Methods and systems for rapid detection of concealed objects using fluorescence
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
- a first stage inspection system having a scanning system to generate a first set of data;
a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data and wherein the first set of data is used to identify at least one target region;
a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein an inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and
a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system comprises a first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head;
a second member affixed substantially perpendicular to the first member;
a third member affixed substantially perpendicular to the second member and parallel to the first member, wherein the third member comprises a radiation source for projecting an X-ray beam toward the target object and comprises a fluorescence detector head in an angular relationship to said radiation source; and
a conveyor for positioning said target object between said first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head and said third member having said radiation source and said fluorescence detector head;
wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region and a third set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region; and
a processor that outputs a ratio of an attenuation caused by said material to a size of said material, based upon said second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic and said third set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic, and, using said ratio, outputs a determination of whether the material is a nuclear material.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed towards finding, locating, and confirming threat items and substances. The inspection system is designed to detect objects that are made from, but not limited to, special nuclear materials (“SNM”) and/or high atomic number materials. The system employs advanced image processing techniques to analyze images of an object under inspection (“OUI”), which includes, but is not limited to baggage, parcels, vehicles and cargo, and fluorescence detection.
110 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for identifying an object concealed within a container, comprising:
-
a first stage inspection system having a scanning system to generate a first set of data; a plurality of processors in data communication with the first stage inspection system wherein the processors process said first set of data and wherein the first set of data is used to identify at least one target region; a means for positioning an inspection region relative to the target region wherein an inspection region at least partially physically coincides with the target region; and a second stage inspection system for generating the inspection region wherein the second stage inspection system comprises a first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head;
a second member affixed substantially perpendicular to the first member;
a third member affixed substantially perpendicular to the second member and parallel to the first member, wherein the third member comprises a radiation source for projecting an X-ray beam toward the target object and comprises a fluorescence detector head in an angular relationship to said radiation source; anda conveyor for positioning said target object between said first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head and said third member having said radiation source and said fluorescence detector head; wherein the second stage inspection system produces a second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region and a third set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region; and a processor that outputs a ratio of an attenuation caused by said material to a size of said material, based upon said second set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic and said third set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic, and, using said ratio, outputs a determination of whether the material is a nuclear material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A device for inspecting high atomic number material located within a target object using a radiation source, comprising:
-
a first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head; a second member affixed substantially perpendicular to the first member; a third member affixed substantially perpendicular to the second member and parallel to the first member, wherein the third member comprises a radiation source for projecting an X-ray beam toward the target object and comprises a fluorescence detector head in an angular relationship to said radiation source; a conveyor for positioning said target object between said first member having detector electronics and a diffraction detector head and said third member having said radiation source and said fluorescence detector head wherein the device produces a first set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic of the material in an inspection region and a second set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic of the material in said inspection region; and a processor that outputs a ratio of an attenuation caused by said material to a size of said material, based upon said first set of data having an X-ray signature characteristic and said second set of data having a fluorescence signature characteristic, and, using said ratio, outputs a determination of whether the material is a nuclear material. - View Dependent Claims (29)
-
Specification