Screening device

• US 10,209,387 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kayano, Hiroyuki, Shiokawa, Noritsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter M
• Application Number:
  US14/852,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01N3/00 - G01N19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/38 Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a screening device includes a first antenna configured to transmit a first microwave to a subject to generate a second microwave and a third microwave, the second microwave being generated by a diffraction of the first microwave at the subject, the third microwave being a part of the first microwave passing the subject, and a second antenna configured to receive the second microwave in a first period and to receive the third microwave in a second period.

Claims

1. A screening device, comprising:

a first antenna configured to transmit a first microwave to a human body to generate a second microwave and a third microwave, the second microwave being generated by a diffraction of the first microwave at the human body, the third microwave being a part of the first microwave passing through the human body; and

a second antenna configured to receive the second microwave in a first period and to receive the third microwave in a second period,

the screening device screening an interior of the human body by detecting the third microwave, and

the screening device screening a surface of the human body by detecting the second microwave.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the second antenna does not receive the second microwave in the second period,

the second antenna does not receive the third microwave in the first period.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

a first antenna includes:

a transmitter configured to generate the first microwave; and

a transmitting antenna part connected with the transmitter, the transmitting antenna part being configured to irradiate the first microwave.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

a first antenna includes:

a movable part; and

the first antenna is movable in a vertical direction or a lateral direction by movable part.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein

the second antenna includes:

a variable directional antenna part configured to receive the second microwave and the third microwave;

a receiver connected with the variable directional antenna; and

the variable directional antenna selectively receives the second microwave and third microwave output from first antenna by changing a receiving direction of the variable directional antenna.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third antenna configured to transmit a first microwave to a subject from a different angle from the first antenna to generate a second microwave and a third microwave.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein

the second antenna includes:

a variable directional antenna part configured to receive the second microwave and the third microwave;

a receiver connected with the variable directional antenna; and

the variable directional antenna receives the second microwave and third microwave output from first antenna or second antenna selectively by changing a receiving direction of the variable directional antenna.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the number of elements of the variable directional antenna is greater than the number of elements of the transmitting antenna.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first microwave includes a pulse microwave.

10. A screening device, comprising:

a first antenna including a transmitter/receiver and a first directional antenna, the transmitter/receiver being configured to transmit a first microwave to a human body to generate a second microwave and a third microwave, the second microwave being generated by a diffraction of the first microwave at the human body, the third microwave being a part of the first microwave passing through the human body, and the transmitter/receiver being configured to receive a reflected first microwave, the first directional antenna being connected with the transmitter/receiver; and

a second antenna including a receiver and a second directional antenna, the receiver being configured to receive the second microwave in a first period and to receive the third microwave in a second period, the second directional antenna being connected with the receiver,

the screening device screening an interior of the human body by detecting the third microwave, and

the screening device screening a surface of the human body by detecting the second microwave.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein

the receiver does not receive the second microwave in the second period,

the receiver does not receive the third microwave in the first period.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein

a plurality of the transmitter/receivers and a plurality of the first directional antennas are provided in the first antenna, and

the second directional antenna is a variable directional antenna having a changeable receiving direction.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the second directional antenna is movable in a vertical direction or a lateral direction.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein

a plurality of the transmitter/receivers and a plurality of the first directional antennas are provided in the first antenna, and

a plurality of the receivers and a plurality of the second directional antennas are provided in the second antenna.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein a frequency of the first microwave transmitted from at least one of the transmitter/receivers of the plurality of the transmitter/receivers is different from a frequency of the first microwave transmitted from one other transmitter/receivers.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first directional antenna includes a superconducting material.

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the second directional antenna includes a superconducting material.