Method and apparatus for physical characteristics discrimination of objects using a limited view three dimensional reconstruction
AssigneeRapiscan Security Products, Inc.
InventorKhai Minh Le
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a specified physical characteristic in an object exposes the object to at least two angularly fixed sources of electromagnetic radiation to create projected images of the object. The sources are rotationally scanned about the object so as to oscillate in an angular range about the object. The sources are relatively stationary to one another. A three dimensional reconstructed image of the object based on the projected images of the object is created and examined for a specified physical characteristic in the object.
Claims64
A method for determining a specified physical characteristic of an object, the method comprising:
- conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation from at least two sources of electromagnetic radiations, the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation being relatively fixed to one another;
- rotating the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation in an oscillating pattern about the object, the oscillating pattern covering no more than 90 degrees of rotation about the object;
- and
- capturing projected radiation images of the object with electromagnetic radiation sensors responsive to the sources of electromagnetic radiation about the object.
A method for determining a specified physical characteristic of an object, the method comprising:
- conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- oscillating a scanner about the object in a rotation range of no more than 90 degrees, the scanner having at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation held in fixed angular relationship and corresponding electromagnetic sensor arrays positioned to received electromagnetic radiation from corresponding sources;
- exposing the object with electromagnetic radiation while oscillating;
- and
- capturing with said sensor arrays projected radiation images of the object at a plurality of angular positions in the rotational range.
An apparatus for determining a specified physical characteristic of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- means for conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- means for exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation from at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation, the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation being relatively fixed to one another;
- means for rotating the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation in an oscillating pattern about the object, the oscillating pattern covering no more than 90 degrees of rotation about the object;
- and
- means for capturing projected radiation images of the object with electromagnetic radiation sensors responsive to the sources of electromagnetic radiation.
An apparatus for determining a specified physical characteristic of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- means for conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- means for oscillating a scanner about the object in a rotation range of no more than 90 degrees, the scanner having at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation held in fixed angular relationship and corresponding electromagnetic sensor arrays positioned to received electromagnetic radiation from corresponding sources;
- means for exposing the object with electromagnetic radiation while oscillating;
- and
- means for capturing with said sensor arrays projected radiation images of the object at a plurality of angular positions in the rotational range.
An apparatus for scanning an object for the presence of a specified physical characteristic, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor conveying the object through the apparatus along a path;
- a rotor mounted to rotationally oscillate in an arc of no more than 90 degrees about the path;
- a pair of sources of electromagnetic radiation mounted to said rotor;
- a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sensors arranged to capture electromagnetic radiation emanating from said pair of sources and passing through the object;
- and
- a processor for receiving signal from said sensors.
An apparatus for scanning an object for the presence of a specified physical characteristic, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor conveying the object through the apparatus along a path;
- a rotor mounted to rotationally oscillate in an arc of no more than 90 degrees about the path;
- a pair of sources of electromagnetic radiation mounted to said rotor;
- a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sensor arrays mounted to said rotor to receive electromagnetic radiation from corresponding sources of electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- a processor for receiving signal from said sensors.
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method generating a reconstructed three-dimensional view of an object based on a limited number of x-ray projections, the method comprising:
- conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation from at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation, the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation being relatively fixed to one another;
- rotating the at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation in an oscillating pattern about the object, the oscillating pattern covering no more than 90 degrees of rotation about the object;
- and
- capturing projected radiation images of the object with electromagnetic radiation sensors responsive to the sources of electromagnetic radiation about the object.
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method for generating a reconstructed three-dimensional view of an object based on a limited number of x-ray projections, the method comprising:
- conveying the object through a scanning apparatus;
- oscillating a scanner about the object in a rotation range of no more than 90 degrees, the scanner having at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation held in fixed angular relationship and corresponding electromagnetic sensor arrays positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from corresponding sources;
- exposing the object with electromagnetic radiation while oscillating;
- and
- capturing with said sensor arrays projected radiation images of the object at a plurality of angular positions in the rotational range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.