Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry

Smith, D Barton; Muhs, Jeffrey D; Pickett, Chris A; Earl, D Duncan

Title: Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry

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Abstract

An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) launches pulses of light into a link or a system of multiplexed links and records the waveform of pulses reflected by the seals in the link(s). If a seal is opened, the link of cables will become a discontinuous transmitter of the light pulses and the OTDR can immediately detect that a seal has been opened. By analyzing the waveform, the OTDR can also quickly determine which seal(s) were opened. In this way the invention functions as a system of active seals. The invention is intended for applications that require long-term surveillance of a large number of closures. It provides immediate tamper detection, allows for periodic access to secured closures, and can be configured for many different distributions of closures. It can monitor closures in indoor and outdoor locations and it can monitor containers or groups of containers located many kilometers apart.

Inventors:

Smith, D Barton ^[1]; Muhs, Jeffrey D ^[2]; Pickett, Chris A ^[3]; Earl, D Duncan ^[4]

Oak Ridge, TN
Lenoir City, TN
Clinton, TN
Knoxville, TX

Issue Date:: 1999-01-01

Research Org.:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 872760

Patent Number(s):: 6002501

Assignee:: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. (Oak Ridge, TN)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01M - TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES

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G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01M - TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES
G01M3/28 - for pipes, cables or tubes

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DOE Contract Number:: AC04-76

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: method; apparatus; active; tamper; indicating; device; optical; time-domain; reflectometry; reflectometer; otdr; launches; pulses; light; link; multiplexed; links; records; waveform; reflected; seals; seal; cables; discontinuous; transmitter; immediately; detect; analyzing; quickly; determine; functions; intended; applications; require; long-term; surveillance; closures; provides; immediate; detection; allows; periodic; access; secured; configured; distributions; monitor; indoor; outdoor; locations; containers; located; kilometers; apart; pulses reflected; domain reflectometry; light pulses; light pulse; quickly determine; optical time-domain; optical time; domain reflectometer; indicating device; /359/356/

Citation Formats


                    Smith, D Barton, Muhs, Jeffrey D, Pickett, Chris A, and Earl, D Duncan. Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry.  United States: N. p., 1999. 
        Web.

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                    Smith, D Barton, Muhs, Jeffrey D, Pickett, Chris A, & Earl, D Duncan. Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry.  United States.

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                    Smith, D Barton, Muhs, Jeffrey D, Pickett, Chris A, and Earl, D Duncan. Fri .  
        "Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872760.

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@article{osti_872760,

  title        = {Method and apparatus for active tamper indicating device using optical time-domain reflectometry},

  author       = {Smith, D Barton and Muhs, Jeffrey D and Pickett, Chris A and Earl, D Duncan},

  abstractNote = {An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) launches pulses of light into a link or a system of multiplexed links and records the waveform of pulses reflected by the seals in the link(s). If a seal is opened, the link of cables will become a discontinuous transmitter of the light pulses and the OTDR can immediately detect that a seal has been opened. By analyzing the waveform, the OTDR can also quickly determine which seal(s) were opened. In this way the invention functions as a system of active seals. The invention is intended for applications that require long-term surveillance of a large number of closures. It provides immediate tamper detection, allows for periodic access to secured closures, and can be configured for many different distributions of closures. It can monitor closures in indoor and outdoor locations and it can monitor containers or groups of containers located many kilometers apart.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1999},

  month        = {1}

}

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