Abstract: The invention concerns a shoe scanning system for a full-body scanners canning an individual before access to a restricted access area. The system comprises a detection unit (10) comprising: a detector for sensing a metal and/or unauthorized object located above a surface (111) onto which the individual can walk; a communication unit for transmitting a message to an indication unit for providing instructions to the individual and/or to an assistant; and a processing unit connected to the detector by a data link for receiving data and controlling the communication unit for sending a detection signal when the detector indicates a presence of a metal and/or unauthorized object. The detector comprises a short-range sensing element (122) and a long-range sensing element (123) for detecting a metal and/or unauthorized object up to a maximal distance (1231) greater than the maximal distance of the short-range sensing element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system (1) and a method for scanning a person (2) before access to a restricted access area (3), comprising a processing unit (14) and a metal detector (10, 70) for detecting metal in the shoes (20) or in a waist portion of the person walking on a surface (15). The processing unit controls an indication unit (12, 13) for: letting the person walk towards the restricted area if a first scan indicates the probability of the presence of metal lower than a first threshold; in case of a probability higher than the first threshold, prompting the person to carry out a second scan close to a mark (11) on the carpet; and prompting the user to remove his shoes or object if the first scan indicates a probability higher than a second threshold, or if the second scan indicates a probability higher than a third threshold.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system (1) for detecting a threat in a shoe (21, 22) worn by an individual (2) accessing a restricted access area (50) through a security access point (51). The method comprises obtaining a first response provided by a first metal detector (11) by sensing a pair of shoes worn by the individual. The first response is compared with a signature signal representing a shoe comprising a threat or an object representing a threat so to indicate a critical pair of shoes. In such case, the method further comprises prompting the individual to place the critical pair of shoes at a predefined position to obtain a second response provided by the first or by a second metal detector (12, 13) by sensing one shoe of said critical pair of shoes. A potential threat is detected by comparing the second response with the signature signal.