X-ray baggage inspection system

• US 3,919,467 A
• Filed: 08/27/1973
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Peugeot
• Original Assignee: Richard S. Peugeot
• Inventors: Peugeot, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/392,035
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.8,DIG.5 360/35
• US Class Current: 378/98.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/043 using fluoroscopic examination, with visual observation or video transmission of fluoroscopic images
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

An X-ray baggage inspection system in which an X-ray generator directs a beam through an object of baggage and the resulting image, appearing on a fluorescent screen, is scanned by a low light level T.V. camera and the image stored, the generator being turned on for a selected number of T.V. scans or frames. The number of frames and thus the intensity of image accumulated and stored in a video scan converter, is controlled by the operator to enable only the radiation exposure necessary to obtain a legible T.V. image, the image being displayed on a T.V. monitor.

Claims

1. An X-ray inspection system comprising:

X-ray generating means for generating and directing an X-ray beam over a predetermined path;

X-ray-to-visible light conversion means positioned to intercept said beam and to provide a visible light image corresponding to the details of an object positioned in said path in accordance with the degree of transparency to X-rays of portions of the object;

electronic imaging means for scanning said image and producing at a predetermined scanned rate periodic sets of image information, each set representing a complete replica, or frame, of said image, and each set occurring during a frame period;

image storage means responsive to an output from said imaging means and a control signal for storing as a single frame information and, providing as an output, an image from at least one said frame of said image from one or more successive scanned frames of said image;

synchronization means for generating at least one recurring signal at said predetermined scanned rate and interconnecting and synchronizing at said rate information scanned by said imaging means and stored by said storage means;

control means responsive to said recurring signal of said synchronization means and coupled to said storage means and said X-ray generating means for selectively providing said control signal and turning on said X-ray generating means during and for a selected number of image frame periods, whereby an image of a desired exposure is obtained in said storage means, said control means comprising signal means responsive to the output of said image storage means for providing a contrast signal and providing a said control signal to turn off said X-ray generating means when said contrast signal reaches a predetermined level; and

image display means coupled to the output of said storage means for selectively displaying a said stored image.

2. An X-ray inspection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises:

signal means responsive to the output of said image storage means for providing a contrast signal representative of the contrast occurring in the video signal;

comparator means responsive to said contrast signal and a preselected reference signal for providing a switchIng signal output when the said contrast signal at least equals said reference signal; and

switching means responsive to the output of said comparator means for tuning off said X-ray generating means following the occurrence of a contrast signal at least equal to said reference signal and upon the completion of that number of frame periods which produced the said at least equal contrast signal, whereby the number of image frame periods of exposure are obtained as a function of signal contrast present in the video signal output of said image storage means.