Device And Method For Inspection Of the Leg Of An Individual To Detect The Carrying Of Fraudulent Objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a device adapted to inspect the leg of an individual, and comprises a support base (110) adapted to receive a foot of an individual, two lateral panels (120) adapted to be placed on either side of the leg of an individual, positioning means (112, 114, 142) of the foot and of the leg relative to the support base (110) and to the panels (120), microwave receiver/sender transducer means (200) arranged on each lateral panel (120) opposite the lateral panel which is facing it, and analysis means (300) of signals detected on the microwave receivers (200) corresponding to the signals transmitted from a panel (120) to the opposite panel and to the signals reflected from a panel (120) towards this same panel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of detectors designed for detection of objects or materials not authorised in a protected access zone.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Today it seems necessary to highly reliably control attempts to introduce or take out specific products, for example but not exclusively explosive materials, in or outside a sensitive zone.

The problem raised here covers a very wide range of situations, which encompasses especially and non-limiting the attempt to introduce products to a protected zone, such as a shop, school, train station, a public or even private body, or the attempt to take products outside a defined perimeter, for example in the event of company theft or at a protected site.

For several years, body scanners have been developed to detect arms, explosives, etc. hidden under clothing of individuals entering a protected zone. All these systems utilize technologies based on the detection of radiation energies modulated or emitted by the body of the inspected individuals. Radiation energies used in this way include X-rays, microwaves, millimetric waves, infrared light, terahertz waves and ultrasound.

Despite the use of several types of radiation energies and imaging geometries, the principle of all these body scanners is the creation of an electronic image of the individual on which the clothing of the individual is transparent. This image is then displayed on a monitor and viewed by an operator so that the latter determines whether the individual is carrying a target object. For this, the operator, who is trained in detection of target objects, must be capable of determining if those objects identified by the body scanner correspond to the human anatomy, to an authorized object such as a lighter, a handkerchief or other pieces, or to a target object such as a weapon or an explosive.

It eventuates these days that individuals who try to fraudulently bring a product outside a protected zone or who try to introduce such a product, often use shoes to conceal the product in question. This phenomenon essentially seems due to the fact that this zone is difficult to control visually or by manual touch.

Yet it seems that conventional body scanners are incapable of detecting such products. On the one hand, detection by body scanners is parasited by noise generated by the infrastructures on the floor. Therefore, body scanners generally analyse only that part of an individual located at a certain distance above the floor. On the other hand, conventional body scanners are limited in their detection due to the thickness of the upper of the shoe or boot which forms a shield and, on the basis of current technologies does not determine the shape of the foot and therefore identify target objects.

This is why it happens that operators require individuals wanting to enter or exit a sensitive zone to take their shoes off, in an attempt to improve inspection. Such a request imposes severe restrictions and discomfort.

The applicant has therefore proposed devices which comprise a frame which comprises a support base formed by a rectangular board in the form of a step whereof the plane upper surface comprises a design or print and a stop intended to receive and position a single foot of an individual covered by a shoe, two symmetrical lateral panels which house detection means, and an information module.

Examples of this device are disclosed in documents FR 2860631, EP 1574879, FR 2889338 and FR 2911212.

The detection means described in the documents mentioned can be formed by windings for detection of metals, sampling means, for example in the form of suction nozzles, for drawing off steam or traces of particles, for example drugs or explosives, analysis means based on nuclear magnetic resonance comprising for example Helmholtz coils, or again complex impedance analysis means or radioactive radiation detectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the invention is to propose novel detection means for improving the detection of target objects likely to be camouflaged in a shoe or on the leg of an individual.

An aim of the invention in particular is to propose detection means which are effective irrespective of where a fraudulent object is fixed on the leg of an individual, more precisely on the calf (whether on the front, the rear, an external lateral part or an internal lateral part of the leg, or even a combination of these arrangements).

