Radiation scanning of objects for contraband

A scanning unit for examining the contents of an object moving along a predetermined first path, the scanning unit comprising:

• one or more sources of X-ray radiation, at least one of the one or more sources being adapted to provide a respective cone beam of X-ray radiation to irradiate the object and each of the at least one sources being mechanically movable across a single, common second path transverse to the first path, the second path extending only partially around the first path;
• and
• a stationary detector extending only partially around the first path, the detector being positioned to detect radiation after a respective cone beam passes through the object during scanning;
• wherein the second path and the detector extend sufficiently around the object to collect sufficient data for computed tomographic imaging.

A cargo scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting a cargo container along a path through the scanning unit;
• a semi-circular rail supported by the unit above the path, transverse to the path, the semi-circular rail lying on a first imaginary circle having a center within the cargo container when the cargo is in position for scanning;
• a plurality of movable sources of X-ray radiation supported by the rail, each source to provide a cone beam of X-ray radiation;
• and
• a semi-circular detector array having at least a portion below the path, beneath ground level, the detector array being transverse to the path and lying on a second imaginary circle having a center within the cargo container when the cargo container is in position for scanning;
• wherein the first and second imaginary circles lie in a same plane;
• and
• the detector array comprises a plurality of two dimensional detectors.

A method of examining contents of a cargo container, comprising:

• moving at least one source of radiation along a single, common arc extending only partially around a cargo container;
• scanning at least a portion of the cargo container with at least one respective radiation beam from the at least one source of radiation at a plurality of angles;
• detecting radiation from the at least one source, transmitted through the cargo container;
• and
• processing data based on the radiation detected from the at least one source moved along the single arc, to form computed tomographic images of at least the portion of the cargo container.

A method of examining contents of an object, comprising:

• moving the object along a first path;
• moving at least one source of a radiation beam along a second path transverse to the first path, along a rail, to scan the object, the second path extending only partially around the first path;
• and
• detecting radiation transmitted through the object by a stationary detector array, the detector array extending only partially around the first path.

A scanning unit for examining a target movable along a predetermined first path, the scanning unit comprising:

• a rail transverse to the first path;
• a plurality of sources of beams of radiation supported by and movable across a second path transverse to the first path, along the rail;
• and
• a detector positioned to detect radiation transmitted through a target during scanning.

A scanning unit for examining an object, the scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting an object along a first path;
• an arcuate rail transverse to the path;
• one or more sources of radiation to irradiate the object, at least one of the one or more sources generating radiation having an energy of at least 1 MeV, being supported by the arcuate rail and being movable over at least a portion of a second path transverse to and only partially around the first path, along the rail;
• a detector positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the object;
• and
• a processor to reconstruct computed tomographic images based on the data collected by the detector, from radiation generated by the at least one of the one or more sources.

A scanning unit for examining an object, the scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting an object along a first path;
• an arcuate rail transverse to the first path;
• one or more sources of radiation to irradiate the object, at least one of the one or more sources being mechanically movable over at least a portion of a second path transverse to the first path, along the arcuate rail, to irradiate the object;
• and
• a detector positioned to detect radiation after interaction with the object, the detector extending only partially around the first path.

A scanning unit for examining an object, the scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting the object along a first path;
• a semi-circular rail transverse to the first path;
• a plurality of radiation sources to irradiate the object, at least two of the plurality of radiation sources being self-contained sources, each of the self-contained sources being movable over a portion of a second path, along the semi-circular rail;
• and
• a detector positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the object during scanning.

A scanning unit for examining a cargo container, the scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting a cargo container along a first path;
• and
• one or more sources of radiation to irradiate the cargo container, at least one of the one or more sources being adapted to irradiate the cargo container with a cone beam of radiation, each of the at least one source of a cone beam of radiation being movable over a single, second path transverse to and at least partially around the first path;
• and
• a stationary detector positioned to detect the cone beam of radiation after interaction with the cargo container;
• wherein the at least one of the one or more sources and the detector are positioned so that the means for transporting can transport the cargo container along the first path, between the at least one of the one or more sources and the detector.

A scanning unit for examining contents of a cargo container, the scanning unit comprising:

• means for transporting a cargo container through the system, along a first path;
• an arcuate rail transverse to the first path;
• one or more sources of radiation to irradiate the cargo container, at least one of the one or more sources being movable over a second path transverse to and only partially around the first path, along the rail;
• and
• a detector positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the cargo container by the at least one of the one or more sources, to collect sufficient data for computed tomographic reconstruction;
• wherein the at least one of the one or more sources and the detector are positioned so that the means for transporting can transport a cargo container between the at least one of the one or more sources and the detector.

A method of examining contents of a cargo container, comprising:

• providing one or more sources of radiation;
• moving at least one of the one or more sources of radiation over at least a portion of a path extending only partially around a cargo container, along an arcuate rail;
• scanning at least a portion of the cargo container with radiation from the at least one source;
• detecting radiation transmitted through the cargo container, the detected radiation comprising sufficient data for computed tomographic reconstruction of at least a portion of the contents of the cargo container;
• and
• processing data based on the detected radiation to form computed tomographic images of at least the portion of the contents of the cargo container based on the data.