Mmw contraband screening system

• US 7,889,113 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Cardiasmenos, Apostle G., DeLia, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US10/962,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 342 52- 55, 342/59, 342/175, 342/176, 342/179, 342190-197, 342/350, 342/351, 342/89, 342/90, 250330-334, 250/336.1, 250/252.1, 250/486.1, 382/100, 382115-127, 382/103, 382/118, 359/212, 340/573.1, 340/435, 348/118, 600/430
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3581 using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation
• 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
• 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: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation

Abstract

An inspection system that can detect contraband items concealed on, in or beneath an individual'"'"'s clothing. The system employs millimeter wave radiation to detect contraband items. The system is described in connection with a check point security system that includes temperature controlled walls to enhance imaging of contraband items. Also, a millimeter wave camera is used in conjunction with a visible light camera that forms images. To address privacy concerns of displaying images of people made with millimeter wave cameras that effectively “see through” clothes, the millimeter wave images are not displayed directly. Rather, computer processing produces indications of suspicious items from the underlying raw millimeter wave images. The indications of suspicious items are overlaid on the image formed by the visible light camera.

Claims

1. A contraband detection system, comprising:

a) a first camera having a first field of view, the first camera having an output providing first image data representative of radiation in a first frequency band from items in the first field of view, wherein the first frequency band comprises visible light frequencies;

b) a second camera having a second field of view at least partially overlapping the first field of view, the second camera having an output providing second image data representative of radiation in a second frequency band, the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band and comprising frequencies between 20 GHz and 300 GHz, the radiation in the second frequency band being representative of items in the second field of view; and

c) a display station coupled to the first camera and the second camera to receive the first image data and the second image data, the display station comprising at least one computer programmed to present a display of items in the first field of view using the first image data selectively overlaid with an indication of at least one item derived from the second image data.

2. The contraband detection system of claim 1 wherein the first frequency band consists essentially of frequencies with shorter wavelengths than the frequencies in the second frequency band.

3. The contraband detection system of claim 1 additionally comprising a surface reflective of radiation in the second frequency band in the field of view of the second camera.

4. The contraband detection system of claim 1 additionally comprising an enclosure defining an interior space and wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed in the interior space.

5. The contraband detection system of claim 4 wherein the enclosure comprises temperature controlled walls.

6. The contraband detection system of claim 5 wherein the temperature controlled walls comprise internally heated walls.

7. The contraband detection system of claim 5 additionally comprising a fan positioned to exchange air between the interior space and ambient environment.

8. The contraband detection system of claim 5 wherein the enclosure has at least one opening therein, each of the at least one openings being sized to permit a person to pass therethrough.

9. The contraband detection system of claim 8 additionally comprising a metal detector mounted adjacent an opening in the enclosure.

10. The contraband detection system of claim 8 wherein the at least one opening comprises at least a first opening and a second opening, with the second opening positioned opposite the first opening.

11. A contraband detection system, comprising:

a) a first camera having a first field of view, the first camera having an output providing first image data representative of radiation in a first frequency band from items in the first field of view;

b) a second camera having a second field of view at least partially overlapping the first field of view, the second camera having an output providing second image data representative of radiation in a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band, representative of items in the second field of view;

c) a display station coupled to the first camera and the second camera to receive the first image data and the second image data, the display station comprising at least one computer programmed to present a display of items in the first field of view using the first image data selectively overlaid with an indication of at least one item derived from the second image data; and

d) a transmitter transmitting millimeter wave radiation directed at the field of view of the second camera.

12. The contraband detection system of claim 11 wherein the transmitter comprises a noise-like illumination.

13. The contraband detection system of claim 11 wherein the transmitter additionally comprises a spatial phase randomizer.

14. A contraband detection system, comprising:

a) a first camera having a first field of view, the first camera having an output providing first image data representative of radiation in a first frequency band from items in the first field of view;

b) a second camera having a second field of view at least partially overlapping the first field of view, the second camera having an output providing second image data representative of radiation in a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band, representative of items in the second field of view; and

c) a display station coupled to the first camera and the second camera to receive the first image data and the second image data, the display station comprising at least one computer programmed to present a display of items in the first field of view using the first image data selectively overlaid with an indication of at least one item derived from the second image data, wherein the first image data comprises a representation of objects in the first field of view with a first resolution and the second image data comprises a representation of objects in the second field of view with a second resolution and the first resolution is at least ten times greater than the second resolution.