These aims are attained according to the invention by way of a device adapted to inspect the leg of an individual, which comprises:

• • a support base adapted to receive a foot of an individual,
  • two lateral panels adapted to be placed on either side of the leg of an individual,
  • positioning means of the foot and of the leg relative to the support base and to the panels,
  • microwave receiver/sender means arranged on each lateral panel opposite the lateral panel which is facing it, and
  • analysis means of signals detected on the microwave receivers corresponding to the signals transmitted from a panel to the opposite panel and to the signals reflected from a panel towards this same panel.

The invention also relates to a method for detection of fraudulent objects carried by the leg of an individual by means of the above device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description and with respect to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates the same device by schematically illustrating the positioning of the lower part of a leg of an individual in the device,

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view in longitudinal vertical section of the device according to the present invention,

FIG. 4a schematically illustrates, in a lateral view, microwave emissions from a panel in the direction of the opposite panel with an object non-permeable to the microwave interposed between the two panels and FIGS. 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, schematically illustrate the signals received at the receivers on the second panel as a function of their positioning relative to said object,

FIG. 5a schematically illustrates, in a plan view, microwave emissions/receptions in the case of a leg interposed between the two panels, and FIGS. 5b and 5c schematically illustrate respectively a signal transmitted out of the zone of the leg without delay and without attenuation and a signal reflected by the leg,

FIG. 6a schematically illustrates in a plan view the microwave emissions/receptions in the case of a leg interposed between the two panels and carrying laterally a fraudulent object and FIG. 6b schematically illustrates the signal reflected by this object, and

FIG. 7a schematically illustrates in a plan view the microwave emissions/receptions in the case of a leg interposed between the two panels and carrying on the front a fraudulent object and FIG. 7b schematically illustrates the signal transmitted via this object characterized by a specific time delay and attenuation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The attached figures illustrate a device according to the present invention comprising a frame 100 which comprises:

• • a support base 110 adapted to receive a foot of an individual and formed by a rectangular board in the form of a step whereof the plane upper surface comprises preferably a design or marking 112 and a stop 114 intended to receive and position a single foot of an individual covered by a shoe,
  • two lateral symmetrical panels 120 adapted to be placed on either side of the leg of an individual and which house detection means, and
  • an information module 130.

The device shown in the attached figures can be compliant as to its geometry, its dimensions, the route of the positioning marker 112, of the stop 114, the nature of messages displayed on the module 130, the dispositions described in the abovementioned documents FR 2860631, EP 1574879, FR 2889338 and FR 2911212.

More precisely according to the invention, as indicated previously, it also comprises:

• • positioning means 140 of the knee of an individual, relative to the support base 110 and aux panels 120,
  • microwave receiver/sender means 200 arranged on each lateral panel 120 opposite the lateral panel which is facing it, and
  • analysis means 300 of signals detected on the microwave receivers corresponding to the signals transmitted from a panel 120 to the opposite panel and to the signals reflected from a panel 120 towards this same panel.

The positioning means 140 of the knee are formed preferably from a cross-beam 142 connecting the internal faces of the two lateral panels 120 at a height of the order of 40 cm.

The microwave receiver/sender means 200 preferably comprise several microwave transducers arranged according to a matrix of horizontal lines and vertical columns on each panel 120. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, five horizontal rows each comprising three microwave transducers are preferably provided.

By way of non-limiting examples, the horizontal gap between two transducers 200 of a row is of the order of 75 mm, the vertical gap between two rows of transducers 200 is of the order of 55 mm, the highest row of transducers 200 is located at a height of the order of 350 mm above the surface of the support base 110.

Preferably, each transducer microwave 200 is associated with a focus cone 202. The output of each focus cone 202 is preferably located at approximately 130 mm of the vertical median plane of the device.

The transducers 200 preferably operate in a range of frequencies between 5 and 30 GHz and very preferably between 12 and 20 GHz.

