US 9,001,970 B2 · Method and device for identifying unknown substances in an object

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for identifying unknown substances in an object. According to the state of the art a collimated X-ray beam is directed onto the object and X-ray energy scattered from the object is detected and measured. The measurement values detected are compared to known measurement values corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances to identify unknown substances in the object. The method and device further execute the following steps: Detect and measure a function of Rayleigh intensity at a number of angles in a predetermined angular range to determine the angular course of the function of Rayleigh intensity in the angular range, Determine an angle or angle interval within the angular range at which the function of Rayleigh intensity is essentially zero; and identify unknown substances in the object by comparing the angle or angle interval determined to known angles or angle intervals at which the function of Rayleigh intensity corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances is essentially zero.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for identifying unknown substances in an object, comprising the steps of:

a) Directing a collimated X-ray beam onto the object;
b) Detecting and measuring X-ray energy scattered from the object;
c) Comparing the measurements of step b) to known measurements corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances to identify the unknown substances in the object;
Characterised in that the method further comprises the following steps:
d) Detecting and measuring a function of Rayleigh intensity at a number of angles in a predetermined angular range to determine the angular course of the function of Rayleigh intensity in the angular range;
e) Determining an angle or angle interval within the angular range at which the function of Rayleigh intensity is essentially zero;
and
f) Identifying the unknown substances in the object by comparing the angle or angle interval determined in step e) to known angles or angle intervals at which the function of Rayleigh intensity corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances is essentially zero.

5 more elements

A device for identifying unknown substances in an object, comprising:

a) Means for directing a collimated X-ray beam onto the object;
b) Means for detecting and measuring X-ray energy scattered from the object;
c) Means for comparing the measurements of means b) to known measurements corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances to identify the unknown substances in the object characterised in that the device further comprises:
d) Means for detecting and measuring a function of Rayleigh intensity at a number of angles in a predetermined angular range to determine the angular course of the function of Rayleigh intensity in the angular range;
e) Means for determining an angle or angle interval within the angular range at which the function of Rayleigh intensity is essentially zero;
and
f) Means for identifying the unknown substances in the object by comparing the angle or angle interval determined by means e) to known angles or angle intervals at which the function of Rayleigh intensity corresponding to specific substances or classes of substances is essentially zero.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for identifying unknown substances in an object

Life of this patent

Method and device for identifying unknown substances in an object

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12