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US 2014/0177793 A1Published application
Four-Sided Imaging System and Method for Detection of Contraband
AssigneeRapiscan Systems, Inc.
InventorsEdward James Morton, Andreas F. Kotowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a four-sided scanning system for vehicles that uses a combination of backscatter and transmission based X-ray imaging to achieve material discrimination. In one embodiment, the system is designed as a mobile, drive-through system, which can be folded and stowed in a truck and can be conveniently deployed at any place when required.
Claims21
A scanning system for the inspection of cargo, comprising:
- a portal defining an inspection area, said portal comprising a first vertical side, a second vertical side, a top horizontal side, and a horizontal base defined by a ramp adapted to be driven over by a vehicle;
- a first X-ray source disposed on at least one of the first vertical side, second vertical side or top horizontal side for generating an X-ray beam into the inspection area toward the vehicle;
- a first set of transmission detectors disposed within the portal for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the vehicle;
- a second X-ray source disposed within the ramp of said portal for generating an X-ray beam towards the underside of the vehicle;
- and
- a second set of detectors disposed within the ramp of said portal for receiving X-rays that are backscattered from the vehicle.
3 more elements
A method for inspecting a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a portal defining an inspection area, said portal comprising a first vertical side, a second vertical side, a top horizontal side, and a horizontal base defined by a ramp adapted to be driven over by a vehicle,
- signalling a vehicle to drive over the ramp,
- irradiating a vehicle with X-rays from a first source disposed on one side of the portal,
- detecting the X-rays transmitted through the vehicle, using transmission detectors disposed within the portal, to produce a first output signal representative of the vehicle and contents thereof,
- irradiating the underside of the vehicle with X-rays from a second source disposed within the ramp,
- detecting X-rays scattered back from the vehicle, using backscatter detectors disposed within the ramp, to produce a second output signal representative of the vehicle and contents thereof, and
- correlating said first output signal and said second output signal to produce a visual image of the vehicle and contents thereof.
4 more elements
A scanning system for inspecting a vehicle, comprising:
- a portal defining an inspection area, said portal comprising a first vertical side and a second vertical side spaced apart from each other and each having a top side;
- a third side connecting said two top sides;
- a ramp over adapted to be driven over by a vehicle;
- an X-ray source disposed on one side of the portal for generating an X-ray beam into the inspection area;
- a first set of detectors disposed within the portal for receiving X-rays transmitted through the vehicle;
- a second set of detectors disposed within the ramp and the first, second and third sides of said portal for receiving X-rays backscattered from the vehicle;
- and
- an image processor for receiving output signals from said first and second set of detectors and overlaying said output signals onto a visual image of the vehicle and contents thereof.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.