Preassembled fiber optic security seal
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorReinhard R. Ulrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 snap-together connector. An intermediate length of the fiber optic bundle surrounds the snap-together connector preventing access to its locking mechanism unless fibers are severed. After installation, light is passed through the fiber optics and a particular pattern is generated at a viewing end of the connector. Tampering with the closure will cause individual fiber optics to be disturbed or cut so that subsequent viewing of the fiber optics will generate a different viewing pattern than originally observed.
Claims10
A preassembled fiber optic seal comprising:
- a fiber optic bundle;
- a first connector for securing the outward ends of the bundle together, whereby individual fibers of the bundle are randomly positioned within the connector;
- a second connector having an intermediate length of individual fibers wrapped therearound;
- means for permanently securing the first connector to the second connector;
- an opening formed in the second connector, the opening positioned in registry with the ends of the bundle when the connectors are secured together;
- wherein light passage through the fiber optic bundle creates a unique fingerprint at the second connector opening, which will be altered if the seal is broken.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.