Container security devices, systems, and method

• US 8,537,009 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ANGEL Secure Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ANGEL Secure Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Fred Hewitt, Hess, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US12/596,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/22 Safety features floating covers B65D88/34; arrangements of indicating or measuring devices B65D90/48; fire-fighting A62C
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/178 for measuring specific activity in the presence of other radioactive substances, e.g. natural, in the air or in liquids such as rain water
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/00 Measuring neutron radiation G01T5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0083 utilizing a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0091 detecting special nuclear material [SNM], e.g. Uranium-235, Uranium-233 or Plutonium-239
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/281 detecting special nuclear material [SNM], e.g. Uranium-235, Uranium-233 or Plutonium-239

Abstract

A dosimeter is disclosed for use in container including outer walls defining an interior volume, the dosimeter including: a radon detection element adapted to detect a radon level for the interior volume; a neutron detection element adapted detect a neutron level for the interior volume. The dosimeter is adapted to measure the radon level and neutron level for a period of time, compare the measured radon level to a first threshold, compare the measured neutron level to a second threshold, and determine information indicative of the presence or absence of fissile material within the interior volume based on the comparisons.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a plurality of panels that define an enclosed volume of the container, said plurality of panels comprising a material having relatively low transmissivity to radiation;

at least one first plug embedded in a first panel of said plurality of panels, said at least one first plug comprising a material having relatively high transmissivity to radiation; and

at least one second plug embedded in a second panel of said plurality of panels, said at least one second plug comprising a material having relatively high transmissivity to radiation,

wherein the at least one first plug and the at least one second plug are aligned opposing each other such that a beam of radiation directed into the enclosed volume of the container through the at least one first plug exits the enclosed volume of the container through the at least one second plug, and

wherein the material having a relatively low transmissivity blocks a radiation beam having a beam energy sufficient to penetrate the material having a relatively high transmissivity.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the material having relatively low transmissivity to radiation comprises a metal and the material having relatively high transmissivity to radiation comprises a composite material.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the at least one first plug and the at least one second plug consist of a material having a relatively high transmissivity of x-ray radiation and the panels comprise a material having a relatively low transmissivity of x-ray radiation.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the at least one first plug comprises

a first plurality of plugs embedded in the first panel of the plurality of panels;

and

wherein the at least one second plug comprises plurality of plugs embedded in the second panel of the plurality of panels, and

wherein each plug of the first plurality of plugs is aligned opposing at least one respective plug of the second plurality of plugs such that a beam of radiation directed into the enclosed volume of the container through an entry plug of the first plurality of plugs exits the enclosed volume of the container through at least one exit plug of the second plurality of plugs.

5. The container of claim 2, wherein the at least one second plug embedded in the second panel comprises a second plurality of plugs embedded within the second panel, wherein

the first plug comprises a radiation beam directing element adapted to receive a beam of radiation directed into the enclosed volume of the container through the first plug and direct portions of the beam of radiation to exit the enclosed volume of the container through each plug of the second plurality of plugs.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of plugs and second plurality of plugs are arranged such that substantially all of the enclosed volume can be accessed by scanning beams of radiation directed into the enclosed volume through at least one plug of the first plurality of plugs, pass through a portion of the enclosed volume, and exit the enclosed volume through at least one plug of the second plurality of plugs.

7. The container of claim 2, further comprising a fabric liner disposed adjacent the plurality of panels to form an enclosed portion of the enclosed volume of the container, said fabric liner comprising one or more sensor elements adapted to receive a message modulated on a radiation beam and to detect an intrusion into the enclosed portion, and wherein one or more of the sensor elements are in communication with at least one plug of the at least one first plug and the at least one second plug.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensor elements are selected from a group consisting of:

an electrical grid;

an optical grid; and

combinations thereof.

