Apparatus for detecting and imaging explosives on a suicide bomber

• US 8,357,902 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Chawla, Manmohan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TANINGCO, MARCUS H
• Application Number:
  US13/236,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20120175521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.02
• US Class Current: 250/341.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3581 using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons

Abstract

An apparatus designed for generating and detecting reflected Terahertz waves using a single pixel Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) or Charge Couple Device (CCD) camera is described. Optical alignment between the components is not necessary since the Terahertz waves can propagate from the source to a collimating lens using a metal wire that can be bent obviating the need to have a clear line of sight from the lens to the source or to the camera. The present invention is well-suited for high traffic physical locations currently under surveillance such as security check points and also venues demanding significantly less obtrusive surveillance such as revolving entry doors, moving walkways, and entry gates for airplanes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of explosives on a target, the apparatus comprising:

an emitting element, wherein the emitting element is an encapsulated miniaturized Terahertz radiation source configured to direct terahertz radiation against a target;

a first anode;

a controllable voltage source connected to the first anode;

a focusing element;

a refraction deflecting element;

a waveguide element;

a second electrode;

a detector element comprised of a miniaturized charge coupled device, an aperture, a waveguide wire, and at least one imaging unit for receiving terahertz radiation reflected from the target; and

a computing element configured to analyze the radiation received by the detector element to identify explosives.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector element comprises a CMOS chip, an aperture, and a wavequide wire.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the waveguide wire is covered and protected by a coaxial metallic shield.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computing element is configured to combine and analyze data collected from a plurality of detectors.

5. A. method for detecting the presence of explosives on a target, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an emittinq element, wherein the emitting element is an encapsulated miniaturized Terahertz radiation source configured to direct terahertz radiation against a target;

emitting an electron beam from a first anode connected to a controllable voltage source;

focusing the electron beam through a focusing element;

deflecting the focused electron beam across a refraction deflecting element;

directing the THz radiation across a waveguide element;

applying voltage to a second electrode to further stabilize and direct the THz radiation;

providing a plurality of detector elements wherein each detector element comprises a miniaturized charged coupled device, an aperture, a waveguide wire, and at least one imaging unit for receiving terahertz radiation reflected from the target; and

analyzing radiation received from at least one detector element to identify explosives.