Abstract: A vertical escape structure comprises an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding. The escape housing includes an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing. The vertical escape structure further comprises a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to a building. The escape housing has a smaller horizontal footprint than the building. The walkway is severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

Abstract: A vertical escape structure comprises an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding. The escape housing includes an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing. The vertical escape structure further comprises a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to a building. The escape housing has a smaller horizontal footprint than the building. The walkway is severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

Abstract: The light fixture includes a bottom end having multiple stepped diameters dimensioned to fit in different posts; an outwardly curved transparent top cover; a solar panel positioned below the top cover; a central reflector provided below the solar panel; and a plurality of light elements arranged around the reflector.

Abstract: In a system that includes a wire grid polarizer, the polarizer is positioned between a thermal illuminator and a thermal emitter such that energy from the thermal illuminator traveling towards the thermal emitter is transformed into linearly polarized energy. In the system, the thermal emitter is configured to reflect at least a portion of the linearly polarized energy towards a millimeter-wave camera and there is a motor coupled with the wire grid polarizer and configured to rotate the polarizer in a manner that varies an apparent temperature of the thermal emitter based on the reflected portion of the linearly polarized energy.

Abstract: In a system having a thermal backdrop (106) and a thermal illuminator (102), the thermal backdrop includes a body having a top face; a contrast phantom (114) positioned above the top face and aligned substantially parallel with the top face; and a reflective layer (112) located between the body and the contrast phantom and aligned substantially parallel with the top face. The thermal illuminator radiates thermal energy (104) in a first direction towards the contrast phantom; wherein the first direction is aligned with the top face such that when the thermal energy is radiated in the first direction a first portion of the thermal energy is absorbed by the contrast phantom and a second portion (116) is reflected by the reflective layer towards a millimeter-wave camera (118) in a second direction. Furthermore, the contrast phantom has a plurality of different portions (114A, 114B, 114C, 114D), each portion having a different respective thickness along the first direction.

Abstract: In a system that includes a wire grid polarizer, the polarizer is positioned between a thermal illuminator and a thermal emitter such that energy from the thermal illuminator traveling towards the thermal emitter is transformed into linearly polarized energy. In the system, the thermal emitter is configured to reflect at least a portion of the linearly polarized energy towards a millimeter-wave camera and there is a motor coupled with the wire grid polarizer and configured to rotate the polarizer in a manner that varies an apparent temperature of the thermal emitter based on the reflected portion of the linearly polarized energy.

Abstract: In a system having a thermal backdrop (106) and a thermal illuminator (102), the thermal backdrop includes a body having a top face; a contrast phantom (114) positioned above the top face and aligned substantially parallel with the top face; and a reflective layer (112) located between the body and the contrast phantom and aligned substantially parallel with the top face. The thermal illuminator radiates thermal energy (104) in a first direction towards the contrast phantom; wherein the first direction is aligned with the top face such that when the thermal energy is radiated in the first direction a first portion of the thermal energy is absorbed by the contrast phantom and a second portion (116) is reflected by the reflective layer towards a millimeter-wave camera (118) in a second direction. Furthermore, the contrast phantom has a plurality of different portions (114A, 114B, 114C, 114D), each portion having a different respective thickness along the first direction.

Abstract: A contrast phantom for an active millimeter wave imaging system is made from different materials or sections having different reflectivities. The reflectivities incrementally increase in discrete steps so that the phantom is useable to calibrate the active millimeter wave imaging system. The reflectivities preferably range from 0% to 100% and incrementally and linearly increase in equal steps. A method of producing the contrast phantom for the active millimeter wave imaging system is also described.

Abstract: A contrast phantom for an active millimeter wave imaging system is made from different materials or sections having different reflectivities. The reflectivities incrementally increase in discrete steps so that the phantom is useable to calibrate the active millimeter wave imaging system. The reflectivities preferably range from 0% to 100% and incrementally and linearly increase in equal steps. A method of producing the contrast phantom for the active millimeter wave imaging system is also described.

Abstract: A container screener apparatus that uses container barcode (e.g. Universal Product Code) scanning, and one or more container and/or container content property measurements (e.g. photograph, description, weighing, acoustic measurement), and container comparison data stored in a database to determine if a container passes or fails a container screening based on predetermined pass/fail criteria.

Abstract: A container screener apparatus that uses container barcode (e.g. Universal Product Code) scanning, and one or more container and/or container content property measurements (e.g. photograph, description, weighing, acoustic measurement), and container comparison data stored in a database to determine if a container passes or fails a container screening based on predetermined pass/fail criteria.