Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2002-01-29
Allen, Stephone B. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C342S027000, C342S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06342696
ABSTRACT:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
None.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for remotely detecting the presence of an object. More particularly, one preferred embodiment of the invention supplies methods and apparatus for sensing concealed weapons to create a “Safe Zone™.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
On Apr. 20 1999, two students at the Columbine High School in Littelton, Colo. opened fire on their classmates and teachers with assault weapons. Twelve teenagers and one teacher were killed, and dozens of others were wounded. Tragic acts of violence like the Littleton massacre occur all too often in present day America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that every year, criminals in the United States use firearms to commit over 2.4 million robberies, 5.6 million assaults, and 165,000 rapes. (See
American Firearms Industry Journal
, published by the National Association of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers, www.amfire.com.) The Center for Disease Control has collected data showing that 247,979 “firearm deaths” were recorded in the United States during the years 1986-1992. (Data compiled by the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, www.handguncontrol.org.)
Many previous efforts to reduce the threat posed by the criminal use of firearms have met with limited success. In the past two decades, very expensive x-ray equipment has been installed in major airports. The machines are generally capable of detecting a metal gun in a very specialized, closed environment. This type of equipment requires a fixed installation, occupies a very large space, is close-range and may cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
None of the complex concealed weapon detectors that are currently available in the commercial market are compact, lightweight, portable, easy to use, long-range and highly reliable. The development of such a device would constitute a revolutionary achievement and would satisfy a long felt need in the fields of law enforcement and security.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Object Detection System comprises methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of an object at a distance. One embodiment of the invention may be used to locate a concealed firearm carried by a person. The invention may be used to help keep weapons out of any secure area or “Safe Zone™,” such as a school, bank, airport, embassy, prison, courtroom, office building, retail store or residence. The term “Safe Zone™” is a Trade and Service Mark owned by the Assignee of the present Patent Application, The MacAleese Companies, doing business as Safe Zone™ Systems, Incorporated.
One embodiment of the invention utilizes low-power, horizontally polarized radio waves to illuminate a target, such as a person who may be entering a doorway. Radio waves reflected from the target are gathered by a receive antenna and then processed by a detector circuit. The presence of the concealed weapon is determined by solving an algorithm which utilizes measured differences in the amplitudes of waveforms that represent different polarized energy levels reflected back from the target, and which also utilizes stored waveforms which represent the expected responses of a person who is not carrying a weapon, as well as the responses of a person carrying a weapon.
One embodiment of the present invention offers the additional benefits of being compact, lightweight, long-range, portable and battery-operated. In another embodiment, invention may be incorporated into automatic door-opening equipment. In yet another alternative embodiment, the invention may be used to locate inexpensive tags attached to merchandise as an inventory control and anti-shoplifting system.
An appreciation of other aims and objectives of the present invention and a more complete and comprehensive understanding of this invention may be achieved by referring to the drawings, and by studying the description of preferred and alternative embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3500395 (1970-03-01), Foster et al.
patent: 3599211 (1971-08-01), Mardon
patent: 3669038 (1972-06-01), Watson
patent: 3707672 (1972-12-01), Miller et al.
patent: 3713156 (1973-01-01), Pothier
patent: 3911435 (1975-10-01), Mardon et al.
patent: 3924546 (1975-12-01), Pretini
patent: 4064458 (1977-12-01), De Loach, Jr.
patent: 4122783 (1978-10-01), Pretini
patent: 4341165 (1982-07-01), Calandritti et al.
patent: 4461221 (1984-07-01), Schandle et al.
patent: 4481887 (1984-11-01), Urbano
patent: 4586441 (1986-05-01), Zekich
patent: 4656954 (1987-04-01), Tonali
patent: 4675677 (1987-06-01), Von Maydell et al.
patent: 4706031 (1987-11-01), Michiguchi et al.
patent: 4905008 (1990-02-01), Kawano et al.
patent: 4951058 (1990-08-01), Schriner et al.
patent: 5039981 (1991-08-01), Rodriguez
patent: 5073782 (1991-12-01), Huguein et al.
patent: 5081456 (1992-01-01), Michiguchi et al.
patent: 5195448 (1993-03-01), Sims
patent: 5222155 (1993-06-01), Delanoy et al.
patent: 5227800 (1993-07-01), Huguenin et al.
patent: 5311166 (1994-05-01), Frye
patent: 5334981 (1994-08-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5337053 (1994-08-01), Dwyer
patent: 5345240 (1994-09-01), Frazier
patent: 5365237 (1994-11-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5381153 (1995-01-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5408414 (1995-04-01), Nomoto et al.
patent: 5446461 (1995-08-01), Frazier
patent: 5455590 (1995-10-01), Collins et al.
patent: 5457394 (1995-10-01), McEwan
patent: 5512834 (1996-04-01), McEwan
patent: 5517429 (1996-05-01), Harrison
patent: 5519400 (1996-05-01), McEwan
patent: 5552705 (1996-09-01), Keller
patent: 5552766 (1996-09-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5557283 (1996-09-01), Sheen et al.
patent: 5576972 (1996-11-01), Harrison
patent: 5598152 (1997-01-01), Scarzello et al.
patent: 5644314 (1997-07-01), Ahmad et al.
patent: 5673050 (1997-09-01), Moussally et al.
patent: 5692446 (1997-12-01), Becker et al.
patent: 5694498 (1997-12-01), Manasson et al.
patent: 5694867 (1997-12-01), Diaz-Lopez
patent: 5706402 (1998-01-01), Bell
patent: 5774357 (1998-06-01), Hoffberg et al.
patent: 09304517 (1997-11-01), None
patent: WO 96/19737 (1996-06-01), None
patent: WO 97/01771 (1997-01-01), None
Abbott, G.F. “Personal Serveillance System” IBM Tech. Discl. Bulletin, vol. 12, No. 7, Dec., 1969, pp. 1119-1120.
Bhanu, B. “Guest Editorial: Introduction on the Special Issue on Automatic Target Detection and Recognition” IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 6, No. 1, Jan., 1997. pp. 1-6.
McMakin, D.L. et al. “Remote Concealed Weapons and Explosive Detection on People Using Millimeter-wave Holography” 1996 IEEE. pp. 19-25.
McMillan, R.W. et al. “Concealed Weapon Detection Using Microwave and Millimeter Wave Sensors” 1998 IEEE. pp. 1-4.
Murray, N.C. et al. “Exploitation of X-Ray Technology for the Detection of Contraband—Aviation Security Applications” European Conf. on Sec. and Detection Apr. 28-30, 1997, Conf. Publ. No. 437. pp. 13-18.
Reber, E.E. et al. “Final Report: Evaluation of Active and Passive Near-Millimeter-Wave Radiometric Imaging Techniques for Detection of Concealed Objects” Aerospace Report No. ATR-80(7843)-2, Mar. 20, 1981. pp. 1-29.
Varshney, P.K. et al. “On the Modeling of the Sensor Fusion Process for Concealed Weapons Detection” 1998 IEEE. p. 14.
Allen Stephone B.
Mays Andrea L.
Myers Jeffrey D.
Peacock Deborah A.
Pyo Kevin
LandOfFree
Object detection method and apparatus employing polarized... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Object detection method and apparatus employing polarized..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Object detection method and apparatus employing polarized... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2873223