RU2517779C2 - Subject examination system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to examination of people with application of radiation. Proposed system comprises cabin (10) with analysis zone (16) to accommodate subject (P) to be examined and frame (30) arranged inside said cabin (10). Note here that said frame (30) has hollow part (32) and multiple sensors (31) arranged at said frame (30). Note here that every sensor allows data acquisition from hollow part (32) and generates signals describing said data. Drive (20) is used to displace frame (30) inside cabin (10). Note here that displacement of hollow part (32) by displacement of frame (30) defines its efficient area (33). Note that said analysis zone makes the part of said efficient area. Processing device (60) analyses the signals generated by every said sensor (31) to disclose suspected objects in said analysis zone (16).

EFFECT: examination of human being by multiple sensors, efficient detection of suspected object on human being body without imaging his/her naked outline.

29 cl, 10 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of combating theft of property, and in a more general aspect to the field of inspection of the subject in order to prevent the illegal removal and entry of objects of various types into controlled buildings. In the future, along with the term “subject”, such terms as “person”, “person”, “verified”, “searched”, etc. are used in a similar sense.

State of the art

The forecast of the possible development of technology in this area in recent years has predicted that when constructing new security checkpoints at the entrance and exit of buildings, the use of remote detection technologies is promising, in which, using remote sensing devices, people could be searched with a minimum of contact or no contact with the subject at all.

In reality, such remote technologies are difficult to implement, since serious physical problems are in the way of detecting possible objects of interest. These problems are associated with the small amounts of materials that must be detected, compared with the mass / surface of the human body and a wide variety of limiting conditions (position, shape, volume of the object and body). And the only effective solution that can be applied in the work, as before, is to bring sensitive devices closer to the human body.

On figa shows the inspection item of the traditional scheme, which are currently used.

The person P to be inspected is asked to put his / her personal belongings on the X-ray transporter, as well as coats, a jacket, wallets and all large metal objects (i.e. cameras, players, cell phones, etc.). After this first operation, the face passes through the metal detector frame, which is configured to detect possible metal objects, even small ones.

The metal detector frame cannot detect objects that do not contain metal, therefore, according to the inspection requirements, in order to complete the verification procedure, several technologies have to be used in turn, for example, manual palpation, manual collection of particles from the body surface and their subsequent analysis on a benchtop analyzer.

According to fig.1b, the detection of radioactive substances can be carried out using hand-held instruments or, more efficiently, through additional specialized frameworks.

In some places special cabins are installed, the operation of which is based on the same principle as that of a desktop analyzer. The person to be inspected stops inside the cabin, and the suction system creates a strong airflow around his / her body. The collected particles are analyzed by a mass spectrometer in order to detect the desired substances even in minimal quantities.

On figs presents a diagram of an inspection point equipped with a recently proposed for use microwave scanner, which should be used in series with the frame of the metal detector. The microwave scanner is based on devices that form images in the microwave range. A person is scanned using two vertical linear antenna arrays rotating around his / her body (around a vertical axis). In other designs, people are asked to rotate 360 ° around their axis in front of the sensitive panel. From a technical point of view, it is obvious that the use of several technologies is necessary, since a single sensor is not enough to measure those physical quantities that are involved in the process of detecting all possible materials to be searched.

On the other hand, an increase in the number of technologies used at security checkpoints creates significant problems associated with:

required space, because the premises available to the security service are limited in size and in many cases barely sufficient to accommodate a traditional set of equipment;

the number of workers who are needed to work with various devices, because a large number of detection devices require a larger number of specialized controllers to ensure the search process of a sufficiently large flow of people;

training of supervisors, because each unit of installed equipment requires special training for its application and planning for the years ahead of the corresponding retraining process.

The above problems entail an increase in the cost of operations, but most of all - the planning of an inspection point becomes critical. The point is oversaturated with equipment, it becomes difficult to work with it because of the complexity of the procedures, which is the reason for the increased probability of errors.

In addition, the use of microwave scanners gives rise to ethical problems and problems of personal rights associated with obtaining an image, since the person being analyzed appears there in the form of a contour in the nude. The possibility of using scanners for inspection has sparked discussion in the US and Europe.

Disclosure of invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above problems.

According to the invention, there is provided a subject screening system as described in claim 1.

According to the invention, the proposed system is additionally determined by the characteristics of claims 2 to 27 of the formula, which can be considered both individually and in any possible combinations.

The invention also relates to a method of using said system, which is described in claim 28 of the formula.

According to the invention, this method is further determined by the characteristics of clause 29 of the formula.

The invention provides many advantages.

