X-ray tomographic inspection system for the identification of specific target items
AssigneeRapiscan Systems, Inc.
InventorEdward James Morton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides for an improved scanning process with a stationary X-ray source arranged to generate X-rays from a plurality of X-ray source positions around a scanning region, a first set of detectors arranged to detect X-rays transmitted through the scanning region, and at least one processor arranged to process outputs from the first set of detectors to generate tomographic image data. The X-ray screening system is used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray diffraction based screening, X-ray back-scatter based screening, or Trace Detection based screening.
Claims20
A method for identifying objects in a container, comprising:
- performing a first stage screening, comprising:
- arranging a stationary X-ray source to generate X-rays from a plurality of stationary X-ray source positions around a scanning region, arranging a first set of detectors to detect X-rays transmitted through the scanning region, arranging a second set of detectors to detect X-rays scattered within the scanning region, and activating each of said plurality of stationary X-ray source positions in a sequence and rate to emulate an angular velocity of source rotation sufficient to generate data from which at least one tomographic image is formed;
- processing data output from the first set of detectors using at least one processor to generate the at least one tomographic image;
- processing data output from the second set of detectors to generate scatter image data;
- and,
- performing a second stage screening comprising at least one of a NQR-based screening process, X-ray diffraction based screening process, X-ray backscatter based screening process, or trace detection based screening process.
A method for identifying objects in a container, comprising:
- performing a first stage screening comprising:
- arranging a stationary X-ray source to generate X-rays from a plurality of stationary X-ray source positions around a scanning region;
- arranging a first set of detectors to detect X-rays transmitted through the scanning region;
- activating each of said plurality of stationary X-ray source positions in a sequence and rate to emulate an angular velocity of source rotation sufficient to generate data from which at least one tomographic image is formed;
- processing data output from the first set of detectors to generate the at least one tomographic image, using at least one processor;
- and
- conveying said container from a first stage screening area to a second stage screening area, wherein the second stage screening comprises at least one of a NQR-based screening process, X-ray diffraction based screening process, X-ray back-scatter based screening process, or trace detection based screening process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.