Security sealing system using fiber optics
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsLorin R. Stieff, Charles L. Pruitt, Reinhard R. Ulrich, Frank S. Houck
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a security device which detects tampering with secured closure. A fiber optic bundle is looped through a closure and secured at opposite ends of the bundle to a collar. After installation, light is passed through the fiber optics and they generate a particular pattern at a viewing end of the collar. If there is any tampering with the enclosure, the individual fiber optics will be disturbed or cut. Subsequent viewing of the fiber optics will generate a different viewing pattern indicating that tampering has occurred.
Claims10
A security seal for detecting tampering with a secured enclosure, the seal comprising:
- a length of fiber optic bundle for conducting light along individual fibers within the bundle;
- a collar fastening the free ends of the bundle together so that the individual fibers in one of the bundle ends become arbitrarily intermixed with the individual fibers in the other bundle end, with all of the fiber ends facing the same direction;
- and
- an opening formed in the collar to permit viewing of the intermixed fibers at their ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.