Tamper detection system
First Claim
1. A tamper detection system comprising:
- a continuous optical fiber path disposed in a medium which is part of or associated with a container and enclosing a volumetric space of the container,a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path for introducing light into the optical fiber path;
a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical fiber path for receiving light from the optical fiber path;
a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect an absence or a decrease in the light from the optical fiber path and to provide an indication thereof;
a plurality of sensors, each sensor being optically coupled to the optical fiber path and operable to detect an associated condition inside the container and to affect the light received by the light detector in response to detecting the condition; and
a circuit coupled to the light detector and operable to generate an alarm signal if at least one detected condition exceeds a predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting radiation from a source in a container is disclosed. A continuous optical fiber path is disposed in a medium which is part of or associated with a container and which encloses the volumetric space of the container. The optical fiber path provides a volumetric mass of optical fiber which is reactive to radiation from a radiation source in the container to cause an irreversible change in the light carrying capacity or other characteristic of the optical fiber. A light source is coupled to one end of the optical fiber path for introducing light having a predetermined characteristic. A light detector is coupled to the other end of the optical path for receiving light from the optical path. A circuit is coupled to the light detector and is operative to detect a total loss of light or a change in the predetermined characteristic of the light and to provide an indication thereof. A continuous wire path can be provided in an alternative embodiment, and which may include e-textiles. In another aspect of the invention, alarm signals from a number of individual detectors can be multiplexed into a gate circuit, such as an OR gate, the output of which provides an alarm signal in response to any one or more of the input signals from the individual detectors.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A tamper detection system comprising:
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a continuous optical fiber path disposed in a medium which is part of or associated with a container and enclosing a volumetric space of the container, a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path for introducing light into the optical fiber path; a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical fiber path for receiving light from the optical fiber path; a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect an absence or a decrease in the light from the optical fiber path and to provide an indication thereof; a plurality of sensors, each sensor being optically coupled to the optical fiber path and operable to detect an associated condition inside the container and to affect the light received by the light detector in response to detecting the condition; and a circuit coupled to the light detector and operable to generate an alarm signal if at least one detected condition exceeds a predetermined value.
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2. A tamper detection system for a shipping container, comprising:
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an optical fiber disposed within the shipping container; a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber for introducing light therein; a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical fiber and operable to receive light from the optical fiber; a plurality of sensors, each sensor being optically coupled to the optical fiber and operable to detect an associated condition inside the container and to affect the light received by the light detector in response to detecting the condition; and a circuit coupled to the light detector and operable to generate an alarm signal if at least one detected condition exceeds a predetermined value.
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3. A method of detecting radiation from or breach of an enclosure comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially continuous enclosure surface which encloses a volumetric space of the enclosure and having an optical fiber embedded in the enclosure surface to define a continuous fiber path having a predetermined resolution; introducing light into one end of the optical fiber; detecting light from the other end of the continuous optical fiber; providing an alarm signal in response to a predetermined change in the detected light; providing one or more sensors each operative to sense a respective condition inside the enclosure and to provide a respective output signal in response to such sensing; communicating the output signal through the optical fiber; and providing an alarm signal in response to a representation of the output signal received from the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises material such that exposure to radiation causes an irreversible change in or more optical characteristics of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. For use in an alarm system having a path comprising a substantially continuous optical fiber or a continuous electrical wire in an enclosure surface which encloses a volumetric space of an enclosure and in which breakage of the path or alteration of a characteristic of signals propagating in the path signifies an alarm condition, a detection system comprising:
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at least one sensor operative to sense a predetermined condition in the volumetric space and provide an output signal in response to such sensing; a first circuit for communicating the output signal through the path; and a second circuit for providing an alarm signal in response to reception from the path of the output signal or a representation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An alarm system comprising:
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a path comprising a substantially continuous optical fiber or a substantially continuous electrical wire in an enclosure surface which encloses a volumetric space of an enclosure and in which breakage of the path or alteration of a characteristic of signals propagating in the path signifies an alarm condition; a signal source coupled to one end of the path for introducing signals into the path; a detector circuit coupled to the other end of the path for receiving signals from the path and operative to provide an alarm signal in response to an absence of signals from the path or detection of a signal from the path having an altered characteristic; at least one sensor operative to sense a predetermined condition in the volumetric space and provide an output signal in response to such sensing; a first circuit for communicating the output signal from the at least one sensor through the path; and a second circuit for providing an alarm signal in response to reception from the path of the output signal or a representation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A security system comprising:
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a medium configured to be adjacent a volumetric space of a container; a signal path disposed in the medium, the signal path having a first end and a second end; a first sensor to sense a first predetermined condition in the volumetric space of the container and to provide a first sensor output signal in response to such sensing; a signal source coupled to the first end of the signal path for introducing a path signal into the signal path and coupled to the first sensor, the signal source providing the path signal as a function of the first sensor output signal; and a detector coupled to the second end of the signal path and configured to detect the path signal from the signal source, wherein the detector is configured to provide an alarm signal in response to reception from the signal path of a path signal having a respective first predetermined characteristic, and wherein the signal path comprises at least one of; an optical fiber comprising material such that exposure to radiation causes an irreversible change in one or more optical characteristics of the optical fiber; and a wire configured to conduct an electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification