IMAGE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SCAN FOR SECURITY THREATS

• US 20120093438A1
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection Ireland Limited
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection Ireland Limited
• Inventors: Entchev, Emil, Meder, Claus, Abdillah, Mohammed Ben, Widera, Adam, McNaboe, John, Lyons, Brendan, Volz, Claudius, Dreiseitel, Pia
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/295 Means for transforming co-ordinates or for evaluating data, e.g. using computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation

Abstract

An imaging system comprises a transmitter (24, 25), a receiver (24, 25, 21), and a controller (20) for directing the transmitter and the receiver to scan an object in a volume. The controller determines which sub-volumes of the volume the object is located within and then performs a fine scan in those sub-volumes. This reduces overall scanning time. The controller (20) may compare a received signal sample magnitude from the initial scan with a threshold to make the decision. The initial scan may be performed with a spot size to include only one or more particular volume elements within at least some of the sub-volumes.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

a transmitter

a receiver

an array of reflectors,

a controller for directing the transmitter, the receiver, and the reflectors to scan an object in a volume,

wherein the controller is adapted to determine which sub-volumes of said volume the object is located within and to perform a fine scan in said sub-volumes,

wherein the controller is adapted to initially scan the volume using the transmitter, the receiver, and the reflectors to use said initial scan to decide which sub-volumes the object is located within, and to then perform the fine scan in said sub-volumes, again using said transmitter, receiver, and reflectors;

wherein the controller is adapted to compare a received signal sample magnitude from the initial scan with a threshold to make said decision; and

wherein the controller is adapted to direct the transmitter and the receiver to perform the initial scan with a spot size to include only one or more particular volume elements within at least some of the sub-volumes.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to additionally perform a fine scan of sub-volumes adjoining those determined to include the search object.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the controller is adapted to additionally perform a fine scan of sub-volumes neighbouring those sub-volumes which adjoin those determined to include the search object.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said volume elements include a volume element which is central within at least some sub-volumes.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said volume elements include a plurality of particular volume elements in at least some sub-volumes.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said volume elements are selected in a pre-defined pattern.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said volume elements are selected in a random pattern.

11. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to direct the transmitter and the receiver to perform the initial scan with a spot size encompassing a full sub-volume size.

13. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to the arrays of reflectors in a daisy-chain arrangement for bi-directional control communication.

14. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to the arrays of reflectors in parallel for uni-directional control and timing signals.

15. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control a scan spot size for a fine scan to encompass a full sub-volume which is deemed to include the object.

16. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the controller is adapted to control the spot size control by de-focusing using control of the reflectors.

17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to determine said sub-volumes at least in part using a sensing system which is separate from the transmitter and the receiver.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

12. (canceled)