In particular, the system of the present invention allows people to be examined for several possible items to be found within a few seconds and to significantly reduce the area of the inspection point allocated for such control.

The system also allows you to evaluate the location of the desired item on a person, without having to receive an image of his / her contour in a naked form.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figa-1C depict screening items corresponding to the existing level of technology;

figa in perspective projection, from the top point depicts the cabin corresponding to the present invention, in which the person to be inspected is located;

fig.2b in cross section, in a top view shows the cabin corresponding to the present invention, in which there is a person to be inspected;

3a1-3a4 illustrate the sounding of a person to be inspected in accordance with the present invention;

3b1-3b6 depict two consecutive sensing acts of two people to be inspected, in accordance with the present invention;

4 shows a cab with reference calibration sources corresponding to the present invention;

5 depicts a cabin with detection means according to the present invention, the purpose of which is to verify that the person to be examined has taken a pose that is optimal for analysis;

6 shows a cabin with detection means according to the present invention, the purpose of which is to verify that the person to be inspected is in a certain area;

7 depicts a cabin with a metal detector according to the invention;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a human search system according to the invention;

Fig. 9 depicts an inspection point using a human search system according to the invention;

10 schematically depicts a method for screening a person according to the invention.

The implementation of the invention

The system according to the invention allows people to be searched using simultaneously multiple sensors with the most effective geometry of their location. One of the objectives of the invention is to minimize the distance between the sensors and the surface of the human body.

At the same time, this invention, as will be understood from the following description, minimizes the space required for the deployment of the technologies necessary for inspection, solving the problem of the small areas that are provided in the halls of public or private buildings.

Another advantage of the invention lies in the fact that it integrates all the necessary sensors in a single supporting frame, significantly reducing the number of employees required for inspection, and the associated personnel costs. As a result of this integration, screening procedures will also be simplified and the likelihood of human error will be reduced.

An additional useful quality of the invention is that the mechanism under consideration will make it possible in the future to embed additional detection technologies without changing the fundamentals and logic of the mechanism itself.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that the person to be inspected will be kept in the search process for the shortest possible time with a minimum of inconvenience, and at the same time a high system throughput will be ensured. The person being examined will only be asked to stand in a pose that is optimal for analysis within a few seconds.

When proceeding with the description of the invention, it should first be recalled that during the search of each person a search should be made over the entire surface of his / her body.

In the most standard situation, with manual palpation, the controller starts from the upper body and moves down to the legs. At each height, the controller touches a person across the entire width of the body. The process is repeated two times, once touching the sides, then front and back. The entire inspection takes 30-40 seconds, while it is based on the ability of the controller to “feel” with his hands the presence of an excess object. The quality of such an inspection may suffer if the controller accidentally misses a part of the body or if the object is too small and thin to be found by hand feeling. In addition, such a process is an “act of interference” because it requires physical contact with the person being verified.

In any case, despite the inherent disadvantages of the method, manual palpation is the most effective procedure from the point of view of inspection time, since inspection is carried out sequentially along horizontal belts along the vertical (main) axis of the human body, thereby minimizing inspection time.

According to FIG. 8, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the facial inspection system generally comprises a plurality of sensors 31 located on the frame 30. The frame 30 is housed in the cab 10 (not shown in FIG. 8) and defines an analysis area 16 (not shown in Fig. 8), which is intended to accommodate the person to be inspected.

The system also includes an actuator 20 for moving the frame inside the cab. The amount of movement of the hollow part 32 of the frame determines the area 33 of the action of the frame (not shown in Fig. 8). Naturally, the analysis zone is included in the scope of the frame.

As the frame moves with the drive 20, the sensors collect information from the hollow portion 32 and generate signals that represent this information.

The processing device 60 analyzes the signals, trying to detect in them the possible presence of the desired objects in the analysis zone.

Several types of sensors 31, well known from open sources, can be successfully installed on the frame. They can be mounted on top of each other or next to each other so that several objects can be detected in one pass of the frame. Thus, these sensors are configured to collect information about different physical quantities and simultaneously read several possible signals from objects. They provide the reading of the characteristics of the human body in real time, while moving the frame.

Preferably, the plurality of sensors 31 include passive and active inductive sensors (311, 312), passive and active microwave sensors (313, 314), infrared sensors (315) or gamma sensors (316).

It is desirable that the design of the frame allows the installation of sensors other than electromagnetic, and so that the way the system works remains unchanged.

The processing device 60 is configured to combine the signals and determine the cross-correlation of the signals generated by the sensors and compare them with predetermined thresholds.

It is useful to visualize the analysis results through a controller on the interactive device 90. They can also be transferred to an external data network so that they can be accumulated in an external database or connected to other data from other detection systems.