The different transducers 200 located on a panel 120, for example the fifteen transducers distributed in five vertical rows of three transducers, are located respectively coaxially to a transducer located opposite on the opposite panel 120.

Under the control of the means 300 each transducer 200 can work alternatively as sender or receiver or as sender and receiver.

Each sender 200 is preferably adapted to emit in the direction of a coaxial receiver 200 on the opposite panel 120, as well as in the direction of the transducers adjacent to this opposite coaxial transducer 200.

Similarly, each receiver 200 is preferably adapted to receive from a coaxial sender 200 located on the opposite panel 120, as well as from the transducers adjacent to this opposite coaxial transducer sender 200.

As evident in FIG. 4, when an object X composed of a substance non-permeable to microwaves is carried by the calf of an individual located opposite the transducer matrix 200, the beams transmitted between a sender 200 located on a first panel 120 in the direction of one or more receivers 200 located on the opposite second panel 120 which are not hidden by the object X arrive at the receivers with a slight delay due to transmission in the air, without noticeable attenuation in amplitude (FIGS. 4b, 4e and 4f).

However, the beams sent by a sender 200 in the direction of the object X are stopped by the latter and do not reach the opposite receiver 200 (FIGS. 4c and 4d).

Controlling the sender/receiver couples 200 and analysis of signals originating from a receiver 200 therefore detects the presence on the leg of an individual of an object X non-permeable to microwaves.

As is evident in FIG. 5, due to its water density the leg of an individual almost fully reflects microwaves.

In this way, the beams transmitted between a sender 200 located on a first panel 120 in the direction of one or more receivers 200 located on the second opposite panel 120 which are not hidden by the leg once again arrive at the opposite receivers, almost without delay and without noticeable attenuation in amplitude (FIG. 5b).

However, the beams sent by a sender 200 in the direction of the leg are reflected by the leg in the direction of the sender functioning as receiver with a delay equal to 2*d/c, d representing the distance between the sender and the leg and c representing the swiftness of microwaves in the air (FIG. 5c).

FIG. 6 represent the operation of the device for detection of a fraudulent object X1 carried laterally on the calf of an individual.

Here too, the beams transmitted between a sender 200 located on a first panel 120 in the direction of one or more receivers 200 located on the second opposite panel 120 which are not hidden by the leg arrive at the opposite receivers, almost without delay and without noticeable attenuation in amplitude, as shown in FIG. 5b.

However, the beams sent by a sender 200 in the direction of the object X1 are reflected on the one hand by the external face of the object X1 and on the other hand by the leg in the direction of the sender operating as receiver, as shown in FIG. 6b.

As shown in FIG. 6b, in this case the receiver 200 receives two successive echoes, with different delay times: a first echo due to reflection on the substance X1 and a second echo due to reflection on the leg.

In general, according to tests conducted by the inventors, the second echo on the leg has a bigger amplitude than the first echo on the substance X1 which is reflective partly only.

The analysis compared of the signals of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5b, 5c and 6b, by comparison detects a fraudulent object carried laterally on the calf of an individual.

FIG. 7 represent the operation of the device for detection of a fraudulent object X2 carried on the front of the calf of an individual.

Here too, the beams transmitted between a sender 200 located on a first panel 120 in the direction of one or more receivers 200 located on the opposite second panel 120 which are not hidden by the leg arrive on the opposite receivers, almost without delay and without noticeable attenuation in amplitude, as shown in FIG. 5b.

However, the beams sent by a sender 200 in the direction of the object X2 without being hidden by the leg are transmitted with delay and attenuation due to the substance X2 to the opposite receiver located on the opposite panel.

The analysis compared of the signals of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5b, 5c and 7b, by comparison detects a fraudulent object carried on the front (same for the rear) of the calf of an individual.

The skilled person will understand from reading the above description that the invention enables detection of non-metallic fraudulent substances, for example explosives or drugs, carried by the lower leg of an individual by detection of the delay and amplitude of microwave signals transmitted through the substance and/or reflected by the substance, as well as by the leg.

