System and method of communicating information about an object concealed by a scanned surface

• US 8,903,149 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
• Inventors: Noujeim, Karam
• Primary Examiner(s): BHATNAGAR, ANAND P
• Application Number:
  US13/745,390
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/128, 382/129, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 128/922, 378 4- 27, 250/271, 250/336.1, 250/339.06, 250/337.11, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/05 Recognition of patterns representing particular kinds of hidden objects, e.g. weapons, explosives, drugs

Abstract

A system for communicating information about one or both of an object with a scanned surface and an object at least partially concealed by the scanned surface comprises a scanner and a projector. The scanner is adapted to scan the surface to obtain information that is unattainable through visual observation. The projector is adapted to project an image related to the obtained information onto the scanned surface. The projected image is a dynamic image that is mapped in substantially real-time to a location on the scanned surface from or through which the information is obtained.

Claims

1. A system for communicating information about one or both of an object with a scanned surface and an object at least partially concealed by the scanned surface, comprising:

a scanner adapted to scan the surface to obtain information that is unattainable through visual observation;

a projector adapted to project an image related to the obtained information onto the scanned surface; and

wherein the projected image is a dynamic image that is mapped in substantially real-time to a location on the scanned surface from or through which the information is obtained.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner is one of a microwave-based scanner and an x-ray-based scanner.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the scanner is a handheld millimeter wave scanner.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the scanner is a backscatter x-ray scanner.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein

the information obtained identifies a feature of the object with the scanned surface, and

the projected image is an enhanced visual representation of the feature.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the enhanced visual representation of the feature is one or both of upscaled in size and falsely colored.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein

the information obtained includes a shape of an object at least partially concealed by the scanned surface, and

the projected image is a visual representation of the object.

8. A method for communicating information about one or both of an object with a scanned surface and an object at least partially concealed by the scanned surface, comprising:

scanning the surface of using a scanner adapted to obtain information that is unattainable through visual observation;

projecting an image related to the obtained information onto the scanned surface using a projector; and

wherein the projected image is a dynamic image that is mapped in substantially real-time to a location on the scanned surface from or through which the information is obtained.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the scanner is one of a microwave-based scanner and an x-ray-based scanner.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the scanner is a handheld millimeter wave scanner.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the scanner is a backscatter x-ray scanner.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein

the information obtained identifies a feature of the object with the scanned surface, and

the projected image is an enhanced visual representation of the feature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the enhanced visual representation of the feature is one or both of upscaled in size and falsely colored.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein

the information obtained includes a shape of an object at least partially concealed by the scanned surface, and

the projected image is a visual representation of the object.