Acoustic detection apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in detecting the substance of an object contained within an enclosure, said apparatus comprising:
- acoustic transmitter means for transmitting a pulse of acoustic energy at a first side of said enclosure;
first acoustic receiver means for receiving acoustic energy reflected from the object to produce a reflected acoustic energy signal;
second acoustic receiver means for receiving acoustic energy which has been transmitted or refracted through said object to produce a transmitted or refracted acoustic energy signal;
signal processor means connected to said transmitter means and to said first and second receiver means, said signal processor means processing said transmitted pulse of acoustic energy, said reflected acoustic energy signal and said transmitted or refracted acoustic energy signal to produce an object signature indicative of said object; and
comparator means for comparing said object signature with the signature of known objects to determine the substance of said object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in detecting the substance of an object contained within an enclosure. The apparatus is comprised of an acoustic transmitter for transmitting a pulse of acoustic energy at a first side of the enclosure. A first acoustic receiver is provided for receiving acoustic energy reflected from the object to produce a reflected acoustic energy signal. A second acoustic receiver is provided for receiving acoustic energy which has been transmitted or refracted through the object to produce a transmitted acoustic energy signal. A signal processor is connected to the transmitter and to said first and second receivers. The signal processor processes the transmitted pulse of acoustic energy, the reflected acoustic energy signal and the transmitted acoustic energy signal to produce an object signature indicative of the object. A comparator is provided for comparing the object signature with the signature of known objects to determine the substance of the object. In accordance with the present invention, "enclosure" is defined as being a hollow box like structure having an object to be detected and identified with respect to its substance located therein, for example, a suitcase containing and object, or a quantity of material having an object to be detected and identified with respect to its substance buried therein, for example, an object buried in the earth relatively close to the surface.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in detecting the substance of an object contained within an enclosure, said apparatus comprising:
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acoustic transmitter means for transmitting a pulse of acoustic energy at a first side of said enclosure; first acoustic receiver means for receiving acoustic energy reflected from the object to produce a reflected acoustic energy signal; second acoustic receiver means for receiving acoustic energy which has been transmitted or refracted through said object to produce a transmitted or refracted acoustic energy signal; signal processor means connected to said transmitter means and to said first and second receiver means, said signal processor means processing said transmitted pulse of acoustic energy, said reflected acoustic energy signal and said transmitted or refracted acoustic energy signal to produce an object signature indicative of said object; and comparator means for comparing said object signature with the signature of known objects to determine the substance of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. A method of determining the substance of an object located within an enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a pulse of acoustic energy of a known level to a first side of the enclosure and the object in the enclosure; detecting the reflected acoustic energy reflected from a surface of the object to provide a reflected acoustic signal; detecting the transmitted or refracted acoustic energy transmitted or refracted through the object to provide a transmitted or refracted acoustic signal; processing said reflected and transmitted or refracted acoustic signals to produce an acoustic signature of the object; and comparing the signature of the object so obtained with signatures of known objects to determine the substance of said object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification