Cargo container mapping system
First Claim
1. A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container, comprising:
- a propagator device for producing a magnetic field at each of (I)positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container;
a detector device for sensing magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side of the cargo container;
wherein the (J) positions are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the propagator and detector devices are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Z axis of the Cartesian coordinate system a predetermined distance sufficient to permit passage of the cargo container between the propagator and detector devices in a direction substantially parallel to an X axis of the Cartesian coordinate system; and
mapping means responsive to the detector device for processing signals indicative of the magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions relative to the cargo container to generate a image representing contents of the cargo container caused by perturbations of the magnetic field strength caused by the contents of the cargo container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container includes a propagator device for producing a magnetic field at each of (I) positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container and a detector device for detecting magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side. The (I) positions are spaced apart in a direction generally parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system and components are included for mapping information about magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions for each of (K) positions of the cargo container as it passes between the propagator and detector devices in a direction generally parallel to an X axis. Spaced apart orthogonal propagator and detector elements may be disposed in vertical columns adjacent the cargo container, and computerized control components may be used to map and process the information and to produce and display an image. The system may include a second propagator-detector pair disposed horizontally for mapping information for the X-Z plane and that information may be used to shade the X-Y plane image or to produce an X-Z plane image.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container, comprising:
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a propagator device for producing a magnetic field at each of (I)positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container; a detector device for sensing magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side of the cargo container; wherein the (J) positions are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the propagator and detector devices are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Z axis of the Cartesian coordinate system a predetermined distance sufficient to permit passage of the cargo container between the propagator and detector devices in a direction substantially parallel to an X axis of the Cartesian coordinate system; and mapping means responsive to the detector device for processing signals indicative of the magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions relative to the cargo container to generate a image representing contents of the cargo container caused by perturbations of the magnetic field strength caused by the contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container, comprising:
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propagator means for producing a magnetic field at each of (I) positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container; detector means for detecting magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side of the cargo container, which (J) positions are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system; and mapping means responsive to the detector means for processing signals indicative of the magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions relative to the cargo container as the cargo container passes between the propagator means and the detector means in a direction substantially parallel to an X axis of the Cartesian coordinate system to generate an image representing the contents of the cargo container.
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23. A method of scanning the interior of a cargo container, comprising:
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producing a magnetic field at each of (I) positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container; detecting magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side of the cargo container, which (J) positions are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system; and processing signals indicative of the magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions relative to the cargo container along a direction substantially parallel to an X axis of the Cartesian coordinate system to generate an image representing contents of the cargo container. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification