Color-Coded Metal Detector Portal with Radioactive Radiation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current metal detectors in sensitive environments are inefficient in distinguishing between metallic objects and radioactive radiation, leading to prolonged processing times and difficulties in interpreting alarm signals for security personnel, which slows down the flow of people and causes discomfort, especially for the elderly.

Innovation Solution

A portal metal detector equipped with a power supply and processing module that controls a series of light sources to emit different colors based on the nature of the detected signal, allowing immediate visualization of the detection type and location, with red for metallic masses, blue for radioactive radiation, and green for no anomalies, facilitating quicker security response and transit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If metal detectors detect both metallic objects and radioactive radiation, then detection capability is improved, but interpretation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidinterpretation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color-coded visual indicators to represent different detection results: red for metallic objects, blue for radioactive radiation, and green for no anomaly. This color change system enables security personnel to immediately distinguish between different types of detected objects without complex interpretation, resolving the contradiction by maintaining versatile detection capability while simplifying signal interpretation through intuitive visual cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If security personnel analyze alarm signals carefully, then detection accuracy is improved, but passage time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidpassage time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of detected objects by type (metallic vs. radioactive) and provides this information in advance through color-coded indicators before security personnel need to make decisions. This preliminary action of categorizing and visually presenting detection results eliminates the need for time-consuming analysis during the passage process, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while significantly reducing passage time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If multicolored light-emitting diodes are used to visualize signal amplitude, then information delivery is improved, but interpretation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation deliveryVSAvoidinterpretation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multicolored LEDs to represent signal amplitude as proposed in prior art, this patent applies color coding to represent the local quality or type of detected object at specific locations. Red indicates metallic objects, blue indicates radioactive radiation, and green indicates no anomaly. This local quality approach assigns different meanings to colors based on the nature of the detected object rather than its amplitude, making the information immediately interpretable and eliminating the confusion associated with amplitude-based color representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enables immediate and simultaneous visualization of detection results, allowing security personnel to react swiftly and accelerate the passage of individuals through the detector, thereby improving the flow and reducing wait times.

Implementation Method 1

a power supply and processing module (30) suitable for controlling a series of light sources (40) to emit optical radiation of a first color upon detection of a metallic mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from light sources: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

most of the metal detector systems proposed in this context comprise transmitter coils, receiver coils and an electronic processing circuit adapted to detect variations in signals received on the receiver coils

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1892542B1Metal detector portal comprising improved indicator means
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 MANNESCHI M ALESSANDRO
  • EP1892542B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1892542B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1892542B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a metal detector portal comprising two uprights (12, 14) housing sensors forming a metal mass detector, in particular transmitter/receiver coils (20, 22), associated with a power supply and processing module (30), and defining between them a passage channel for individuals to be checked, at least one of the uprights (12, 14) comprising a series of light sources (40) distributed over its height for visualizing alarms, characterized in that it further comprises a radioactive radiation detector (25) associated with the power supply and processing module (30) and that said module is adapted to control the light sources (40) so that a part of the colors generated by the light sources (40) is associated with the signals of the metal mass detector and a different series of colors is associated with the signals of the radioactive radiation detector.