METHOD FOR OPERATING A HANDHELD SCREENING DEVICE AND A HANDHELD SCREENING DEVICE

• US 20150285898A1
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Published: 10/08/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,247,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

an antenna array including a plurality of antennas;

an input mechanism to select an operation mode;

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

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.

7. A method for operating a handheld screening device that includes an antenna array with a plurality of antennas to emit electromagnetic waves, the method comprising:

selecting an operation mode,

determining a group of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the number of antennas in said 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.

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.

12. A handheld screening device comprising:

an input mechanism to select an operation mode;

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

at least one antenna to emit electromagnetic waves and to detect electromagnetic signals reflected from the one or more objects located at the determined distances.

13. A method for operating a handheld screening device, the method comprising:

selecting an operation mode;

emitting electromagnetic waves from an antenna of the handheld screening device;

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.