Patents Assigned to Smiths Detection Ireland Limited
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Patent number: 9151839Abstract: An imaging system (1) comprises a transmitter (3, 6), a receiver (3, 4, 6), an antenna array (2); and a controller (4, 5, 10, 11) for directing the transmitter, the receiver, and the antenna array to scan a volume containing an object. The controller has multiple distributed processors (15) to calculate antenna control pattern data during run-time. The processor (4, 5) assesses misalignment of antennae using a receiver placed in the imaging volume, and monitors level of energy received by the receiver and compares it with a reference energy level. Also, the controller performs on-the-fly modification of antenna control pattern data according to real time conditions such as mechanical misalignment of the transmitter, the receiver, or of one or more antennas. The controller may generate three-dimensional offset vectors to provide a profile of the offset across the scan volume, and the position of an antenna may be moved to compensate for the mechanical misalignment.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: SMITHS DETECTION IRELAND LIMITEDInventors: Michael Crowley, Emil Entchev, Mohammed Ben Abdillah
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Patent number: 9123999Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system having a reflect array for reflection of radiation such as millimeter-wave radiation. It can apply to imaging systems which operate over a wide range of wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignees: SMITHS DETECTION IRELAND LIMITED, MSC VERTRIEBS GMBHInventors: Martin Schneider, Michael Crowley, Brendan Lyons, David O'Driscoll, Klaus-Michael Hussmann
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Patent number: 8897599Abstract: An imaging system comprises a transmitter (24, 25), a receiver (24, 25, 21), and a controller (20) for directing the transmitter and the receiver to scan an object in a volume. The controller determines which sub-volumes of the volume the object is located within and then performs a fine scan in those sub-volumes. This reduces overall scanning time. The controller (20) may compare a received signal sample magnitude from the initial scan with a threshold to make the decision. The initial scan may be performed with a spot size to include only one or more particular volume elements within at least some of the sub-volumes.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Smiths Detection Ireland LimitedInventors: Mohammed Ben Abdillah, Emil Entchev, Adam Widera, John McNaboe, Brendan Lyons, Claudius Volz, Pia Dreiseitel, Claus Meder
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Publication number: 20130093611Abstract: An imaging system (1) comprises a transmitter (3, 6), a receiver (3, 4, 6), an antenna array (2); and a controller (4, 5, 10, 11) for directing the transmitter, the receiver, and the antenna array to scan a volume containing an object. The controller has multiple distributed processors (15) to calculate antenna control pattern data during rim-time. The processor (4, 5) assesses misalignment of antennae using a receiver placed in the imaging volume, and monitors level of energy received by the receiver and compares it with a reference energy level. Also, the controller performs on-the-fly modification of antenna control pattern data according to real time conditions such as mechanical misalignment of the transmitter, the receiver, or of one or more antennas. The controller may generate three-dimensional offset vectors to provide a profile of the offset across the scan volume, and the position of an antenna may be moved to compensate for the mechanical misalignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: Smiths Detection Ireland LimitedInventors: Michael Crowley, Emil Entchev, Mohammed Ben Abdillah
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Patent number: 8390504Abstract: Electrical properties of concealed dielectric objects, such as the dielectric permittivity, can be deduced from incident, reflected, and transmitted electromagnetic waves in an imaging system. In a confocal arrangement a horn illuminates a reflect array and the reflect array is configured to focus the radiation at an element in the scan volume. The reflections are in turn refocused by a reflect array at the horn aperture. The reflect array is electronically configured to scan the focal point throughout the scan volume in a systematic way. Knowledge of the horn pattern and the scan strategy allows the system to compute the geometry associated with each volume element. Amplitude and phase variations between the object and the surrounding volume and the computed geometry are used to estimate the relative permittivity and thus facilitate categorization of the object using a database of material relative permittivities.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Smiths Detection Ireland LimitedInventors: Mohammed Ben Abdillah, Brendan Lyons, Emil Entchev
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Publication number: 20120093438Abstract: An imaging system comprises a transmitter (24, 25), a receiver (24, 25, 21), and a controller (20) for directing the transmitter and the receiver to scan an object in a volume. The controller determines which sub-volumes of the volume the object is located within and then performs a fine scan in those sub-volumes. This reduces overall scanning time. The controller (20) may compare a received signal sample magnitude from the initial scan with a threshold to make the decision. The initial scan may be performed with a spot size to include only one or more particular volume elements within at least some of the sub-volumes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: SMITHS DETECTION IRELAND LIMITEDInventors: Mohammed Ben Abdillah, Emil Entchev, Adam Widera, John McNaboe, Brendan Lyons, Claudius Volz, Pia Dreiseitel, Claus Meder
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Publication number: 20110102235Abstract: Electrical properties of concealed dielectric objects, such as the dielectric permittivity, can be deduced from incident, reflected, and transmitted electromagnetic waves in an imaging system. In a confocal arrangement a horn illuminates a reflect array and the reflect array is configured to focus the radiation at an element in the scan volume. The reflections are in turn refocused by a reflect array at the horn aperture. The reflect array is electronically configured to scan the focal point throughout the scan volume in a systematic way. Knowledge of the horn pattern and the scan strategy allows the system to compute the geometry associated with each volume element. Amplitude and phase variations between the object and the surrounding volume and the computed geometry are used to estimate the relative permittivity and thus facilitate categorization of the object using a database of material relative permittivities.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: SMITHS DETECTION IRELAND LIMITEDInventors: Mohammed Ben Abdillah, Brendan Lyons, Emil Entchev