System and method for xrd-based threat detection
AssigneeMorpho Detection, Inc.
InventorGeoffrey Harding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and method for XRD-based threat detection. An object is scanned with a first threat detection system. One or more alarm objects are identified. Data about the one or more alarm objects is passed from the first threat detection system to a second threat detection system and is used to move and/or to rotate the object in a predetermined ray path that decreases attenuation of scattered x-ray radiation. Also disclosed is a secondary collimator for XRD-based false alarm resolution in computed tomography {“CT”) threat detection systems. The secondary collimator comprises one or more slit apertures configured to provide a multi-angle capability that extends a range of momenta for which XRD intensities are measured for a predetermined range of photon intensities.
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- scanning an object with a first threat detection system to obtain image data of the container;
- processing the obtained image data to reconstruct an image of the object;
- processing the reconstructed image to identify a region of the image that contains an alarm object;
- moving the container to align the alarm object for scanning by a second threat detection system;
- and
- rotating the container to place the alarm object in a predetermined ray path that decreases x-ray attenuation.
A system, comprising:
- a first threat detection system configured to scan an object for a presence of an alarm object and to identify data about the alarm object;
- a second threat detection system coupled with the first threat detection system;
- wherein the first threat detection system is configured to transmit the data about the detected one or more alarm objects to the second threat detection system to initiate movement and/or rotation of the object into alignment with a predetermined ray path that decreases x-ray attenuation.
A secondary collimator, comprising:
- a body formed of a high density material;
- and
- a continuous spiral slit aperture formed in the body, wherein the continuous spiral slit aperture provides a multi-angle capability that extends a range of momenta for which XRD intensities are measured for a predetermined range of photon intensities.
A secondary collimator, comprising:
- a body formed of a high density material;
- and
- multiple slit apertures formed in the body and arranged at different distances from a primary beam aperture and/or axis.
A threat detection system, comprising an x-ray source configured to irradiate an alarm object within an object;
- a plurality of x-ray detectors positioned apart from the x-ray source, wherein the plurality of x-ray detectors comprises a first detector positioned along an axis parallel to a primary beam of radiation and a first scatter detector and a second scatter detector positioned between the first detector and the x-ray source;
- a secondary collimator positioned between the first scatter detector and the second scatter detector, wherein the secondary collimator comprises one or more slit apertures,
- wherein the first scatter detector is disposed at a first predetermined scatter angle with respect to the axis and the second scatter detector is disposed at a second predetermined scatter angle with respect to the axis to capture photons scattered from a scan area of the object along predetermined ray paths that pass through the secondary collimator's one or more slit apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.