Active differential reflectometry
AssigneeUnited States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsKevin A. Boulais, Edward R. Huber, Eric B. McDaniel, Jennifer K. Roames, Nancy A. Breaux, John Thaddeus Seeberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A millimeter wave method and apparatus for detecting objects on humans, for example, that might be hidden, for example, under the human's clothing includes an active w-band radiation source to illuminate the human subject; a diffuser on the active illumination source; a receiver to acquire an active mode and a passive mode image; apparatus and methods to minimize background environmental millimeter waves; and a device to form and display a differential image. The resulting differential image may show contraband at high resolution while avoiding display of the human anatomy.
Claims20
A differential reflectometry device comprising:
- a w-band radiation source adapted to emit w-band radiation onto a subject;
- a camera adapted to acquire a passive mode image and an active mode image of the subject, wherein the active mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is emitting w-band radiation and the passive mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is not emitting w-band radiation;
- and
- an image processor adapted to create a difference image by taking the difference of the passive mode image and the active mode image.
A method for detecting an object, comprising:
- emitting w-band radiation from a w-band radiation source onto a subject;
- acquiring a passive mode image and an active mode image of the subject with a camera, wherein the active mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is emitting w-band radiation and the passive mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is not emitting w-band radiation;
- and
- creating a difference image with an image processor by taking the difference of the passive mode image and the active mode image.
A method for detecting a concealed object carried by a human subject, comprising:
- minimizing millimeter waves from a background environment surrounding the human subject;
- emitting diffuse w-band radiation from a w-band radiation source onto the human subject;
- acquiring a passive mode image and an active mode image of the human subject with a camera, wherein the active mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is emitting w-band radiation and the passive mode image is acquired when the w-band radiation source is not emitting w-band radiation;
- creating a difference image with an image processor by taking the difference of the passive mode image and the active mode image;
- and
- detecting a high contrast signal in the difference image, the high contrast signal corresponding to the presence of a concealed object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.