Determining enclosure breach electromagnetically

• US 8,680,998 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Michaels, Thomas, Michaels, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/523,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,622 Days
• Field of Search: 340/553, 340/541, 340/545.6, 340/568
• US Class Current: 340/553
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1654 using passive vibration detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors

Abstract

A structure breach may be determined. A sensor, provided in the structure, may be driven with a constant frequency signal. The sensor may comprise a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first conductive element may be substantially parallel with the second conductive element. A standing wave pattern may be induced on the sensor by the constant frequency signal reflecting off a termination point of the sensor. A least one characteristic of the sensor caused by the voltage standing wave pattern may be measured. A breach occurrence in the structure may be determined when the measured at least one characteristic varies from a previously determined value by a predetermined amount. The first conductive element and the second conductive element may be sandwiched between two layers comprising the structure. The structure may comprise a shipping container floor. The detected breach may comprise an opening greater than nine square inches.

Claims

1. A method for determining a structure breach, the method comprising:

driving a sensor, provided in the structure, with a constant frequency signal, the sensor comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the first conductive element being substantially parallel with the second conductive element, a standing wave pattern being induced on the sensor by the constant frequency signal reflecting off a termination point of the sensor;

measuring at least one characteristic of the sensor caused by the voltage standing wave pattern, wherein measuring the at least one characteristic of the sensor comprises measuring the at least one characteristic at various points of the sensor; and

determining that a breach has occurred in the structure when the measured at least one characteristic varies from a previously determined value by a predetermined amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor comprising the first conductive element and the second conductive element comprises driving the sensor comprising the first conductive element and the second conductive element being in a grid configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor provided in the structure comprises driving the sensor provided in the structure comprising an enclosure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor provided in the structure comprises driving the sensor provided in the structure comprising a shipping container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor provided in the structure comprises driving the sensor provided in the structure comprising a shipping container floor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor provided in the structure comprises driving the sensor provided in the structure comprising a shipping container floor comprising one of the following material:

wood and non-metal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the sensor provided in the structure comprises driving the sensor provided in the structure wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are sandwiched between two layers comprising the structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the breach has occurred comprises determining that the breach has occurred, the breach comprising an opening greater than nine square inches in the structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the at least one characteristic comprises measuring the at least one characteristic comprising at least one of the following:

a location of a maximum voltage point and a location of a minimum voltage point,

the separation between the location of the maximum voltage point and the location of the minimum voltage point, and

a ratio of a maximum voltage at the maximum voltage point to a minimum voltage at the minimum voltage point.

10. A system for determining a structure breach, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

drive a sensor, provided in the structure, with a constant frequency signal, the sensor comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the first conductive element being substantially parallel with the second conductive element, a standing wave pattern being induced on the sensor by the constant frequency signal reflecting off a termination point of the sensor;

measure at least one characteristic of the sensor caused by the voltage standing wave pattern at a first point of the first conductive element and a second point of the second conductive element; and

determine that a breach has occurred in the structure when the measured at least one characteristic varies from a previously determined value by a predetermined amount.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are in a grid configuration.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises an enclosure.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises a shipping container.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises a shipping container floor.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises a shipping container floor comprising one of the following materials:

wood and non-metal.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are sandwiched between two layers comprising the structure.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the breach comprising an opening greater than nine square inches in the structure.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one of the following:

a location of a maximum voltage point and a location of a minimum voltage point,

the separation between the location of the maximum voltage point and the location of the minimum voltage point, and

a ratio of a maximum voltage at the maximum voltage point to a minimum voltage at the minimum voltage point.

19. A method for determining a structure breach, the method comprising:

driving a sensor provided in the structure with a plurality of constant frequency signals, the sensor comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the first conductive element being substantially parallel with the second conductive element, standing wave patterns being induced on the sensor by the plurality of constant frequency signals reflecting off a termination point of the sensor;

measuring a plurality of characteristics of the sensor at a plurality of locations along the sensor, the plurality of characteristics caused by the voltage standing wave patterns; and

determining that a breach has occurred in the structure when any of the plurality of characteristics varies from a previously determined value by a predetermined amount.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein measuring the plurality of characteristics comprises measuring the plurality of characteristics comprising at least two of the following:

a location of a maximum voltage point and a location of a minimum voltage point,

the separation between the location of the maximum voltage point and the location of the minimum voltage point, and

a ratio of a maximum voltage at the maximum voltage point to a minimum voltage at the minimum voltage point.