SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING CONTRABAND ITEMS

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.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A security screening installation system comprising: a portable detector apparatus comprising: an elongate housing having a single elongate pole carried in an upright position by a base, wherein the pole 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, and a signal processing circuit which receives as an input the signal from the gradiometer and which, in response to a change in the signal produces an alert signal; wherein the portable detector apparatus is battery powered and is light enough to be carried and set up by one person.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a wall or other object behind which the detector apparatus is hidden comprises a material through which a magnetic field will pass relatively unimpeded.

17. The system of claim 16 in which the wall or object is located within a controlled environment such as a prison.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a remote alarm unit, which can be located away from the housing on a side of the wall that is opposite from the portable detector apparatus.

19-23. (canceled)

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a carry case into which the portable detector apparatus can be packed.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the portable detector apparatus is operable between a packed state inside the carry case to a ready to use state outside of the carry case in less than 30 seconds.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the base enables the portable detector apparatus to be quickly and easily erected at any point where contraband detection is required.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the portable detector apparatus is ruggedized so that it is capable of withstanding being pushed or pulled over in use without causing damage to the operation of the device.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising a wall or other object behind which the portable detector apparatus is hidden, the portable detector apparatus being positioned so that at least part of the zone of sensitivity extends in front of the wall or other object and is large enough for a person to fit wholly within the zone.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0044] FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a detection apparatus;

[0045] FIG. 1B is an isometric view of a protective case for the detection apparatus of FIG. 1A;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the detection apparatus of FIG. 1A;

[0047] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views of the location of the apparatus. FIG. 3A illustrates a person moving from outside of a zone of sensitivity. FIG. 3B illustrates a person inside a zone of sensitivity;

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the location of the apparatus when performing a modified strategy of the method, whereby two lines of inmates move from outside of a zone of sensitivity to inside the zone, passing on both sides of the detector apparatus;

[0049] FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of a covert strategy where the detector apparatus is located behind a wall with the zone of sensitivity extending in front of the wall. FIG. 5A illustrates an inmate moving from outside the zone of sensitivity. FIG. 5B illustrates an inmate inside the zone of sensitivity without being aware of the zone; and

[0050] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a strategy for screening laundry bags, bedding, cans, or other objects by sliding them across the floor past the zone of sensitivity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1A shows a detector apparatus 1 that may be used to carry out a method, or form part of a system or screening strategy, of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows the main functional parts detector apparatus in a block diagram.

[0052] The detector apparatus 1 comprises a pole shaped housing 2 made of aluminium, about 4 feet (120 cm) tall and 10 cm wide, which has a base 6 at one end and is capped at the other end with clear plastic cap 3. The cap 3 covers a set of light emitting diodes and drive circuit which form a visible alarm. The diodes are red, amber, and green and can be illuminated separately so as to provide a red, amber, or green glow. The housing 2 contains all of the electronic circuitry needed to operate the device, as described below in relation to FIG. 2, and a battery 4. The battery 4 provides power to the circuit enabling the apparatus to be self-powered and used away from a mains power source.

[0053] The apparatus is light enough to be carried around easily, and the pole containing the circuitry can be stored safely in a two part protective case 5 (see FIG. 1B). A weighted base 6 is provided which can be used to hold the pole in an upright position as shown in FIG. 1A. The pole 2 is ruggedized to protect the circuitry if it is handled roughly or knocked over.

[0054] Internally, as shown in FIG. 2, the detector apparatus 1 comprises an electronic circuit powered by the battery 4. A magnetic sensor 7 is provided, such as a fluxgate sensor or a magneto-resistive sensor, a magneto-impedance sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, or a galvanic coil sensor, which is produces an output signal dependent on the ambient magnetic flux around the sensor. In fact, two or more sensors can be used if desired, the increased number of sensors enabling a defined zone of sensitivity to be established. Where only one sensor is provided the zone will extend all around the sensor and be limited only by the sensitivity of the readout electronics, preset to define the maximum distance from the sensor at which an object can be detected. The zone extends on one side of the apparatus and is large enough to accommodate the whole of an inmate, perhaps extending for 1 metre from the pole.

[0055] When used, the apparatus generally remains still. The magnetic sensor 7 will register a largely unchanging magnetic field due to the earth and static steel objects. This constitutes a large offset on the output of the sensor. This constant offset can be removed using a high pass filter. The sensor will also likely measure regular changes in the magnetic field associated with the power supply for electrical equipment located near the detector apparatus which will cause the output to vary at the supply frequency and its harmonics. This can also be filtered out using a low pass filter. The filters collectively constitute a band-pass filter 8 to perform these functions.

[0056] It is known that it takes between 0.3 seconds and 3 seconds, typically, for a person to pass through a doorway. The reciprocal of these times defines the frequencies of interest in the output of the sensor 4, i.e., 0.3 to 3 Hz.

[0057] If a ferromagnetic object carried, or pulled or pushed, by a person passes close to the sensor 7 through the zone of sensitivity, the ambient magnetic field will be altered causing a change in the output of the magnetic sensor 7. That change will pass through the filter 8 and be amplified by an amplifier 9. In order to trigger an alarm the signal size is compared with a preset threshold. Because the signal may be positive or negative, the threshold detector consists of a rectification stage 10 followed by a comparator 12 that has a circuit 14 to provide a threshold voltage. Alternatively, separate comparators are used for positive and negative signals with the outputs combined to give a single alarm signal instead of a rectifier 10 and a single comparator 12. An optional latch 12a may be provided which holds the value of the signal output from the comparator for a predetermined periodperhaps up to 1 second.

