Multiple energy x-ray source for security applications
First Claim
1. An inspection system for inspecting an object, the inspection system comprising a. at least one source of penetrating radiation for irradiating the object, each source characterized at each instant of time by an instantaneous energy spectrum and an intensity;
- b. a first detector for detecting the penetrating radiation after interaction with the object;
c. a second detector for detecting products of an interaction between the penetrating radiation and the object;
d. a regulator for actuating the at least one source so as to provide penetrating radiation for irradiating the object, wherein the penetrating radiation;
i. has a first instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies less than a first fiducial energy in a first instance wherein photons of energies less than the first fiducial energy penetrate through the object and are registered by the first detector;
ii. has a second instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies exceeding a second fiducial energy and less than a third fiducial energy in a second instance wherein photons of energies less than the first fiducial energy do not penetrate through the object and photons of energies exceeding a second fiducial energy and less than a third fiducial energy penetrate through the object and are registered by at least one of the detectors;
iii. has a third instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies exceeding a fourth fiducial energy in a third instance wherein photons of energies less than the third fiducial energy do not penetrate through the object and a product of an interaction between photons of energies exceeding a fourth fiducial energy and the object are registered by the second detector;
such that an average radiation dose is maintained below a specified level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An x-ray inspection system for identifying fissile material includes one or more sources of penetrating radiation that generate first, second, and third instantaneous spectra where the object is exposed to the second only if there is no penetration of the first and the object is exposed to the third only if there is no penetration of the second. Further, the sources of the second and the third spectra are pulsed. Consequently, ambient levels of radiation may be held below cabinet levels while identifying objects containing fissile material.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An inspection system for inspecting an object, the inspection system comprising
a. at least one source of penetrating radiation for irradiating the object, each source characterized at each instant of time by an instantaneous energy spectrum and an intensity; -
b. a first detector for detecting the penetrating radiation after interaction with the object;
c. a second detector for detecting products of an interaction between the penetrating radiation and the object;
d. a regulator for actuating the at least one source so as to provide penetrating radiation for irradiating the object, wherein the penetrating radiation;
i. has a first instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies less than a first fiducial energy in a first instance wherein photons of energies less than the first fiducial energy penetrate through the object and are registered by the first detector;
ii. has a second instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies exceeding a second fiducial energy and less than a third fiducial energy in a second instance wherein photons of energies less than the first fiducial energy do not penetrate through the object and photons of energies exceeding a second fiducial energy and less than a third fiducial energy penetrate through the object and are registered by at least one of the detectors;
iii. has a third instantaneous spectrum dominated by photons of energies exceeding a fourth fiducial energy in a third instance wherein photons of energies less than the third fiducial energy do not penetrate through the object and a product of an interaction between photons of energies exceeding a fourth fiducial energy and the object are registered by the second detector;
such that an average radiation dose is maintained below a specified level. - 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)
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Specification