Methods and systems for the rapid detection of concealed objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
- a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems to generate a first set of data;
a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data to generate at least two images;
a means for identifying at least one target region from the two images;
a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein the inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and
a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region.
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Abstract
The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having a first stage to rapidly identify a threat location and a second stage to accurately identify the nature of the threat. The improved scanning process maintains a high degree of accuracy while still providing an operationally desirable high throughput. The present invention also uses improved processing techniques that enable the substantially automated detection of threats and decrease the dependence on operator accuracy. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container. It comprises a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems to generate a first set of data and a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system. The processors process the first set of data to generate at least two images. The two images are used to identify at least one target region from the two images. A second stage inspection system is then used to generate an inspection region which is then positioned relative to the target region and made to at least partially physically coincide with the target region. A second set of data is produced specifically from the inspection region, data which have a high degree of specificity for the material in the inspection region.
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Citations
114 Claims
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1. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
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a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems to generate a first set of data;
a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data to generate at least two images;
a means for identifying at least one target region from the two images;
a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein the inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and
a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
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generating a first set of data using a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems;
processing said first set of data to generate at least two images using a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system;
identifying at least one target region from the two images;
positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein the inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region;
generating the inspection region through a second stage inspection system; and
producing a second set of data having a X-ray signature characteristic of the material in the inspection region. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
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a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems to generate a first set of data;
a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data to generate at least two images;
a processor executing an algorithm for selecting a region associated with each image;
a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein the inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and
a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101)
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102. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
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a first stage inspection system having at least two X-ray projection systems to generate a first set of data;
a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data to generate at least two images;
a processor executing an algorithm for selecting a region associated with each image;
a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein the inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and
a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region and comprises an array of transmission detectors. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108)
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109. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
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a first stage inspection system having a X-ray projection system to generate a first set of data;
a processor in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processor processes said first set of data, said first set of data being indicative of a target region;
a second stage inspection system for generating an inspection region proximate to the target region wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data; and
a processor capable of executing a neural network to process the second set of data to determine the existence of a threat. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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Specification