Security body scanner employing radiant energy and associated detecting method
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a method for detecting (S) a target object using a detector (I) employing radiant energy, comprising the following steps: SI: placing an individual to be inspected in a first position within the detector (I); S2: acquiring first signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the first position; S3: placing the individual to be inspected in a second position within the detector (I), the second position being different from the first position; and S4: acquiring second signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the second position: and S5: on the basis of the first signals and of the second signals, producing an electronic image so as to determine whether the individual to be inspected is carrying, wearing or bearing a target object.
1 . A detection method for detecting a target object using a detector employing radiant energy,
the detecting method comprising the following steps:
S1: placing an individual to be inspected in a first position within a passage between two side panels of a detector, wherein the side panels are symmetrical with respect to a central plane of symmetry of the detector;
S2: acquiring first signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the first position;
S3: placing the individual to be inspected in a second position within the passage between the two side panels of the detector, wherein in one of the first and second positions, the individual to be inspected is placed facing one of the side panels and leaves his arms along his body or spreads his arms in the central plane, and in another of the first and second positions, the individual to be inspected is placed perpendicular to the two side panels and moves his arms at a distance from his body so as to place them in front of him or on the sides, at shoulder height;
S4: acquiring second signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the second position; and
S5: on the basis of the first signals and the second signals, producing an electronic image so as to investigate whether the individual to be inspected is carrying a target object.
2 . The detection method according to claim 1 , further comprising, prior to step S3, a step of sending instructions to the individual to be inspected to make the individual to be inspected move from the first position to the second position.
3 . The detection method according to claim 2 , wherein the instructions comprise at least one of visual instructions and audible instructions.
4 . The detection method according to claim 2 , wherein the instructions are sent by a central processing unit of the detector.
5 . The detection method of claim 2 , wherein the individual to be inspected is instructed orally by an operator or by audible instructions from the detector.
6 . The detection method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of processing by a central processing unit the first signals and the second signals so as to detect a target object carried by the individual to be inspected.
7 . The detection method according to claim 6 , wherein the first signals are transmitted to the central processing unit prior to step S4.
8 . The detection method according to claim 7 , wherein the first signals are processed during all or part of steps S3 and S4.
9 . The detection method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step wherein the central processing unit combines the first signals and the second signals so as to generate a single electronic image of the individual to be inspected.
10 . The detection method of claim 1 , wherein acquisition of signals representative of a radiant energy is only performed during steps S1 and S3, and no acquisition is performed during movement of the individual to be inspected between the first position and the second position.
11 . A detector comprising:
two opposite side panels fixed relative to each other and together delimiting a passage;
radiant energy transducers housed in at least one of the side panels; and
a central processing unit configured to send instructions to an individual to be inspected placed in the passage so as to:
place the individual to be inspected in a first position within the passage between the two side panels of the detector;
acquire first signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the first position;
place the individual to be inspected in a second position within the passage between the two side panels of the detector, wherein in one of the first and second positions, the individual to be inspected is placed facing one of the side panels and leaves his arms along his body or spreads his arms in the central plane, and in another of the first and second positions, the individual to be inspected is placed perpendicular to the two side panels and moves his arms at a distance from his body so as to place them in front of him or on the sides, at shoulder height;
acquire second signals representative of a radiant energy when the individual to be inspected is in the second position; and
on the basis of the first signals and the second signals, produce an electronic image so as to investigate whether the individual to be inspected is carrying a target object.
12 . The detector according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one of a visual indicator and an audible indicator, the central processing unit being configured to send instructions to the at least one of the visual indicator and the audible indicator to instruct an individual to be inspected move from the first position to the second position.
13 . The detector according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the visual indicator and the audible indicator comprises at least one of the following indicators:
one or more lights placed in a platform extending between the side panels;
a projector configured to project one or more images onto the platform and/or onto at least one side panel; and
a loudspeaker configured to emit an audible message for the attention of the individual to be inspected.
14 . The detector according to claim 11 , wherein the side panels each have an internal face facing the opposite side panel, said internal faces being curved.
15 . The detector according to claim 11 , wherein the radiant energy transducers include microwave antennas.
16 . The detector according to claim 11 , wherein the two side panels are symmetrical with respect to a central plane of symmetry of the detector.
17 . The detector according to claim 16 , wherein, in one of the first and second positions, legs of the individual to be inspected are substantially parallel to the central plane, and in the other of the first and second positions, legs of the individual to be inspected are substantially perpendicular to the central plane.
18 . The detector of claim 11 , further comprising a platform configured to receive an individual to be inspected, the platform and the panels being fixed with respect to each other.
19 . The detector of claim 11 , wherein the central processing unit is configured to produce the electronic image on the basis of the first signals and the second signals only, without signals acquired during movement of the individual to be inspected between the first position and the second position.