Coherent x-ray scatter inspection system with sidescatter and energy-resolved detection
First Claim
1. An inspection system for inspecting an enclosure, the system comprising:
- a. a source for producing a pencil beam of penetrating radiation;
b. a substantially inertia-free scanner for scanning the pencil beam through successive positions with respect to the enclosure;
c. at least one detector for generating a signal based on at least one of penetrating radiation transmitted through the enclosure and penetrating radiation scattered by the enclosure;
d. a processor for identifying positions warranting scrutiny on the basis of the signal from the at least one detector and a set of specified conditions;
e. at least one Bragg detector for determining an energy spectrum as a function of angular distribution of coherent scattering of the pencil beam from an identified volume within the enclosure; and
f. a controller for determining a crystal spacing of the suspected object from the angular distribution of the energy spectrum of the coherent scattering.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for inspecting an enclosure. A beam of x-rays is used for scanning the enclosure and for identifying areas of suspect material. The beam is subsequently coherently scattered off suspect materials, during the course of a single pass of the enclosure past the beam, for uniquely discriminating innocuous from contraband substances. One or more energy dispersive detectors measure radiation coherently scattered by an identified volume of suspect material. Absorption effects of the energy distribution of the coherently scattered radiation are compensated by means of a fiducial reference disposed between the interrogated object and the detectors.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An inspection system for inspecting an enclosure, the system comprising:
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a. a source for producing a pencil beam of penetrating radiation;
b. a substantially inertia-free scanner for scanning the pencil beam through successive positions with respect to the enclosure;
c. at least one detector for generating a signal based on at least one of penetrating radiation transmitted through the enclosure and penetrating radiation scattered by the enclosure;
d. a processor for identifying positions warranting scrutiny on the basis of the signal from the at least one detector and a set of specified conditions;
e. at least one Bragg detector for determining an energy spectrum as a function of angular distribution of coherent scattering of the pencil beam from an identified volume within the enclosure; and
f. a controller for determining a crystal spacing of the suspected object from the angular distribution of the energy spectrum of the coherent scattering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
a. an electron beam deflector for scanning a position of an electron beam with respect to an x-ray emissive anode; and
b. a perforated absorbing shield disposed between the x-ray emissive anode and the enclosure for permitting emission of penetrating radiation at a single emission angle determined by the position of the electron beam.
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8. An inspection system according to claim 7, wherein the scanner is configured such that a beam of x-rays is emitted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the anode.
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9. An inspection system according to claim 7 wherein the electron beam deflector includes at least one of a magnetic control yoke and an array of electrical deflector plates.
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10. An inspection system according to claim 1, further including a translator for positioning the at least one Bragg detector in response to identification by the processor of positions meeting a specified criterion for scrutiny.
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15. An inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one Bragg detector is a multi-element solid-state detector.
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11. An inspection system for characterizing an object contained within an enclosure, the system comprising:
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a. a source for producing a beam of penetrating radiation;
b. a scanner for scanning the beam through successive positions with respect to the enclosure;
c. a set of detectors disposed along a direction substantially parallel to the beam, the set of detectors generating a sidescatter signal based on penetrating radiation sidescattered by the object;
d. a controller for identifying a position of a suspected object based at least in part upon the sidescatter signal;
e. at least one Bragg detector for measuring an energy spectrum of coherent scattering as a function of angular distribution from the position of the suspected object; and
f. a controller for determining a crystal spacing of the suspected object from the angular distribution of the energy spectrum of the coherent scattering. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
a. an electron beam deflector for scanning a position of an electron beam with respect to an x-ray emissive anode; and
b. a perforated absorbing shield disposed between the x-ray emissive anode and the enclosure for permitting emission of penetrating radiation at a single emission angle determined by the position of the electron beam.
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20. An inspection system for characterizing an object contained within an enclosure, the system comprising:
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a. a source for producing a beam of penetrating radiation, b. a scanner for scanning the beam through successive positions with respect to the enclosure;
c. a set of detectors disposed along a direction substantially parallel to the beam, the set of detectors generating a sidescatter signal based on penetrating radiation sidescattered by the object;
d. a controller for identifying a position of a suspected object based at least in part upon the sidescatter signal; and
e. a plurality of Bragg detectors disposed along a direction substantially transverse to the beam for measuring an angular distribution of coherently scattered penetrating radiation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for inspecting an enclosure, the method comprising:
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a. producing a beam of penetrating radiation;
b. scanning the beam through successive positions with respect to the enclosure;
c. detecting with an x-ray detector at least one of penetrating radiation transmitted through the enclosure and penetrating radiation scattered by the enclosure;
d. identifying positions warranting scrutiny of the detected penetrating radiation; and
e. determining an energy spectrum of coherent scattering as a function of angular distribution from an identified volume within the enclosure during the course of a single pass of the enclosure past the beam of penetrating radiation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
f. determining the crystal spacing of the suspected object from the energy spectrum of coherent scattering as a function of angular distribution.
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28. A method according to claim 27, further including the step of determining a spectrum of coherent scattering from a reference material disposed within the beam at a position posterior to the enclosure with respect to the source.
Specification