Method and device for carrying out detection of at least one non-visible object containing a given material
First Claim
1. A method for detecting the presence of at least one specific material contained in an object, said material evincing a characteristic photo-ionization threshold, wherein:
- the object is irradiated by a collimated x-ray beam within an energy range containing said photo-ionization threshold,the transmitted beam having passed through said object is detected,characterized in thata continuous function representing the x-ray attenuation or transmission in terms of energy is determined,a search is made for the existence of a characteristic inflection point on the curve representing said continuous function of attenuation or transmission in the vicinity of the energy corresponding to said photo-ionization threshold of said material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns a method and implementing equipment for detecting at least one object containing a specified material and hidden from view. The method comprising stages of object irradiation by a collimated x-ray beam (21) with an energy range containing a photo-ionization threshold, of detection of the beam having passed through said object (24), is characterized in that furthermore a continuous function representing the attenuation or transmission of the x-rays expressed in terms of energy is determined and a search is made near the energy corresponding to said photo-ionization threshold along the curve representing said continuous function of attenuation or transmission of an inflection point characteristic of the presence of said material. Illustratively this invention is applicable to airport luggage inspection.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for detecting the presence of at least one specific material contained in an object, said material evincing a characteristic photo-ionization threshold, wherein:
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the object is irradiated by a collimated x-ray beam within an energy range containing said photo-ionization threshold, the transmitted beam having passed through said object is detected, characterized in that a continuous function representing the x-ray attenuation or transmission in terms of energy is determined, a search is made for the existence of a characteristic inflection point on the curve representing said continuous function of attenuation or transmission in the vicinity of the energy corresponding to said photo-ionization threshold of said material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Equipment for detecting the presence of at least one specified material present within an object, comprising:
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means irradiating the receptacle with a collimated x-ray or gamma-ray beam corresponding to at least one spectral energy band, means detecting the transmitted beam having passed through said object, means determining a function representing the changes in attenuation or transmission in terms of energy, characterized in that it comprises furthermore; means for obtaining a continuous curve representing said function, means looking for at least one inflection point on said curve, and means determining the energy corresponding to said inflection point and characteristic of said detected material. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification