Abstract: A security system including a visitor/intruder register element configured to register a visitor/intruder in a detection zone and a passive ferromagnetic detection element configured to indicate a target-sized or larger ferromagnetic object in the detection zone, where the detection zone covers, or is proximate or adjacent to, an entry point of a location to be secured, and where, in use, an end-user alert element is configured to raise an alert when a visitor/intruder is registered by the visitor/intruder register element in the detection zone and a target-sized or larger ferromagnetic object is indicated by the passive ferromagnetic detection element in the detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus including two or more spaced apart ferromagnetic sensors arranged to detect and screen ferromagnetic objects, and, when a ferromagnetic object is detected, the screening is configured to be substantially independent of the sensor-object distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a moving ferromagnetic target object in a protected area comprises a first magnetic sensor adapted to measure a magnetic field within a first localised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of the first magnetic sensor and to produce a corresponding first measurement signal, and a second magnetic sensor adapted to measure a magnetic field within a second localised volume of space defined by a second zone of sensitivity of the second magnetic sensor and to produce a corresponding second measurement signal. The two magnetic sensors are separated spatially by a baseline such that the overlap between the two zones of sensitivity defines both a protected zone and a non-protected zone.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor module including: a plurality of sensor elements; a configurable processor configured to receive signals from the plurality of sensor elements and produce an output dependent on said signals; and an interface for communicating the output with an external system; where the configurable processor is configured to process the signals in a plurality of selectable modes.

Abstract: An apparatus including two or more spaced apart ferromagnetic sensors arranged to detect and screen ferromagnetic objects, and, when a ferromagnetic object is detected, the screening is configured to be substantially independent of the sensor-object distance.

Abstract: A security screening apparatus for differentiating between ferromagnetic objects having different magnetisation comprises at least one magnetic sensor (106) arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity (128) around the sensor, and a signal processing circuit which receives as an input the signal from the magnetic sensor and a detection circuit that determines whether a signal is above a detection threshold, which, in response to a detection, emits an alert signal; and detection zone defining means for defining a detection zone within the zone of sensitivity, the detection zone including an inner bound at a predetermined distance from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A security screening installation system for use in a controlled environment is described. In an embodiment, a passive detector apparatus does not produce a magnetic field for detection and relies on detecting changes in the local magnetic field. The apparatus is: (i) battery powered; (ii) light enough to be hand carried by hand and set up by one person; (iii) comprises a single elongate housing; and (iv) operable between a packed state inside a protective case and a ready to use state outside of the protective case. The housing supports at least two magnetic sensors that define a gradiometer which is arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity which extends away from the housing, wherein a size of the zone is large enough to contain a whole body of a person.

Abstract: A security screening apparatus for use in detecting ferromagnetic objects comprises a detector apparatus which comprises a housing that supports at least one magnetic sensor arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity which extends away from the housing, the size of the zone being large enough to contain the whole body of the person, and a signal processing circuit which receives as an input the signal from the magnetic sensor and which, in response to a change in the signal produces an alert signal. A beacon that comprises a light source is able to emit at least two visually distinct colours of light, and a control means controls the light source such that in a first condition in the absence of the alert signal the beacon emits a first colour light and in a second condition corresponding to the presence of the alert signal the beacon emits a second, different, colour of light.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An MRI room door assembly (100) for use in protecting an entrance to a room containing an MRI scanner system. The assembly (100) comprising a doorframe (102) that is suitable to be fixed in position within or around an opening to the room, a door (103) that is fixed to the doorframe (102), and an sealing arrangement (105, 106, 107, 108) that seals the door (103) to the frame (102) when it is at rest in the closed position and which is released as a user initiates an opening of the door (103). At least one or more of the door (103) and the doorframe (102) include a built in safety system which provides a function relating to preventing ferrous objects being brought unintentionally close to the MRI scanner system.

Abstract: A method of detecting contraband about a person using a portable detector apparatus having an elongate housing that supports at least one magnetic sensor, which is arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity which extends away from the housing, the size of the zone large enough to contain the whole body of the person, and a signal processing circuit that receives as an input the signal from the magnetic sensor and which, in response to a change in the signal, produces an alert signal includes setting up the portable detector apparatus in a chosen location, causing the person to pass alongside the housing from outside of the zone of sensitivity into the zone of sensitivity, and monitoring for the issue of an alert by the device which is indicative of the possible presence of contraband.

Abstract: A security screening apparatus for use in detecting ferromagnetic objects comprises a detector apparatus which comprises a housing that supports at least one magnetic sensor arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity which extends away from the housing, the size of the zone being large enough to contain the whole body of the person, and a signal processing circuit which receives as an input the signal from the magnetic sensor and which, in response to a change in the signal produces an alert signal. A beacon that comprises a light source is able to emit at least two visually distinct colors of light, and a control means controls the light source such that in a first condition in the absence of the alert signal the beacon emits a first color light and in a second condition corresponding to the presence of the alert signal the beacon emits a second, different, color of light.

Abstract: An MRI room door assembly for use in protecting an entrance to a room containing an MRI scanner system. The assembly comprising a doorframe that is suitable to be fixed in position within or around an opening to the room, a door that is fixed to the doorframe, and an sealing arrangement that seals the door to the frame when it is at rest in the closed position and which is released as a user initiates an opening of the door. At least one or more of the door and the doorframe include a built in safety system which provides a function relating to preventing ferrous objects being brought unintentionally close to the MRI scanner system.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a ferromagnetic object located on or in a person being screened includes a first magnetic sensor which measures an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first volume of space and produces a corresponding measurement signal, a primary power supply provides power to the magnetic sensor, a signal processing circuit is in communication with the magnetic sensors identifies temporal variations in the measurement signal and from the identified temporal variations provides an output signal indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object within the volume of space, and a warning device operable by the output from the signal processing circuit provides in the vicinity of the apparatus an audible and a visible warning in response to the output signal from the signal processing circuit. The apparatus may include a user operable input means that disables the warning device without powering down the magnetic sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a ferromagnetic object located on or in a person being screened comprises a first magnetic sensor which in use measures an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first volume of space and produces a corresponding measurement signal, a primary power supply which provides power to the magnetic sensor, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensors configured to identify temporal variations in the measurement signal and from the identified temporal variations provide an output signal indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object within the volume of space, and a warning device operable by the output from the signal processing circuit to provide within the vicinity the apparatus at least one of an audible and a visible warning in response to the output signal from the signal processing circuit. The apparatus include a user operable input means which enables the warning device to be disabled by a user without powering down the magnetic sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and nonmagnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone.