Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7019683B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-08-19 04:26:02
Document Index: 369753017

Matched Legal Cases: ['§15', '§15', '§15', '§15', '§15', '§15']

US7019683B2 - Shipping container security system - Google Patents
US7019683B2
US7019683B2 US10/794,764 US79476404A US7019683B2 US 7019683 B2 US7019683 B2 US 7019683B2 US 79476404 A US79476404 A US 79476404A US 7019683 B2 US7019683 B2 US 7019683B2
US10/794,764
US20050195101A1 (en
Niall Creedon
2004-03-05 Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
2004-03-05 Priority to US10/794,764 priority Critical patent/US7019683B2/en
2004-08-19 Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY reassignment GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MARMAN, DOUGLAS H., STEVENS, JAMES E., CREEDON, NIALL, TANG, FENG, EGGERS, FREDERICK W.
2005-09-08 Publication of US20050195101A1 publication Critical patent/US20050195101A1/en
2006-03-28 Publication of US7019683B2 publication Critical patent/US7019683B2/en
A security system senses intrusions into a shipping container through the opening of doors, cutting an opening, or removing the doors from their hinges. Intrusion information is transmitted to a remote receiver without interrogation, thereby reducing power consumption. Sensing is accomplished by employing a range-gated micro-impulse radar (“RGR”) that generates microwave pulses that bounce around the interior of the container. The RGR includes a range gate that enables measuring reflected signals during the time gate period that is set for the time it takes a pulse to propagate a maximum distance within the container and reflect back. A direct current signal level is produced that represents the average reflected signal level within the container, and a Doppler shift measurement is made that represents motion inside the container. The signals are conveyed to the transmitter for conveyance to the remote receiver.
Other sensing technologies have also been employed in the past. For example, passive Infrared (“PIR”) sensors can detect warm bodies in the containers if the bodies have a sufficiently different emissive temperature from the background emissive temperature. However, the interior areas of shipping containers are often hot, which condition can cause failure to detect intrusion by a human being. Also, because the containers are subject to external heating, PIRs can falsely indicate the presence of a human being. Moreover, PIRs can easily be blocked by the contents of the container or by dirt, thus shielding the field of view of the PIRs from a human being attempting entry through a hole in a side of the container. In worst case situations, contents or dirt can even block detection of entry through the container doors.
A security system of this invention senses intrusions into a shipping container through the opening of doors, cutting an opening, or removing the doors from its hinges. The security system communicates intrusion information to a remote receiver without interrogation, thereby reducing power consumption. Sensing is accomplished by employing a range-gated micro-impulse radar (“RGR”) that generates very low power, wide-band, short duration microwave pulses that bounce around the interior of the container. The RGR includes a range gate that enables measuring reflected signals during a time gate period, which is preferably set for the time it takes a pulse to propagate a maximum distance within the container and reflect back.
The functionality of the security system can be expanded by adding an optional global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver for associating location information with the intrusion time stamps and reporting these data from the transmitter to the remote receiver.
FIG. 4 graphically represents a measured radio-frequency spectrum of the transmitter of FIG. 2 overlayed on the FCC regulatory limits for intentional radiators set forth in 27 CFR §§15.209 and 249.
FIG. 1 shows a security system 1 of this invention that senses intrusions into a shipping container 2 through more than just the opening of doors 3 (shown open in solid lines, and shut in dashed lines). Security system 1 can also determine whether shipping container 2 has been breached by cutting an opening 4 in a surface (including any of ends, walls, top, bottom, and doors), such as one of sides 5 of container 2, or if one of doors 3 have been removed from hinges 6. Security system 1 preferably communicates this intrusion information to a remote receiver 7 without interrogation, thereby reducing power consumption within security system 1. Any breach sufficiently large to allow access to shipping container 2 can be sensed by security system 1 and reported to receiver 7. The sensing is accomplished by employing at least a range-gated micro-impulse radar (“RGR”) 8, which is described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.
When reflected microwave signals are measured, two measurements are preferably made: First, a DC (direct current) signal level is produced that represents an average reflected signal level within container 2. Second, a Doppler shift measurement is made during the time gate time period that represents motion inside container 2 by any large objects, such as objects larger than a human hand, or by human beings. As a result, any motion within container 2 by any human being, large objects, or doors 3 being opened creates a Doppler shift signal that is detectable when it exceeds a predetermined high threshold. Lower-level vibrations also produce a Doppler shift that is detectable at a lower predetermined threshold. Such vibrations indicate that container 2 is being moved or has been banged, such as during the loading or unloaded process. The above described signals can be used as outputs to a transmitter 11, which communicates with receiver 7 as described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5
Regarding the DC level signal, if any opening, such as opening 4, is created in container 2, or by opening one of doors 3, the DC level immediately shifts because the average reflected signal changes as a function of a signal pattern change. The larger the opening, the larger the DC level shift.
