SENSOR TAPE FOR SECURITY DETECTION AND METHOD OF FABRICATION

• US 20130187630A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: 3D Fuse Sarl
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,653,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/71.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/10 in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A sensor in the form of an elongated flexible tape has a signal path made from electrical wire or optical fiber which extends between one end and another end of the tape. The electrical wires or optical fibers are disposed in spaced relation across the width and along the length of the tape and are terminated in connectors at the endpoints of the tape. The connectors may be integrated into a signal detector to interface with communication links. The tape is a material that is non-conductive and in which the wires or optical fibers may be woven, disposed or embedded in some manner. One or more layers of flexible material can be laminated on respective sides of the sensor tape to provide a robust laminated or bonded structure that can be rolled and unrolled from a reel. An adhesive layer and a removable layer can be provided to protect the adhesive layer prior to use. An overcoat of outer layer resin may be applied.

Claims

1. A sensor security detector tape, comprising:

a material strip having a predetermined width and a predetermined length and first and second ends;

at least one signal path coupled to the material strip, each at least one signal path having a first end and a second end;

a first connector coupled to each first end of each at least one signal path; and

a second connector coupled to each second end of each at least one signal path.

2. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal path comprises a plurality of separate and parallel signal paths arranged along the predetermined length of the material strip.

3. The sensor security detector tape of claim 2, wherein:

the first connector couples pairs of first ends of the at least one signal path to one another; and

the second connector couples pairs of second ends of the at least one signal path to one another,

wherein the coupling of the pairs of first ends and the second ends by the first and second connectors, respectively, establishes a single continuous signal path.

4. The sensor security detector tape of claim 3, further comprising:

means for inputting a signal into the single continuous signal path provided in the first connector; and

means for detecting the signal from the inputting means, via the single continuous signal path, provided in the second connector.

5. The sensor security detector tape of claim 3, wherein each at least one signal path is an electrical wire and the first and second connectors couple the first and second ends to carry an electrical signal.

7. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, wherein the material strip is a fabric and each at least one signal path is woven into the fabric.

8. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, further comprising:

a layer of adhesive material disposed on a first surface of the material strip,

wherein each at least one signal path is disposed in the adhesive material layer.

9. The sensor security detector tape of claim 8, further comprising:

a releasable material layer disposed over the adhesive material layer.

10. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal path is a single sinusoidally arranged signal path extending from the first end to the second end of the material strip along the predetermined length and across the predetermined width of the material strip.

11. The sensor security detector tape of claim 10, wherein the at least one signal path is a wire.

12. The sensor security detector tape of claim 10, wherein the at least one signal path is woven into the material strip.

13. The sensor security detector tape of claim 10, further comprising:

a layer of adhesive material disposed on a first surface of the material strip,

wherein each at least one signal path is disposed in the adhesive material layer.

14. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal path is a single meandering signal path extending from the first end to the second end of the material strip.

15. The sensor security detector tape of claim 14, wherein the at least one signal path is a wire.

16. The sensor security detector tape of claim 14, wherein the at least one signal path is woven into the material strip.

17. The sensor security detector tape of claim 14, further comprising:

a layer of adhesive material disposed on a first surface of the material strip,

wherein each at least one signal path is disposed in the adhesive material layer.

18. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined width is in a range of 5-7 inches; and

the predetermined length is in a range of 250-300 feet.

19. The sensor security detector tape of claim 1, further comprising:

a first flexible protection layer disposed on a first side of the material strip; and

a second flexible protection layer disposed on the second side of the material strip.

6. (canceled)

20. A method of fabricating a sensor security detector tape comprising:

providing a material strip having a predetermined width and a predetermined length and first and second ends;

coupling at least one signal path to the material strip, each at least one signal path having a first end and a second and;

coupling a first connector to each first end of each at least one signal path; and

coupling a second connector to each second end of each at least one signal path.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

applying a first protective layer to one side of the material strip.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

applying a second protective layer to a second side of the fabric sensor tape.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the at least one signal path comprises:

providing a plurality of separate and parallel signal paths along the predetermined length of the material strip.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the at least one signal path comprises:

providing a signal path in a sinusoidal arrangement extending from the first end to the second end of the material strip along the predetermined length and across the predetermined width of the material strip.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the at least one signal path to the material strip comprises:

weaving the at least one signal path into the material strip.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the at least one signal path to the material strip comprises:

applying an adhesive layer to a first side of the material strip; and

providing the at least one signal path in the adhesive layer.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein coupling the at least one signal path to the material strip comprises coupling at least one wire to the material strip.

27-34. -34. (canceled)