Automatic concealed object detection system having a pre-scan stage

An apparatus for automatically detecting a target object within a container, said apparatus comprising:

• means for prescanning said container to form prescan data;
• means for determining selected locations for CT scanning of said container, said determining means utilizing said prescan data;
• means for CT scanning said container at said selected locations to form CT data, said CT scanning means being responsive to said determining means;
• means for analyzing said CT data to preliminarily identifying target object data within said CT data having an associated mass corresponding to an associated mass of said target object in said container, said analyzing means receiving said CT data from said scanning means;
• and
• an X-ray analytical mechanism, activated in response to said analyzing means, for confirming the identity of said target object in said container.

A method of automatically detecting a target object within a container, said method comprising the steps of:

• prescanning said container to form prescan data including a plurality of radiation attenuation values;
• determining first and second locations for CT scanning of said container, said determining step relying upon said prescan data;
• CT scanning said container simultaneously at said first and second locations to form CT data;
• and
• identifying automatically said target object within said CT data, said identifying step relying upon said CT data from said scanning step.