Tamper-proof container

• US 6,995,353 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: Tamperproof Container Licensing Corp.
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Suezu
• Application Number:
  US11/027,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 25022714-22718, 250/472.1, 250/474.1, 385/12, 385/13, 385/31, 385/114, 385/120, 340/541, 340/545.6, 340/550, 340555-557, 340/571, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 250/227.14
• 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: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room

Abstract

A 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 a fence. 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, 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, comprising:

a first rectangular liner sheet having a first area and defining a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the first area, the first liner sheet including two parallel foldable regions, each foldable region extending laterally across the smaller dimension of the rectangular liner sheet;

a second liner sheet having a second area and defining a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the second area;

a third rectangular liner sheet having a third area and defining a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the third area, the third liner sheet including a foldable region extending laterally across the small dimension of the rectangular liner sheet, thereby defining a hingable portion of the third liner sheet;

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of the second liner sheet; and

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of the third liner sheet.

2. The tamper detection system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit operable to detect a change in a optical characteristic of at least one of the first, second and third fiber-optic path.

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

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical path through the first, second and third liner sheet;

a light detector optically connected to to other end of the optical pat through the first, second and third liner sheet; and

a circuit connected to the light source and the light detector and operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of at least one of the first, second and third fiber-optic path.

4. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the connection between to light source and the end of the optical path extends between the second liner sheet and the third liner sheet when the hingable portion of the third liner sheet is closed.

5. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the connection between the light detector and the end of the optical path extends between the second liner sheet and the third liner sheet when the hingable portion of the third liner sheet is closed.

6. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the light source a electromagnetically coupled to the circuit when the hingable portion of the third liner sheet is closed.

7. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the light detector is electromagnetically coupled to the circuit when the hingable portion of the third liner sheet is closed.

8. The tamper detection system of claim 1, such that nuclear radiation impinging on the fiber-optic path of at least one of the first, second and third liner sheet causes a change in an optical characteristic of the fiber-optic path.

9. A tamper detection system, comprising:

a first rectangular liner sheet having a first area and containing a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the first area, the first liner sheet including two parallel hingable regions each hingable region extending laterally across the smaller dimension of the first rectangular liner sheet.

a second liner sheet having a second area and containing a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the second area;

a third rectangular liner sheet having a third area and containing a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the third area, the third liner sheet including a hingable region extending laterally across the small dimension of the third rectangular liner sheet, thereby defining a door;

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of The second liner sheet; and

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of The third liner sheet.

10. The tamper detection system of claim 9, further comprising a circuit operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of at least one of the first, second and third fiber-optic path.

11. The tamper detection system of claim 9, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical path through the first, second and third liner sheet;

a light detector optically connected to the other end of the optical path through the first, second and third liner sheet; and

a circuit connected to the light source and the light detector and operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of at least one of the first, second and third fiber-optic path.

12. The tamper detection system of claim 11, wherein the connection between the light source and the end of the optical path extends between the second liner sheet and the third liner sheet when the door of the third liner sheet is closed.

13. The tamper detection system of claim 11, wherein the connection between the light detector and the end of the optical pat extends between the second liner sheet and the third liner sheet when the door of the third liner sheet is closed.

14. The tamper detection system of claim 11, wherein the light source is electromagnetically coupled to the circuit when the door of the third liner sheet is closed.

15. The tamper detection system of claim 11, wherein the light detector is electromagnetically coupled to the circuit when the door of the third liner sheet is closed.

16. The tamper detection system of claim 9, such that nuclear radiation impinging on the fiber-optic path of at least one of the first, second and third liner sheet causes a change in an optical characteristic of the fiber-optic path.

17. A tamper detection system, comprising:

a first liner sheet containing a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the first sheet;

a second liner sheet containing a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the second sheet;

at least one of the first and second liner sheets having at least one hingable region extending laterally across the liner sheet to define at least two foldable portions of the sheet; and

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of the second liner sheet.

18. The tamper detection system of claim 17, further comprising a circuit operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of at least one of the first and second fiber-optic path.

19. The tamper detection system of claim 17, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the optical path through the first and second liner sheet;

a light detector optically connected to the other end of the optical path through the first and second liner sheet; and

a circuit connected to die light source and to light detector and operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of at least one of the first and second fiber-optic pat.

20. The tamper detection system of claim 17, such that nuclear radiation impinging on the fiber-optic path of at least one of the first and second liner sheet causes a change in an optical characteristic of the fiber-optic path.

21. A tamper detection system, comprising:

a first liner sheet having a first area and a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the first area, the first liner sheet including at least one hingable region extending laterally across the first liner sheet to define at least two foldable portions of the first liner sheet;

a second liner sheet having a second area and a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the second area;

a third liner sheet having a third area and a fiber-optic path extending across at least a portion of the third area, the third liner sheet including at least one hingable region extending laterally across the third liner sheet to define at least two foldable portions of the third liner sheet;

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of the second liner sheet; and

a coupler interconnecting the fiber-optic path of the first liner sheet and the fiber-optic path of the third liner sheet.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical fiber extends in a serpentine path across substantially the entire area of the first liner sheet.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein to spacing between adjacent portions of the optical fiber is of a smaller size than a breach that could comprise the security of a container.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the spacing between adjacent positions of the optical fiber is sufficiently small to cause breakage or degradation of the optical fiber in reaction to an attempted breach of the first liner sheet.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein:

at least one of the couplers oft least one of the liner sheets is operative to be coupled to a light source; and

at least one of the couplers of at least one of the liner sheets is operative to be coupled to a light detector.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the first liner sheet is rectangular; and

the third liner sheet is rectangular.