Patents by Inventor Steven Winn
Steven Winn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20200012011Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 10481295Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TEK84 INC.Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 10445591Abstract: Body scanners are used in airports and other secured facilities to detect weapons, explosives, and other security threats hidden under persons' clothing. These devices use x-rays, millimeter waves and other radiant energy to produce an electronic image of the person's body and any concealed objects. Examination of these images by human analysts is slow, expensive, and subject to privacy concerns. The Invention provides automated analysis by comparing each image against a database of previous scans, using a plurality of subjects with different body types. This comparison is facilitated by digitally mapping each body scanner image to humanoid coordinates. This overcomes the failings of the prior art by allowing each anatomic location on one person to be referenced to the same anatomic location on all other persons.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: TEK84 ENGINEERING GROUP, LLCInventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20190212466Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20170337447Abstract: This Invention is directed at the automated analysis of body scanner images. Body scanners are used in airports and other secured facilities to detect weapons, explosives, and other security threats hidden under persons' clothing. These devices use x-rays, millimeter waves and other radiant energy to produce an electronic image of the person's body and any concealed objects. Examination of these images by human analysts is slow, expensive, and subject to privacy concerns. The Invention provides automated analysis of body scanner images by recognizing that human anatomy is bilaterally symmetric to a high degree, while concealed objects are asymmetric. Digital techniques are used to separate the scanned image into its symmetric and asymmetric parts, thereby effectively separating anatomic from non-anatomic image features.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2016Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 9453936Abstract: The inventive body scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden under the clothing, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. The Invention is an improvement on prior art body scanners that operate primarily by acquiring backscatter x-ray images, but only acquire transmission images over a limited part of the person's body. These prior art systems provide x-ray sources on the anterior and posterior sides of the person being screened, and x-ray sensitive detectors on the sides of these x-ray sources. While sufficient for backscatter imaging, the gaps between these detectors results in blind areas in the transmission images, resulting in lower ability to detect security threats hidden under the clothing. The present Invention overcomes these limitations of the prior art by providing x-ray sensitive detector on the outside of the x-ray sources.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20120314836Abstract: The inventive shoe scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden within their shoes, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. In one embodiment the person being screened stands on a base assembly containing a flying spot x-ray source and detector. X-rays produced by the x-ray source irradiate the person being screened from below their feet, resulting in a backscatter signal being produced by the detector. This detected signal is converted into a digitally represented image and examined by a security officer, allowing detection of any hidden objects. In another embodiment, x-rays that are transmitted through the person's feet are detected by an x-ray detector positioned above the base assembly, and the resulting signal converted into another digitally represented image for display to the security officer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20120307967Abstract: The inventive body scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden under the clothing, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. In one embodiment the body scanner consists of three joined modules, a front module located anterior to the person, a rear module located posterior to the person, and a base module upon which the person stands. The front and rear modules are significantly taller than they are wide, thereby allowing scanning of the full height of a person while providing a narrow-width apparatus. The inherent instability of the tall narrow-width package is overcome by rigidly joining the front and rear modules to the base module. Thus, the Intention provides for a body scanner that is significantly less wide than the prior art.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20120307968Abstract: The inventive body scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden under the clothing, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. The Invention is an improvement on prior art body scanners that operate primarily by acquiring backscatter x-ray images, but only acquire transmission images over a limited part of the person's body. These prior art systems provide x-ray sources on the anterior and posterior sides of the person being screened, and x-ray sensitive detectors on the sides of these x-ray sources. While sufficient for backscatter imaging, the gaps between these detectors results in blind areas in the transmission images, resulting in lower ability to detect security threats hidden under the clothing. The present Invention overcomes these limitations of the prior art by providing x-ray sensitive detector on the outside of the x-ray sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 8116431Abstract: A dual energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100KV to 150KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Spectrum San Diego, Inc.Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20110222733Abstract: A dual energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100KV to 150KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 7957506Abstract: A dual energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100 KV to 150 KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Spectrum San Diego, Inc.Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20100177868Abstract: A dual energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100 KV to 150 KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventor: Steven Winn SMITH
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Patent number: 7742568Abstract: A dual-energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100 KV to 150 KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Spectrum San Diego, Inc.Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Patent number: 7564674Abstract: Terminal pins comprising an outer coating of palladium coating a core material other than of palladium for incorporated into feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are described. The feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are particularly useful for incorporation into implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and the like, to decouple and shield internal electronic components of the medical device from undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.Inventors: Christine A. Frysz, Steven Winn
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Publication number: 20090086907Abstract: A dual-energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100 KV to 150 KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20070134985Abstract: Terminal pins comprising an outer coating of palladium coating a core material other than of palladium for incorporated into feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are described. The feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are particularly useful for incorporation into implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and the like, to decouple and shield internal electronic components of the medical device from undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Inventors: Christine Frysz, Steven Winn
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Patent number: 7084901Abstract: A video surveillance camera capable of operating with flickering illumination is formed from a time-delay-integration linescan camera in conjunction with a mechanical scanner. The line rate of the camera is adjusted to provide an integration time substantially equal to an integer number of periods of the lighting flicker.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20040001149Abstract: A surveillance system is formed from two video cameras viewing substantially the same region being monitored. One camera provides high temporal resolution, such as a conventional CCTV camera operating at 30 frames per second with 640 pixels per image width. The second camera provides high spatial resolution, such as a linescan sensor with a mechanical scanning assembly, providing 2 images per second with 5120 pixels per image width. The combination of these two cameras provides a video record of the monitored region with simultaneous high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
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Publication number: 20030025790Abstract: A video surveillance camera capable of operating with flickering illumination is formed from a time-delay-integration linescan camera in conjunction with a mechanical scanner. The line rate of the camera is adjusted to provide an integration time substantially equal to an integer number of periods of the lighting flicker.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventor: Steven Winn Smith