Object detection portal with video display overlay

• US 7,633,518 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Beevor, Simon Peter, Hanley, Gerard Andrew, Wolff, Steve, Perry, Alexander R., Czipott, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US10/280,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,608 Days
• Field of Search: 348142-175, 382100-102, 340540-5681
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence

Abstract

An object detection portal wherein a video image is obtained of a volume or area being scanned, and location of a threat object is determined and displayed in real time as an indicator overlay on the video image. An individual subject being scanned may be continuously monitored by an operator during an object divesting process, and an operator may view the threat object moving from or remaining with the subject. Object location information is supplied to a video driver to superimpose the overlay on a real time image of a subject. The scanning portal may interact with an exit barrier. The exit barrier may be activated automatically in response to sensing of a threat.

Claims

1. An object detection portal system comprising:

an object detection portal configured to detect, real-time, the presence of a threat object in a scan volume;

a video camera to produce a real-time image of the scan volume and provide an output to a display of a scan subject;

a background signal filter to remove detected background signals caused by objects outside the scan volume;

a threat object position calculator to produce real-time signals indicative of a real-time position of the threat object, the real-time position of the threat object including at least a horizontal position of the threat object with respect to the object detection portal;

a shape generator to produce a real-time overlay indicative of the real-time position of the threat object in response to sensing of the threat object, wherein the real-time image and the overlay are indicative of a state in the scan volume at substantially one time; and

a display driver to produce a signal that allows a real-time visual superimposition of the real-time position of the threat object overlay on the real-time image of the scan volume, wherein the real-time overlay indicative of the real-time position of the threat object is overlaid on the real-time image produced by the video camera using the real-time signals from the threat object position calculator to position the overlay on the real-time image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said video camera comprises a digital video camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said object detection portal comprises an array of gradiometer sensors.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said array is planar and comprises a plurality of sensors vertically displaced from each other on either side of the scan volume.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a gate cooperating with said portal to prevent movement from said portal, said gate being automatically actuatable in response to detection of a threat object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape generator is configured to map the real-time signals to video signals generated by the imaging means.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic sensor configured to sense a perturbation created by the scan volume in a plurality of magnetic field scan lines, and wherein the overlay represents the perturbation.

16. The system of claim 3 further comprising an output signal normalizer configured to correct differing signals from corresponding, oppositely disposed sensors of said array of gradient sensors.

17. The system of claim 3 further comprising a threat decision analyzer configured to compare signals from said array of gradient sensors to a preset alarm threshold.

7. A method for displaying real-time information derived from a scan volume, said method comprising:

receive, from a video camera, real-time image of the scan volume;

removing from the real-time image, detected background signals caused by objects outside the scan volume;

detecting a threat object and determining a position of the threat object in real-time in the scan volume, the real-time position of the threat object including at least a horizontal position of the threat object with respect to a detection portal, the real-time image and the real-time position of the threat object being indicative of a state in the scan volume at substantially one time; and

producing an overlay indicative of the real-time position of the threat object, wherein said producing the overlay comprises overlaying the overlay on the real-time image produced by the video camera.

8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising simultaneously updating the real-time image and the overlay.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising operating an automatic gate cooperating with a portal surrounding the scan volume in response to sensing of a threat object.

10. The method of claim 8, and further comprising generating a display of portal boundaries on the real-time image.

18. The method of claim 7 further comprising normalizing differing signals from corresponding, oppositely disposed sensors.

19. The method of claim 7 further comprising comparing signals received from sensors to a preset alarm threshold.

11. An object detection portal system including sensors providing a set of inputs and a video camera for producing a real-time image of a scan volume and an indication of a threat object detected by said sensors, said object detection portal system comprising:

a sensor array configured to perform a scan with said sensors to provide successive sets of inputs from said sensors, the inputs generated at least a video refresh rate;

a background signal filter to remove detected background signals caused by objects outside the scan volume;

a threat object position calculator configured to use said successive sets of inputs to produce successive signals indicative of a real-time position of the threat object, each signal being produced in response to one set of inputs, the real-time position of the threat object including at least a horizontal position of the threat object with respect to said sensor array; and

an electronics unit comprising a video processor that receives an output of said threat object position calculator and generates an overlay superimposed on the real-time image, wherein the overlay is superimposed on the real-time image produced by said video camera using the successive signals indicative of the real-time position of the threat object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said electronics unit comprises a shape generator defining a preselected shape for the overlay.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said sensor array is configured to time-stamp the successive sets of inputs as the successive sets of inputs are acquired.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said electronics unit comprises a signal amplitude calculator configured to calculate a signal from each threat object within the scan volume, and wherein said video processor is configured to determine at least one of a size and at least one characteristic of the overlay in accordance with the calculated signal amplitude of the threat object.

20. The system of claim 11 further comprising an output signal normalizer configured to correct differing signals from corresponding, oppositely disposed sensors.