Object detection portal with video display overlay

• US 20040080315A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Czipott, Peter V., Beevor, Simon Peter, Hanley, Gerard Andrew, Wolff, Steve, Perry, Alexander R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence

Abstract

An object detection portal wherein a video image is obtained of a volume or area being scanned, and location of a threat object is determined and displayed in real time as an indicator overlay on the video image. An individual subject being scanned may be continuously monitored by an operator during an object divesting process, and an operator may view the threat object moving from or remaining with the subject. Object location information is supplied to a video driver to superimpose the overlay on a real time image of a subject. The scanning portal may interact with an exit barrier. The exit barrier may be activated automatically in response to sensing of a threat.

Claims

1. An object detection portal system comprising:

an object detection portal configured to detect, real-time, the presence of a threat object in a scan volume;

imaging means to produce a real-time image of the scan volume and provide an output to a display of a scan subject;

a threat object position calculator to produce real-time signals indicative of a position of the threat object;

a shape generator to produce a real-time overlay in the image indicative of the threat object in response to sensing of a threat object, the image and the position of the threat object being indicative of a state in the scan volume at substantially the same time; and

a display driver to produce a signal that allows the real-time visual superimposition of the position of the threat object on the real-time image of the scan volume.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging means comprises a video camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said video camera comprises a digital video camera.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said object detection portal comprises an array of gradiometer sensors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said array is planar and comprises a plurality of sensors vertically displaced from each other on either side of the scan volume.

6. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a gate cooperating with said portal to prevent movement from said portal, said gate being automatically actuatable in response to detection of a threat object.

7. The system of claim 5, and further comprising a gate cooperating with said portal to prevent movement from said portal, said gate being automatically actuatable in response to detection of a threat object.

8. A method for displaying real-time information derived from a scan volume comprising:

producing a real-time image of the scan volume;

sensing real-time presence and position of a threat object in the scan volume, the image and the position of the threat object being indicative of a state in the scan area at substantially the same time; and

producing an overlay on the image indicative of a position of the threat object updated in real time.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising simultaneously updating the image and the overlay.

10. The method of claim 9, and further comprising operating an automatic gate cooperating with a portal surrounding the scan volume in response to sensing of a threat object.

11. The method of claim 9, and further comprising generating a display of portal boundaries on said image.

12. In an object detection portal system including sensors providing a set of inputs and imaging means for producing an image of a scan volume and an indication of a threat object detected by said sensors, the improvement comprising:

scanning means scanning said sensors to provide successive sets of inputs from said sensors at least a video refresh rate;

a threat object position calculator responsive to said sensors to produce successive signals indicative of a position of the threat object, each signal being produced in response to a set of inputs;

an electronics units comprising a video processor receiving the output of said threat object position calculator and generating an overlay superimposed on the image.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronics unit comprises a shape generator defining a preselected shape for the overlay.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said electronics unit comprises a signal amplitude calculator to calculate the signal from each threat object and wherein said video processor determines the size or characteristics of the overlay in accordance with the calculated signal amplitude of the threat object.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronics unit comprises a signal amplitude calculator to calculate the signal from each threat object and wherein said video processor determines the size or characteristics of the overlay in accordance with the calculated signal amplitude of the threat object.