# US 2019/0170895 A1 · Inspection system with a matrix and method

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- Number: US 2019/0170895 A1
- Document ID: US20190170895A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/321,204
- Filed: 2017-07-27
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-28
- Assignees: Smiths Heimann GmbH
- Applicants: Smiths Heimann SAS
- Inventors: Guillaume Jegou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170895A1

## CPC

- G01V 5/22: Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
- G01V 5/232: {having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor (G01V5/226 takes precedence)}
- G01N 23/04: and forming images of the material
- 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)
- 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)

## Abstract

In one aspect, it is disclosed a system for inspection of a load, comprising: a detection device configured to detect, after transmission through the load, successive radiation pulses emitted at a predetermined frequency by a source, the load being in movement in an inspection direction, at an inspection speed with respect to the system, the detection device comprising a matrix of a plurality of arrays of detectors, wherein the matrix has a width associated with the inspection direction, the width of the matrix being based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for inspection of a Toad, comprising:
a detection device configured to detect, after transmission through the load, successive radiation pulses emitted at a predetermined frequency by a source, the load being in movement in an inspection direction, at an inspection speed with respect to the system,
the detection device comprising a matrix of a plurality of arrays of detectors,
wherein the matrix has a width associated with the inspection direction, the width of the matrix being based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the width of the matrix is further based on a predetermined threshold associated with a dimension of the load.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the width w of the matrix is such that:
w
=
V
×
1
F
-
T
where V is the inspection speed of the load, F is the predetermined frequency and T is the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the threshold T is based on a distance d between zones irradiated by the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein T is such that:
0<T≤d.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein is defined such that:
T=0.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each array of the plurality of arrays has a width associated with the inspection direction of the load, the width of the matrix being further based on the width of the arrays of the matrix and the number of arrays in the plurality of arrays.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein each array of the matrix has the same width as the other arrays in the matrix.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the matrix comprises one or more arrays having a width different from that of one or more other arrays in the matrix.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7, 8, 9)

The system of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the width of each array is such that:
0.2 mm≤w≤50 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the width of the matrix of detectors is such that the detection device is configured to detect a current radiation pulse irradiating at least a current part of the load, the given part overlapping, at least partly, a pad of the load irradiated by one or more preceding radiation pulses of the successive radiation pulses and/or following radiation pulses of the successive radiation pulses,

### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the successive radiation pulses are emitted at a predetermined dose by the source, the number of arrays of detectors in the matrix being further based on the predetermined dose of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

The system 01 any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the detection device further comprises one or more additional arrays of detectors, each additional array of detectors being:
configured to detect radiation transmitted through the matrix, and
associated with at least two arrays of the matrix.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each array has a depth associated with the transmission direction of the radiation pulses, wherein the matrix comprises one or more arrays having a depth different from that of one or more other arrays in the matrix.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a processing unit configured to process data associated with the detection device to generate images of the load, based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein one or more arrays comprise a linear array of detectors.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the linear arrays extend in a direction perpendicular to the inspection direction,

### Claim 18 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the matrix is configured to be located within an angular width of each radiation pulse.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the width w of the matrix is such that:
0.5 mm≤w≤150 mm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)

The system of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a number n of arrays in the matrix is such that:
2≤n≤25.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)

Apparatus comprising:
at least one system of any one of claims 1 to 20; and
a source configured to emit successive radiation pulses at a predetermined frequency.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the source is configured to emit the successive pulses at a predetermined frequency comprised between 50 Hz and 1000 Hz.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21, 22)

The apparatus of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the radiation pulses comprise:
X-ray radiation andior y-ray radiation and/or neutrons.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21, 22, 23)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, in a pass-through andior conveyor mode, the system is static with respect to the ground and the load is movable with respect to the ground.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21, 22, 23, 24)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein, in a scan mode, the system is movable with respect to the ground and the load is static with respect to the ground.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the source is configured to be activated by a power supply.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 26, further comprising a collimator configured to collimate each of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 27, further comprising a sensor for measuring the speed of the load.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)

The system of any one of claims 21 to 28, further comprising a processing unit configured to process data associated with the detection device to generate images of the load, based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 30

A method of inspection of a load, comprising:
detecting, after transmission through the load, successive radiation pulses emitted at a predetermined frequency by a source, the load being in movement in an inspection direction, at an inspection speed with respect to the system, the detection being on a detection device comprising a matrix of a plurality of arrays of detectors,
wherein the matrix has a width associated with the inspection direction, the width of the matrix being based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the width of the matrix of detectors is such that the detection device is configured to detect a current radiation pulse irradiating at least a current part of the load, the current part overlapping, at least partly, a part of the load irradiated by one or more preceding radiation pulses of the successive radiation pulses and/or following radiation pulses of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30, 31)

The method of claim 30 or claim 31, further comprising:
generating the radiation pulses at the predetermined frequency.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30, 31, 32)

The method of any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the detecting comprises:
transmitting the pulses through the load to inspect.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30, 31, 32, 33)

The method of any one of claims 30 to 33, further comprising:
processing data associated with the detection device to generate images of the load, based on the inspection speed of the load and the predetermined frequency of the successive radiation pulses.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)

A computer program product comprising program instructions to program a processor to provide an inspection system of any one of claims 1 to 20 or apparatus of any one of claims 21 to 29, or to program a processor to carry out a method according to any one of claims 30 to 34.