Multi-Spectral Concealed Object Detection via Emissivity and Reflectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Security systems for detecting on-body concealed objects are labor-intensive, disruptive, and inconvenient, often requiring multiple personnel and providing anatomical-level resolution without effectively sensing radiation-blocking materials.
Innovation Solution
A multi-spectral approach using visible-domain camera images, infrared-domain camera images, and millimeter-wave radar images to determine emissivity and reflectivity information, classifying concealed objects without revealing anatomical details, thereby reducing labor and inconvenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple security personnel and large scanners are used for concealed object detection, then detection capability is improved, but labor intensity and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated detection where the security scanning process serves itself through algorithmic analysis of multi-spectral images, eliminating the need for multiple security personnel to manually operate scanners and analyze images, while subjects pass through without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical scanner systems with rotating antennas and manual image analysis with automated computer vision algorithms that process visible, infrared, and millimeter-wave images to detect concealed objects, reducing physical complexity and labor requirements
2Reliability
If large rotating scanners are deployed for security screening, then detection coverage is improved, but device portability and deployment difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the scanning function into multiple independent spectral domains (visible light, infrared, millimeter-wave) that can be captured simultaneously by separate camera systems, eliminating the need for a single large rotating scanner and enabling more compact, deployable configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spectral dimensionality by incorporating infrared and millimeter-wave imaging alongside visible light imaging, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive detection coverage through multiple imaging dimensions rather than relying on a single large mechanical scanner
3Measurement precision
If anatomical-level resolution images are provided to security personnel, then detection precision is improved, but privacy concerns and information exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant concealed object information from the multi-spectral images and presents it to security personnel, separating the detection data from anatomical details, thereby maintaining detection precision while protecting subject privacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different regions of the images, providing high-resolution analysis only for regions containing concealed objects while maintaining lower resolution or obscured views for anatomical regions, ensuring privacy protection without compromising detection capability
4Device complexity
If traditional single-spectral imaging is used for security scanning, then system simplicity is maintained, but detection of radiation-blocking materials deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple imaging modalities (visible light, infrared, and millimeter-wave) into a composite multi-spectral imaging system, where each spectral domain provides complementary information that overcomes the limitations of individual imaging types, particularly for detecting radiation-blocking materials that may be invisible in one spectrum but detectable in another
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
The method automates the detection of concealed objects, reducing the need for multiple security personnel and minimizing anatomical detail exposure, while effectively identifying potential threats without displaying sensitive information.
Implementation Method 1
receiving an infrared-domain camera image... determining emissivity information for the region of interest using the infrared-domain camera image
Implementation Method 2
receiving a millimeter-wave (mmwave) radar image... determining reflectivity information for the region of interest using the mmwave radar image
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting the presence of on-body concealed objects includes receiving a visible-domain camera image for a scene, determining, using the visible-domain camera image, a region of interest where a subject is present, receiving an infrared-domain camera image and a millimeter-wave (mmwave) radar image that each cover the region of interest, determining emissivity information for the region of interest using the infrared-domain camera image, determining reflectivity information for the region of interest using the mmwave radar image and determining a concealed object classification for the subject based on the emissivity information and the reflectivity information. A corresponding system and computer program product for executing the above method are also disclosed herein.