9. The container of claim 7, wherein the fabric liner is adapted to:

receive a message modulated on a radiation beam directed through the at least one first plug and;

transmit a response indicating a presence or absence of an intrusion into the enclosed portion.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the fabric liner contains one or more storage modules adapted to store electronic identification information, and wherein the fabric liner is adapted to:

receive a message modulated on the radiation beam directed through the at least one first plug and;

transmit a response to an external receiver based on the identification information.

11. The container of claim 2, further comprising:

a dosimeter positioned within the enclosed volume of the container and adapted to detect a presence of fissile material within the enclosed volume of the container;

a communication module positioned within the enclosed volume of the container and in communication with the dosimeter, said communication module adapted to;

receive a message modulated on a radiation beam directed through the at least one first plug and;

transmit a response to an external receiver indicating the presence or absence of fissile material within the enclosed volume.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the communication module comprises a transmitter from a group consisting of:

a Bluetooth transmitter;

a wireless transmitter;

a radio transmitter; and

combinations thereof.

13. A system comprising:

a container comprising;

a plurality of panels that define an enclosed volume of the container, said plurality of panels comprising a material having relatively low transmissivity to radiation;

at least one first plug embedded in a first one of said plurality of panels, said at least one first plug comprising a material having relatively high transmissivity to radiation;

at least one second plug embedded in a second one of the plurality of panels, and wherein each plug of the at least one first plug and the at least one second plug are aligned opposing each other;

a scanner comprising;

a beam generator to emit a radiation beam having a beam energy sufficient to penetrate the at least one first plug and insufficient to penetrate portions of the plurality of panels comprising the material having relatively low transmissivity to radiation,

wherein the beam generator, when emitting the radiation beam, directs the radiation beam into the enclosed volume of the container through the first plug, across a portion of the enclosed volume of the container, and out of the enclosed volume of the container through the second plug; and

a modulator to modulate a message onto the radiation beam resulting in a modulated radiation beam.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the scanner comprises a detector adapted to detect the radiation beam exiting out of the enclosed volume of the container through the second plug.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the enclosed volume of the container contains cargo material, and wherein the scanner is adapted to determine information indicative of a material property of the cargo material based on the radiation beam exiting out of the enclosed volume of the container through the second plug.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information indicative of the material property of the cargo material comprises information indicative of a presence of at least one of a group consisting of:

metals, fissile materials, electronic components.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the

at least one first plug comprises a first plurality of plugs embedded in a first panel of the plurality of panels and wherein the container comprises a second plurality of plugs embedded in a second panel of the plurality of panels, wherein each plug of the first plurality of plugs is aligned opposing at least one plug of the second plurality of plugs,

the scanner comprises a plurality of beam generators, each beam generator of the plurality of beam generators configured, respectively, to

emit a radiation beam having a beam energy sufficient to penetrate the at least one first plug comprising a material having relatively high transmissivity to radiation and insufficient to penetrate portions of the plurality of panels comprising the material having relatively low transmissivity to radiation,

the beam being directed into the enclosed volume of the container through a respective one of the first plurality of plugs, across a portion of the enclosed volume of the container, and out of the enclosed volume of the container through a respective one of the second plurality of plugs.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a remote control unit in remote communication with the scanner and with a receiver unit located in proximity to the scanner; and

a communication module located within the enclosed volume of the container,

wherein the scanner is adapted to modulate a message received from the remote control unit onto at least one radiation beam resulting in a modulated radiation beam, and to direct said modulated radiation beam into the enclosed volume of the container through the at least one first plug,

wherein the communication module is adapted to receive the modulated radiation beam, demodulate the message to obtain a demodulated message from the modulated radiation beam, and transmit a response signal based on the demodulated message,

wherein the receiver unit receives the response signal and transmits information indicative of the response signal to the remote control unit.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a dosimeter located within the enclosed volume of the container and adapted to detect a presence of fissile material within the enclosed volume of the container, wherein the communication module is in communication with the dosimeter, and the response signal comprises information indicative of the presence of fissile material within the enclosed volume of the container.