Preferably, the matrix of transducers 200 is adapted to cover the entire lower part of the leg between the ankle and the knee and the analysis means 300 undertake comparison of signals transmitted and/or reflected with transmission values in the air and/or signals reflected on a leg having no fraudulent object.

The means 300 are adapted to generate an alarm when a significant gap exceeding a threshold is detected relative to the reference values.

The positioning of the leg on the marking 112 and of proper positioning of the knee supported on the cross-beam 142 can be controlled by adapted optical cells placed on the panels 120.

Preferably, in terms of the invention, the means 300 are adapted to perform at least one of the following steps and preferably the combination of all the following steps:

• • measuring the delay and amplitude of direct transmission of microwaves between each pair of coaxial senders 200Tx and receiver 200Rx located on the two opposite panels 120,
  • measuring the delay and amplitude of oblique transmission of microwaves between each sender 200Tx located on a panel 120 and the receivers 200Rx which enclose the receiver located on the opposite coaxial panel 120 of the sender,
  • measuring the delay and amplitude of the microwave wave emitted by each transducer sender 200Tx and reflected towards the same transducer forming a receiver 200Rx or towards the receivers 200Rx enclosing the latter, by a leg or by a fraudulent substance (non-metallic) placed on or around the leg,
  • detection of the presence of a double echo of microwave waves reflected by a fraudulent substance and by the leg,
  • comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with a transmission reference value in a void and transmission of an alarm in case of detection of delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a range of substances which delays and attenuates the microwave,
  • comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with microwaves transmitted on adjacent transducers and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals (similar to the presence of a non-metallic substance non-permeable to microwaves),
  • comparison of oblique microwave waves with a reference value in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a range predetermined representative of substances which delay and attenuate the microwave,
  • comparison of microwave waves transmitted obliquely with the adjacent microwave waves transmitted directly and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals (similar to the presence of a non-metallic substance and non-permeable to microwaves),
  • comparison of a double echo detected with transmission values in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of a delay greater than a threshold between the peaks of two echoes with an amplitude greater than a threshold (representative of a substance which reflects part of the wave (first echo) and which delays and attenuates the non-reflected signal (second echo)).

The device according to the present invention which has just been described can be completed by auxiliary equipment, for example by means forming a metal detector based on windings integrated into the lateral panels 120 and/or by sampling means and analysis of substances, steam or traces of particles and/or by analysis means of nuclear magnetic resonance type, analysis means of complex impedance and/or detection means of radioactive radiations.

Such means are known per se in their general structure and will therefore will not be described in detail below.

The device according to the present invention described previously can also be completed by the means which will now be described which correspond to the object of patent applications filed in France under numbers FR 1653385, FR 1655726 and FR 1655729 and which can be integrated into the base 110 and/or the lateral panels 120.

Therefore in terms of the invention, the device 100 can comprise:

• • microwave receiver/sender means 400 (for example in the range 5 GHz-30 GHz, advantageously in the range 12 GHz-20 GHz) preferably integrated into the base of each lateral panel 120 and distributed over the length of the support base 110, (these associated microwave sender means and microwave receiver means placed respectively on either side of the sole of the shoe are advantageously adapted to detecting on receiver means of the signal coming from sender means placed directly opposite and from the signal coming from sender means placed obliquely relative to the receiver means, at the same vertical level or at a different height),
  • means for measuring the width of an element, typically a sole, interposed between these microwave receiver/sender means 400,
  • analysis means 300 of at least one parameter of the transmission time between the microwave receiver/sender means 400 and/or of the amplitude of the signal transmitted between the microwave receiver/sender means 400, and
  • standardization means of the above analysis relative to a size unit of standard width obtained on the basis of the means for measuring width.

The means 300 can also be adapted to analyse the amplitude of the signals originating from the receivers to deduced therefrom information on the thickness of the sole.

