Method for operating a handheld screening device and a handheld screening device

• US 10,247,809 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Testar, Miquel, Dayi, Furkan, Boehnke, Ralf, Blech, Marcel, Wang, Qi
• Primary Examiner(s): Windrich, Marcus E
• Application Number:
  US14/438,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20150285898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 342 22, 342176, 342191
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4008 of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4013 involving adjustment of the transmitted power
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

A handheld screening device including: an antenna array including a plurality of antennas; an input mechanism to select an operation mode; and a controller to determine a group of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the number of antennas in the group is based on the selected operation mode, and to control the group of antennas to emit electromagnetic waves. A corresponding method operates the handheld screening device.

Claims

1. A handheld screening device comprising:

a two-dimensional 2D multiple input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array including a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas including a first plurality of antennas of a first size arranged in a first plurality of first rows and first columns and a second plurality of antennas of a second size, which is less than the first size, arranged in a second plurality of second rows and second columns, wherein an outer periphery of the first plurality of antennas is within a width between two of the second rows and two of the second columns;

an input mechanism configured to select an operation mode from at least a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode;

a processor configured to determine a group of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the number of antennas in the group is based on the selected operation mode, and to control the group of antennas to emit or to receive electromagnetic waves, wherein

the number of antennas included in the group is a first number of antennas when the first operation mode is selected,

the number of antennas included in the group is a second number of antennas, which is greater than the first number of antennas, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the number of antennas included in the group is a third number of antennas, which is greater than the second number of antennas, when the third operation mode is selected; and

the processor is further configured to determine one or more processed layers, wherein the one or more processed layers are based on the selected operation mode, wherein

the one or more processed layers is a single layer when the first operation mode is selected,

the one or more processed layers is a default number of layers, which is greater than the single layer, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the one or more processed layers are all received layers, which is greater than the default number of layers, when the third operation mode is selected.

2. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a number of distances between the handheld screening device and one or more objects based on the selected operation mode.

3. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control a transmission power of the antennas based on the selected operation mode.

4. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to adjust a spatial granularity based on the selected operation mode.

5. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, and a further single antenna element that is attachable to the housing.

6. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna array is divided in two parts or more parts that are connected by a hinge.

12. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein

the first operation mode is a low power operation mode,

the second mode of operation is a standard operating mode, and

the third mode of operation is a high performance mode.

13. The handheld screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a number of distances between the handheld screening device and one or more objects based on the selected operation mode, and

control the group of antennas to emit electromagnetic waves and to detect electromagnetic signals reflected from the one or more objects located at the determined distances, wherein

the number of distances is a first number of distances when the first operation mode is selected,

the number of distances is a second number of distances, which is greater than the first number of distances, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the number of distances is a third number of distances, which is greater than the second number of distances, when the third operation mode is selected.

14. The handheld screening device according to claim 3, wherein

the transmission power is a first transmission power when the first operation mode is selected,

the transmission power is a second transmission power, which is greater than the first transmission power, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the transmission power is a third transmission power, which is greater than the second transmission power, when the third operation mode is selected.

15. The handheld screening device according to claim 4, wherein

the spatial granularity is a first spatial granularity when the first operation mode is selected,

the spatial granularity is a second spatial granularity, which is greater than the first spatial granularity, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the spatial granularity is a third spatial granularity, which is greater than the second spatial granularity, when the third operation mode is selected.

7. A method for operating a handheld screening device that includes a two-dimensional 2D multiple input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array with a plurality of antennas to emit electromagnetic waves, the plurality of antennas including a first plurality of antennas of a first size arranged in a first plurality of first rows and first columns and a second plurality of antennas of a second size, which is greater than the first size, arranged in a second plurality of second rows and second columns, wherein an outer periphery of the first plurality of antennas is within a width between two of the second rows and two of the second columns, the method comprising:

selecting an operation mode from at least a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode,

determining a group of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the number of antennas in the group is based on the selected operation mode,

emitting electromagnetic waves from the determined group of antennas or receiving electromagnetic waves from the determined group of antennas, wherein

the number of antennas included in the group is a first number of antennas when the first operation mode is selected,

the number of antennas included in the group is a second number of antennas, which is greater than the first number of antennas, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the number of antennas included in the group is a third number of antennas, which is greater than the second number of antennas, when the third operation mode is selected; and

determining one or more processed layers, wherein the one or more processed layers are based on the selected operation mode, wherein

the one or more processed layers is a single layer when the first operation mode is selected,

the one or more processed layers is a default number of layers, which is greater than the single layer, when the second operation mode is selected, and

the one or more processed layers are all received layers, which is greater than the default number of layers, when the third operation mode is selected.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising:

detecting electromagnetic signals reflected from one or more objects located at one or more distances from the antenna, wherein a number of the distances is based on the selected operation mode.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

controlling a transmission power of the antennas based on the selected operation mode.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting a spatial granularity based on the selected operation mode.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

selecting an operation mode that only uses one antenna of the plurality of antennas.