Tamper detection system having plurality of inflatable liner panels with optical couplers

• US 7,394,060 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: Tamperproof Container Licensing Corp.
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US11/349,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 25022714-22718, 250/474.1, 250/472.1, 385/12, 385/13, 385/31, 385/114, 385/120, 340/541, 340/545.6, 340/550, 340555-557, 340/825.49, 340/539.2, 340/539.29
• US Class Current: 250/227.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• 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: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

An inflatable 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 several such sheets can line several walls of the container. 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, a self-destruct circuit 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 for a multisided container, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable liner panels, each sized to line an interior wall of a respective side of the container;

each of the inflatable liner panels having an optical fiber therein and extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel, the optical fiber having a first end and a second end; and

each of the inflatable liner panels having a first coupler connected to the first end of the optical fiber and a second coupler connected to the second end of the optical fiber;

wherein at least one of the couplers of each panel is operative to interconnect to at least one of the couplers of another panel to provide a continuous path through the interconnected optical fibers of the interconnected panels.

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

a circuit operable to detect a change in an optical characteristic of the path.

3. The tamper detection system of claim 2, further comprising:

a light source optically connected to one end of the path; and

a light detector optically connected to another end of the path, wherein the circuit uses a signal from the light detector to detect the change in the optical characteristic of the path.

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

a wireless transmitter connected to the circuit and operable to transmit a signal if the circuit detects the change in the optical characteristic of the path.

5. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable liner panels comprises a rigidizable material.

6. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable liner panels is sized to line at least a portion of an interior wall of a rectangular shipping container.

7. The tamper detection system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of inflatable liner panels is sized to line at least five interior walls of the rectangular shipping container;

the tamper detection system further comprising a second inflatable liner panel having an optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the second liner panel, the second inflatable liner panel being sized to line another interior wall of the rectangular shipping container and hinged to swing and provide access to the interior of the shipping container.

8. The tamper detection system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of inflatable liner panels inflate in a predetermined sequence.

9. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable liner panels is sized and shaped to line at least a portion of an interior wall of an aircraft shipping container.

10. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber includes a dopant comprising a fissionable material.

11. The tamper detection system of claim 10, wherein the fissionable material comprises Uranium.

12. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber of each of the plurality of inflatable liner panels extends in a serpentine path across substantially the entire area of the panel.

13. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inflatable liner panels has a second optical fiber extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel.

14. The tamper detection system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of inflatable liner panels has at least two layers of optical fiber.

15. The tamper detection system of claim 3, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 980 nm.

16. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 600 nm.

17. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 540 nm.

18. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 502 nm.

19. The tamper detection system of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to produce light having a wavelength less than or equal to about 472 nm.

21. The tamper detection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable liner panels has at least one hingable region extending across the panel to define at least two foldable portions of the panel.

20. A detection system for a multisided container, comprising;

a plurality of inflatable liner panels each sized to line an interior wall of a respective side of the container;

each of the inflatable liner panels having an annealing-resistant optical fiber embedded therein and extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel, the annealing-resistant optical fiber having a first end and a second end;

the annealing-resistant optical fiber being reactive to nuclear radiation impinging on the panel to cause a decrease in light-carrying capacity of the annealing-resistant optical fiber;

the ends of the annealing-resistant optical fiber of the plurality of inflatable liner panels being interconnected to provide a continuous optical path through the plurality of inflatable liner panels;

a light source optically coupled to one end of the annealing-resistant optical fiber path of the interconnected inflatable liner panels for introducing light;

a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical path of the interconnected inflatable liner panels for receiving light from the optical path; and

a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect the decrease in light-carrying capacity of the annealing-resistant optical fiber and to provide an indication thereof.

22. The tamper detection system of claim 20 including:

at least one heat sensor disposed in the container operative to detect the temperature within the container and to provide a signal indication of the temperature.

23. The tamper detection system of claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of inflator liner panels has a thermal insulator to thermally insulate the container.