Explosives detection system using computed tomography (CT) and quadrupole resonance (QR) sensors
First Claim
1. A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:
- 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 sensor, wherein if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then said method further comprises;
quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor, wherein said QR sensor is adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials; 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An explosives detection system which includes computed tomography (CT) and quadrupole resonance (QR) sensors for identifying particular explosive compounds present in passenger baggage. The CT sensor may be configured to automatically identify the presence or absence of bulk military, commercial, and sheet explosives during CT scanning of the baggage. Similarly, the QR sensor may be configured to responsively generate RDX and PETN signals during QR scanning of the passenger baggage. Using any of a variety of inspection protocols, the explosives detection system may generate an output alarm based upon data obtained from the CT and QR sensors.
69 Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:
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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 sensor, wherein if said X-ray sensor generates an alarm signal for sheet explosives resulting from said X-ray scanning, then said method further comprises;
quadrupole resonance (QR) scanning said baggage using a QR sensor, wherein said QR sensor is adapted to generate QR signals in response to explosive compounds containing QR responsive materials; and
whereinif 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:
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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
whereinif 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. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for detecting explosives in baggage, said method comprising:
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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
whereinif 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
whereinif 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 form 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. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A system for detecting explosives in baggage, said system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification