METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING AND DETECTING PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON

Abstract

This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for sensing and detecting a number of physical, biological and chemical characteristics of a person, preferably in connection with the process of verifying the identity of the individual. The apparatus may be employed as part of the check-in procedures at airports, bus stations, train stations, cruise ships and other vessels, as well as other situations where identification verification may be required, e.g. banking transactions and the like.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, side view of the apparatus of this invention depicting an individual located at the monitoring station with his hands on the touch pad of the device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, plan view of the touch pad illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the sensor array located at the monitoring station and the analysis center coupled thereto; and

FIG. 5 is schematic view of nano-tubes which may be associated with the touch pad.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting and sensing physical, biological and chemical characteristics of a person, comprising: a monitoring station having an array of sensors and detectors, including: (i) a digital camera capable of producing a signal representative of the image of at least the head of a person;(ii) an infrared camera capable of producing a signal representative of the temperature profile of the skin of at least the head of a person;(iii) a biological sensor operative to contact the hands of a person and produce a signal representative of the presence of biological agents;(iv) a chemical sensor operative to contact the hands of a person and produce a signal representative of the presence of chemical agents;(v) a fingerprint sensor operative to produce a signal representative of the image of the fingerprints of a person;an analyzing center coupled to said monitoring station, said analyzing center being effective to compare said signals received from said array of sensors and detectors with reference data bases to determine the identity of a person, the biological agents present on a person and the presence of chemical agents on a person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said monitoring station includes a housing having a display screen and at least one touch pad.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said monitoring station produces prompts on said display screen, said prompts causing a person to view said display screen so that his or her head may be photographed by said digital camera and so that a temperature profile of the skin of the head of said person may be taken by said infrared camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said prompts appearing on said display screen cause a person to engage said at least one touch pad with his or her hands including the fingers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said biological sensor is associated with said touch pad and is effective to sense the presence of biological agents present on the hand including the fingers of a person.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said chemical sensor is associated with said at least one touch pad and is effective to sense the presence of biological agents present on the hand including the fingers of a person.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said fingerprint sensor is associated with said at least one touch pad and is effective to produce a digital signal representative of the appearance of the fingerprints of the hand in contact with said touch pad.

8. A method of detecting and sensing physical, biological and chemical characteristics of a person, comprising: (a) providing a monitoring station having an array of sensors and detectors;(b) operating a camera located at the monitoring station which is effective to produce a signal representative of the image of at least the head of a person;(c) operating an infrared camera at the monitoring station which is effective to produce a signal representative of the temperature profile of a person at the monitoring station;(d) operating a biological sensor located at the monitoring station which is effective to produce a signal representative of the presence of biological agents on the hands of a person at the monitoring station;(e) operating a chemical sensor located at the monitoring station which is effective to produce a signal representative of the presence of chemical agents on the hands of a person at the monitoring station;(f) operating a fingerprint sensor located at the monitoring station which is effective to produce a signal representative of the appearance of the fingerprints of a person at the monitoring station; and(g) providing an analyzing center, coupled to the monitoring station, which is effective to receive the signals produced in steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) and provide an analysis of physical, biological and chemical characteristics of a person based on said signals.

9. The method of claim 8 in which step (d) includes providing a touch pad at the monitoring station with which the biological sensor is associated and with which at least the fingers of a person come into contact.

10. The method of claim 8 in which step (e) includes providing a touch pad at the monitoring station with which the chemical sensor is associated and with which at least the fingers of a person come into contact.

11. The method of claim 8 in which step (f) includes providing a touch pad at the monitoring station with which the fingerprint sensor is associated and with which at least the fingers of a person come into contact.

12. The method of claim 8 in which step (g) includes providing an analyzing center which is located remotely from the monitoring station.