US 8,508,366 B2Granted

Scanning security detector

AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH

InventorDennis M. Petricoin, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method of identifying a potential security threat in a space. A first scan of the space is performed during a first time interval by illuminating at least a portion of the space with energy from an energy source at an illumination angle, such that the energy is reflected from a surface in the space. An incident angle of the reflected energy is detected with a detector located at a known distance from the energy source and a distance from the surface to the energy source is calculated based on the incident angle. The steps are repeated for a plurality of different locations in the space. A first map of the space is generated from the first scan, and a second map is generated from a second scan of the area. The maps are compared to determine a change in the space and to determine if a potential security threat is present.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of distinguishing false positives from threats in a space, the method comprising:

(a) collecting a first scan of the space during a first time interval, comprising
(i) illuminating at least a portion of the space with an energy from an energy source such that the energy is reflected from a surface in the space;
(ii) detecting the incident angle of the reflected energy with a plurality of detectors, each disposed at a known distance from the energy source;
(iii) calculating a distance from the surface to the energy source using triangulation and the incident angle detected by each of the plurality of detectors and distances between the plurality of detectors;
(iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) for a plurality of portions of the space;
(v) generating a first three-dimensional map of the space for the first time interval;
(b) collecting a second scan of the space during a second time interval, comprising repeating steps (a)(i)-(a)(v) above during the second time interval to generate a second three-dimensional map of the space;
(c) comparing the first three-dimensional map to the second three-dimensional map to determine a change in the space;
(d) identifying a potential security threat based on the change in the space;
and
(e) determining, based on the change in the space, if the potential security threat is a false positive based on a rate of movement, a height, and a location of the threat within the space.

8 more elements

A scanning security system, comprising:

a transmitter comprising an energy source and a scanning assembly;
a plurality of detectors, each configured to detect a direction of energy impinging thereon;
a computing system including a processor and a storage medium, the computing system configured to
(a) cause a first scan of a space during a first time interval, wherein the first scan includes
(i) illuminating at least a portion of the space with energy from the energy source at an illumination angle, such that the energy is reflected from a surface in the space;
(ii) detecting an incident angle of the reflected energy with each detector disposed at a known distance from the energy source;
(iii) calculating a distance from the surface to the energy source using triangulation based on the incident angle detected by each of the plurality of detectors and distances between the plurality of detectors;
(iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) for a plurality of different locations in the space;
(v) generating a first three-dimensional map of the space for the first time interval;
(b) cause a second scan of the space at a second time interval, wherein the second scan includes repeating steps (a)(i)-(a)(v) above during the second time interval to generate a second three-dimensional map of the space;
(c) compare the first three-dimensional map to the second three-dimensional map to determine a change in the space;
and
(d) determine if a potential security threat is present based on the change in the space, and
(e) determine, based on the change in the space, if the potential security threat is a false positive based on a rate of movement, a height, and a location of the threat within the space.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/119,146Filed 12 May 2008
Published: US 2009/0278684 A112 Nov 2009
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G08B 13/181
Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of…:…
G06V 10/147
Optical characteristics of the device performing the acquisition or on the illumination arrangements: details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses
G06V 20/52
Context or environment of the image: surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects
G08B 29/046
Monitoring of the detection circuits: prevention of tampering with detection circuits