Motor vehicle screening apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In combination,at least one weight transducer for measuring a weight of a vehicle,data entry means for selecting vehicle identification information and categories of contents of said vehicle,a memory containing weight values for each selection available from said data entry means,means for retrieving weight values from said memory in response to said data entry means,means for computing an excess weight value in response to said weight transducer and at least one weight value, andmeans for adaptively altering weight values in said memory corresponding to categories of vehicle contents.
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Abstract
Vehicles are screened by weight for the presence of concealed explosive material, weapons, contraband and/or personnel by retrieving weight values for vehicles and categories of occupants and contents based on operator input and subtracting those values, as selections are made by an operator, from a measured vehicle weight. Excess weight is then compared to a specified tolerance, and the vehicle may be cleared or other appropriate action taken, including automatic control of movable barriers. The estimate of a weight value for various categories of vehicle occupants is adaptively altered to improve screening accuracy.
26 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In combination,
at least one weight transducer for measuring a weight of a vehicle, data entry means for selecting vehicle identification information and categories of contents of said vehicle, a memory containing weight values for each selection available from said data entry means, means for retrieving weight values from said memory in response to said data entry means, means for computing an excess weight value in response to said weight transducer and at least one weight value, and means for adaptively altering weight values in said memory corresponding to categories of vehicle contents.
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11. A method of screening vehicles including the steps of
determining a total weight of a vehicle and contents of said vehicle, retrieving a first weight value from memory based on an identification of the vehicle, retrieving at least one second weight value from memory based on occupants and other contents of said vehicle, deducting said first weight value and said second weight value from said total weight value to determine and excess weight value, and adaptively altering said at least one second weight value.
Specification