Patent ID: 7734008
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A vehicle cargo inspection station for providing a visual display of contents contained within the closed cargo area of an existing vehicle, said cargo inspection station comprising: a building structure having open first and second ends and a top portion respectively such that a continuous passageway is formed within an interior of said structure; and means for automatically scanning the cargo area of the existing vehicle; wherein said automatic scanning means is movable within said passageway while the existing vehicle remains stationary such that cargo within the existing vehicle remains statically housed therein, said building structure being manufactured of durable and rigid material such that said structure provides a barrier between said automatic scanning means and the outside environment thereby protecting said automatic scanning means from damage by harsh environmental conditions; wherein said automatic scanning means comprises: wherein said automatic scanning means further comprises a plurality of driven tracks housed within an interior portion of said platform, each of said driven tracks being located subjacent to said top surface of said platform and adjacent to laterally opposed outside edges of said platform, each of said driven tracks having a longitudinal length registered parallel to said longitudinal length of said platform; and a motor directly coupled to each of said plurality of driven tracks respectively, said motor being housed within said interior portion of said platform and further being located subjacent to said top surface of said platform; wherein said motor applies a rotational force to each of said respective driven tracks simultaneously during operating conditions; wherein said automatic scanning means further comprises a movable cargo scanner having a closed end and a plurality of legs oriented opposite to said closed end such that an inverted U-shape is formed, each of said legs having a bottom end directly attached to an associated one of said driven tracks, each of said legs having a top end monolithically formed with said closed end of said scanner such that said closed end is sufficiently spaced above said top surface of said platform to allow the existing vehicle to simultaneously pass beneath said closed end and between said legs of said scanner respectively during scanning procedures; wherein said scanner is moved along a first linear path corresponding to said longitudinal length of said platform when a rotational force from said motor is applied to said driven tracks during scanning procedures; wherein said scanner is moved along a second linear path opposite to said first linear path and returned to an equilibrium position when said scanning procedures are completed; wherein said first and second linear paths extend along an entire longitudinal length of the platform; wherein said automatic scanning means further comprises a plurality of sensors coupled to said scanner, said sensors detecting the existing vehicle positioned upon said platform when said scanner moves along said first linear path thereby initiating said scanning procedures during operating conditions; a processor electrically coupled to said scanner; a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said scanner to display an image of the cargo, said software instructions being programmable and executing a control logic algorithm, said control logic algorithm including the steps of a display screen electrically coupled to said processor and said scanner respectively, said display screen including a graphical user interface electrically mated thereto for generating images of the cargo on the display screen, said graphical user interface receiving and directly manipulating said output signal so that the operator can quickly and easily identify a threat level of the detected cargo; and a controller electrically coupled to said processor and said scanner and said motor respectively, said controller including a user interface that allows an operator to manually operate said scanner during scanning procedures.