In particular, FIGS. 2 and 3 show that RGR 8 employs a pulse transmitter 13 that emits 10 nsec, 5.8 GHz microwave transmit pulses at a pulse repetition frequency (“PRF”) in a range from 50 to 500 kHz (preferably 400 KHz) in response to a PRF generator 14 and a 10-nsec monostable multivibrator (“one-shot”) 16. The pulses are retriggered by subsequent pulses produced by a 10-nsec one-shot 18 in response to an adjustable 10 to 100 nanosecond delay circuit 20 to generate 10-nsec local-oscillator pulses. The duration of each triggered pulse is 3 to 20 nanoseconds (preferably 10 nanoseconds) with a half-sine envelope shape. The PRF generator is derived from a 10 MHZ microprocessor system clock (not shown).
RGR 8 generates radio-frequency pulses including bursts of less than about 50 cycles of microwave energy. FIG. 4 shows that the average power of a carrier 30 and sidebands 32 of the bursts fall within FCC regulatory limits 34 set forth in 47 CFR §15.209 (1999). Accordingly, the FCC has granted approval of products incorporating RGR 8 under 47 CFR §15.249 (1999), which sets forth the frequency bands for intentional radiators. RGR 8 preferably operates in the third band. Field strength limits are also specified as 50 mV/M (94 dBμV) within the band at a distance of 3 meters and 500 μV/M (54 dBμV) outside the band at a distance of 3 meters. If the transmitted pulses have less than a 1% duty factor, the limits are 20 db higher. (47 CFR §15.249(c) sets forth that radiated emissions outside the allotted frequency bands shall be attenuated by at least 50 dB below the fundamental frequency or to the general radiated emission limits set forth in 47 CFR §15.209, whichever is the lesser attenuation. The general radiation limit specified set forth in 47 CFR §15.209 for frequencies above 960 MHZ is 500 μV/m.
Therefore, this invention eliminates the security system receiver in container 2 and employs only a transmitter, such as transmitter 11 that transmits a repetitious pattern of low duty cycle data transmissions, and/or a pattern of data transmission that are triggered by motion sensor 52 or door switch 12. Transmitter 11 is based on a commercially available transmitter employed in home and industrial security systems that regularly transmits supervisory messages, such as every hour or every four hours. Transmitter 11 can operate longer than five years on a single 3-volt Lithium 2/3A cell. Transmitter 11 is preferably a model number 60-917-95, and receiver 7 is preferably a model number 60-764-01-95R-MAX, both of which are manufactured by GE-Interlogix located in North Saint Paul, Minn. Transmitter 11 resists tampering by employing an antenna 54 that is hidden and protected in a corrugated strengthening “slot” on the exterior of container 2. The antenna is preferably a “Plastenna” model manufactured by Integral Technologies, Inc. located in Bellingham, Wash.
The functionality of security system 1 can be expanded by adding an optional global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver 56 for associating location information with the intrusion time stamps and reporting this data from transmitter 11 to receiver 7. Because the checkpoint location of remote receiver 7 is known, the controller associated with receiver 7 can use the current GPS location of container 2 to verify the locating accuracy of GPS receiver 56. When adding GPS receiver 56, current consumption can be reduced by activating GPS receiver 56 only after an intrusion or motion or container 2 has been detected. Suitable GPS location tracking components are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,486 for MOBILE TRACKING UNITS EMPLOYING MOTION SENSORS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION THEREIN, which is assigned to the assignee **(GE) of this application.
US10/794,764 2004-03-05 2004-03-05 Shipping container security system Expired - Fee Related US7019683B2 (en)
US10/794,764 US7019683B2 (en) 2004-03-05 2004-03-05 Shipping container security system
US20050195101A1 US20050195101A1 (en) 2005-09-08
US7019683B2 true US7019683B2 (en) 2006-03-28
ID=34912346
US10/794,764 Expired - Fee Related US7019683B2 (en) 2004-03-05 2004-03-05 Shipping container security system
US (1) US7019683B2 (en)
US20100201519A1 (en) * 2006-10-06 2010-08-12 University Of Maine System Board Of Trustees Breach detection system for containers
RU180293U1 (en) * 2017-08-01 2018-06-08 Евгений Дмитриевич ЛИСИЦЫН Marine Geophysical Laboratory container based on a standard 20-foot sea container
CN103150863B (en) * 2013-02-20 2015-09-16 中国科学院自动化研究所 A train security system and method based on radio frequency identification technology
CN103257338B (en) * 2013-04-23 2015-03-25 中国科学技术大学 Indoor positioning method and system
SE537509C2 (en) * 2013-09-19 2015-05-26 Sensative Ab Elongated wireless sensor units
2004-03-05 US US10/794,764 patent/US7019683B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
"Universal Fire Transmitter (UFT)", GE Interlogix Product Information, (C) 2002, GE Interlogix, Saint Paul, MN.
US8487763B2 (en) 2006-10-06 2013-07-16 University Of Maine System Board Of Trustees Breach detection system for containers
US20050195101A1 (en) 2005-09-08
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STEVENS, JAMES E.;EGGERS, FREDERICK W.;TANG, FENG;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:015692/0954;SIGNING DATES FROM 20040622 TO 20040713