MULTI-STAGE SYSTEM FOR VERIFICATION OF CONTAINER CONTENTS

• US 20090101826A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMR Resources, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Frank, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,851,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/360.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/08 with semiconductor detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0075 Passive interrogation for hand, feet or portals G01T1/167; for contaminated surface areas G01T1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0083 utilizing a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like

Abstract

A multi-stage process utilizing one or more radiation sensors on a distributed network for the detection and identification of radiation, explosives, and special materials within a shipping container. The sensors are configured as nodes on the network. The system supports extended time options at each node and the ability to combine data from multiple nodes for the data acquisition and analysis of shipping containers. The system collects radiation data from one or more nodes and compares the collected data to one or more stored spectral images representing one or more isotopes to identify one or more isotopes present. The identified one or more isotopes present are corresponded to possible materials or goods that they represent. The possible materials or goods are compared with the manifest relating to the container to confirm the identity of materials or goods contained in the container or to detect and/or identify unauthorized materials or goods in the container. The containers are monitored and tracked as they are moved between the nodes. A central monitoring station monitors the radiological sensors, the information from the nodes and the tracking of the shipping containers. For shielded materials, explosives and other types of material detection, a neutron pulse device could be incorporated into the spreader bar position, the secondary position or both.

Claims

1. A multi-stage radiation detection and identification system, comprising:

a radiation sensor system deployed on a gantry crane and comprising;

one or more gamma sensors; and

one or more solid-state neutron sensors, wherein the one or more gamma sensors and the one or more solid-state neutron sensors being collectively mounted on a frame structure mechanically coupled to the gantry crane and that can be located in proximity to a shipping container under examination;

a secondary radiation sensor position, that is located separate from the radiation sensor system deployed on the gantry crane, and comprising one or more sensors for analyzing radiological materials detected in the shipping container;

a distributed network communicatively coupling the gantry crane radiation sensor system and the secondary radiation sensor position as individual nodes on a radiation sensor network;

a first digital data collection system, communicatively coupled with the radiation sensors deployed on a gantry crane for collection of radiation data from the radiation sensors on the gantry crane;

a second digital data collection system, communicatively coupled with the radiation sensors deployed at a secondary radiation verification position for collection of radiation data from the radiation sensors at the secondary radiation verification position;

a multichannel analyzer system, communicatively coupled with the first and second digital data collection systems, for preparing histograms of the collected radiation data;

a spectral analysis system, communicatively coupled with the multi-channel analyzer system and the first and second digital data collection systems, for receiving and analyzing the collected radiation data and the histograms to detect radiation and to identify one or more isotopes associated with the detected radiation using the data acquired from one or more nodes on the network;

a first data storage means for storing data representing isotope spectra for use by the spectral analysis system, where one or more spectral images stored in the first data storage unit represent each isotope, the first data storage means being communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system;

an information processing system, communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system, for analyzing the identified one or more isotopes and to determine the possible materials or goods that they represent; and

a second data storage means for storing data representing a manifest relating to the container under examination, the second data storage means being communicatively coupled with the information processing system, the information processing system further for comparing the determined possible materials or goods with the manifest relating to the container under examination to determine if there are unauthorized materials or goods contained within the container under examination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a first stage of radiation analysis consists of the detection of radiological material within the shipping container from the sensors deployed on a spreader bar of the gantry crane.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first stage of radiation analysis consists of the detection of radiological material within the shipping container from sensors deployed on a radiation portal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a second stage of radiation analysis consists of the identification of the radiological material within the shipping container from sensors deployed on a spreader bar of the gantry crane.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a second stage of radiation analysis consists of maintaining sensors deployed on a spreader bar of the gantry crane in close proximity with the shipping container for an extended period of time where additional data is collected from the sensors to further identify the radiological material within the shipping container under examination.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a second stage of radiation analysis consists of the use of the secondary radiation sensor position where the shipping container is moved to for further analysis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a second stage of radiation analysis is performed on the shipping container under examination by sensors deployed on a fork lift truck.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the spectral analysis system analyzes the collected radiation data and the histograms to detect radiation and to identify one or more isotopes associated with the detected radiation by using software on a computer program product, the software providing operations for the spectral analysis system including:

a margin setting method as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,731; and

a linear analysis of spectra method (a LINSCAN method) as described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/759,331.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more gamma sensors comprise integrated analog interface and analog to digital converter.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more gamma sensors comprise sensor resolution of 7% or better at 662 kev.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more solid state neutron sensors comprise integrated analog interface and analog to digital converter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an information processing system being communicatively coupled with the digital data collection system for adjusting collected radiation data to compensate for background radiation effects from the background environment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information processing system dynamically adjusts the collected radiation data according to varying background radiation effects.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the information processing system adjusts the collected radiation data according to multiple background radiation effects analysis.

15. An explosives, special material and other materials detection and identification system, comprising:

a neutron pulse generator;

one or more radiation sensors to identify gamma or other radiation signals generated from the materials within the shipping container as a result of the neutron pulse;

a data collection system, communicatively coupled to the one or more radiation sensors, for collecting received returning signals as a result of the neutron pulse;

a spectral analysis and information processing system, communicatively coupled with the data collection system, to analyze the collected received returning signals for detecting materials in the cavity of the shipping container under examination, and to identify the possible explosives and/or special materials therein; and

a data storage means for storing data representing a manifest relating to the shipping container under examination, the data storage means being communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis and information processing system, the spectral analysis and information processing system further for comparing the identified possible explosives and/or special materials with the manifest relating to the shipping container under examination to determine if there are unauthorized explosives and/or special materials contained within the shipping container under examination.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a user interface, communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis and information processing system, to present to a user at least one of

a representation of the collected received returning signals,

the identified possible explosives and/or special materials in the shipping container under examination, and

the system identified unauthorized explosives and/or special materials contained within the shipping container under examination.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the special materials include highly enriched uranium.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the spectral analysis and information processing system compares the identified possible explosives and/or special materials to the manifest by converting the manifest relating to the shipping container under examination to expected explosives and/or radiological materials and then comparing the identified possible explosives and/or special materials with the expected explosives and/or radiological materials.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein a sensor system used for sensing the contents of the container under examination is based on nuclear resonance, gamma imaging, and other advanced technologies for the detection and identification of explosives, radiological material, shielding materials, chemical, and/or biological materials.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein a sensor concentrator is used to connect a group of sensors deployed in a spreader bar for concentrated communications paths back to a central processor, the sensor concentrator being connected to a sensor interface unit of each sensor.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein a neutron pulse generator device is implemented as an integrated module within a sensor system to provide active analysis through gamma feedback from substances such as highly enriched uranium, explosives and illicit drugs.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the neutron pulse generator device is located in proximity to a spreader bar of a gantry crane or a forklift to provide active analysis through gamma feedback from substances inside shipping containers such as highly enriched uranium, explosives, and illicit drugs.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein an embedded processor is used to connect a group of sensors deployed at a spreader bar and supports sensor communications to a central processor, the embedded processor being connected to a sensor interface unit of each sensor.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein an information processing system being communicatively coupled with the digital data collection system for dynamically adjusting collected radiation data to compensate for varying background radiation effects from the background environment.