Human body: scanning, typing and profiling system

• US 6,891,381 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Secure Logistix
• Original Assignee: Secure Logistix
• Inventors: Bailey, Kenneth S, Barrera, Fernando A
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/751,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 324/609, 324637-644, 324/658, 324/663, 340/516, 340/568.1, 702/167, 702/159, 342/25.R, 342/46
• US Class Current: 324/644
• CPC Class Codes: A41H 1/02 Devices for taking measurements on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence

Abstract

A body scanning measurement, typing and profiling apparatus and method utilizing microwave energy. Microwaves are used to measure the size and shape of an individual. An array of miniaturized transmitting antennas direct RF energy to a similarly sized array of receiving antennas. Microwaves are directed toward an object, such as a human being, to be measured and the unabsorbed energy of the microwaves transmitted is measured and converted to a signal representative of the size and shape of the object being measured. A computer processor generates vital body measurements and stores such measurements for future use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring dimensions of a human being comprising:

a source of microwave signals having a predetermined amplitude and frequency, including an array of microwave radiating antennae, spaced from one another along a first direction;

at least one microwave receiver antenna which is located spaced from said radiating antennas, to receive radiated microwave signals that have passed through a space;

a processor that evaluates an output from said microwave receiver; and

a movement part which moves said radiating antennas along a second direction which is substantially orthogonal to said first direction during a time of scanning, in which said processor calculates one or more of the following measurements of the human being'"'"'s;

(A) height;

(B) head size;

(C) neck;

(D) chest;

(E) waist;

(F) hips;

(G) inseam; and

(K) sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said radiating antennas are horizontally polarized.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which such said at least one of said radiating antennas or receiving antennas comprises an antenna array of a plurality of miniaturized antennas.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which each of said miniature antennas are horizontally polarized.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiating antennas are arranged along a circular configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein such processor means comprises a computer.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said processing evaluates the output from the microwave receiver to determine characteristics of a human located in said space, which has been scanned by said microwave signals, and to uniquely identify said human.

8. An apparatus for measuring dimensions of an object comprising:

a source of microwave signals having a predetermined amplitude and frequency, including an array of microwave radiating antennae, spaced from one another along a first direction;

at least one microwave receiver antenna which is located spaced from said radiating antennas, to receive radiated microwave signals that have passed through a space;

a processor that evaluates an output from said microwave receiver; and

a movement part which moves said radiating antennas along a second direction which is substantially orthogonal to said first direction during a time of scanning, further comprising (A) at least one server first computer unit;

(B) a means for relaying said measured dimensions from said processor to said at least one server unit; and

(C) a means second computer for relaying said measured dimensions from said at least one server unit to at least one user.

9. A method, comprising:

transmitting a microwave signal through a specified area through which a human subject is intended to pass;

determining locations where the microwave signal has been blocked by the human subject;

using said determined locations to uniquely identify an individual, wherein said using comprises obtaining at least one measurement value which is selected from the group consisting of the human being is;

(A) height;

(B) head size;

(C) neck;

(D) chest;

(E) waist;

(P) hips;

(G) inseam; and

(H) sleeve size.