US 5,493,517 A · Cargo container mapping system

Abstract

A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container includes a propagator device for producing a magnetic field at each of (I) positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container and a detector device for detecting magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side. The (I) positions are spaced apart in a direction generally parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system and components are included for mapping information about magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions for each of (K) positions of the cargo container as it passes between the propagator and detector devices in a direction generally parallel to an X axis. Spaced apart orthogonal propagator and detector elements may be disposed in vertical columns adjacent the cargo container, and computerized control components may be used to map and process the information and to produce and display an image. The system may include a second propagator-detector pair disposed horizontally for mapping information for the X-Z plane and that information may be used to shade the X-Y plane image or to produce an X-Z plane image.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A system for scanning the interior of a cargo container, comprising:

a propagator device for producing a magnetic field at each of (I)positions adjacent a first side of a cargo container;
a detector device for sensing magnetic field strength at each of (J) positions adjacent a second side of the cargo container;
wherein the (J) positions are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Y axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the propagator and detector devices are spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a Z axis of the Cartesian coordinate system a predetermined distance sufficient to permit passage of the cargo container between the propagator and detector devices in a direction substantially parallel to an X axis of the Cartesian coordinate system;
and
mapping means responsive to the detector device for processing signals indicative of the magnetic field strength at each of the (J) positions relative to the cargo container to generate a image representing contents of the cargo container caused by perturbations of the magnetic field strength caused by the contents of the cargo container.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cargo container mapping system

Life of this patent

Cargo container mapping system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24