# US 2014/0192954 A1 · X-Ray Scanner with Partial Energy Discriminating Detector Array

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- Number: US 2014/0192954 A1
- Document ID: US20140192954A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/148,452
- Filed: 2014-01-06
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Gerard Andrew Hanley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192954A1

## CPC

- G01V 5/224: {Multiple energy techniques using one type of radiation, e.g. X-rays of different energies}
- 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

The present specification describes a scanning/inspection system configured as a dual-view system using dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors that are partially populated with multi-energy discriminating detectors for overall enhanced energy resolution and therefore improved discrimination of materials through better estimation of material physical properties such as density and effective atomic number.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for screening objects, comprising:
a) a receptacle for holding an object;
b) a conveyor to move the receptacle through an inspection region;
c) a first X-ray source for transmitting X-rays through the object for generating a vertical X-ray projection view of the said object;
d) a second X-ray source for transmitting X-rays through the object for generating a horizontal X-ray projection view of the said object;
e) a first set and a second set of transmission detectors for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the said object; and
f) a third and a fourth set of energy discriminating detectors for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the said object, wherein said third and fourth set of energy discriminating detectors are positioned such that they align with the object within the receptacle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a tray further comprising a foam insert that has at least one channel to align the said object for screening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second transmission detectors are dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth energy discriminating detectors are fabricated from high-Z semiconductor materials including cadmium-telluride (CdTe), cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT), mercury iodide (HgI2), selenium (Se), lead iodide (PbI2), gallium arsenide (GaAs).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the said object is a liquid, aerosol, gel (LAG) item.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor for receiving output signals from said first, second, third and fourth sets of detectors and overlaying said output signals onto a visual image of the said receptacle and object.

### Claim 7

A method for screening objects, comprising:
a) providing a receptacle to hold and align an object;
b) moving the said receptacle through an inspection region using a conveyor;
c) generating a vertical X-ray projection view of the said object using a first X-ray source;
d) generating a horizontal X-ray projection view of the said object using a second X-ray source;
e) detecting X-rays transmitted through the said object using a first set and second set of transmission detectors; and
f) detecting X-rays transmitted through the said object using a third set and fourth set of energy discriminating detectors which are positioned such that they align with the object within the receptacle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the said receptacle is a tray further comprising a foam insert that has at least one channel to align the said object for screening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the said first and second set of transmission detectors are dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the said third and fourth set of energy discriminating detectors are fabricated from high-Z semiconductor materials including cadmium-telluride (CdTe), cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT), mercury iodide (HgI2), selenium (Se), lead iodide (PbI2), gallium arsenide (GaAs).

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the said object is a liquid, aerosol, gel (LAG) item.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of processing the output signals from said first, second, third and fourth sets of detectors to form a visual image of the sad receptacle and object.

### Claim 13

A system for screening objects, comprising:
a) a receptacle for holding an object;
b) a conveyor to move the receptacle through an inspection region;
c) an X-ray source for transmitting X-rays through the object for generating an X-ray projection view of the said object;
d) a plurality of transmission detectors for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the said object; and
e) a plurality of energy discriminating detectors for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the said object, wherein said plurality of energy discriminating detectors are positioned such that they align with the object within the receptacle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the receptacle is a tray further comprising a foam insert that has at least one channel to align the said object for screening.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of transmission detectors are dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of energy discriminating detectors are fabricated from high-Z semiconductor materials including cadmium-telluride (CdTe), cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT), mercury iodide (HgI2), selenium (Se), lead iodide (PbI2), gallium arsenide (GaAs).

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the said object is a liquid, aerosol, gel (LAG) item.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 further comprising a processor for receiving output signals from said plurality of detectors and overlaying said output signals onto a visual image of the said receptacle and object.