Contraband screening system with enhanced privacy

Abstract

An inspection system that can detect contraband items concealed on, in or beneath an individual's clothing. One embodiment relates to a method of generating an image of a person to identify contraband items. The method comprising receiving a first image from a camera, wherein the first image comprises a first depiction of a person and a first indication of at least one contraband item. The method further comprises using the first image, generating a second image comprising a second depiction of the person and a second indication of the at least one contraband item. The second depiction of the person has enhanced privacy with respect to the first depiction of the person.

1 . A method of generating an image of a person to identify contraband items, the method comprising:
 receiving a first image from a camera, the first image comprising a first depiction of a person and a first indication of at least one contraband item; and   using the first image, generating a second image comprising a second depiction of the person and a second indication of the at least one contraband item, wherein the second depiction of the person has enhanced privacy with respect to the first depiction of the person.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second depiction of the person is a silhouette of the person. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the second image comprises:
 identifying the first indication of the at least one contraband item in the first image; and   superimposing the first indication of the at least one contraband item onto the second depiction of the person to generate the second image comprising the second depiction of the person and the second indication of the at least one contraband item.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second image is a visible light image. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving radiation that penetrates clothing worn by the person, and generating the first image based on the received radiation.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the radiation is millimeter wave radiation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a boundary detection algorithm to the first image.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the boundary detection algorithm causes the at least one contraband item to be highlighted. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second indication of the at least one contraband item is enhanced so as to be more noticeable than the first indication of the at least one contraband item. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is directed at an inspection area, the method further comprising:
 to injecting radiation into the inspection area.   
   
   
       11 . A contraband detection system, comprising:
 a portal sized to accommodate a standing person, the portal comprising a doorway sized to allow the person to walk therethrough to enter and/or exit the portal;   a first camera configured and arranged to capture a first image of the person within the portal, the first image comprising a first depiction of the person and a first indication of at least one contraband item; and   a control system coupled to the first camera, wherein the control system is adapted to use the first image to generate a second image comprising a second depiction of the person and a second indication of the at least one contraband item, and wherein the second depiction of the person has enhanced privacy with respect to the first depiction of the person.   
   
   
       12 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system is coupled to the portal via a network. 
   
   
       13 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the portal is located in a screening area or security checkpoint. 
   
   
       14 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the second depiction of the person is a silhouette of the person. 
   
   
       15 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the first image is generated based on received radiation that has penetrated clothing worn by the person. 
   
   
       16 . The contraband detection system of  claim 14 , wherein the radiation is millimeter wave radiation. 
   
   
       17 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein a boundary detection algorithm is applied to the first image. 
   
   
       18 . The contraband detection system of  claim 17 , wherein the boundary detection algorithm causes the at least one contraband item to be highlighted. 
   
   
       19 . The contraband detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the second indication of the at least one contraband item is enhanced so as to be more noticeable than the first indication of the at least one contraband item. 
   
   
       20 . At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method of generating an image of a person to identify contraband items, the method comprising:
 using a first image, the first image comprising a first depiction of the person and a first indication of at least one contraband item, generating a second image comprising a second depiction of the person and a second indication of the at least one contraband item, wherein the second depiction of the person has enhanced privacy with respect to the first depiction of the person.