Shoe scanning system for full-body scanner and method for retrofitting a full-body scanner

A shoe scanning system for integration with an existing full-body scanner having at least a sensor for sensing a metal and/or unauthorized object, the system comprising:

• a protective casing providing a surface onto which the individual can walk;
• a main detector enclosed within the protective casing for detecting a metal and/or unauthorized object located above said surface;
• a proximity detector enclosed within the protective casing for detecting a positioning of a shoe of the individual above said surface;
• a communication unit for transmitting a pass signal to a processing unit of a full-body scanner when both following conditions are met:
• the proximity detector indicates that the shoe lays at a specific position on said surface, and
• the main detector indicates a probability of a presence of a metal and/or unauthorized object lower than a predefined detecting threshold.

A shoe scanning system for integration with an existing full-body scanner having at least a sensor for sensing a metal and/or unauthorized object above a detecting surface onto which an individual can stand during a body scan, the shoe scanning system comprising:

• a main detector comprising at least a sensing element;
• a protective casing enclosing said at least a sensing element and comprising a walking surface on which an individual can walk;
• the protective casing being configured to be placed on said detecting surface of the full-body scanner so as to cover a limited portion thereof;
• and
• a communication unit for transmitting data provided by the main detector to a processing unit of the full-body scanner;
• wherein said at least a sensing element is configured, when the protective casing is placed on said detecting surface of the full-body scanner, to detect a metal and/or unauthorized object within a shoe worn by an individual standing on an uncovered portion of said detecting surface.

A retrofitting method for a full-body scanner for scanning an individual before access to a restricted access area, the method comprising:

• providing a shoe scanning system comprising a detection unit having:
• a main detector comprising at least a sensing element, preferably being an inductive and/or capacitive sensing element,
• a communication unit for transmitting a message to an indication unit, and
• a processing unit connected to the main detector by a data link for receiving data and controlling the communication unit for sending a detection signal when the main detector indicates a presence of a metal and/or unauthorized object;
• wherein said at least sensing element is placed under a surface of a path toward said area so as to sense a metal and/or unauthorized object located above said surface;
• establishing a data link between the communication unit of the detection unit and an indication unit for providing instructions to the individual and/or to an assistant, the indication unit being preferably part either of the shoe scanning system or of the full-body scanner
• wherein the method further comprises a step of selecting a detection threshold distance under which a metal and/or unauthorized object is detected so as to allow a detection within a predefined detection volume of the full-body scanner, preferably within a blind, oriented-blind and/or indiscriminating detection volume of the full-body scanner.