# US 12,181,428 B2 · X-ray backscatter imaging system for precise searching for container hazardous cargo and method for controlling the same

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- Number: US 12,181,428 B2
- Document ID: US12181428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/876,183
- Filed: 2022-07-28
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-17
- Assignees: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology
- Applicants: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology
- Inventors: Jongwon Park; Chang Hwy Lim; Youngchol Choi; Jeonghee Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181428B2

## CPC

- G01N 23/203: Measuring back scattering
- G01V 5/222: measuring scattered radiation
- G01N 2223/053: back scatter
- G01N 2223/3301: beam is modified for scan, e.g. moving collimator
- G01N 2223/40: Imaging
- G01N 2223/639: material in a container
- 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)
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## Abstract

An X-ray backscatter imaging system for precise searching for container hazardous cargo, includes: an X-ray generator configured to irradiate X-rays toward a search target container; and a cylinder-type scattering X-ray detection collimator configured to allow only scattering X-rays generated on a specific layer of the search target container among the X-rays irradiated from the X-ray generator to pass through, and X-rays scattering on a specific layer is measured by adjusting angles of collimators based on a layer to be measured, so that a search for hazardous cargo by layer of the container can be performed precisely.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An X-ray backscatter imaging system for precise searching for container hazardous cargo, the system comprising:
an X-ray generator configured to irradiate X-rays toward a search target container; and
a scattering X-ray detection collimator including a rotatable cylinder, and being configured to allow only scattering X-rays generated on a specific layer of the target container among the X-rays irradiated from the X-ray generator to pass through,
wherein the scattering X-ray detection collimator is configured to be rotatable to adjust an angle thereof to measure X-rays scattered from the specific layer of the target container, enabling precise layer-by-layer searches of the target container,
wherein a slit that allows only scattering X-rays of a specific angle to pass therethrough is provided at a front end of the scattering X-ray detection collimator,
wherein a first passage with one slit for allowing scattering X-rays to pass therethrough is formed in a vertical direction to a second passage with multiple slits spaced apart from each other to allow scattering X-rays to pass therethrough.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 1, wherein the scattering X-ray detection collimator is configured to control a difference in magnitude of signals transmitted through the rotatable cylinder based on a diameter of the rotatable cylinder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 1, wherein a width of the slit is configured to be varied to control an amount of information inflow from layers other than a layer of interest.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 1, wherein a number of slits is configured to be varied to control an amount of information inflow from a layer of interest and an amount of information inflow from layers other than the layer of interest.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 1, wherein an angle of a slit toward a layer to be measures in the target container is configured to be varied to control an amount of information inflow from a layer of interest and an amount of information inflow from layers other than the layer of interest.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable cylinder of the scattering X-ray detection collimator is configured to be rotated based on a container search mode so that the first passage or the second passage fits a passage through which scattering X-rays on a layer of interest pass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The X-ray backscatter imaging system of claim 6, wherein when the container search mode is a normal search mode, the scattering X-ray detection collimator is configured to control the first passage to fit a path through which the scattering X-rays on the layer of interest pass, and when the container search mode is a precise search mode, the scattering X-ray detection collimator is configured to control the second passage to fit the path through which the scattering X-rays on the layer of interest pass.

### Claim 8

A method for controlling an X-ray backscatter imaging system, the method comprising:
transferring a search target container to a search position and controlling a rotation direction of a scattering X-ray detection collimator according to a search mode;
controlling a slit angle to fit a specified container search layer;
irradiating X-rays to search for container hazardous cargo and detecting and imaging scattering signals passing through a slit of a specific angle and width;
analyzing detected signals to determine a scattering image quality of a specified search layer; and
based on a determination that it is not possible to identify a detected object in a scattering image, switching the search mode to a precise mode and performing a slit angle change control.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein in the detecting and imaging of the scattering signals, the scattering X-ray detection collimator controls a difference in magnitude of signals transmitted through a cylinder based on a diameter of the cylinder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein in the detecting and imaging of the scattering signals, an amount of information inflow from a layer of interest and an amount of information inflow from layers other than the layer of interest are controlled by varying a width of a slit which is provided at a front end of the scattering X-ray detection collimator and allows only scattering X-rays of a specific angle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein in the detecting and imaging of the scattering signals, an amount of information inflow from a layer of interest and an amount of information inflow from layers other than the layer of interest are controlled by varying a number of slits which are provided at a front end of the scattering X-ray detection collimator and allow only scattering X-rays of a specific angle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein in the cylinder forming the scattering X-ray detection collimator, a first passage with one slit for allowing scattering X-rays to pass therethrough is formed in a vertical direction to a second passage with multiple slits spaced apart from each other to allow scattering X-rays to pass therethrough.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein when the container search mode is a normal search mode, the first passage path is controlled to fit the path through which the scattering X-rays on a layer of interest pass, and when the container search mode is a precise search mode, the second passage is controlled to fit the passage through which the scattering X-rays on the layer of interest pass.