The system also contains at least one reference calibration source C, which allows you to accurately calibrate the sensors and processing device, for example, before inspecting each new person.

Therefore, the interpretation of the signals by the processing device 60 is more accurate.

The system also includes analysis control means 70 that can start sensors at the right time and turn on actuator 20.

It is desirable that the interactive device 90 contains a manual analysis button B1 and an emergency button B2 that control the means 70, so that the controller can manually start the analysis and stop the analysis in case of a dangerous situation, for example, if the person being tested leaves the analysis zone 16 while the frame is moving (30 )

Next, with reference to figa and 2b will be described corresponding to the invention, the cabin 10 of the system.

In the preferred embodiment, the cabin has an entry side, an exit side and restrictive walls 15, so that person P must understand how to enter the cabin.

The cabin may also include an entrance door and an exit door.

In the cab 10 there is one or several guides 11, for example four, to set the direction of the frame 30 in the vertical direction when the frame is moved by the drive 20. The drive 20 can be, for example, screw type (contain spiral screws) or mechanized linear-axial type.

The frame 30 may be substantially rectangular in shape or other shape, provided that it essentially defines the hollow portion 32, for example, essentially circular in shape. This is not required to be a closed curve.

It is desirable that the frame 30 is located essentially horizontally.

The dashed lines in FIG. 2a show a region 33 of the scope of the frame in which the person to be inspected should presumably remain so as not to damage the system devices and not themselves to be damaged.

Analysis zone 16 is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 2b. It corresponds to the area from which each of the plurality of sensors 31 is able to collect information while moving the frame.

In the preferred case, the number of sensors is large enough, and they are located on the frame 30 so as to completely cover the perimeter of the human body P. Therefore, when moving the frame, the sensors look at the entire surface of the human body P from head to toe, provided that the test P is entirely within analysis zone 16.

The processing device 60 is synchronized with the actual height of the frame, for example, using the encoder 21 of the angular position installed in the drive 20.

It is useful that optical sensors (317) are mounted on the frame 30 for sensing in real time the distance from the surface of the human body to the sensor. Such information can improve the quality of signal processing and visualize the silhouette of a person.

The processing device 60 then turns out to be able to estimate the location of possibly desired objects on the silhouette of the test P, which facilitates the further actual detection of these objects on a person.

Thus, the invention allows you to establish the location of the desired items on a person, without resorting to visualizing his / her contour in the nude, without affecting the ethical issues associated with the use of a microwave scanner.

In a preferred embodiment, the cabin 10 comprises a ceiling 13 and a floor 12.

As an example, the walls 15 of the cabin have a width of about 80-100 cm. Floor 12 is equal in height to the height of the step, namely about 15 cm or less. The height of the passage is at least 2 m, and the total height of the structure reaches from 2.3 m to 2.6 m. The height of the frame itself is preferably 5-15 cm. All of these dimensions are given as an example and do not have a limiting meaning.

It is desirable that the frame was moved at a constant speed of 20-60 cm / s from the body 132 of the ceiling 13 down to the body 122 of the floor 12, and in the opposite direction. The speed value is given as an example and does not have a limiting meaning.

3a1-3a4, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, sensing to search for person P comprises 4 steps. At the first stage, the person P enters the cabin 10. Next, the frame moves along the guides 11 of the cabin 10 from top to bottom, and then in the opposite direction from bottom to top. Finally, the person leaves the cabin 10.

The ceiling 13 comprises a housing 132 for accommodating the frame after the drive moves it from a lower position to an upper position.

It is desirable that at least one reference calibration source 131 is located in the ceiling. Thus, after each passage of the frame, the sensors are re-calibrated.

In the design of FIGS. 3b1-3b6, the first person P1 is probed in just one passage of the frame, after which the frame expects in the body 122 of the floor 12 of the next person P2 to be inspected, so that sensing acts are performed during alternating passes of the frame “ top-down ”and“ bottom-up ”, which ensures system performance.

It is desirable that at least one reference calibration source 131 is located in the floor.

For example, in the case of infrared sensors in the ceiling 13 sensors will encounter a “cold” calibration source, and in floor 12 there will be a “hot” calibration source.

To ensure the security of the inspection procedure, the system comprises detection means 14.

In accordance with the first aspect, the detection means 14 are for detecting whether a person P is in a safe area so that he does not damage any of the elements of the system and the system does not cause harm to the person.

In a preferred case, the security zone is a certain part of the area 33 of the action of the frame, namely the area of the frame itself or its reduced part; however, the detection means 14 are configured to determine whether the person has come too close to the border of the scope of the frame, because in this case the person P could potentially damage the frame 30.

