Body Scanner State-Machine Control for Faster Accurate Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body scanners are slow and require individuals to stand still, leading to long lines in high-traffic areas like airports, and they often use narrow frequency bands to reduce scan time, which limits their accuracy and suitability for dynamic environments.
Innovation Solution
The integration of programmable state machines in transmitter and receiver integrated circuits allows for faster frequency switching and channel selection, enabling the use of larger bandwidths and reducing circuit complexity, allowing for faster and more accurate imaging without the need for individuals to stand still.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If body scanners use narrow frequency bands to reduce scan time, then scan time is reduced, but imaging accuracy and suitability for dynamic environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency switching and channel selection through programmable state machines, allowing the body scanner to adaptively change frequency bands during the scanning process. This enables the system to use narrow frequency bands for quick initial scans while transitioning to broader frequency bands for detailed imaging, resolving the contradiction between scan time and imaging accuracy by making the frequency band selection dynamic rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the frequency band parameter dynamically during operation. The programmable state machines control transitions between different frequency bands and channels, allowing the scanner to optimize the frequency parameter based on real-time scanning requirements. This parameter change capability enables the system to achieve both fast scan times and high imaging accuracy by selecting appropriate frequency bands for different scanning phases
2Measurement precision
If body scanners use complex circuitry to achieve faster frequency switching, then imaging accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hardware circuitry with programmable state machines implemented in software/firmware. Instead of using multiple physical switches and complex analog circuits for frequency switching, the system uses programmable logic to control frequency synthesis and channel selection. This substitution of mechanical/hardware complexity with software-based control reduces device complexity while maintaining the capability for fast frequency switching and high imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The programmable state machines serve multiple functions: they control frequency synthesis, manage channel selection, coordinate transmitter and receiver operations, and adapt to different scanning modes. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving the desired imaging accuracy through coordinated control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces scan time, enabling body scanners to generate accurate images of moving individuals and increasing their versatility for use in various environments, while also reducing space, power consumption, and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission signal processor configured to multiply an oscillator signal to generate a transmission signal within a target frequency band and to filter one or more harmonics from the transmission signal
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter configured to amplify the transmission signal to generate an amplified transmission signal and to provide the amplified transmission signal to one or more of a plurality of antennas
Implementation Method 3
a receive signal processor configured to multiply an oscillator signal by a multiplication factor to generate a target oscillator signal within a target frequency band and to filter one or more harmonics from the target oscillator signal
Implementation Method 4
a receiver configured to receive a receive signal from one of a plurality of antennas, wherein the target oscillator signal is offset from the receive signal by an offset frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of programmable state machines may be included in a transmitter integrated circuit of a scanner (e.g. a body scanner) to control the sub-circuits of the transmitter integrated circuit. The first programmable state machine may be used to control the signal processor of the transmitter that facilitates generation of a signal to be transmitted at a target, such as a user to be scanned. The second programmable state machine may be used to control the transmitter's selection of a transmission channel for transmitting the signal in which provides the signal to be transmitted to an antenna. Further, the receiver integrated circuit of the scanner may include a similar pair of programmable state machines for controlling the receive signal processor and receiver of the receiver integrated circuit. The inclusion of the state machines can reduce both the scan time and the circuit complexity of the scanner.