Explosives detection system using computed tomography (CT) and quadrupole resonance (QR) sensors

A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:

• an X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of explosives during X-ray scanning of said baggage;
• a quadrupole resonance (QR) sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials;
• and
• a processor for processing said signals generated by said QR and X-ray sensors, and wherein:
• if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then said baggage is QR scanned by said QR sensor, and wherein;
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then a QR system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring alarm resolution.

A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:

• quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials;
• X-ray scanning said baggage for non-sheet configurations of explosives using a X-ray sensor, wherein said X-ray sensor is adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said non-sheet configurations of explosives, and wherein:
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal resulting from said QR scanning that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then said method further comprises X-ray scanning said baggage for sheet explosives to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said sheet explosives;
• and
• processing said signals generated by said X-ray and QR sensors, wherein if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for said non-sheet or sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then a system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring said alarm resolution.

A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:

• a quadrupole resonance (QR) sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials, wherein said QR signals are obtained during QR scanning of said baggage;
• an X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of explosives;
• and
• a processor for processing said signals generated by said QR and X-ray sensors, and wherein:
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then said baggage is X-ray scanned by said X-ray sensor for sheet and non-sheet types of said explosives to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said sheet and non-sheet types of explosives, otherwise,
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that falls below said predetermined threshold, then said baggage is X-ray scanned by said X-ray sensor for non-sheet types of said explosives to automatically, selectively generate an alarm or clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said non-sheet types of explosives.

A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:

• quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials;
• X-ray scanning said baggage for non-sheet types of explosives using a X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said non-sheet types of explosives;
• and
• processing said signals generated by said X-ray and QR sensors, wherein:
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then a QR system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring alarm resolution;
• and wherein
• if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for said non-sheet types of explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then a system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring said alarm resolution.

A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:

• a quadrupole resonance (QR) sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials, wherein said QR signals are obtained during QR scanning of said baggage;
• an X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of non-sheet types of explosives during X-ray scanning of said baggage;
• and
• a processor for processing said signals generated by said QR and X-ray sensors, and wherein:
• if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for said non-sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then a system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring alarm resolution, and wherein;
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then a QR system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring said alarm resolution.

A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:

• quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials;
• X-ray scanning said baggage for explosives using a X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said explosives;
• and
• processing said signals generated by said X-ray and QR sensors, wherein:
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined upper threshold, then a QR system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring alarm resolution, even if said X-ray sensor generates a clear signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning;
• and wherein
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that falls below a lower predetermined threshold, then a QR clear indication is triggered, even if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning;
• and wherein
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that falls between said predetermined upper and lower thresholds, then an indeterminate indication is triggered, said method further comprises:
• if said X-ray sensor generates a clear signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then said baggage is identified as not requiring said alarm resolution, subject to any other alarms generated by said X-ray sensor, otherwise,
• if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then a sheet system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring said alarm resolution.

A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:

• a quadrupole resonance (QR) sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials, wherein said QR signals are obtained during QR scanning of said baggage;
• an X-ray sensor adapted to automatically generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of explosives during X-ray screening of said baggage;
• and
• a processor for processing said signals generated by said QR and X-ray sensors, and wherein:
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that meets or exceeds a predetermined upper threshold, then a QR system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring alarm resolution, even if said X-ray sensor generates a clear signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, and wherein;
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that falls below a lower predetermined threshold, then a QR clear indication is triggered, even if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, and wherein;
• if said QR sensor generates a QR signal that falls between said predetermined upper and lower thresholds, then an indeterminate indication is triggered, and wherein;
• if said X-ray sensor generates a clear signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then said baggage is identified as not requiring said alarm resolution, subject to any other alarms generated by said X-ray sensor otherwise,
• if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then a sheet system alarm is triggered and said baggage is identified as requiring said alarm resolution.

A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:

• quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials;
• X-ray scanning said baggage for explosives using a X-ray sensor adapted to automatically, selectively generate alarm and clear signals to respectively identify the presence or absence of said explosives;
• and
• classifying said QR signals according to an alarm classification, said alarm classification comprising an QR alarm category indicating alarm resolution is required, a QR clear category indicating no sheet alarm resolution is required, and a QR indeterminate category defining QR signals which cannot be classified as being within said QR alarm category or said QR clear category.