It is desirable that in the case where the detection means 14 provide a detection signal, the means 70 will stop the process of moving the frame.

The detection means 14 comprise at least one displacement sensor for detecting the fact of a person entering the frame area 33 and leaving the frame area.

6, the detection means may be photoelectric barriers 145, for example, one on the input side and the other on the output side.

For example, each barrier can be constructed from lines of emitters and receivers. If during the analysis a person tries to enter the scope of the frame or to leave the scope of the frame, the movement of the frame will be stopped immediately until the reset on the controller is manually pressed.

The detection means 14 may also include a presence sensor 146 for detecting the fact that the person is too close to the cabin 10, while the frame 30 also stops.

According to another aspect, the security zone is analysis zone 16.

In addition, the inspection procedure can be made more convenient if the person being tested P takes an optimal position. It will be easier for sensors to detect the desired objects on a person if, for example, he / she raises her arms and spreads her legs.

We will call such an optimal posture an “analysis posture”. In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the detection means is further configured to determine if the person P to be examined occupies an “analysis pose”.

The detection means 14 are configured to generate a detection result when the test P is in the analysis zone 16, so that the analysis can start automatically when the test P is in the analysis zone 16 and / or assumes an analysis pose.

Preferably, the detection means comprises one or two handles 141-142, designed to be gripped by a person’s hand and ensuring that the person raises his hands. The handles 141-142 may include contact sensors for automatically detecting their capture by a person.

It will be useful if the detection means 14 will also include at least one weighing device for determining the presence of a person in the area 33 of the frame.

It is desirable to have two weighing devices under two stop position indicators 143 at a predetermined distance from each other. Thus, the detection means 14 will be able to determine whether the person P has spread his legs for the search procedure.

Means 70 are configured to automatically start the analysis as soon as the person assumes the analysis pose.

It is desirable that the means 70 begin the analysis after a specified delay time after the occupation of the test post analysis.

If the inspected person moves with one or two hands or raises his leg, the movement of the frame will automatically stop.

Thus, the design of the system, in which there are two indicators 143 of the position of the feet and two upper arms 141-142, requires accurate positioning of the arms and legs of a person and therefore provides optimal analysis using a frame with sensors, and also ensures maximum system reliability and safety time frame with sensors.

Indeed, it is enough for a person to raise his leg or remove one or both hands from the handles so that the movement of the frame with sensors stops. And, conversely, only when a person satisfies all the requirements of the correct position, the frame 30 with the sensors will begin to move.

In a possible embodiment, the cabin 10 is equipped with a metal detector 50, for example, the metal detector frame shown in Fig.7. In this case, the processing device can combine the signals of the metal detector caused by the presence of a mass of metal carried by a person entering the cabin 10 with signals from a plurality of sensors 31 in order to obtain more complete information about possible items to be transported.

The combination of sensors and a metal detector frame 50 allows the controller to conduct a quick analysis of a person for the detection of masses of metals, dielectrics and radioactive materials using one compact cabin 10 and one unified interactive device 90.

Figure 9 presents the inspection point equipped with a system corresponding to the present invention. The involved area is less than the area occupied by the inspection points, which correspond to the current level of technology, and also the required number of controllers is less.

10, a search method for subject P, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, comprises step S1 of a person entering the analysis area; Step S2 of moving the frame 30 in the cab 10, while the frame action area 33 includes an analysis area 16; step S3 of collecting information from a plurality of sensors 31 located on the frame 30; a signal analysis step S4 representing information generated by the plurality of sensors 31; and step S5 of detecting (based on said signals) the presence of possible desired items in the analysis zone 16 by the processing device 60.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises a step S6 of determining the silhouette of the person P by the processing device 60 and a step S7 of estimating the location of objects on the silhouette by the processing device 60 if the desired items were detected in step S5.

Claims (29)

