Granted Patent B2

US 12,656,522 · App. 18/487,434 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventor: Edward James Morton (Guildford, GB)

Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.

G01V5/223G01V5/222G01V5/224

Abstract

Claims (33)

1 . An inspection system comprising:

a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is at least one of a laser, a GPS device, a video camera, an X-ray scanner, an infrared imaging system, a radio frequency antenna, a wide band antenna, a chemical sensor, a license plate recognition system, or an audio microphone and wherein the first sensor is configured to generate first data;

a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is at least one of the laser, the GPS device, the video camera, the X-ray scanner, the infrared imaging system, the radio frequency antenna, the wide band antenna, the chemical sensor, the license plate recognition system, or the audio microphone, wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate second data; and

a processor configured to receive the first data from the first sensor and the second data from the second sensor, to process the first data and the second data in order to determine a degree of correlation and a presence of one or more risks associated with the first data and the second data, and, based on determining the presence of the one or more risks, to generate a threat alarm.

2 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the video camera is configured to capture and detect license plate data.

3 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency antenna is a directional radio frequency antenna.

4 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to analyze the first data and the second data in real-time.

5 . The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising an operator station, wherein the operator station is remote from the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive data indicative of a highlighted threat item.

6 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are coupled to a common housing.

7 . The inspection system of claim 6 , wherein the housing is a vehicle.

8 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is coupled to a housing and wherein a collimator is positioned proximate to said housing.

9 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the infrared imaging system and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a temperature of persons who are proximate the inspection system.

10 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the radio frequency antenna and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a presence of electronic devices.

11 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the wide band antenna and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of communications across one or more communication channels.

12 . The inspection system of claim 11 , wherein the communications include text messages.

13 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the chemical sensor and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a composition of air around the inspection system.

14 . The inspection system of claim 13 , wherein the chemical sensor is configured to detect trace quantities of explosives or narcotics.

15 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to access a law enforcement database to check data from the license plate recognition system.

16 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the audio microphone, wherein at least one of the first data or the second data is audio data, and wherein the processor is configured to analyze the audio data for information related to a threat.

17 . The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising a jamming device configured to block mobile phone communications.

18 . The inspection system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically activate the jamming device based on the determined presence of the one or more risks.

19 . The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is at least one of the laser, the GPS device, the video camera, the X-ray scanner, the infrared imaging system, the radio frequency antenna, the wide band antenna, the chemical sensor, the license plate recognition system, or the audio microphone, wherein the third sensor is different from the first sensor and different from the second sensor and wherein the third sensor is configured to generate third data.

20 . The inspection system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the third data from the third sensor and process the third data with the first data and the second data in order to determine said degree of correlation and the presence of the one or more risks associated with the first data, the second data, and the third data, and, based on determining the presence of the one or more risks, to generate said threat alarm.

21 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the video camera is configured to pan, tilt, and/or zoom in order to capture images from multiple directions around the inspection system.

22 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to analyze images to identify container codes associated with cargo.

23 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the laser is configured to generate a two-dimensional image of a scene surrounding the inspection system.

24 . The inspection system of claim 23 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a start time and an end time of an inspection of an object based on output from the laser.

25 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is the infrared imaging system and wherein the infrared imaging system is configured to detect temperature anomalies indicative of stress or concealed threat items.

26 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the audio microphone is configured to pan or tilt and is configured to determine a direction of origin of detected audio signals based on correlation with data from the video camera or the infrared imaging system.

27 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises an automated detection processor configured to highlight potential threat items for review by a human operator.

28 . The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to store the first data and the second data for subsequent review.

29 . The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication module configured to broadcast surveillance data to a remote location in real time.

30 . The inspection system of claim 29 , further comprising a secure wireless communication interface configured to permit two-way communication between an operator and the remote location.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (400)