Infrared concealed object detection enhanced with closed-loop control of illumination by.mmw energy
First Claim
1. An active infrared sensor apparatus comprising:
- an imaging infrared sensor configured to output time-sequential images of a scene which includes a subject;
a beam generator configured to generate a millimeter wave energy beam; and
a processor configured to;
store a first infrared image of the scene from the imaging infrared sensor in a memory, the first infrared image identifying an initial temperature distribution within the subject prior to illumination of the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam;
cause the beam generator to illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam to thereby create an altered temperature distribution within the subject;
obtain a second infrared image of the scene from the imaging infrared sensor, the second infrared image identifying the altered temperature distribution within the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam;
identify differences between the first and second infrared images to determine how the millimeter wave energy beam changes the temperature distribution within the subject; and
cause the beam generator to stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject caused by the millimeter wave energy beam equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature change limit.
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Abstract
An active infrared sensor may include an imaging infrared sensor to provide an output signal conveying time-sequential infrared images of a scene which includes a subject, a beam generator to generate a millimeter wave energy beam, and a processor. An initial infrared image of the scene may be stored in a memory. After storing the initial infrared image, the beam generator may illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam. A temperature change across the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam may be estimated based on the output signal and the stored initial infrared image. The beam generator may stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject is at least equal to a predetermined temperature change limit.
28 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An active infrared sensor apparatus comprising:
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an imaging infrared sensor configured to output time-sequential images of a scene which includes a subject; a beam generator configured to generate a millimeter wave energy beam; and a processor configured to; store a first infrared image of the scene from the imaging infrared sensor in a memory, the first infrared image identifying an initial temperature distribution within the subject prior to illumination of the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam; cause the beam generator to illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam to thereby create an altered temperature distribution within the subject; obtain a second infrared image of the scene from the imaging infrared sensor, the second infrared image identifying the altered temperature distribution within the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam; identify differences between the first and second infrared images to determine how the millimeter wave energy beam changes the temperature distribution within the subject; and cause the beam generator to stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject caused by the millimeter wave energy beam equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature change limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A method for capturing infrared images, comprising:
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storing a first infrared image of a scene from an imaging infrared sensor, the first infrared image identifying an initial temperature distribution within a subject in the scene prior to illumination of the subject with a millimeter wave energy beam; illuminating the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam to thereby create an altered temperature distribution within the subject; obtaining a second infrared image of the scene from the imaging infrared sensor, the second infrared image identifying the altered temperature distribution within the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam; identifying differences between the first and second infrared images to determine how the millimeter wave energy beam changes the temperature distribution within the subject; and discontinuing illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject caused by the millimeter wave energy beam equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature change limit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
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storing a first infrared image of a scene, the first infrared image identifying an initial temperature distribution within a subject in the scene prior to illumination of the subject with a millimeter wave energy beam; initiating the illumination of the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam to thereby create an altered temperature distribution within the subject; obtaining a second infrared image of the scene, the second infrared image identifying the altered temperature distribution within the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam; identifying differences between the first and second infrared images to determine how the millimeter wave energy beam changes the temperature distribution within the subject; and discontinuing illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject caused by the millimeter wave energy beam equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature change limit.
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Specification