Inspection system for limited access spaces

• US 20040057042A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S.T.I. Security Technology Integration Ltd.
• Original Assignee: S.T.I. Security Technology Integration Ltd.
• Inventors: Ovadia, Yuval
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/237.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/889 providing a bare video image, i.e. without visual measurement aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/95615 with stored comparision signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/022 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/20 by using diffraction of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating crystal structure; by using scattering of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating non-crystalline materials; by using reflection of the radiation by the materials

Abstract

A limited access space inspection system comprising: an imaging device for imaging a region in the limited access space, a mounting for mounting the imaging device to scan about the limited access space and a scanning control unit, associated with the imaging device, for controlling the imaging device to scan about the limited access space. The device is particularly useful for improving by automation, security checks customs checks and safety checks involving such awkward to access spaces.

Claims

1. A limited access space inspection system comprising;

an imaging device for imaging a region in said limited access space,

a mounting for mounting said imaging device to be scannable about said limited access space and

a scanning control unit, associated with said imaging device, for controlling said imaging device to scan about said limited access space.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a protective housing for protecting said imaging device from the environment by interposing between at least said imaging device and said region to be imaged.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said protective housing comprises a transparent region located between said imaging device and said region to be imaged.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said transparent region comprises laminated glass.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said laminated glass is triplex laminated glass.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said mounting is a floor mounting for mounting said imaging device at floor level.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said mounting comprises a camera track for movably bearing said imaging device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said mounting comprises guide tracks for guiding a vehicle thereover, an underside of said vehicle thereby forming said limited access space.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said mounting is a flush floor mounting for insertion into a floor cavity.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source for providing illumination to said limited access space.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display output for providing a display signal.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising an image processor, located between said imaging device and said display output to process images from said imaging device prior to output.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said image processor is operable to compare a current image of said region with a previous image to detect differences therebetween.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein said imaging device is linearly movable along said camera track, is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said track, and is further rotatable about an axis parallel to said track.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said scanning control unit is controllable by at least one of direct user input and by preprogramming, to scan said imaging device about said limited access space.

16. A vehicle underside inspection system comprising:

a floor mounted track,

an imaging device mounted on said floor track to be linearly movable along said floor track, and

a display output, associated with said imaging device, for providing a display signal of output of said imaging device.

17. The System of claim 16, further comprising a scanning controller fir controlling said imaging device to scan an imaging region over said floor track.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said imaging device is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said floor track, and is further rotatable about an axis parallel to said floor track.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said floor mounted track comprises an outer housing and wherein said imaging device is sealed within said Outer housing.

20. A method of scanning a limited access space, the method comprising:

interpolating a linear track into said space, said linear track having an imaging device movably mounted thereon, and

moving said imaging device along said track, thereby to scan said space.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said interpolating said linear track into said space comprises locating a vehicle over said track, an underside of said vehicle forming said limited access space.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising interpolating an illumination source into said space.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said linear track is flush with a floor.