METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE RAPID DETECTION OF CONCEALED OBJECTS

• US 20100085066A1
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mann, Kenneth Robert, Peschmann, Kristian R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/637
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/06 Measuring reflection coefficients; Measuring standing-wave ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0016 Active interrogation, i.e. using an external radiation source, e.g. using pulsed, continuous or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0025 Measuring scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation

Abstract

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having microwave arrays comprised of microwave transmitters in radiographic alignment with microwave receivers. The microwave array emits controllably directed microwave radiation toward an object under inspection. The object under inspection absorbs radiation in a manner dependent upon its metal content. The microwave radiation absorption can be used to generate a measurement of metal content. The measurement, in turn, can be used to calculate at least a portion of the volume and shape of the object under inspection. The measurement can be compared to a plurality of predefined threats. The microwave screening system is used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A security scanning system, comprising:

a first inspection region located within a housing;

at least two microwave transmitters within said housing; and

at least two microwave receivers within said housing, wherein the microwave transmitters and microwave receivers are separated by said first inspection region and wherein each of said at least two microwave transmitters transmits microwave radiation to more than one of said at least two microwave receivers.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising a data acquisition and imaging system that acquires data from said microwave receivers and generates an image of a concealed object within a container.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said microwave transmitters emit controllably directed microwave radiation toward said container and wherein said container and its contents absorb radiation in a manner dependent upon their metal content.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said data comprises microwave radiation absorption data and wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs a measurement of metal content based upon said data.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs at least a portion of the volume and shape of the concealed object based upon said measurement.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system compares a measurement of said volume and shape of the object to a plurality of predefined threats.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein said security scanning system identifies a container for additional screening if the measurement is different than a pre-defined value.

27. The system of claim 20 further comprising a second inspection region wherein the second inspection region is subjected to any one of NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs a microwave image based upon the measurement.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs positional information of said metal content based upon the measurement.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system directs an analysis from material specific detection technology based upon the positional information of metal content.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said material specific detection technology is selected from any one of x-ray diffraction, thermal neutron analysis or pulsed fast neutron analysis.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein said screening of said first inspection region and screening of said second inspection region occurs substantially concurrently.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein said screening of said first inspection region and screening of said second inspection region occurs substantially serially.

34. The system of claim 20 wherein the microwave transmitters and microwave receivers are configured in a manner that replicates X-ray beam fan beam geometry.

35. The system of claim 20 wherein the microwave transmitters and microwave receivers are configured in a manner that replicates X-ray beam folded array geometry.

36. The system of claim 20 wherein the microwave transmitters and microwave receivers are configured in a manner that replicates Computed Tomography array geometry.

37. The system of claim 20 wherein the microwave transmitters are broad beam transmit antennas.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the microwave receivers are narrow band receive antennas.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said broad beam transmit antennas are configured in parallel with said narrow band receive antennas and switched such that each transmit antenna transmits to several receive antennas.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said switching occurs to move an illumination point around a region.