Markers to identify bins at security checkpoints
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
InventorsGary T. Webb, Robert Edward Gentry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bin for use in a security checkpoint can include a receptacle surface, sidewalls, a lip provided on the sidewalls, and a geometrical marker. The geometrical marker is radiographically, visually, and tactilely detectable on the lip of one side of the bin. The geometrical marker includes a plurality of tag elements.
Claims15
A bin used in a security checkpoint, comprising:
- a receptacle surface;
- sidewalls;
- a lip provided on the sidewalls;
- and
- a geometrical marker being radiographically, visually, and tactilely detectable on the lip of one side of the bin, wherein the geometrical marker includes a plurality of tag elements.
A method for marking a plurality of bins used in a security checkpoint, each bin of the plurality of bins having a receptacle surface, sidewalls, and lip provided on the sidewalls, the method comprising:
- determining a maximum number of distinct geometrical patterns of tag elements based upon the maximum number of groupings of tag elements and the maximum number of individual tag elements within each of the plurality of groupings;
- determining each possible distinct geometrical pattern of tag elements;
- determining a location X on a lip of the bins to offset the first tag element in the geometrical pattern that allows the geometric pattern to remain distinct from other patters even when the bin is rotated;
- marking the lip of each bin by aligning the tag elements according to one of the distinct geometrical patterns of tag elements according to a predetermined inter-tag element spacing distance provided between the tag elements, and placing the first tag element with an off-set distance from the location X;
- and
- ensuring that each distinct geometrical pattern is used on no more than one bin.
A method for identifying and seizing a possible forbidden item contained in one bin of a plurality of marked bins, the method comprising:
- placing a bin marked with a distinct geometrical pattern of tag elements and holding at least one container on a transportation belt leading through a radiographic scanner;
- transporting the marked bin through the radiographic scanner;
- determining whether the container within the bin holds a possible forbidden item based upon viewing the radiographic image of the container;
- identifying the distinct geometrical pattern of tag elements on the marked bin containing the possible forbidden item in the radiographic image;
- identifying the bin containing the possible forbidden item by matching the geometrical pattern on the bin seen in the radiographic image to the physical bin that is marked with that same geometrical pattern;
- and
- searching the bin marked with the matching geometrical pattern for the possible forbidden item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.