Methods and systems for the rapid detection of concealed objects

• US 7,417,440 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Security Products USA Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peschmann, Kristian R., Mann, Kenneth Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez; Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US10/952,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 324/637, 324/639, 324/642, 324/638, 346/38, 250/582, 250/250
• US Class Current: 324/637
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/06 Measuring reflection coefficients; Measuring standing-wave ratio
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation

Abstract

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having microwave arrays comprised of microwave transmitters in radiographic alignment with microwave receivers. The microwave array emits controllably directed microwave radiation toward an object under inspection. The object under inspection absorbs radiation in a manner dependent upon its metal content. The microwave radiation absorption can be used to generate a measurement of metal content. The measurement, in turn, can be used to calculate at least a portion of the volume and shape of the object under inspection. The measurement can be compared to a plurality of predefined threats. The microwave screening system can be used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

Claims

1. A security scanning system, comprising:

a housing;

an inspection region located within said housing;

a plurality of microwave arrays comprised of more than one microwave transmitters and more than one microwave receivers, wherein said array is in physical communication with said housing, wherein the microwave transmitters and microwave receivers are separated by said inspection region, wherein each of said microwave transmitters transmits microwave radiation to more than one microwave receivers;

a data acquisition and imaging system that acquires data from said microwave receivers and generates an image of a concealed object within a container; and

radiation shielding in physical communication with the housing,

wherein said microwave transmitters emit controllably directed microwave radiation toward said container and wherein said container and its contents absorb radiation in a manner dependent upon their metal content,

wherein said data comprises microwave radiation absorption data and wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs a measurement of metal content based upon said data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs at least a portion of the volume and shape of the concealed object based upon said measurement.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system compares a measurement of said volume and shape of the object to a plurality of predefined threats.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said security scanning system identifies a container for additional screening if the measurement is different than a pre-defined value.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the additional screening is selected from any one of NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs a microwave image based upon the measurement.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system outputs positional information of said metal content based upon the measurement.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said data acquisition and imaging system directs an analysis from material specific detection technology based upon the positional information of metal content.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said material specific detection technology is selected from any one of x-ray diffraction, thermal neutron analysis or pulsed fast neutron analysis.