Cargo sensing apparatus for a cargo container
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for detecting cargo in an interior volume of a closed container, comprising:
- at least one laser generator disposed on a ceiling or side wall of said container for emitting a line of visible or infrared laser light that traverses the interior volume of said container;
a solid state imaging device displaced from said laser generator along an axis parallel to the emitted line of laser light for receiving reflected laser light;
scanning means for producing synchronous rotation of said laser generator and said imaging device about said axis so that the line of laser light emitted from said laser generator sweeps across the interior volume of said container; and
data processing means responsive to video data produced by said imaging device for mapping the interior volume of said container and reporting a cargo status of said container.
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Abstract
A cargo sensing apparatus for a cargo container such as a semi-trailer includes a laser line scanning unit. In a preferred embodiment, first and second laser line generators are mechanically scanned in synchronism with a solid-state imager to identify and map the contents of the cargo container. The map is analyzed to detect cargo items stored in the container, and the cargo status is reported to a remote location.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting cargo in an interior volume of a closed container, comprising:
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at least one laser generator disposed on a ceiling or side wall of said container for emitting a line of visible or infrared laser light that traverses the interior volume of said container; a solid state imaging device displaced from said laser generator along an axis parallel to the emitted line of laser light for receiving reflected laser light; scanning means for producing synchronous rotation of said laser generator and said imaging device about said axis so that the line of laser light emitted from said laser generator sweeps across the interior volume of said container; and data processing means responsive to video data produced by said imaging device for mapping the interior volume of said container and reporting a cargo status of said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification