Systems and Methods for High-Z Threat Alarm Resolution

• US 20160216398A1
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bendahan, Joseph, Morton, Edward James, Yaish, David, Kolkovich, Yossi, Goldberg, Jacques
• Granted Patent: US 9,625,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/24 by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material
• 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

Abstract

A second stage screening system configured to resolve a threat alarm detected in a cargo by a first stage screening system. The second stage screening system includes layers of first muon detectors placed above the cargo to detect a first coordinate and an angle of incidence of incoming muons and layers of second muon detectors placed below the cargo to detect an actual coordinate and an actual angle of exit of the incoming muons. The first and second detectors measure a momentum of the incoming muons. A processing unit receives threat sensitivity vectors determined from the first stage, operates a cargo positioning system that centers a high-Z threat within the cargo, relative to the first and second muon detectors, and analyzes the momentum and a distribution of deflection angles between the angles of incidence and exit to resolve the threat alarm.

Claims

1. A second stage screening system to resolve a threat alarm detected in a cargo by a first stage screening system, wherein said first stage screening system generates threat sensitivity vectors, said second stage system comprising:

a first muon detector set placed above the cargo to generate first muon information comprising a first coordinate and an angle of incidence of incoming muons;

a second muon detector set placed below the cargo to generate second muon information comprising an actual coordinate and an actual angle of exit of the incoming muons;

a detector to measure a momentum of said incoming muons; and

,

a processing unit, wherein said processing unit;

receives threat sensitivity vectors determined from the first stage;

operates a positioning system that positions a high-Z threat within the cargo relative to said first and second muon detectors; and

,

employs said first and second muon information and threat sensitivity vectors to confirm a presence of high-Z materials.

2. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first stage is a high energy X-ray cargo inspection system.

3. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first and second muon detectors are Thin Gap Chamber (TGC) detectors.

4. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first and second muon detectors are Thick Gas Electron Multiplier (THGEM) detectors.

5. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said threat sensitivity vectors comprise:

a number of suspected high-Z threats;

an approximate shape and an approximate size of said suspected high-Z threats;

dimensional information, density information, and approximate Z distribution of the content of said cargo; and

an area or a volume of suspected high-Z threats along a path length of a radiation beam employed for scanning said cargo in said first stage.

6. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises:

a range sensor to detect a position of the cargo relative to a center of said first and second muon detectors; and

an indicator to assist said cargo in attaining said position.

7. The second stage system of claim 6, wherein said indicator comprises at least one of:

a traffic light where green indicates a driver to continue moving, yellow to prepare to stop and red to stop said cargo; and

a digital display showing the distance to stop said cargo.

8. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises:

a range sensor to detect a position of said cargo relative to a center of said first and second muon detectors; and

a detector-positioning system to assist said first and second muon detectors in attaining said position.

9. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said second muon detector is placed inside a trench in a ground below said cargo.

10. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said cargo is driven over a ramp and wherein said second muon detector is placed within the ramp.

11. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said second muon detector is sized to be placed in a gap between the wheels of said cargo and two sets of muon detectors are placed on either side of said cargo.

12. The second stage system of claim 11, wherein said cargo is raised over two ramps.

13. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said second muon detector is positioned vertically on one side of said cargo and further comprising a third muon detector positioned vertically on the other side of said cargo.

14. The second stage system of claim 13, further comprising at least two layers of fourth muon detectors sized to be placed in a gap between wheels of said cargo.

15. The second stage system of claim 13, wherein said cargo is raised over two ramps.

16. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said second muon detector has a different size than said first muon detector.

17. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first and second muon detectors comprise at least two layers of detectors that are substantially parallel.

18. The second stage system of claim 17, wherein said at least two layers of first and second muon detectors are spaced at a distance ranging from approximately 50 mm to 500 mm.

19. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first and second muon detectors have dimensions within a range of approximately 2 m×

3 m (length) to 3 m×

4 m (width).

20. The second stage system of claim 1, wherein said first and second muon detectors have dimensions within a range of approximately 3 m×

4 m (length) to 3 m×

4 m (width).

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