Folded array CT baggage scanner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A CT scanner for scanning of an object comprising:
- a tunnel;
a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel;
a gantry rotatable around the tunnel;
an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel;
a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source;
a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance;
a third plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned the second distance from the x-ray source, wherein;
one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the second plurality of detectors; and
another one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the third plurality of detectors;
the x-ray beam intersects an entire cross section of the tunnel; and
the first, second, and third pluralities of detectors are positioned on the gantry so that the entire x-ray beam intersects at least one detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reduced size CT scanner for baggage inspection has a wide angle x-ray source and multiple sets of detectors at different distances from the x-ray source. The detectors in each set are sized and positioned to maintain consistent pitch and flux levels among all detectors. Conventional reconstruction processes can be used to process the data from the CT scanner. The scanner may also be incorporated into a check-in desk in a network of scanners.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A CT scanner for scanning of an object comprising:
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a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; a third plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned the second distance from the x-ray source, wherein; one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the second plurality of detectors; and another one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the third plurality of detectors; the x-ray beam intersects an entire cross section of the tunnel; and the first, second, and third pluralities of detectors are positioned on the gantry so that the entire x-ray beam intersects at least one detector.
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2. A CT scanner for scanning of an object comprising:
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a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; and a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, wherein an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the first plurality of detectors is the same as an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the second plurality of detectors.
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3. A CT scanner for scanning of an object comprising:
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a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; and a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, wherein each detector in the first and second plurality of detectors includes; a first photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a first energy level, the first photodiode layer having a first x-ray reception area; and a second photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a second energy level higher than the first energy level, positioned behind the first photodiode layer relative to the x-ray source, and having a second x-ray reception area larger than the first x-ray reception area. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A baggage processing system comprising:
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a plurality of CT scanners for scanning a bag, each of the CT scanners comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; and a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; a third plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned the second distance from the x-ray source; and a including a computer for processing data from the CT scanner and for reconstructing an image of least a portion of the bag; wherein; one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the second plurality of detectors; another one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the third plurality of detectors; the x-ray beam intersects an entire cross section of the tunnel; and the first, second, and third pluralities of detectors are positioned on the gantry so that the entire x-ray beam intersects at least one detector; at least one operator review station for displaying a reconstructed image; and a network for transferring a reconstructed image from at least one CT scanner to the at least one operator review station for display. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A baggage check-in system comprising:
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a first check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; a second check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; and a CT scanner positioned between the first check-in station and the second check-in station, the CT scanner comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; a third plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned the second distance from the x-ray source; and
wherein;one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the second plurality of detectors; another one of the detectors in the first plurality of detectors is positioned within the x-ray beam adjacent to one of the detectors in the third plurality of detectors; the x-ray beam intersects an entire cross section of the tunnel; and the first, second, and third pluralities of detectors are positioned on the gantry so that the entire x-ray beam intersects at least one detector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A baggage processing system comprising:
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a plurality of CT scanners for scanning a bag, each of the CT scanners comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; and a computer for processing data from the CT scanner and for reconstructing an image of least a portion of the bag; wherein an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the first plurality of detectors is the same as an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the second plurality of detectors; at least one operator review station for displaying a reconstructed image; and a network for transferring a reconstructed image from at least one CT scanner to the at least one operator review station for display. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A baggage check-in system comprising:
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a first check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; a second check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; and a CT scanner positioned between the first check-in station and the second check-in station, the CT scanner comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; and a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; wherein an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the first plurality of detectors is the same as an angle between beams from the x-ray source to adjacent detectors in the second plurality of detectors. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A baggage processing system comprising:
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a plurality of CT scanners for scanning a bag, each of the CT scanners comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; and a computer for processing data from the CT scanner and for reconstructing an image of least a portion of the bag; wherein each detector in the first and second plurality of detectors includes; a first photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a first energy level, the first photodiode layer having a first x-ray reception area; and a second photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a second energy level higher than the first energy level, positioned behind the first photodiode layer relative to the x-ray source, and having a second x-ray reception area larger than the first x-ray reception area; at least one operator review station for displaying a reconstructed image; and a network for transferring a reconstructed image from at least one CT scanner to the at least one operator review station for display. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A baggage check-in system comprising:
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a first check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; a second check-in station for passengers to check-in for a flight and to check baggage; and a CT scanner positioned between the first check-in station and the second check-in station, the CT scanner comprising; a tunnel; a conveyor for moving the object through the tunnel; a gantry rotatable around the tunnel; an x-ray source on the gantry for providing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the tunnel; a first plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a first distance from the x-ray source; and a second plurality of detectors on the gantry positioned a second distance from the x-ray source, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; and wherein each detector in the first and second plurality of detectors includes; a first photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a first energy level, the first photodiode layer having a first x-ray reception area; and a second photodiode layer responsive to x-ray energy at a second energy level higher than the first energy level, positioned behind the first photodiode layer relative to the x-ray source, and having a second x-ray reception area larger than the first x-ray reception area. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification