# US 10,768,337 B2 · Computed tomography (CT) security inspection system with enhanced X-ray shielding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,337 B2 - Document ID: US10768337B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/194,790 - Filed: 2018-11-19 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-02 - Assignees: Photo Diagnostic Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Photo Diagnostic Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Bernard M. Gordon; Olof Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768337B2 ## CPC - G01V 5/226: using tomography - G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] - G01V 5/22: Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays - G21F 1/085: {Heavy metals or alloys} - G21F 3/00: Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material - G01N 2223/639: material in a container - G01N 2223/643: object on conveyor - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) ## Abstract A method for scanning an object in an X-ray security inspection system, wherein the X-ray security inspection system comprises an ingoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains, an X-ray section and an outgoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains, the method comprising: passing the object through the ingoing tunnel at a first rate of speed and with a first extent of separation between successive objects; passing the object through the X-ray section at a second rate of speed and with a second extent of separation between successive objects; and passing the object through the outgoing tunnel at a third rate of speed and with a third extent of separation between successive objects; wherein the second rate of speed is less than the first rate of speed and the third rate of speed, and wherein the second extent of separation between successive objects is less than the first extent of separation between successive objects and the third extent of separation between successive objects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for scanning an object in an X-ray security inspection system, wherein the X-ray security inspection system comprises an ingoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains, an X-ray section and an outgoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains, the method comprising: passing the object through the ingoing tunnel at a first rate of speed and with a first extent of separation between successive objects; passing the object through the X-ray section at a second rate of speed and with a second extent of separation between successive objects; and passing the object through the outgoing tunnel at a third rate of speed and with a third extent of separation between successive objects; wherein the second rate of speed is less than the first rate of speed and the third rate of speed, and wherein the second extent of separation between successive objects is less than the first extent of separation between successive objects and the third extent of separation between successive objects. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the X-ray security inspection system comprises a CT security inspection system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the second rate of speed is 15 cm per second or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and third rates of speed are the maximum speed which permits at least one radiation-shielding curtain to fall back to its “fully down” position between successive objects. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and third rates of speed are 22-27 cm per second. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and third rates of speed are the same. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and third rates of speed are different from one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the radiation-shielding curtains comprise lead-containing curtains. ### Claim 9 Apparatus for scanning an object, the apparatus comprising: an X-ray security inspection system, wherein the X-ray security inspection system comprises an ingoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains, an X-ray section and an outgoing tunnel equipped with radiation-shielding curtains; apparatus for passing the object through the ingoing tunnel at a first rate of speed and with a first extent of separation between successive objects; apparatus for passing the object through the X-ray section at a second rate of speed and with a second extent of separation between successive objects; and apparatus for passing the object through the outgoing tunnel at a third rate of speed and with a third extent of separation between successive objects; wherein the second rate of speed is less than the first rate of speed and the third rate of speed, and wherein the second extent of separation between successive objects is less than the first extent of separation between successive objects and the third extent of separation between successive objects. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the X-ray security inspection system comprises a CT security inspection system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second rate of speed is 15 cm per second or less. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first and third rates of speed are the maximum speed which permits at least one radiation-shielding curtain to fall back to its “fully down” position between successive objects. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and third rates of speed are 22-27 cm per second. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and third rates of speed are the same. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and third rates of speed are different from one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the ingoing tunnel comprises a first conveyor belt. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the X-ray section comprises a second conveyor belt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the outgoing tunnel comprises a third conveyor belt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the ingoing tunnel comprises a series of powered rollers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the X-ray section comprises a series of powered rollers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus for passing the object through the outgoing tunnel comprises a series of powered rollers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the radiation-shielding curtains comprise lead-containing curtains.