Low Frequency Magnetic Imaging Detector for Concealed Weapons Detection
Abstract
Military personnel, law-enforcement officers, and civilians face every-increasing dangers from persons carrying concealed handguns and other weapons. In direct correspondence with this danger is a need for more sophisticated means of detecting concealed weapons. We have developed a novel concealed-weapons detector based on the principle of low-frequency magnetic imaging. The detector is configured as a portal, and constructs an image of electrically conductive objectives transported through it with a potential spatial resolution of approximately 1 inch. Measurements on a breadboard version of the weapons detector have, to date, yielded a resolution of 2 inches. The detector is sensitive to all metals, semiconductors, and conductive composites. The measured conductivity image formed by the detector is combined with the video signal fro a visible CCD camera to form a composite image of persons transiting the detector portal and the conductive objects they are carrying. Accompanying image recognition software could be used to determine the threat level of objects based upon shape, conductivity, and placement on the person of the carrier, and provide cueing, logging, or alarm functions to the operator if suspect weapons are identified. The low-power, low frequency emissions from the detector are at levels considered safe to humans and medical implants.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA367797
Entities
People
- Byron Zollars
- Michael Durrett
- William Hallidy