Inspection system for baggage

• US 4,216,499 A
• Filed: 07/28/1978
• Issued: 08/05/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Inventors: Dennhoven, Manfred, Kunze, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/928,822
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 358/111, 358/140, 358/127
• US Class Current: 378/98.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

A baggage inspection system utilizing fluoroscopy of baggage pieces and the like, employing an X-Ray flash unit, a television pick-up unit for scanning the X-Ray image, storage of the television image and subsequent image reproduction by a television monitor, in which, in accordance with the invention, the memory is a digital solid state memory for the digital storage of a half frame, of an interlaced video frame of the television pick-up unit, with a capacity of 6 to 8 bits per image-point of the image signal to be stored.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the inspection of baggage pieces and the like, comprising an X-ray flash generator whose radiation penetrates the object to be inspected, and produces therefrom a shadow image on a fluorescent screen, a television camera disposed to scan such a shadow image for forming an interlaced image frame of two so-called half image frames, an analog-digital-converter to which the output of the camera tube, in the form of a half image frame, is supplied, image storage means in the form of a solid state digital memory with a storage capacity for the image points of the lines of a half image frame with 6 to 8 bits per image point of the stored signal, for storing the digital signals of a half image frame supplied from said converter, a television monitor for reproducing the stored half image frame, and a digital/analog-converter connecting the television monitor and said digital memory for supplying the stored signals therein, in the form of analog signals, to said television monitor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said solid state digital memory is constructed for slave-synchronization capability, and a clock pulse supply unit, which is synchronized with the television signal, for synchronously controlling said memory and associated converters in synchronism with the television camera.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said clock pulse supply unit is connected, by a sync-separator, to the television camera, for effecting the synchronization of such unit, a mixer unit operatively connecting said memory to the television monitor, said sync-separator being connected to said mixer unit to supply thereto necessary blanking and synchronizing signals whereby said mixer unit supplies both the latter and video signals to the television monitor.