Handheld and imbedded devices to detect sticky devices using magnets

• US 8,594,979 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icove & Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Icove & Associates LLC
• Inventors: Icove, David J., Lyster, Carl T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schecter, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): STIFTER JR, TERENCE E
• Application Number:
  US13/006,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 702/189, 324/207.2, 324/244, 324/253, 324/326
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for detecting concealed personal security threats may comprise conventional mirrors and less conventional arrays of Hall-effect sensors, soft iron cores, magnetometers and the like, preferably at least two axis sensors. The concealed personal security threats may comprise, for example, sticky devices consisting of geographic position sensors for covertly broadcasting motor vehicle location data, of so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IED'"'"'s) which may be covertly or openly affixed to, for example, the undercarriages of motor vehicles using strong magnets and later exploded, the former giving away private location information without the knowledge of a driver or passengers and the latter causing damage to the motor vehicles to which they are affixed and potentially harming a driver, passengers and nearby persons and sticky containers for hiding items among other sticky devices. A sticky container may be used to contain, for example, a vehicle ignition key or contraband. Magnetic fields detected by, for example, arrays of Hall-effect sensors, soft iron cores, magnetometers and the like may be quantified and stored in processor memory as a vehicle magnetic field signature. A processor receiving magnetic field data collected by the arrays may retrieve and subtract known signatures from newly acquired magnetic field data for a given vehicle to obtain location for a magnetic field on the vehicle that may be of potential interest as a harm risk and for personal security.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising a magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of a sticky device, the sticky device configured to adhere to a portion of a vehicle, the handheld mirror assembly adapted to be handheld and comprising the magnetic field sensor, the mirror assembly comprising

a pole having a mirror affixed to one end at an angle to the pole, the mirror reflecting light received from above toward the other end of the pole, the other end of the pole for providing a means for hand holding the pole and having a display attached thereto;

a Hall-effect sensor coupled to the display for sensing the presence of a magnetic field of a sticky device when in proximity of the sticky device, the Hall-effect sensor imbedded behind the center of the mirror, the display indicating the presence of a suspect magnetic field proximate to the mirror and the Hall-effect sensor and

a power supply for powering the sensor and display.

2. The mirror assembly according to claim 1 comprising an array of Hall-effect sensors embedded behind the mirror and associated display elements of the display such that an outline of a suspect magnetic field may be displayed upon an actuation of a portion of the array of Hall-effect sensors.

3. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, the mirror to which the Hall-effect sensor is mounted being circular, the mirror for reflecting a vehicle portion toward the other end of the pole simultaneously with magnetic field sensing.

4. The mirror assembly according to claim 1 funned as a rectangular array of at least four Hall-effect sensors for mounting at the center of the mirror, the pole being adapted for holding the mirror with an imbedded rectangular array across a roof of a vehicle and for locating a sticky device on the vehicle roof.

5. The mirror assembly according to claim 4 further comprising

a memory for storing a vehicle magnetic field signature according to make, model and year of manufacture of the vehicle,

a processor for distinguishing between a stored magnetic field signature for identifying the vehicle and magnetic field data for a suspect magnetic field, and

a display for indicating the suspect magnetic field of the sticky device as distinguished from the vehicle.

6. The band-held mirror assembly of claim 5 further comprising a radio frequency detection device for detecting transmissions to the sticky device.

7. The hand-held mirror assembly of claim 5 further comprising one of a black scale and chromatic camera for detecting color distinctions in a typically black vehicle undercarriage.

8. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, the Hall-effect sensor comprising at least a two axis sensor, the axes being at a predetermined angle to one another.

9. The hand-held mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a light for use with the mirror, the light being attached to the pole at the other end.

10. The hand-held mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the Hall-effect sensor comprises one of a two-axis sensor and a sensor with structures at 90°

rotation to one another on a single die.

11. A vehicle roof inspection system comprising a horizontal portion of a frame, the frame having a plurality of flexible strips hanging from the horizontal portion in a line, each flexible strip containing a Hall-effect sensor at the end of the strip adapted for scanning a roof of a vehicle passing through the frame, the Hall-effect sensors for sensing a magnetic field of the vehicle roof as the vehicle passes through the frame, a known vehicle signature being retrieved from processor memory for comparison with the sensed magnetic field to determine the presence of a suspect magnetic field on the vehicle roof indicative of a presence of a sticky device.