Entry control point device, system and method

• US 20060262190A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gatekeeper, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gatekeeper, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Millar, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/751 Comparing pixel values or logical combinations thereof, or feature values having positional relevance, e.g. template matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The present invention provides a device, system and method which can recognize a vehicle by its undercarriage image only. The present invention compares a new vehicle undercarriage image with those stored in a reference database to facilitate the automatic search of a vehicle'"'"'s undercarriage. The present invention can compare the new undercarriage image to the same or similar undercarriage image previously entered in the reference database, highlighting any anomalies such as, for example, foreign objects, explosives, drugs, paraphernalia and other illegal and/or harmful substances and devices.

Claims

1. A scanner configuration for an entry control system, comprising:

a scanner framework having a front end, a back end and a top surface;

a scanner camera having a lens, the camera having means for recording video images;

a first mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a first reflecting surface angled upwardly toward the top surface and toward the framework front end; and

a second mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a second reflecting surface angled upwardly in a direction facing the framework top surface and the framework back end.

2. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the camera is secured to the framework such that the lens faces the framework front end.

3. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the first mirror arrangement includes a mirror mounted at or near the framework front end.

4. The configuration of claim. 1 wherein the second mirror arrangement includes a primary mirror mounted at or near the framework back end, and a secondary mirror mounted at or near a location between the framework front and back ends.

5. The configuration of claim 4 wherein the primary mirror is larger than the secondary mirror.

6. The configuration of claim 2 wherein the camera is secured to the framework such that a portion of the lens faces the first mirror arrangement and a portion of the lens faces the second mirror arrangement.

7. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the first mirror arrangement includes a mirror mounted at or near the framework front end and the second mirror arrangement includes a primary mirror mounted at or near the framework back end and a secondary mirror mounted at or near a location between the framework front and back ends.

8. The configuration of claim 7 wherein the primary mirror of the second mirror arrangement and the mirror of the first mirror arrangement are substantially the same size.

9. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the scanner camera is secured such that the camera lens is angled downwardly away from the framework top surface.

10. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the camera is secured to the framework such that the lens faces the framework back end.

11. The configuration of claim 1 further including at least one lighting arrangement secured to the front or back end of the framework, the lighting arrangement comprising at least one LED lighting device.

12. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the framework includes a first glass member secured between the framework top surface and front end, and a second glass member secured between the framework top surface and back end.

13. The configuration of claim 12 wherein the first reflecting surface is angled toward the first glass member and the second reflecting surface is angled toward the second glass member.

14. The configuration of claim 1 further including an ambient heat shield (AHS) secured to the framework.

15. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the framework has a cover secured to the top surface thereof and further including an ambient heat shield (AHS) secured above the cover so as to create a gap between the cover and the AHS.

16. The configuration of claim 1 wherein the camera is provided with a single board computer (SBC) in two-way communication with a remote computer monitoring system.

17. An entry control system, comprising:

a scanner configuration including a camera capable of recording simultaneous or near-simultaneous images of a vehicle underside from different angles;

a computer in communication with the scanner configuration, the computer having a touch screen interface;

a database accessible by the computer, the database storing images for a plurality of vehicle undercarriages categorized by at least one vehicle identifier, which can be a vehicle make, model, year, license plate, license number, VIN number, RFID tag, or owner information; and

programming for comparing the database images with at least two images of a vehicle undercarriage comprising images recorded by the camera of the vehicle underside at different angles.

18. The system of claim 17 further including a front view camera capable of receiving above ground images of a vehicle and communicating the images to the computer.

19. The system of claim 17 further including means for automatically searching for and identifying foreign objects on the vehicle underside.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the scanner configuration includes programming for stitching together video frame images recorded by the camera into a single image.

21. The system of claim 17 further including means for permitting or denying vehicle entry into a facility based upon comparison results produced by the programming.

22. A method for vehicle access control, comprising the steps of:

providing a scanner framework having a front end and a back end;

providing a scanner camera having a lens facing at least a portion of either the framework front end or the framework back end; and

providing means for recording by the camera at least two images of a vehicle underside from different angles at the same time.

23. The method of claim 22 including the further steps of:

categorizing the one or more images according to the vehicle year, make, model and transmission type; and

storing the one or more images in a computer database.

24. The method of claim 23 including the further steps of:

recording simultaneous or near-simultaneous images of a vehicle underside from different angles using the camera; and

comparing at least one stitched frame image comprising the recorded images with one or more stored images to determine one or more identifying characteristics of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 including the further steps of:

identifying the vehicle make and model; and

providing programming for determining whether the vehicle has a different vehicle underside profile from a baseline vehicle underside profile for the identified vehicle type.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein providing the recording means includes the steps of:

providing a first mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a first reflecting surface angled upwardly toward the top surface and toward the framework front end; and

providing a second mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a second reflecting surface angled upwardly in a direction facing the framework top surface and the framework back end.

27. A method for establishing records for use in analyzing the underside of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

recording one or more images of the underside of one or more vehicles using a scanner camera configuration comprising a camera capable of recording simultaneous or near-simultaneous images of a vehicle underside from different angles;

categorizing the one or more images according to the vehicle year, make, model and transmission type; and

storing the one or more images in a computer database.

28. A method for controlling entry of vehicles, comprising the steps of:

providing an entry control device having a front camera, scanner camera, presence trigger and monitor;

detecting the presence of an oncoming vehicle via the presence trigger;

obtaining a vehicle image via the front camera;

obtaining at least two simultaneous undercarriage images via the scanner camera, with one image being taken at an angle in the direction of vehicle travel and one image being taken at an angle against the direction of vehicle travel;

processing the images taken by the front and scanner cameras; and

comparing the images with previously stored images of the same or similar vehicle undercarriage.

29. A scanner configuration for an entry control system, comprising:

a scanner framework having a front end and a back end;

a scanner camera having a lens facing at least a portion of either the framework front end or the framework back end; and

means for recording by the camera at least two images of a vehicle underside from different angles at the same time.

30. The scanner of claim 29 wherein the framework further includes a top surface, and wherein the recording means includes:

a first mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a first reflecting surface angled upwardly toward the top surface and toward the framework front end, and

a second mirror arrangement secured to the framework so as to provide a second reflecting surface angled upwardly in a direction facing the framework top surface and the framework back end.