Handheld devices and structures to detect sticky devices having magnets
First Claim
1. A magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of a sticky device configured to adhere to a portion of a vehicle, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
- a plurality of Hall-effect sensors formed as an array of Hall-effect sensors for mounting across a pavement, a portion of the Hall-effect sensors being mounted on vertical, flexible, hollow poles to reach from the pavement toward a vehicle undercarriage, a vehicle crossing the array causing the array to output a vehicle magnetic field signature, the plurality of Hall-effect sensors coupled to a display for sensing the presence of a magnetic field of a sticky device when in proximity of the sticky device, the display comprising a plurality of elements corresponding in position to the respective positions of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors indicating the presence of the magnetic field of the sticky device, the plurality of Hall-effect sensors being located spatially distanced from one another anda power supply for powering the sensors and display elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for detecting concealed personal security threats may comprise conventional mirrors and less conventional arrays of Hall-effect sensors and/or magnetometers, preferably at least two axis or three axis sensors or sensors mounted back-to-back. The concealed personal security threats may comprise, for example, sticky devices consisting of geographic position sensors for covertly broadcasting motor vehicle location data, of so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IED'"'"'s) which may be covertly or openly affixed to, for example, the undercarriages of motor vehicles using strong magnets and later exploded, the former giving away private location information, the latter causing damage to the motor vehicles to which they are affixed and sticky containers for hiding contraband among other “sticky devices.” Magnetic fields detected by, for example, arrays of Hall-effect sensors and the like may be quantified and stored in processor memory as a vehicle magnetic field signature. A processor receiving magnetic field data collected by the arrays may retrieve and subtract known signatures from acquired magnetic field data for a given vehicle to obtain location for a magnetic field on the vehicle that may be of potential interest as a risk.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of a sticky device configured to adhere to a portion of a vehicle, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
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a plurality of Hall-effect sensors formed as an array of Hall-effect sensors for mounting across a pavement, a portion of the Hall-effect sensors being mounted on vertical, flexible, hollow poles to reach from the pavement toward a vehicle undercarriage, a vehicle crossing the array causing the array to output a vehicle magnetic field signature, the plurality of Hall-effect sensors coupled to a display for sensing the presence of a magnetic field of a sticky device when in proximity of the sticky device, the display comprising a plurality of elements corresponding in position to the respective positions of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors indicating the presence of the magnetic field of the sticky device, the plurality of Hall-effect sensors being located spatially distanced from one another and a power supply for powering the sensors and display elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of a sticky device, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
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a plurality of Hall-effect sensors coupled to a display for sensing the presence of a magnetic field of the sticky device when one of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors is proximate to the sticky device, the display comprising a plurality of display elements corresponding in relative position to the respective positions of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors, the one of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors sensing the presence of the magnetic field, and a mirror to which the plurality of Hall-effect sensors are mounted, the mirror for viewing a vehicle portion simultaneously with magnetic field sensing, the mirror having a centrally located Hall-effect sensor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of a sticky device configured to be attached to a vehicle, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
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a processor and a plurality of hall-effect sensors for detecting the presence of the magnetic field, the plurality of sensors for mounting linearly across a vehicle path and on a frame surrounding the sides and roof of the vehicle, the sensors collecting magnetic field data as a vehicle passes over the linearly mounted sensors and through the frame for comparison with expected magnetic field data for a particular make, model and year of manufacture of a vehicle, a portion of the sensors being mounted on vertically oriented flexible poles moveable to an identified vehicle height above the vehicle path by electric motors under control of the processor and operated responsive to a vehicle identification input via an input device to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification