Integrated portable checkpoint system

• US 8,731,137 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arroyo, Luis E. Jr., Kotowski, Andreas F., Kumar, Siva, Kant, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US13/035,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,179 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/62, 52/798
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/165 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by the object or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/223 Mixed interrogation beams, e.g. using more than one type of radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/226 using tomography

Abstract

The present specification discloses a portable system for inspecting objects. The system includes a housing adapted to be carried by a vehicle, which houses a metal detector and an X-ray scanner and further includes a deployable boom positioned on a top surface of the housing. Operationally, the system is transported to a location, persons or objects are inspected by the metal detector or X-ray scanner and the boom is deployed to inspect external cargo. The integrated portable checkpoint system provides security screening and inspection equipment with increased operational capabilities in one fully integrated package.

Claims

1. A system for inspecting objects comprising:

a housing adapted to be carried by a vehicle, wherein said housing comprises a length extending from a position proximal to a cab of said vehicle to a position distal to said cab, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of walls, including a first end wall proximal to said cab, a second end wall distal to said cab and opposing the first end wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposing the first side wall, each of said first side wall and second side wall extending from the first end wall to the second end wall, wherein the first end wall, first side wall and second side wall define a first enclosed internal volume, wherein the second end wall, first side wall and second side wall define a second enclosed internal volume, which is separated from said first enclosed internal volume by an interior wall, and wherein the second enclosed internal volume comprises an entrance and an exit located on the first side wall, said entrance being proximate the interior wall, said exit being proximate the second end wall, and said entrance and exit defining a pathway through the second internal volume, and wherein a portion of said plurality of walls comprise reinforced steel;

a metal detector positioned along the pathway within the second enclosed internal volume;

a X-ray scanner positioned along the pathway within the second enclosed internal volume and proximate to said metal detector; and

a control system in data communication with said metal detector and said X-ray scanner, wherein said control system is positioned within said first enclosed internal volume.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a system for non-invasively inspecting a human body scanner.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said human body scanner is X-ray based or millimeter wave based.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a deployable boom, having a length and a width, positioned on a top surface of said housing and external to said first and second enclosed volumes.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said boom comprises a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said top surface has an area defined by a periphery and wherein the length and width of the boom does not extend beyond said periphery when said boom is in an undeployed state.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said boom forms an inspection volume when deployed.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said inspection volume is defined by the first vertical portion, the horizontal portion, and the second vertical portion, and wherein each of said first vertical portion, the horizontal portion, and the second vertical portion extend beyond said periphery.

9. A system for inspecting objects comprising:

a first housing, defining a first enclosed internal volume and having a first top surface, wherein said first housing encloses at least one of a first metal detector or a first X-ray scanner positioned within the first enclosed internal volume and wherein said first housing is adapted to be carried by a vehicle;

a second housing, defining a second enclosed internal volume and having a second top surface, wherein said second housing encloses at least one of a second metal detector or a second X-ray scanner positioned within the second enclosed internal volume and said second housing is adapted to be carried by the vehicle;

a towing mechanism configured to couple the first housing to the second housing;

a transition cabin positioned over said towing mechanism and adapted to permit a person to move between the first housing and second housing; and

a control system in data communication with a) said first metal detector and/or said first X-ray scanner and b) said second metal detector and/or said second X-ray scanner.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a deployable boom, having a length and a width, positioned on the first or second top surface and external to the first and second enclosed internal volumes.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said boom comprises a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said first and second top surfaces each have an area defined by a periphery and wherein the length and width of the boom does not extend beyond said periphery of the first or second top surfaces when the boom is in an undeployed state.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said boom forms an inspection volume when deployed.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a system for non-invasively inspecting a human body scanner.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said human body scanner is X-ray based or millimeter wave based.