Acoustic and ultrasonic concealed object detection

• US 8,531,915 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stalix LLC
• Original Assignee: Stalix LLC
• Inventors: Ammar, Danny F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOBO, IAN J
• Application Number:
  US12/233,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 367/93, 367/87, 736/20, 736/28, 736/29
• US Class Current: 367/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8904 using synthetic aperture techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features

Abstract

An acoustic/ultrasonic detection system can detect, for example, an object concealed under the clothing of a subject. The system includes a signal generator configured to output an electrical signal. An acoustic/ultrasonic transducer can be configured to convert the electrical signal into an acoustic/ultrasonic signal, transmit the acoustic/ultrasonic signal, receive a reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal from an object in the target area and convert the reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal into a received electrical signal. The transducer is at least one of an air-coupled transducer and an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer. The system can also include an acoustic/ultrasonic antenna aperture operatively connected to the transducer and configured to focus the transmitted acoustic/ultrasonic signal to create a narrow beam in the target area, a processor configured to extract object information from the received electrical signal and an object indication device to provide an indication of a detected object based on the extracted object information.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a remote object concealed by a subject using a portable acoustic/ultrasonic detection system, the method comprising:

collecting, by a portable acoustic/ultrasonic detection system, reference data from a reference spot on a person located from 2 to 20 feet from the detection system, wherein said detection system comprises;

a signal generator configured to output an electrical signal;

at least one acoustic/ultrasonic transducer configured to convert the electrical signal into an acoustic/ultrasonic signal, transmit the acoustic/ultrasonic signal, receive a reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal from an object and convert the reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal into a received electrical signal, wherein the transducer is at least one of an air-coupled transducer and an electromagnetic acoustic transducer;

an acoustic/ultrasonic antenna aperture operatively connected to the transducer and configured to focus the transmitted acoustic/ultrasonic signal to create a narrow beam the target area;

a processor configured to extract object information from the received electrical signal; and

collecting, by the portable acoustic/ultrasonic detection system, object data from an object hidden on a different spot on the person;

comparing the reference data to the object data; and

determining that the person is hiding an object based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal generator is configured to produce signals at frequencies from about 15 KHz to about 500 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

an aiming device to assist in aiming the transmitted acoustic/ultrasonic signal in the target area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the aiming device is at least one of a laser or an optical device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object indicator includes an audible indication.

6. The method claim 1, wherein the electrical signal created by the signal generator is a digital pulse.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert the digital pulse into an analog electrical signal.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the received electrical signal into a digital signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic/ultrasonic transducer has a bandwidth of 5 KHz or greater.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic/ultrasonic antenna aperture is configured to receive an acoustic/ultrasonic signal reflected from an object in the target area.