Interrogation of an object for dimensional and topographical information

• US 6,703,964 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: McMakin, Douglas L., Sheen, David M., Severtsen, Ronald H., Hall, Thomas E., Kennedy, Mike O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrea, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/301,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/179, 367/8
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
• 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 7/20 Stereoscopic displays; Three-dimensional displays; Pseudo-three-dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, devices, and apparatus to interrogate a clothed individual with electromagnetic radiation to determine one or more body measurements at least partially covered by the individual'"'"'s clothing. The invention further includes techniques to interrogate an object with electromagnetic radiation in the millimeter and/or microwave range to provide a volumetric representation of the object. This representation can be used to display images and/or determine dimensional information concerning the object.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

interrogating a first object with electromagnetic radiation including one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz for each of a number of different views of the first object;

establishing a number of data sets each representative of a corresponding one of the different views; and

combining the data sets to generate a topographical representation of the first object corresponding to the different views.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object includes a person'"'"'s body and further comprising adjusting a device to the person'"'"'s body based on the topographical representation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein information corresponding to the topographical representation is stored in a portable storage apparatus and the device includes vehicle equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes comparing the topographical representation of the first object with a topographical representation of a second object stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes controlling access to a restricted area based on said comparing.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes determining one or more dimensions of the first object from the topographical representation.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes determining packaging for the first object in accordance with the one or more dimensions.

8. The method of claim 6, which includes determining shipping cost for the first object in accordance with the one or more dimensions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object includes a person and further comprising predicting a change in appearance of the person based on the topographical representation.

10. A method, comprising:

scanning an individual attempting to gain access to a restricted area with electromagnetic radiation including one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz;

determining a topographical representation of the individual from said scanning;

comparing one or more characteristics of the representation to corresponding data for each of a number of different persons; and

controlling access to the restricted area by the individual based at least in part on said comparing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said controlling includes selectively activating an access control device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more relative body dimensions of the individual.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes comparing one or more features of the individual in addition to the one or more characteristics to further determine whether to allow access.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more features include at least one of a fingerprint, a palm print, a retina image, and a vocal pattern.

15. The method of claim 10, which includes updating the corresponding data with the one or more characteristics for each access permitted by said controlling.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said controlling includes permitting access to the restricted area if the one or more characteristics have an acceptable degree of similarity relative to the corresponding data for one of the different persons.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said controlling includes taking action to further screen access of the individual to the restricted area in response to said comparing.

18. A method, comprising:

scanning an individual with electromagnetic radiation including one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz;

determining a topographical representation of the individual from said scanning;

comparing one or more characteristics of the representation to corresponding information for each of a number of different parties; and

controlling access to an area by the individual based at least in part on said comparing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said controlling includes taking further action to screen access of the individual to the area if said comparing indicates an unacceptable degree of similarity between the one or more characteristics and the corresponding information for one of the different parties for whom access to the area is not desirable.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more relative body dimensions of the individual.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said controlling includes permitting access to the area if the one or more characteristics have an acceptable degree of similarity to the corresponding information for one of the different parties with permission to access the area.

22. A method, comprising:

scanning a number of passengers for a vehicle;

determining topographical information representative of each of the passengers from said scanning; and

identifying one or more bodies or body parts of the passengers using the topographical information in response to death or injury resulting from an accident involving the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle is a commercial aircraft.

24. The method of claim 22, which includes correlating the topographical information to a seating arrangement known for the vehicle to assist with said identifying.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said scanning includes interrogating each of the passengers with electromagnetic radiation including one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said scanning is performed during a boarding process for the vehicle.

27. A method, comprising:

scanning several pieces of wreckage resulting from an accident of a vehicle;

determining a number of topographical representations corresponding to the pieces of wreckage from said scanning; and

arranging the representations relative to one another with a computer to analyze the accident.

28. The method of claim 27, which includes orienting the pieces in different spatial relationships relative to one another in a computer domain to at least partially reconstruct the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 27, which includes removing deformities of one or more of the pieces in a computer domain to assist with reconstruction of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 27, which includes visualizing one or more of the pieces with a computer.

31. The method of claim 27, which includes generating a record in a computer of the time and place of discovery of each of the pieces.

32. The method of claim 27, which includes detecting metal or other radar reflective material at least partially embedded in a radar transparent/translucent material.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said scanning is performed with electromagnetic radiation having one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz.

34. A system, comprising:

at least one array to interrogate an object with electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies in a range of about 200 MHz to about 1 THz;

one or more processors responsive to said array, said one or more processors being operable to establish a number of data sets each representative of a corresponding one of a number of different views of the object relative to the array and combine the data sets to generate a topographical representation of the first object corresponding to the different views; and

an output device responsive to the one or more processors to generate an output determined with the topographical representation.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the output device is operable to adjust to a person'"'"'s body based on the topographical representation.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the output device includes vehicle equipment.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the array is mounted to translate along a predefined path during interrogation of the object.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein one of the array and the object is operable to rotate relative to another of the array and the object.

39. The system of claim 34, further comprising a portable storage apparatus, the eq topographical representation being stored therein.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the one or more processors are operable to provide a comparison of the topographical representation of the object with stored data to determine a degree of similarity thereto.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the output device includes an access control device responsive to the comparison.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine a cross-section defining a circumference of the object.