Optical Marking System for Person Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-contact monitoring systems for detecting suspicious objects in individuals, such as in airport security, face challenges in protecting privacy without incurring additional image creation costs and alignment issues between millimeter wave and optical images.

Innovation Solution

An optical marking system using visible light to indicate suspicious object positions directly on the object or its mirror image, via a cover that reflects visible light and is permeable to millimeter waves, allowing for projection of markings onto the object or its reflection, enabling privacy protection without additional image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an additional optical camera is used to record images for marking suspicious areas, then privacy protection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional image capture equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an optical copy (mirror image) of the person on the cover surface using visible light reflection, rather than capturing a separate physical image with an additional camera. This optical copy serves as the basis for marking suspicious areas, eliminating the need for separate image capture equipment while maintaining privacy protection through visual indication only.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The cover serves multiple functions: it acts as a support structure for the antenna array, provides a reflective surface for creating optical mirror images, and serves as a display medium for marking suspicious areas. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate optical cameras and image processing systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining privacy protection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If separate optical cameras are used to capture images for marking, then suspicious areas can be indicated, but alignment problems occur between millimeter wave and optical images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition indication accuracyVSAvoidimage alignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the optical reflection function and the marking display function into a single integrated system on the cover. The mirror image and the marking are created on the same surface from the same reference frame, ensuring automatic alignment without requiring separate calibration or complex coordinate transformation between different camera systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If additional optical imaging systems are implemented, then suspicious object positions can be marked, but problems with personal rights arise due to additional picture capture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspicious object position indicationVSAvoidprivacy infringement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a temporary optical copy (mirror image) on the cover surface that exists only during the inspection process and is not stored or captured as a permanent image. This allows positioning and marking of suspicious areas without creating storable personal images, thereby reducing privacy infringement concerns while maintaining position indication accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 ensures privacy protection by indicating suspicious areas without additional image creation, with markings visible on the object or its mirror image, independent of the inspector's position, reducing alignment and privacy concerns.

Implementation Method 1

The cover is permeable to the waves used and at least partially reflects visible light to generate a mirror image of the object to be inspected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The cover is permeable to the waves used and at least partially reflects visible light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeability to electromagnetic waves: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2567255B1Device for examining an object, in particular for inspecting persons for suspicious items
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 SMITHS HEIMANN GMBH
  • EP2567255B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2567255B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2567255B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

For examining objects, in particular for inspecting persons for suspicious items, devices having a scanning system for scanning the object and having an evaluating system (6) are known. According to the invention, an optical marking system is provided, which indicates the position of an item classified as suspicious on the object itself or in a mirror image of the object by means of visible light.