[0058] The output of the comparator may be arranged to have logic level zero for the state where the signal does not exceed the threshold, and level one for the state when the signal has exceeded the threshold. Once an object has passed out of range of the sensor 7, the logic level returns to zero, once the signal level has dropped below the threshold. In practice, it may be preferable that the alarm continues for an elapsed time defined by a reset delay 18 and a latch 16 such as a flip-flop that maintains the output at logic zero until the button is pressed.

[0059] The latch is used to trigger the visual alarm 19, glowing green at logic level zero and red at logic level one. It has been found to be beneficial, although not essential, that both a visual and audible alarm are provided. This colour change, and audible alarm, provide an indication of whether contraband is present. The detector apparatus may also include an audible alarm 20.

[0060] An optional feature is a remote alarm unit 30, which can be connected to the latch of any other suitable part of the apparatus by a wire, or wirelessly using any known communications means, such an optical link or radio signal, for example using the Bluetooth protocols, wife, mobile cellular communications network protocols and so on. This list should not be considered to be an exhaustive list and is merely a list of examples. This may produce an audible or visible alarm, or perhaps provide a haptic signal to discretely alert an operator. In some arrangements this remote alarm unit could be provided instead of an alarm on the housing.

[0061] In a first embodiment of a method of use of the detector apparatus is located in a confined space in a controlled environment such as a prison as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B of the accompanying drawings. This may be a corridor or by an entrance or exit to a room, or perhaps in an outdoor area such as an exercise yard. It is preferable that it is set up near a constriction such as a door way or corridor.

[0062] The detector apparatus 1 is initially unpacked from its case and the pole placed upright in the holder. It is then switched on, creating a zone of sensitivity around the pole as indicated by the dotted line 1a. At this time, all persons should be kept outside of the zone and the apparatus checked to ensure that a steady green visual alarm is issuing. If it is not, there may be a problem such as the pole being too close to a large metal object such as a door. It will then need to be repositioned. A test can then be carried out by bringing a metal object such as a bunch of keys into the zone of sensitivity, which should cause the visual alarm to turn red. The audible alarm will also issue.

[0063] Once erected and tested the detector apparatus is ready to be used to screen inmates for contraband. There are several strategies that can be employed, the following being just some examples of ways in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In each case, the inmate 100 is brought into the zone of sensitivity, whereby an alarm is raised if contraband is present. Upon an alarm being raised a more detailed search can be carried out to identify exactly where the contraband is concealed about the inmate in their clothing or on or inside their body.

[0064] Strategy 1Surprise Search

[0065] Inmates 100 approaching the device are asked to file past the detector apparatus 1 passing through the zone 1a as shown in FIG. 3B, whilst being given no opportunity to stall or to pass word back along the line. Any inmate who causes an alarm when passing is taken to one side for a more detailed check for contraband. This more detailed check may include patting down or scanning the inmate with a hand held metal detector wand. This strategy will discover contraband on the inmates if it contains material which affects a magnetic field, such as batteries, metal phone cases, metal shanks and the like.

[0066] In a refinement shown in FIG. 4 the device is set up in the centre of a confined space such as a corridor, enabling inmates 100 to file past in two lines, one each side of the pole. This increases throughput and makes the screening faster and less disruptive. If a red alarm is issued, then the one or two inmates in the zone at the time are taken aside for more detailed searching.

[0067] Strategy 2Semi Surprise Searching

[0068] Inmates 100 are initially contained in a controlled space before being filed past the device through the zone of sensitivity when leaving an area but are given the opportunity to stall and to pass word back along the line out of sight of any prison guards. Any inmate who causes an alarm when passing is taken to one side for a more detailed check for contraband. This strategy will generally cause inmates to discard contraband before approaching the detector. After all have passed the controlled space is searched for contraband that has been discarded.

[0069] Strategy 3Covert Screening

[0070] In this strategy, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the detector apparatus is set up behind a wall 200 adjacent a controlled space such as a doorway or corridor. It is important that it cannot be seen by any inmate in the controlled space. The zone of sensitivity 1a includes a portion which extends through the wall 200 into the controlled space, and the inmates 100 are made to file through this zone in front of the wall. The strategy will discover contraband in the same way as strategy 1 but the inmates 100 will not be aware that they are being screened. The device can create a zone through most types of brick or concrete walls, and so this strategy can be employed in many areas of a prison. Because the device is portable and quick to set up the inmates will not learn which areas to avoid, as they would with a conventional arch detector.

[0071] Strategy 4Laundry Bag Screening.

[0072] A common way to move contraband into or around a prison is to put it into laundry bags. To prevent this, laundry bags 400 can be passed one a time through the zone of sensitivity as shown in FIG. 6. To speed up the process, they can be slid along the floor from one prison guard 300 to another prison guard 300. To increase the size of the zone of sensitivity at the floor level the pole can be laid on its side, but it could also be used upright. The strategy will discover contraband in the laundry.

[0073] Strategy 5Sleep Mat and Bedding Screening

[0074] This strategy is the same as Strategy 4 but instead of passing across laundry bags, the bedding 500 in a cell is rolled up by an inmate or guard and passed through the zone of sensitivity by sliding along the floor or by an inmate carrying it through the zone. The strategy will discover contraband in the bedding.

[0075] Strategy 6Ad Hoc Screening of Incoming Goods

[0076] This strategy is the same as strategy 4 but instead of screening laundry bags, any other items coming into the prison are screened. Examples include tins of food or drink, within which it has been known to hide contraband.

[0077] A mix of the strategies can be used, helping introduce higher levels of confusion amongst inmates which increases the chances of detecting contraband.

[0078] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.