Detection of explosive devices using X-ray backscatter radiation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for illuminating a target area comprising:
- an isotopic radiation source for emitting radiation having a wavelength within a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for illuminating the target area;
a detector array having a plurality of detector elements that are responsive to the wavelength of the radiation, each of the detectors for providing a current in response to an intensity of the radiation incident thereon, the detector array only for receiving reflected radiation at the wavelength; and
, a pixel coded mask (PCM) having a plurality of apertures transmissive to at least the wavelength of radiation for emission from the isotopic radiation source and in a predetermined spatial orientation forming the pixel coding therein, each aperture for passing backscatter radiation reflected from the target area at the wavelength, the mask for blocking propagation therethrough of radiation reflected from the target area at the wavelength other than through the apertures thereof, the PCM apertures spatially arranged with respect to the detector array for forming a plurality of pixel shadows on the detector array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Many parts of the world have anti personnel (AP) landmines (APLs) buried in their earth, which pose a great deal not only to fighting forces, but also to civilians. For any imaging system, detection of APLs is non trivial since APLs are typically relatively small, compact objects that are buried in a similarly dense medium, such as earth. Improved explosive device (IED) detection may prove to have more potential than detection of APLs in view of the increasing worldwide terrorist activity. A portable APL or IED detection apparatus is thus proposed that utilized a coded aperture mask as well as a radiation source in order to detect backscatter radiation from a target area for use in assessing whether the target area includes an APL or an IED. The coded aperture mask receives the backscatter radiation and forms an image on a detector array, this formed image is deconvolved with a response matrix of the coded aperture mask in order to form a visual representation of the target area.
37 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for illuminating a target area comprising:
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an isotopic radiation source for emitting radiation having a wavelength within a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for illuminating the target area;
a detector array having a plurality of detector elements that are responsive to the wavelength of the radiation, each of the detectors for providing a current in response to an intensity of the radiation incident thereon, the detector array only for receiving reflected radiation at the wavelength; and
,a pixel coded mask (PCM) having a plurality of apertures transmissive to at least the wavelength of radiation for emission from the isotopic radiation source and in a predetermined spatial orientation forming the pixel coding therein, each aperture for passing backscatter radiation reflected from the target area at the wavelength, the mask for blocking propagation therethrough of radiation reflected from the target area at the wavelength other than through the apertures thereof, the PCM apertures spatially arranged with respect to the detector array for forming a plurality of pixel shadows on the detector array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of illuminating a target area comprising the steps of:
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providing a PCM having a mask response matrix;
providing a detector array comprising an array of detector elements;
providing an isotopic radiation source;
providing radiation from the isotopic radiation source for illuminating the target area with radiation;
receiving backscatter radiation backscattered from the target area;
propagating the backscatter radiation through apertures of the PCM, the apertures transmissive to at least a wavelength of the backscattered isotopic radiation;
forming a plurality of pixel shadows on the detector array;
generating current from each of the detector elements; and
,generating data representative of the current from each the detector elements. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification