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Target odor detection and security apparatus

  • US 8,671,737 B2
  • Filed: 02/17/2011
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A security apparatus comprising:

  • a screening station including a screening zone defined between an ingress portal and an egress portal of the screening station for an odor emitter to pass through the screening zone;

    a first remote observation room;

    a second remote observation room;

    a conduit including a first end and a second end, the conduit attached adjacent the screening station proximate the first end and attached adjacent the first remote observation room proximate the second end, wherein gas can flow freely through the conduit from the screening station screening zone to the first remote observation room;

    the conduit further including a third end, the conduit attached adjacent the second observation room proximal the third end, wherein gas can flow freely through the conduit from the screening station screening zone to the second observation room;

    a first animate odor detector located in the first remote observation room and trained to identify at least one target odor;

    an airflow inducer for inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through the conduit, and to the first remote observation room to entrain odors in the first remote observation room that were emitted in the screening zone so that the first animate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen the odors for one or more target odors;

    a second animate odor detector located in the second observation room and trained to identify at least one target odor that is different from the target odor the first animate odor detector is screening for;

    the airflow inducer further for inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through the conduit, and to the second observation room to entrain odors in the second observation room that were emitted in the screening zone so that the second animate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors for screening the odors for one or more target odorsthe first remote observation room further comprising an engagement apparatus including a sensing device attached adjacent thereto, wherein the sensing device is in communication with an event indicator, and wherein the first and second animate odor detectors are trained to engage the engagement apparatus if either of the first or second animate odor detectors sense a target odor wherein a pre-set amount of engagement with the engagement apparatus triggers the sensing device, which, in turn, triggers the event indicator to indicate that a target odor has been detected;

    a first door for closing the ingress portal and a second door for closing the egress portal;

    a lock system including a first lock for locking the first door and a second lock for locking the second door;

    a control system in communication with the sensing device and the lock system for controlling the lock status of the first door and the second door based at least in part on information sent from the sensing device to the control system wherein the control system is programmed such that a triggering event initiated by the first animate odor detector will result in a first control response and a triggering event initiated by the second animate odor detector will result in a second control response, wherein the first control response is different from the second control response.

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