These means 400 form at least one microwave sender means placed to one side of the base 110 and at least one microwave receiver means placed on the opposite side of the base 110 such that the microwaves emitted by the microwave sender means pass through the sole of the shoe placed on the front support base 110 to arrive at the associated microwave receiver means placed on the opposite side of the base 110.

The means for measuring the width of the element interposed between the microwave receiver/sender means 400 comprise for example a plurality of infrared sender/receiver means adapted to measure the return propagation time between an infrared sender and the associated infrared receiver.

Several pairs of infrared sender means and associated infrared receiver means can accordingly be provided, placed on each side of the base 110 such that the infrared emitted by each infrared sender means is reflected on the sole of the shoe placed on the front support base 110 to arrive at the associated infrared receiver means placed on the same side of the base 110.

The device can also comprise means, preferably based on microwave and preferably a plurality of such means distributed over the length of the device, adapted to detect stratification by vertical stacking, in the sole, by detection of successive echoes following emission of waves towards the sole.

Standardization means of the signal originating from the detection means of vertical stratification can be provided, on the basis of a signal representative of the estimated height of the sole,

The device can also comprise means for measuring the electrical capacity formed by the sole of a shoe placed on the support base 110. Such means can comprise electrodes on handles 122 placed in the upper part of the panels 120. These electrodes formed on the handles 122 are for example made from electrically conductive material embedded in the mass of the panels 120. An electric generator (for example generating voltage between 0.1V and 10V, preferably of the order of 1 volt) is connected in series to the handles 122 provided on lateral panels 120 and electrodes placed on the support base (110), for example electrodes placed on the support base 110 and preferably concentric to cones associated with microwave transducers 450 adapted to generate microwave vertically in a sole.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described, but extends to all variants in keeping with its sense.

In particular, the execution of the present invention has been described previously in the context of a device whereof the bases have previously been described in documents FR 2860631, EP 1574879, FR 2889338 and FR 2911212, comprising a support base 10 formed by a step whereof the upper surface comprises a footprint 12 and a stop 14 intended to receive and position a single foot of an individual covered by a shoe.

However the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment. As shown in the attached FIG. 23, the present invention can also apply to devices in which the support base is adapted to simultaneously receive the two feet P of an individual.

In this case, to allow detection respectively and individually on each of the two feet P of an individual under test, it is however preferable to provide protruding on the upper surface of the base three blocks 320, 330 and 340 between which the two feet P must be positioned such that the block central 330 is placed between the two feet P, whereas the two lateral blocks 320 and 340 are arranged respectively on the outside of the feet. The central block 330 contains detection means associated respectively with the blocks 320 and 340 to allow the above different measurements respectively on each of the two feet P. In this way the central block 330 in this case preferably contains senders 142/receivers 144 means for measuring the amplitude of absorption of the microwaves and the propagation time, as well as infrared transducers 152/154 to measure the width of each of the two soles S, separately.

