X-ray system comprising an X-ray source, a detector assembly, and a shutter

• US 7,308,076 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kirsten, Erwin, Studer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US10/476,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/162, 378/210, 378/114, 378/160, 378/117, 235/384, 235/462.13
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays

Abstract

A method and system include at least one X-ray source for producing at least one X-ray beam, at least one detector assembly, at least one shutter, and a barcode reader. The shutter directs the at least one X-ray beam toward the detector assembly. The barcode reader is affixed, in a predetermined proximity, to the shutter for detecting a barcode on an object that is moved along the shutter thereby causing the shutter to be opened from a closed state and/or fully closed once the barcode has been detected.

Claims

1. An X-ray system comprising:

at least one X-ray source for producing at least one X-ray beam;

at least one detector assembly;

at least one shutter that directs the at least one X-ray beam toward a sample object location and the detector assembly, wherein the sample object location is between the X-ray source and the detector assembly; and

a barcode reader being affixed, in a predetermined proximity, to the shutter, the barcode reader being configured to detect a barcode on an object that is moved along the shutter and configured to cause the shutter to be opened from a closed state and/or fully closed once the barcode has been detected.

2. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the opening or closing of the shutter is triggered by a defined inspection start or a defined inspection end of the object being moved past the shutter.

3. The X-ray system according to claim 2, wherein the barcode contains information on an inspection start at a precise point or an inspection end at a precise point or both.

4. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the barcode contains additional information about the object as object-dependent data.

5. The X-ray system according to claim 4, wherein the additional information comprises data relating to one or more dimensions of the sample object, the barcode reader being configured to process the additional information to control a start time and a stop time for producing the at least one X-ray beam based on the additional information.

6. The X-ray system according to claim 4, wherein the additional information is used at opening or closing of the shutter for activating and/or deactivating the at least one X-ray beam.

7. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the object is moved past the X-ray system at a distance of up to 1.50 m from the barcode reader.

8. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the barcode reader and the shutter determines a distance between the barcode to be applied to the object and an inspection start or an inspection end of the object.

9. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the barcode is affixed to the object by a magnetic disk or an adhesive.

10. The X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the object is at least one of a truck, van, or mobile vehicle connected to a cargo container.

11. The X-ray system according to claim 10, wherein the object to be inspected in a cargo container.

12. An X-ray system comprising:

at least one X-ray source for producing at least one X-ray beam;

at least one detector assembly;

at least one shutter, for allowing or preventing the at least one X-ray beam to pass towards the detector assembly; and

a barcode reader being affixed, in a predetermined proximity, to the shutter, the barcode reader being configured to detect a barcode on an object that is moved along the shutter and and configured to control opening and closing of the shutter based on the detected barcode on the object,

wherein the object is one of a plurality of motor vehicles having different length driver'"'"'s cabs and cargo areas to which the barcode is applied as desired.

13. An X-ray system comprising:

an x-ray source for producing an x-ray beam;

a detector for detecting the x-ray beam transmitted through a sample object location, wherein the sample object location is between the x-ray source and the detector;

a shutter for enabling the x-ray beam to pass therethrough, the shutter being positioned between the x-ray source and the detector; and

a barcode reader configured to detect a barcode affixed to an object at the sample object location, the barcode reader configured to provide an output to the shutter based on the read barcode, the output determining an open state from a closed state or determining a closed state of the shutter.

14. The X-ray system according to claim 13, wherein the object is one of a plurality of motor vehicles having different length driver'"'"'s cabs and cargo areas to which the barcode is applied as desired.

15. A method for scanning an object with an X-ray beam, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a barcode affixed to the object by a barcode reader;

outputting a signal from the barcode reader to a shutter;

controlling opening and closing of the shutter based on the output signal, and

determining, based on the output signal, an open state from a closed state or determining a closed state of the shutter,

wherein in the open state of the shutter, the X-ray beam, which is produced by an X-ray source, is able to be detected by a detector, and

wherein in the closed state of the shutter, the X-ray beam is not detected by the detector.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the object is one of a plurality of motor vehicles having different length driver'"'"'s cabs and cargo areas to which the barcode is applied as desired.