15. The contraband detection system of claim 14 wherein the computer is programmed to present a display with the indication of at least one item derived from the second image data spatially correlated with items in the first field of view.

16. A contraband detection system adapted to detect contraband objects concealed in an item under inspection within an inspection area, the system comprising:

a) a structure bordering the inspection area, the structure comprising;

i) an exterior surface;

ii) a heat generating member within the structure; and

iii) a layer between the exterior surface and the heat generating member transparent to millimeter wave radiation; and

b) a millimeter wave camera having a field of view, the millimeter wave camera being positioned such that a portion of the exterior surface adjacent the heat generating member is within the field of view.

17. The contraband detection system of claim 16 wherein the layer is a thermal insulator.

18. The contraband detection system of claim 16 wherein the layer comprises radome foam.

19. The contraband detection system of claim 16 wherein the layer comprises closed cell urethane foam.

20. The contraband detection system of claim 19 wherein the heat generating member comprises an electrical resistance heater.

21. The contraband detection system of claim 16 additionally comprising a layer absorptive of millimeter wave radiation.

22. The contraband detection system of claim 16 additionally comprising a plenum.

23. The contraband detection system of claim 16 additionally comprising a visible light camera.

24. A contraband detection system comprising:

a) a first heated structure containing a first member emitting heat energy embedded therein;

b) a millimeter wave camera facing the heated structure; and

c) a second heated structure having a second member emitting heat energy embedded therein, the second heated structure being positioned such that the millimeter wave camera is disposed between the first heated structure and the second heated structure.

25. The contraband detection system of claim 24 additionally comprising a first temperature controller operatively coupled to the first heated structure to regulate the temperature thereof and a second temperature controller operatively coupled to the second heated structure to regulate the temperature thereof.

26. The contraband detection system of claim 25 wherein the first temperature controller and the second temperature controller each have a temperature setting and the temperature setting of the first temperature controller is lower than the temperature setting of the second temperature controller.

27. The contraband detection system of claim 24 wherein the first heated structure is heated internally to an internal temperature in excess of 90°

F. and the second heated structure is internally heated to an internal temperature in excess of 120°

F.

28. The contraband detection system of claim 27 wherein the second heated structure is internally heated to an internal temperature between 130°

F. and 150°

F.

29. The contraband detection system of claim 27 wherein the first heated structure comprises a wall of an enclosure and the second heated structure comprises an opposing wall of the enclosure.

30. An airport security checkpoint comprising:

a) an enclosure having a millimeter wave camera imaging a field of view within the enclosure, the enclosure having a passage sized to allow a person to enter the field of view, the camera having a camera data output;

b) a baggage scanner having a scanner data output;

c) at least one computer having inputs coupled to the camera data output and the scanner data output, the at least one computer programmed to present, based on the camera data output and the scanner data output, an image for a passenger.

31. The airport security checkpoint of claim 30 wherein the passage has an opening and the security checkpoint additionally comprises a metal detector adjacent the opening.

32. The airport security checkpoint of claim 30 wherein the enclosure has a plurality of walls and the walls are temperature controlled.

33. The airport security checkpoint of claim 32 wherein the walls are temperature controlled by internal heating.

34. The airport security checkpoint of claim 30 additionally comprising a network providing a connection to a database storing data used in a program on the computer.

35. The airport security checkpoint of claim 34 wherein the network comprises a secure network and the database comprises an intelligence database.

36. The airport security checkpoint of claim 34 wherein the database comprises a database of updates for a program on the computer.

37. The airport security checkpoint of claim 30 additionally comprising at least one biometric sensor having a sensor output and the computer additionally has an input coupled to the sensor output and the computer is programmed to present, based on the camera data output, the scanner data output and the sensor output, an image for a passenger.