Target odor detection and security apparatus
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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Abstract
A target odor detection apparatus and system configured to temporarily house one or more animate odor detectors for screening air passed across odor emitters or conveyances that pass through the target odor detection apparatus. Various types of sensor technologies are incorporated in certain embodiments to provide consistent detection results by, inter alia, consistently interpreting trained signals from animate odor detectors. Various communication technologies are incorporated in certain embodiments to provide enhanced control over an apparatus or system located in multiple and, in some cases, very distant, geographic locations.
55 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A security apparatus comprising:
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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 odors the 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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2. A security apparatus comprising:
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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; an observation room; an enclosed passageway defining a transfer zone between the screening zone and the observation room; an animate odor detector located in the observation room and trained to identify at least one target odor; and an airflow inducer for inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through the transfer zone, and to the observation room to entrain odors in the observation room that were emitted in the screening zone so that the animate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen the odors for one or more target odors, wherein the observation room further comprises an engagement apparatus including a sensing device attached adjacent thereto, wherein the sensing device is in communication with an event indicator, and wherein the animate odor detector is trained to engage the engagement apparatus if the animate odor detector senses 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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mobile security apparatus comprising:
a vehicle comprising a screening chamber including a screening zone defined therein, the screening chamber including a portal through which an odor emitter can enter to be screened for one or more target odors; an observation chamber; an enclosed passageway defining a transfer zone between the screening zone and the observation chamber; an animate odor detector located in the observation chamber and trained to identify at least one target odor; and an airflow inducer for inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through the transfer zone, and to the observation chamber to entrain odors in the observation chamber that were emitted in the screening zone so that the animate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen the odors for one or more target odors, an engagement apparatus including a sensing device attached adjacent thereto, wherein the sensing device is in communication with an event indicator, and wherein the animate odor detector is trained to engage the engagement apparatus if the animate odor detector senses 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. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An animate odor detector enclosure apparatus for temporarily housing an animate odor detector during a security screening session to screen air for the presence of a target odor, the enclosure apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of substantially nonporous walls; an air inlet where during a screening session, air that has passed from a screening zone enters the enclosure apparatus; an air baffle attached adjacent one or more of the walls wherein air entering the enclosure apparatus is directed to a bottom portion of the air baffle to pass by the air baffle and into an observation zone; an egress portion of the enclosure apparatus including one or more egress apertures through which air passes to leave the enclosure apparatus during a security screening session, where the total cross-sectional area of the air inlet is greater than the total cross-sectional area of the one or more egress apertures to create a positive pressure in the enclosure apparatus relative to the surrounding air during a security screening session; and an engagement apparatus including a sensing device attached adjacent thereto, wherein the sensing device is in communication with an event indicator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification