Patent US3059957A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6720905B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6720905B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for detecting concealed weapons
Assignee: KOSOWSKY LESTER
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Filing: 2002-08-28
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Granted: 2004-04-13
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Expires: 2022-08-28
Abstract
Abstract Methods and Apparatus for early detection and identification of a threat, and alerting against detected threats, such as individuals wearing or carrying explosive materials and/or weapons, e.g., suicide bombers and other terrorists, at a great enough distance to limit loss of life and destruction of property are disclosed. The methods comprise transmitting a signal in the direction of a potential threat, measuring the detected reflected signal, and comparing the signal level with a threshold indicative of a threat. A monitor is employed to display the threat and attributes of the detected signals. The invention further illuminates the suspicious individual(s) with a Laser illuminator/designator and provides information about the distance to the suspicious individual(s).
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur C. Levitan
- 👤 Lester Kosowsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B31/00; F; F41; F41H; F41H13/00; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/87; G01S13/872; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a reflected portion of the signal; a processor associated with the detector; and a display associated with the processor which displays a visual depiction of said scene that includes the potential threat, wherein the processor causes the display to indicate the segment of the visual depiction which is aligned with the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a reflected portion of the signal; a processor associated with the detector; and a display associated with the processor which displays a visual depiction of said scene that includes the potential threat, wherein the processor causes the display to indicate the segment of the visual depiction which is aligned with the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: an alarm associated with the processor which is activated when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a camera associated with the display for capturing the visual depiction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the camera detects energy outside the visible spectrum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the transmitter to pan the displayed scene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the transmitter to pan a designated area, and causes the visual depiction to include the designated area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein the detected signal is depicted on the display indicative of the aiming direction of the transmitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein the threshold is depicted on the display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein the direction of each detected signal that exceeds the threshold is depicted on the display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the display additionally depicts the segment in a picture-in-picture window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein when a second detected signal exceeds the threshold, a second picture-in-picture window is additionally depicted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said scene is an outdoor scene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said scene includes multiple buildings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said scene includes multiple individuals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; ii) detecting a reflected portion of the signal; iii) displaying a visual depiction of said scene that includes the potential threat; and iv) indicating on the depiction the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; ii) detecting a reflected portion of the signal; iii) displaying a visual depiction of said scene that includes the potential threat; and iv) indicating on the depiction the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the depiction is generated from energy outside the visible spectrum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said scene is an outdoor scene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said scene includes multiple buildings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said scene includes multiple individuals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected; a processor associated with the detector; and an illuminator associated with the processor; wherein the processor causes the illuminator to illuminate a portion of said scene located in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected; a processor associated with the detector; and an illuminator associated with the processor; wherein the processor causes the illuminator to illuminate a portion of said scene located in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 20 , further comprising: an alarm associated with the processor which is activated when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the illuminator is activated for each detected signal that exceeds the threshold.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein said transmitter is a radar transmitter; and wherein the illuminator aiming direction is slaved to the radar transmitter aiming direction until the detected signal exceeds the threshold, at which time the illuminator aiming direction is fixed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the illuminator is a laser.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the illuminator transmits a beam which is not visible to the naked eye.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected; and iii) illuminating a portion of said scene in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a scene including a potential threat; ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected; and iii) illuminating a portion of said scene in the aiming direction of the transmitter when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the illuminator transmits a beam that is not visible to the naked eye.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected; a processor associated with the detector; and an indicator associated with the processor, wherein the processor causes the indicator to indicate the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits a signal in each of a plurality of different aiming directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat; a detector associated with the transmitter which detects a portion of the signal that is reflected; a processor associated with the detector; and an indicator associated with the processor, wherein the processor causes the indicator to indicate the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 28 wherein the transmitter is a radar transmitter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 28 wherein the potential threats are ground-based.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 29 , further comprising an interrogator associated with the processor, wherein the interrogator transmits an interrogation signal in the aiming direction of the transmitter and determines whether a pre-arranged response transmission is received.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein the pre-arranged response transmission is a friend transponder transmission.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 32 , wherein the response is a pre-arranged signature modulation transmission.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein the indicator includes an indication of whether the response is received.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 29 , further comprising a distance measuring device associated with the processor, and wherein the distance measuring device measures the distance to an object in the aiming direction of the transmitter.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 35 , wherein the indicator includes an indication of the distance to the target.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the radar transmitter includes a lens antenna with an associated integral random and scanning system.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat; ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected; and iii) indicating the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) transmitting a signal in each of a plurality of different directions to pan a physical environment including a potential threat; ii) detecting a portion of the signal that is reflected; and iii) indicating the aiming direction of the transmitter in a real-time view of the physical environment including the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising transmitting an interrogation signal, and determining whether a pre-arranged response transmission is received.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising measuring the distance to the potential threat when the detected signal exceeds a threshold.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits signals in each of a plurality of different directions to pan an area including several targets, a detector associated with the transmitter which detects reflected portions of the transmitted signals, and a processor associated with the detector, wherein the processor calculates a threshold as a function of an average generated from said detected signals reflected by the panned area, and identifies an aiming direction of the transmitter when a detected signal exceeds the threshold.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for detecting a threat, the system comprising: a transmitter that transmits signals in each of a plurality of different directions to pan an area including several targets, a detector associated with the transmitter which detects reflected portions of the transmitted signals, and a processor associated with the detector, wherein the processor calculates a threshold as a function of an average generated from said detected signals reflected by the panned area, and identifies an aiming direction of the transmitter when a detected signal exceeds the threshold.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) operating a transmitter to transmit signals in each of a plurality of different directions to pan an area including several targets; ii) operating a detector to detect reflected signals during an analysis period; and iii) determining a threat threshold for the analysis period as a function of the intensity of the reflected signals from the panned area detected during the analysis period.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for detecting a threat, the method comprising: i) operating a transmitter to transmit signals in each of a plurality of different directions to pan an area including several targets; ii) operating a detector to detect reflected signals during an analysis period; and iii) determining a threat threshold for the analysis period as a function of the intensity of the reflected signals from the panned area detected during the analysis period.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 42 , further comprising: repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) for each of a plurality of different analysis periods.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein step (iii) of determining a threat threshold includes: calculating the average intensity of the detected signals; and calculating the threat threshold based on the average.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 43 , further comprising: identifying the direction of a potential threat as a function of an aiming direction of the transmitter at a time during which the detected signal exceeds the threshold.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 45 , further comprising; illuminating a potential threat in the identified direction.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 45 , further comprising: displaying a real-time depiction in the identified direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-10-13 | 2008-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | 2012-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-13 | 2015-10-13 | 2016-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |