Optical fiber seal verifying system

• US 6,304,713 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (Japan Atomic Energy Agency), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Youichi, Wakahara, Michio, Isogai, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/261,854
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 385/147, 385/115, 250/227.15, 700/83, 273/348, 349/2
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/199 Arrangements for recognition using optical reference masks, e.g. holographic masks
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means

Abstract

An optical fiber seal verifying system includes an optical pattern generation unit for reading the optical pattern of an optical fiber seal in sealing and verification and generating first and second optical pattern data corresponding to the sealing and verification, respectively, a seal number input unit for inputting a unique seal number for identifying the optical fiber seal, a memory unit for recording the optical pattern data generated by the optical pattern generation unit together with the seal number input by the seal number input unit, a processor unit for reading the first optical pattern data recorded in the memory unit in verifying the optical fiber seal and the second optical pattern data recorded in the memory unit in sealing the optical fiber seal corresponding to the seal number on the basis of the seal number recorded in the memory unit and comparing the first and second optical pattern data with each other to calculate the concordance ratio, and a display unit for displaying the calculation result from the processor unit.

Claims

1. An optical fiber seal verifying system comprising:

an optical pattern generation unit for reading an optical pattern of an optical fiber seal in sealing and verification and generating first and second optical pattern data corresponding to the sealing and verification, respectively;

a seal number input unit for inputting a unique seal number for identifying the optical fiber seal;

a memory unit for recording the optical pattern data generated by said optical pattern generation unit together with the seal number input by said seal number input unit;

a processor unit for reading the first optical pattern data recorded in said memory unit in verifying the optical fiber seal and the second optical pattern data recorded in said memory unit in sealing the optical fiber seal corresponding to the seal number on the basis of the seal number recorded in said memory unit and comparing the first and second optical pattern data with each other to calculate a concordance ratio; and

a display unit for displaying a calculation result from said processor unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a portable case accommodating said optical pattern generation unit, said seal number input unit, said memory unit, said processor unit, and said display unit, and a power supply unit accommodated in said case to supply power to all of said units.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said optical pattern generation unit comprises a holder for holding the optical fiber seal in which two end portions of an optical fiber bundle are fixed, a light-emitting device for sending light from one end face of the optical fiber bundle, and an image pickup device for picking up optical patterns of the optical fiber seal held by said holder and the seal number carved near an end portion of the optical fiber seal.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said optical pattern generation unit comprises an analog/digital converter for converting the optical patterns picked up by said image pick up device into multivalued digital data, and

an image memory unit for storing the digital data converted by said analog/digital converter.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said processor unit calculates the number of luminous points and luminance distribution in two optical patterns of the optical fiber, which are represented by digital data generated by the analog/digital converter, the first optical pattern being one the fiber has while being probated and the second optical pattern being one the fiber has while being sealed, and said processor unit determines, from the number of luminous points and luminance distribution, positions which the two optical pattern need to take to have the greatest number of luminous points in common, and calculates a ratio of the number of luminous points which each pattern has in common with the to the other pattern to the number of other luminous points which the pattern has.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said processor unit calculates the concordance ratio by

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein when the concordance ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, said processor unit determines that the optical fiber seals are identical, and when the concordance ratio is lower than the predetermined value, said processor unit determines that the optical fiber seals are different, or the optical fiber seal has been broken.

8. A system according to claim 4, wherein said optical pattern generation unit performs pattern matching evaluation of optical patterns of optical fiber seals in sealing and verification, which are converted into digital data by said analog/digital converter, when the optical patterns match, determines that the optical fiber seals are identical, and when the optical patterns do not match, determines that the optical fiber seals are different, or the optical fiber seal has been broken.

9. A system according to claim 3, wherein said light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode, and said image pick up device comprises a CCD camera.

10. A system according to claim 3, wherein said holder comprises an insertion portion for receiving the optical fiber seal, a fixing spring for fixing the optical fiber seal inserted into said insertion portion, and a limit switch for detecting that the optical fiber seal is inserted to a position that allows picking up images.

11. A system according to claim 2, wherein said memory unit comprises an input/output device, and a portable storage medium freely attached/detached to/from said input/output device.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said input/output device comprises a plurality of operation keys.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said operation keys comprise an input key for inputting the seal number and a confirmation key for inputting the seal number to said memory unit when the seal number displayed on said display unit is correct, and wherein when the displayed seal number is correct, said confirmation key is depressed, and when the displayed seal number is incorrect, a seal number is input from said input key and confirmed by depression of said confirmation key to input the seal number.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the freely attached/detached portable storage medium comprises a RAM card.

15. A system according to claim 2, further comprising an emergency power supply unit for supplying power to said memory unit when the power supplied from said power supply unit is lost.

16. A system according to claim 2, wherein said display unit comprises a liquid crystal display device.

17. A system according to claim 2, wherein said display unit displays at least one of a processing status of an optical fiber seal verifying system main unit, information input to said input/output device, and the calculation result from said processor unit.

18. A system according to claim 2, wherein said optical pattern generation unit reads the optical pattern of the seal number and inputs the optical pattern to said seal number input unit, and said seal number input unit performs character recognition processing of the input optical pattern to recognize the seal number.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the seal number recognized by character recognition processing is displayed on said display unit.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein said optical pattern generation unit comprises a holder for holding the optical fiber seal in which two end portions of an optical fiber bundle are fixed, a light-emitting device for sending light from one end face of the optical fiber bundle, and an image pick up device for picking up optical patterns of the optical fiber seal held by said holder and the seal number carved near an end portion of the optical fiber seal.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said optical pattern generation unit comprises an analog/digital converter for converting the optical patterns picked up by said image pick up device into multivalued digital data, and

an image memory unit for storing the digital data converted by said analog/digital converter.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said processor unit calculates the number of luminous points and luminance distribution in two optical patterns of the optical fiber, which are represented by digital data generated by the analog/digital converter, the first optical pattern being one the fiber has while being probated and the second optical pattern being one the fiber has while being sealed, and said processor unit determines, from the number of luminous points and luminance distribution, positions which the two optical pattern need to take to have the greatest number of luminous points in common, and calculates a ratio of the number of luminous points which each pattern has in common with the to the other pattern to the number of other luminous points which the pattern has.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said processor unit calculates the concordance ratio by

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein when the concordance ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, said processor unit determines that the optical fiber seals are identical, and when the concordance ratio is lower than the predetermined value, said processor unit determines that the optical fiber seals are different, or the optical fiber seal has been broken.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein said optical pattern generation unit performs pattern matching evaluation of optical patterns of optical fiber seals in sealing and verification, which are converted into digital data by said analog/digital converter, when the optical patterns match, determines that the optical fiber seals are identical, and when the optical patterns do not match, determines that the optical fiber seals are different, or the optical fiber seal has been broken.

26. A system according to claim 1, wherein said optical pattern generation unit reads the optical pattern of the seal number and inputs the optical pattern to said seal number input unit, and said seal number input unit performs character recognition processing of the input optical pattern to recognize the seal number.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the seal number recognized by character recognition processing is displayed on said display unit.

28. A system according to claim 1, wherein said memory unit comprises a RAM.