Methods and systems for active non-intrusive inspection and verification of cargo and goods

• US 7,372,262 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Passport Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Passport Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Bottan, Gustavo, Bertozzi, William, Ledoux, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHRIVASTAV, BRIJ B
• Application Number:
  US11/557,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 378/57, 378/58
• US Class Current: 324/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/076 X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/223 by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for the non-intrusive inspection and/or verification of cargo. In an exemplary embodiment, an elemental signature is determined at a first point in a supply chain and transmitted to a second point in the supply chain. When the goods arrive at the second point, the elemental signature of the goods may be measured and verified against the original elemental signature. In another embodiment, an elemental signature may be measured to verify the origin or identity of the goods. In some embodiments such elemental signatures are inherent to the shipped goods and/or their packaging. In other embodiments, elemental signatures are applied to the shipment as tag materials.

Claims

1. A method for verifying contents of a container, comprising:

a) obtaining a first elemental signature of said contents;

b) obtaining a second elemental signature of said contents, comprising information about an isotopic or elemental composition of said contents determined after the container has been transported and/or stored at least in part by measurements of effective atomic number made by comparing scattering from said contents in a first energy region with scattering from said contents in at least one additional energy region;

c) comparing the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature; and

d) verifying the said contents upon the comparison of the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature passing a predetermined test.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contents comprise a tag material, and the first and second elemental signatures comprise elemental signatures of the tag material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second elemental signature further comprises information about an spatial distribution of the contents of the container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first elemental signature comprises information calculated or predicted based at least in part upon the isotopic or elemental composition of the contents without measurements of effective atomic number of the contents.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first elemental signature comprises information determined at least in part by measurements of effective atomic number of the contents.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the said contents comprise a portion of the contents of the container.

6. A method for analyzing contents of a container, comprising:

a) obtaining a first elemental signature of said contents;

b) obtaining a second elemental signature of said contents, comprising information about an isotopic or elemental composition of said contents determined after the container has been transported and/or stored at least in part by at least one of Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence imaging, measurements of effective atomic number, and X-ray transmission; and

c) comparing the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature;

wherein the occurrence of a predetermined environmental condition is detected by a sensor during transport and/or storage, and based upon the detection of the said predetermined environmental condition during transport and/or storage, the spatial distribution of the contents in the container is altered, and

wherein the comparison of the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature detects whether the said contents have experienced the said predetermined environmental condition during transport and/or storage.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined environmental condition is the temperature or humidity falling below a predetermined value.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined environmental condition is the temperature or humidity exceeding a predetermined value.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined environmental condition is vibration or acceleration falling below a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined environmental condition is vibration or acceleration exceeding a predetermined value.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined environmental condition is the presence of a particular substance exceeding a predetermined value.

13. A method for verifying contents of a container, comprising:

a) calculating or predicting a first elemental signature of said contents, based at least in part upon an isotopic or elemental composition of the said contents, without Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence imaging measurements of the contents or measurements of effective atomic number of the contents;

b) obtaining a second elemental signature of said contents, comprising information about the isotopic or elemental composition of said contents determined after the container has been transported and/or stored at least in part by at least one of Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence imaging, and measurements of effective atomic number made by comparing scattering from said contents in a first energy region with scattering from said contents in at least one additional energy region;

c) comparing the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature; and

d) verifying the said contents upon the comparison of the first elemental signature and the second elemental signature passing a predetermined test.