Searching system using X-ray and millimeter-wave signal

[0002] The present invention relates to a high efficient searching apparatus or processing technique using a combination of X ray signal and millimeter wave (EHF wave) signal, which allows a practical and effective method for searching human body to be conducted in air ports or harbors.

[0003] The conventional searching apparatuses used to search weapons or the like hidden under clothes so on at air ports or harbors which regard the safety as the first priority depend on the method, wherein X ray, potentially very harmful to human body, is emitted, reflected and received for analytical evaluation.

[0004] The conventional apparatus, which was operated substantially as in FIG. 1, was hardly capable of a precise detection because the resolution of a searched object was much influenced by the environmental condition or other interference signal due to dependence on a signal of single band like X ray. This conventional searching apparatus comprising a radio transceiver, which employs only X ray signal, produces unclear image signal and tends to malfunction, and therefore secondary individual confirmation by a security officer should follow after passengers have passed the searching stand, imparting displeasure to the passengers and causing delay as main problems.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a searching apparatus using a combination of X ray signal and millimeter wave (EHF wave) signal, which operates stably under various environmental conditions, can search and detect ultra small objects unmanned and can give clear and precise images of objects.

[0006] To that end, the present invention is characterized by including a technique for embodying an emitter module for producing radio signal, which module includes an electronic element for generating signal in the wave length range of millimeters, and for embodying a detector module for receiving signals; a technique for signal-processing in combination of the X ray in the conventional searching apparatus; and a technique for comparing the embodied image with other stored data and giving alarm as required.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows the arrangement for a conventional searching system using X ray signal, and

[0008] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement for a searching system using the combination of X ray and millimeter wave signal according to the present invention.

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawing.

[0010] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the present invention which relates to a high efficient searching apparatus has the following constructional features: An X ray signal emitter 1 which has an electronic element 2 for producing X ray signal and includes an X ray signal detector 4 for receiving an X ray signal is provided. A millimeter wave emitter 5 is also provided in a millimeter wave transceiver and includes an electronic element 6 for producing millimeter wave. The transceiver described above also includes a millimeter wave detector 7 for receiving millimeter wave. The apparatus according to the invention is also provided with an image processor 8 for deducing image of an object from the received X ray and millimeter wave signals and with a comparator 10 for comparing the deduced image with the corresponding data from the image data base for objects 9 already input. A display 11 for displaying the image deduced from the image processor 8 and for giving an alarm as required is included in the apparatus as well.

[0011] Now, an example of operating method is described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] When a man 3 passes through a body searching stand at an airport or harbor, the X ray signal output from the X ray signal emitter 1 which has an electronic element 2 for producing X ray signal and the millimeter wave signal output from the millimeter wave emitter 5 which composes a millimeter wave transceiver together with the detector 7 and includes the electronic element 6 for producing millimeter wave are respectively received by the X ray signal detector 4 and millimeter wave 7. The two signals received, i.e. X ray signal and millimeter wave signal, are transmitted to the image processing section 8 for producing image.

[0013] The image processed in the image processing section 8 is compared with the corresponding data from the image data base for objects 9 already stored to detect any abnormal object. The image data having passed the above-described comparator 10 is transferred to the display 11 to display for the user and to produce an alarm signal if an abnormal object is detected.

[0014] Thus, because the high efficient searching apparatus based on the example of the invention as described above employs the combination of X ray signal and millimeter ray signal, it has an improved resolving power so as to reveal any hidden product on human body effectively and has an operating characteristic stable to environmental disturbance so as to minimize the error rate for the transmission of radio signal, with the result that the reliability of the apparatus is remarkably improved.

[0015] It is to be understood that, while the invention was described mainly with respect to a preferable specific embodiment, the invention is not restricted to that embodiment and a variety of modifications and alterations would be possible to a man skilled in the art by referring to the description or drawings presented here and within the spirit of the invention and thus those modifications or alterations are to fall within the scope of the invention, which scope should be limited only by the attached claims.