Characterizing a cargo container
AssigneeScience Applications International Corporation
InventorsPhillip E. Young, Wayne D. Cornelius, William Leslie Hicks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Characterizing a cargo container and its contents. A system comprising an emitter to emit radio frequency (RF) energy, a receiver to receive an RF response related to the energy, and a processor operative to compare a plurality of RF responses. A method for characterizing a cargo container and its contents, the method including providing a system as described above, via the system: emitting a RF energy within a container, receiving an RE response of the container and the container contents, emitting second RF energy within a container, receiving a second RF response of the container and the container contents, and comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.
Claims19
A system for characterizing a container and any contents thereof, the system comprising:
- at least one emitter comprising:
- at least one antenna portion located within the container, and
- a signal generator in communication with at least one amplifier;
- at least one receiver comprising:
- at least one antenna portion located within the container, wherein the antenna portion is connected to a signal detector;
- and
- at least one processor in communication with the at least one receiver, in order to compare a plurality of received signal responses.
A system for characterizing a container and any contents thereof, the system comprising:
- means to emit at least a first radio frequency (RF) energy and a second RF energy, comprising:
- at least one antenna portion located within the container, and
- a signal generator in communication with at least one amplifier;
- means to receive at least a first RF response related to the first RF energy and a second RF response relegated to the second RF energy, having at least one antenna portion located within the container, wherein the antenna portion is connected to a signal detector;
- and
- means to compare a plurality of RF responses.
A method for detecting changes in at least one of the composition and distribution of contents within a container, the method comprising;
- providing the container comprising:
- at least one emitter antenna located inside the container, and
- at least one receiver antenna located inside the container, wherein the at least one emitter antenna and at least one receiving antenna of the container are connected to one device;
- determining a first radio frequency (RF) resonant response of the interior of the container,
- determining a second RF resonant response of the interior of a container, and
- comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.