hollow members, the membrane having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the membrane.

29. The tamper detection system of claim 28, wherein the first and second hollow members are hemispherical.

30. The tamper detection system of claim 28, wherein when assembled, the first and second hollow members and the membrane form a first liner sheet;

and further comprising;

a third hollow member;

a fourth hollow member;

a second membrane sandwiched between the third and fourth hollow members, the second membrane having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the second membrane;

wherein when assembled, the third and fourth hollow members and the second membrane form a second liner sheet; and

wherein the first and second liner sheets are assembled to form an enclosure that encloses a volume.

31. The tamper detection system of claim 30, wherein the first, second, third and fourth hollow members are hemispherical.

32. The tamper detection system of claim 30, further comprising:

a self-destruction circuit coupled to the optical fiber and configured to activate if the enclosure is breached, unless the self-destruct circuit first receives a deactivation signal.

33. A tamper detection system, comprising:

a first U-shaped liner panel comprising;

a first rectangular sub-panel;

a second rectangular sub-panel spaced apart from the first sub-panel, the second sub-panel being substantially equal in size and parallel to the first sub-panel; and

a third sub-panel perpendicular to the first and second sub-panels, one edge of the third sub-panel being connected to one edge of the first sub-panel, and an opposite edge of the third sub-panel being connected to one edge of the second sub-panel to form a U shape, the first, second and third sub-panels bounding a volume on at least three surfaces thereof;

wherein each sub-panel has an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the sub-panel; and

a second U-shaped liner panel substantially equal in size and shape to the first U-shaped liner panel, each sub-panel of the second U-shaped liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the sub-panel;

wherein the first and second U-shaped liner panels are configured to mate to form an enclosure, such that when the first and second U-shaped liner panels are so mated, the enclosure bounds a volume.

34. The tamper detection system of claim 33, wherein:

the optical fiber is included in a membrane;

each sub-panel comprises two structural members; and

the membrane is sandwiched between the two structural members.

35. The tamper detection system of claim 33, further comprising:

a self-destruction circuit coupled to the optical fiber and configured to activate if the enclosure is breached, unless the self-destruct circuit first receives a deactivation signal.