1. The system for the inspection of the subject (P), characterized in that it contains a cabin (10), which provides a zone (16) of the analysis to accommodate the subject (P) to be inspected; a frame (30) located inside the cabin (10) and having a hollow part (32); sensors (31) mounted on the frame (30), and each sensor is configured to collect information from the hollow part (32) and with the possibility of generating signals representing the specified information; an actuator (20) for moving the frame (30) inside the cabin (10), the movement of the hollow part (32) when moving the frame (30) determines the area (33) of the frame, and the analysis area is part of the scope of the frame; a processing device (60) configured to analyze the signals generated by each of the sensors (31), and with the possibility of detecting, based on these signals, the possible presence of the desired objects in the analysis zone (16). 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least one reference calibration source (C) for recalibrating at least one of the sensors (31). 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (31) are placed on the frame (30) so that when moving the frame they probe the entire surface of the subject, from head to toe, if the subject (P) is completely inside the zone ( 16) analysis. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cabin (10) contains one or more guides (11) for guiding the frame (30) along a vertical path when the frame (30) is moved by the drive (20). 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cabin (10) comprises a ceiling (13) having an upper housing (132) for housing the frame, and the drive (20) is configured to move the frame inside the upper housing (132). 6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that the ceiling (13) comprises at least one upper reference calibration source (131) for recalibrating at least one of the sensors (31) when the frame (30) is in the upper case (132). 7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cabin (10) comprises a floor (12) having a lower body (122) for accommodating the frame (30), the drive (20) being configured to move the frame inside the lower case (122) ) 8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the floor (12) contains at least one lower reference calibration source (131) for recalibrating at least one of the sensors (31) when the frame (30) is in the lower case (122). 9. The system according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that it contains means (14) of detection made with the possibility of detecting whether the subject (P) to be inspected is entirely within a specific part of the scope (33) of the frame. 10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive (20) is arranged to stop moving the frame (30) in case the detection means (14) reveal that the subject (P) is not entirely inside a specific part of the area (33 ) actions of the framework. 11. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (14) of detection are additionally configured to detect whether the subject (P) to be inspected is within the analysis zone (16). 12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises means (70) for controlling the sensors (31) and the drive (20), and the detection means (14) are additionally configured to generate a detection result when the subject (P) to be inspected , is located inside the analysis zone (16), so the analysis can start automatically when the subject (P) is in the analysis zone (16). 13. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection means (14) are additionally configured to detect whether the subject (P) to be inspected is in an analysis position. 14. The system according to item 13, characterized in that it contains means (70) for controlling the sensors (31) and the drive (20), moreover, the detection means (14) are additionally configured to generate a detection result when the subject (P) to be inspected , is in the pose of analysis, so the analysis can start automatically when the subject (P) is in the pose of analysis. 15. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the means of detection (14) contain one or two handles (141, 142), made with the possibility of capture by the subject (P) to be inspected, to ensure that the subject (P) raises his hands to facilitate screening. 16. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the cabin (10) contains the floor (12), while the detection means (14) contain at least one weighing device (144) for determining the presence of the subject (P) in the area (33) action frame. 17. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the cabin (10) contains the floor (12), while the detection means (14) contain at least one indicator of the position of the foot on the floor (12). 18. The system according to item 16 or 17, characterized in that the detection means (14) comprise two indicators of the foot position on the floor (12) and one weighing device under each of the foot position indicators to ensure that the subject (P) to be search, spread his legs to facilitate inspection. 19. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection means (14) comprise at least one motion sensor (145) for detecting the entry of a subject into the area (33) of the action of the frame or exit from the specified area. 20. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (30) has a substantially rectangular shape. 21. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (30) has a substantially circular shape. 22. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the frame (30) is essentially horizontal. 23. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (31) are configured to collect information about several physical quantities, and the sensors (31) include at least one of the following sensors: passive inductive sensor (311), active inductive sensor (312), a passive microwave sensor (313), an active microwave sensor (314), an infrared sensor (315), a gamma radiation sensor (316), and the processing device (60) is configured to combine the signals generated by the sensors (31) , and / or calculating their cross-correlation. 24. The system according to item 23, wherein the sensors also contain at least one optical sensor (317) for determining the distance between the frame (30) and the subject (P) to be inspected, while the processing device (60) is made with the ability to determine the silhouette of the subject (P) to be inspected when the frame (30) is moved by the drive (20). 25. The system according to paragraph 24, wherein the processing device (60) is configured to evaluate the location of possible items sought on the silhouette of the subject (P). 26. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a metal detector (50). 27. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cabin (10) contains at least one wall (15) located in the area (33) of the frame. 28. The method of screening a subject (P), characterized in that it contains:
- step (S1) of a subject entering the zone (16) of the analysis of the cabin (10);
- step (S2) of moving the frame (30) inside the cabin, while the path of the hollow part (32) determines the region (33) of the frame, which includes the analysis area (16);
- step (S3) of collecting information from sensors (31) located on the frame (30);
- step (S4) of the analysis of signals representing information generated by the sensors (31); and
- a detection step (S5) performed by the processing device (60) based on the indicated signals, the presence of possible desired items in the analysis zone (16). 29. The method according to p, characterized in that it further comprises:
- step (S6) of determining the silhouette of the subject (P) through the processing device (60) and
a step (S7) for estimating the location of objects on the silhouette by the processing device (60) in the case of finding the desired objects.

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