Claims

1. A device adapted to inspect the leg of an individual, which comprises: a support base adapted to receive a foot of an individual,two lateral panels adapted to be placed on either side of the leg of an individual,positioning means of the foot and of the leg relative to the support base and to the panels,microwave sender/receiver transducer means arranged on each lateral panel opposite the lateral panel which is facing it, andanalysis means of signals detected on the microwave receivers corresponding to the signals transmitted from a panel to the opposite panel and to the signals reflected from a panel (120) towards this same panel.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis means perform analysis of the delay and amplitude of the signals received relative to a reference.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis means undertake comparison of signals received on a receiver with reference signals representative of the transmission in a void and/or reflection on a leg.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis means generate an alarm in case of detection of a gap greater than a threshold between the received signals and a reference.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises positioning means of the knee formed by a cross-beam connecting the internal faces of the two lateral panels.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the microwave sender/receiver means comprise several microwave transducers arranged according to a matrix of horizontal lines and vertical columns on each panel.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the microwave receiver/sender means comprise a row of microwave transducers, the highest located at a height of the order of 350 mm above the surface of the support base.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the microwave receiver/sender means comprise five horizontal rows of microwave transducers each comprising three microwave transducers, the horizontal gap between two transducers of a row being of the order of 75 mm, whereas the vertical gap between two rows of transducers is of the order of 55 mm.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each microwave transducer is associated with a cone.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transducers operate in a range of frequencies between 5 and 30 GHz and very preferably between 12 and 20 GHz.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the different transducers located on a panel are located respectively coaxially to a transducer located opposite on the opposite panel.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each transducer is adapted to work alternatively as sender or receiver or as sender and receiver.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each sender is adapted to emit in the direction of a coaxial receiver on the opposite panel, as well as in the direction of the transducers adjacent to this opposite coaxial transducer.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each receiver is adapted to receive from a coaxial sender located on the opposite panel, as well as from the transducers adjacent to this opposite coaxial transducer sender.

15. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis means are adapted to execute at least the one of the following functions: measuring the delay and amplitude of direct transmission of microwaves between each pair of coaxial senders and receiver located on the two opposite panels,measuring the delay and amplitude of oblique transmission of microwaves between each sender located on a panel and the receivers which enclose the receiver located on the opposite coaxial panel of the sender,measuring the delay and amplitude of the microwave wave emitted by each transducer sender and reflected towards the same transducer forming a receiver or towards the receivers enclosing the latter, by a leg or by a fraudulent substance placed on or around the leg,detection of the presence of a double echo of microwave waves reflected by a fraudulent substance and by the leg,comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with a transmission reference value in a void and transmission of an alarm in case of detection of delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a range of substances which delays and attenuates the microwave,comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with microwaves transmitted on adjacent transducers and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals,comparison of oblique microwave waves with a reference value in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a range predetermined representative of substances which delay and attenuate the microwave,comparison of microwave waves transmitted obliquely with the adjacent microwave waves transmitted directly and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals,comparison of a double echo detected with transmission values in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of a delay greater than a threshold between the peaks of the two echoes with an amplitude greater than a threshold.

16. A method for inspection of the leg of an individual, by means of a device according to claim 1, comprising the steps consisting of analysing signals detected on the microwave receivers corresponding to the signals transmitted from a panel to the opposite panel and to the signals reflected from a panel towards this same panel and generating an alarm when analysis reveals a gap in the transmission time or in the amplitude of the signals, relative to a reference, greater than a threshold.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that it performs at least one of the following steps and preferably a combination of the following steps: measuring the delay and amplitude of direct transmission of microwaves between each pair of coaxial senders and receivers located on the two opposite panels,measuring the delay and amplitude of oblique transmission of microwaves between each sender located on a panel and the receivers which enclose the receiver located on the opposite coaxial panel of the sender,measuring the delay and amplitude of the microwave wave emitted by each transducer sender and reflected towards the same transducer forming a receiver or towards the receivers enclosing the latter, by a leg or by a fraudulent substance placed on or around the leg,detection of the presence of a double echo of microwave waves reflected by a fraudulent substance and by the leg,comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with a transmission reference value in a void and transmission of an alarm in case of detection of a delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a range of substances which delays and attenuates the microwave,comparison of microwave waves transmitted directly with microwaves transmitted on adjacent transducers and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals,comparison of oblique microwave waves with a reference value in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of delay greater than a threshold and with an amplitude corresponding to a predetermined range representative of substances which delay and attenuate the microwave,comparison of microwave waves transmitted obliquely with the adjacent microwave waves transmitted directly and generation of an alarm in case of a gap greater than a threshold detected between the different signals,comparison of a double echo detected with transmission values in a void and generation of an alarm in case of detection of a delay greater than a threshold between the peaks of the two echoes with an amplitude greater than a threshold.