Luggage inspection device

A device for inspecting a closed container, comprising

• means for applying radiant energy to a plurality of volume elements deep inside said closed container;
• a plurality of detectors, each receiving scattered energy from one of said plurality of volume elements, for generating a measure of scattered energy after incident beam attenuation and scattered beam attenuation;
• and
• means for processing said measurements, for correcting for incident beam attenuation and scattered beam attenuation, and for generating a measure of density for each one of said volume elements.

A device for inspecting a closed container which is moving in a predetermined direction, comprising

• a fan-shaped radiant energy beam disposed at a first angle to said predetermined direction;
• a plurality of detectors, each disposed to receive energy scattered after incident beam attenuation and scattered beam attenuation, at a predetermined second angle to said predetermined direction, from a volume element deep inside said closed container;
• and
• means for processing said scattered energy, for correcting for said incident beam attenuation and scattered beam attenuation, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said volume.

A device for inspecting a closed container, comprising

• a conveyer belt;
• a fan-shaped x-ray beam disposed perpendicular to a direction of travel of said conveyor belt and disposed to illuminate a plurality of volume elements inside said container;
• a plurality of collimated x-ray sensors, each disposed to receive x-rays scattered from one of said plurality of volume elements at a predetermined angle;
• and
• a processor coupled to said plurality of collimated x-ray sensors.

A method of inspecting a closed container, comprising the steps of

• applying radiant energy to a plurality of volume elements inside said closed container;
• for each one of said plurality of volume elements, receiving scattered energy therefrom and generating at least one measurement thereof;
• and
• processing said measurements and generating a three-dimensional image of said volume.

A device for inspecting a closed container, comprising

• means for supporting said closed container and for moving said closed container substantially in a predetermined direction;
• a radiant energy beam disposed at a first angle to said predetermined direction;
• a plurality of sensors disposed to receive energy scattered from a plurality of volume elements inside said closed container at a plurality of differing second angles to said predetermined direction, each sensor being associated with one of said plurality of volume elements;
• and
• means for processing said scattered energy and for generating a three-dimensional image of said volume elements.