Inspection system and method

• US 7,483,511 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morpho Detection (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: GE Homeland Protection Incorporated (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Kelly, William Joseph, Hopkins, Forrest Frank, Bendahan, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US11/671,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20070280416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/5, 378/9, 378/19, 378/51, 378/53, 378/57, 378/146, 250306-308
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/1016 X-ray
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/427 stepped imaging (selected area of sample is changed)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/639 material in a container
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• 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 5/224 Multiple energy techniques using one type of radiation, e.g. X-rays of different energies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/232 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/226 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of determining a presence of items of interest within a cargo container is disclosed. The method includes obtaining information from an initial radiation scan of at least one of the cargo container and contents therein, identifying a target portion of the cargo container in response to the information obtained, transmitting a target radiation beam along the target portion of the cargo container, and detecting radiation received in response to the transmitting. The method further includes analyzing the detected radiation for a presence of items of interest, and in response to the analyzing, generating a first signal indicative of the presence of the items of interest, or generating a second signal indicative of an absence of the items of interest.

Claims

1. A method of determining a presence of items of interest within a cargo container, the method comprising:

obtaining information from an initial radiation scan of at least one of the cargo container and contents therein, the obtaining comprising;

transmitting a screening radiation beam along a screening portion of the cargo container at a screening scan rate;

detecting radiation received in response to the transmitting the screening radiation beam; and

analyzing the detected radiation received in response to the transmitting the screening radiation beam to develop information regarding the initial radiation scan;

identifying a target portion of the cargo container in response to the information obtained, wherein the screening portion is larger than the target portion;

transmitting a target radiation beam along the target portion of the cargo container at a target scan rate, the target scan rate being different than the screening scan rate;

detecting radiation received in response to the transmitting;

analyzing the detected radiation for a presence of items of interest; and

in response to the analyzing, generating a first signal indicative of the presence of the items of interest, or generating a second signal indicative of an absence of the items of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing the detected radiation for a presence of high-Z material.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising inspecting the cargo container using photo-fission interrogation to determine whether the item of interest is a fissile material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said inspecting the cargo container is in response to generating a signal indicative of the presence of high-Z material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting the target radiation beam and the transmitting the screening radiation beam comprise at least one of:

transmitting x-ray radiation;

transmitting gamma ray radiation; and

transmitting neutron radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting a target radiation beam and the transmitting a screening radiation beam comprise transmitting multiple-energy radiation beams.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting multiple-energy radiation beams comprises transmitting multiple-energy radiation beams via at least one interlaced radiation source.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting multiple energy radiation beams via at least one interlaced radiation source comprises:

emitting a radiation beam comprising at least two different energy distributions via the at least one interlaced radiation source; and

emitting another radiation beam comprising one of the at least two different energy distributions via another radiation source.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting multiple-energy radiation beams comprises transmitting multiple-energy radiation beams via at least two non-interlaced radiation sources.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the screening radiation beam comprises transmitting the screening radiation beam having a lower intensity than the target radiation beam.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the screening radiation beam comprises transmitting a filtered screening radiation beam having the lower intensity than the target radiation beam.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the screening radiation beam comprises:

moving the cargo container at the screening scan rate; and

transmitting the screening radiation beam via a stationary radiation source.

13. A program storage device readable by a processor, the device embodying a program or instructions executable by the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A cargo container inspection system comprising:

a processor;

a support comprising an inspection cavity dimensioned so as to surround the cargo container, the support in signal communication with the processor;

a radiation source disposed upon the support, the radiation source in signal communication with and responsive to the processor to transmit a radiation beam directed toward the cargo container; and

a radiation detector disposed upon the support opposite the radiation source, the radiation detector in signal communication with the processor to detect an attenuated radiation beam in response to the transmitted radiation beam passing though the cargo container;

wherein the processor, upon obtaining information from an initial radiation scan, identifies a target portion of the cargo container and causes transmission of a target radiation beam along the identified target portion; and

wherein the processor analyzes the attenuated radiation beam detected in response to the transmission of the target radiation beam to determine a presence or absence of items of interest within the cargo container and generates one of a first signal indicative of the presence of the items of interest, or a second signal indicative of an absence of the items of interest; and

wherein the processor is responsive to information from the initial radiation scan, the information comprising analysis of a screening detector signal in response to transmission of a screening radiation beam along a screening portion of the cargo container to identify the target portion, the screening portion larger than the target portion; and

wherein the transmission of the screening radiation beam along the screening portion of the cargo container comprises a screening scan rate, the transmission of the target radiation beam along the identified target portion of the cargo container comprises a target scan rate, and the target scan rate is different than the screening scan rate.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor analyzes the attenuated radiation beam detected in response to the transmission of the target radiation beam to determine a presence or absence of high-Z material.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the screening radiation beam and the target radiation beam comprise at least one of:

x-ray radiation;

gamma ray radiation; and

neutron radiation.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein:

at least one of the screening radiation beam and the target radiation beam is a multiple-energy radiation beam; and

the radiation source is an interlaced radiation source.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the radiation source is a first interlaced radiation source to generate at least two energy distributions of the multiple-energy radiation beam, the system further comprising a second radiation source to generate one of the at least two energy distributions of the multiple-energy radiation beam.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the radiation source is a first radiation source, the system further comprising:

a second radiation source;

wherein at least one of the screening radiation beam and the target radiation beam is a multiple-energy radiation beam; and

wherein the first radiation source generates one energy distribution of the multiple-energy x-ray beam and the second radiation source generates another energy distribution of the multiple-energy x-ray beam.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a truck-towing platform responsive to the processor;

wherein at least one of the screening scan rate and the target scan rate is defined by at least one of a rate of motion of a truck in mechanical connection with the cargo container, and a rate of motion of the truck-towing platform.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the support is a mobile gantry responsive to the processor; and

at least one of the screening scan rate and the target scan rate is defined by a rate of motion of the mobile gantry.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the mobile gantry is responsive to the processor to translate along the screening portion and the identified target portion of the cargo container.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein subsequent to identification of the target portion, the mobile gantry is responsive to the processor to interrupt translation along the screening portion to translate along the identified target portion.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the radiation detector is a trailing radiation detector to detect the target radiation beam, the system further comprising a leading radiation detector to detect the screening radiation beam.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor identifies the target portion based upon a parallax angle defined by the radiation source, the leading radiation detector, and the trailing radiation detector.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein an intensity of the screening radiation beam is less than the intensity of the target radiation beam.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a filter disposed between the radiation source and the cargo container to reduce the intensity of the screening radiation beam.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the radiation source is a target radiation source to generate the target radiation beam and the radiation detector is a target radiation detector, the system further comprising:

a screening radiation source in signal communication with and responsive to the processor to transmit the screening radiation beam; and

a screening radiation detector disposed opposite the screening energy source, the screening radiation detector in signal communication with the processor to detect an attenuated screening radiation beam in response to the transmitted screening radiation beam passing though the cargo container.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the screening radiation source and the screening radiation detector are disposed upon the support.