Methods and apparatus for detecting concealed weapons

A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising:

• i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat;
• ii) detecting a reflected portion of the signal;
• iii) displaying a visual depiction of said scene that includes the potential threat;
• and
• iv) indicating on the depiction the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.

A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising:

• a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a scene including a potential threat;
• a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected;
• a processor associated with the detector;
• and
• an illuminator associated with the processor;
• wherein the processor causes the illuminator to illuminate a portion of said scene located in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.

A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising:

• i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat;
• ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected;
• and
• iii) illuminating a portion of said scene in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.

A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising:

• a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat;
• a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected;
• a processor associated with the detector;
• and
• an indicator associated with the processor,
• wherein the processor causes the indicator to indicate the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.

A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising:

• i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat;
• ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected;
• and
• iii) indicating the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.

A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising:

• i) operating a transmitter to transmit signals in each of a plurality of different directions to pan an area including several targets;
• ii) operating a detector to detect reflected signals during an analysis period;
• and
• iii) determining a threat threshold for the analysis period as a function of the intensity of the reflected signals from the panned area detected during the analysis period.