Computed tomography cargo inspection system and method
First Claim
1. An X-ray computed tomography scanning system configured for inspecting an object for contraband, said X-ray computed tomography scanning system comprising:
- a base defining an axis;
a frame movably coupled to said base, said frame movable with respect to said base in a direction parallel to the axis;
a platform configured to support the object, said platform rotatably coupled to said frame, said platform movable with said frame and rotatable with respect to said frame about the axis;
at least one X-ray source fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one X-ray source configured to transmit radiation through the object; and
at least one X-ray detector fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one X-ray detector configured to detect the radiation transmitted through the object and generate a signal representative of the detected radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An X-ray computed tomography scanning system for inspecting an object includes a platform configured to support the object. The platform is rotatable about an axis and movable in a direction parallel to the axis. At least one X-ray source is fixedly positioned with respect to the platform and configured to transmit radiation through the object. At least one X-ray detector is fixedly positioned with respect to the platform. The at least one X-ray detector is configured to detect the radiation transmitted through the object and generate a signal representative of the detected radiation.
75 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An X-ray computed tomography scanning system configured for inspecting an object for contraband, said X-ray computed tomography scanning system comprising:
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a base defining an axis; a frame movably coupled to said base, said frame movable with respect to said base in a direction parallel to the axis; a platform configured to support the object, said platform rotatably coupled to said frame, said platform movable with said frame and rotatable with respect to said frame about the axis; at least one X-ray source fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one X-ray source configured to transmit radiation through the object; and at least one X-ray detector fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one X-ray detector configured to detect the radiation transmitted through the object and generate a signal representative of the detected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inspecting a container for contraband, said method comprising:
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positioning the container on a platform configured to support the container, the platform rotatably coupled to a frame that is movably coupled to a base defining an axis, the frame movable with respect to the base in a direction parallel to the axis, and the platform movable with the frame and rotatable with respect to the frame about the axis; producing X-ray beams having at least one energy distribution and transmitting the X-ray beams through the container as the container rotates about the axis and moves in a direction parallel to the axis; detecting the X-ray beams transmitted through the container with an array of detectors to generate signals representative of the detected radiation; and processing the signals to produce images of the container and contents of the container to generate a map for the container including at least one of a CT number, a density and an atomic number corresponding to the contents within the container. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for X-ray computed tomography scanning of a container supported on a platform for inspecting contents of the container, said method comprising:
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providing a base defining a first axis and a frame movably coupled to the base; moving the frame with respect to the base in a direction parallel to the first axis; rotating the platform coupled to the frame, the platform rotatable with respect to the frame about the first axis; emitting an X-ray beam from at least one X-ray source fixedly positioned with respect to the platform and transmitting the X-ray beam through the container; and detecting the transmitted X-ray beam by at least one X-ray detector fixedly positioned with respect to the platform. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An X-ray computed tomography scanning system comprising:
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a base defining an axis; a frame movably coupled to said base, said frame movable with respect to said base in a direction parallel to the axis; a platform configured to support the object, said platform rotatably coupled to said frame, said platform movable with said frame and rotatable with respect to said frame about the axis; at least one X-ray source positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one X-ray source configured to transmit radiation through the object and induce fission of a fissile material within the object; at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector configured to detect radiation produced as a result of fission, said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector configured to generate a signal representative of detected radiation; and a data collection system operatively coupled to said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector, said data collection system configured to detect a presence of fissile material based at least partially on the generated signal.
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25. An X-ray computed tomography scanning system comprising:
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a base defining an axis; a frame movably coupled to said base, said frame movable with respect to said base in a direction parallel to the axis; a platform configured to support the object, said platform rotatably coupled to said frame, said platform movable with said frame and rotatable with respect to said frame about the axis; at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector positioned with respect to said platform, said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector configured to passively detect a presence of radioactive material, said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector configured to generate a signal representative of detected radiation; and a data collection system operatively coupled to said at least one neutron and gamma-ray detector, said data collection system configured to detect a presence of radioactive material based at least partially on the generated signal. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A high-energy, high throughput computed tomography (CT) scanning system configured for inspecting an object for contraband, said high-energy, high throughput CT scanning system comprising:
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a platform configured to support the object, said platform at least one of rotatable about an axis and movable in a direction parallel to the axis, said platform positionable in a plurality of step over positions to facilitate scanning at least a portion of the object; a high-energy radiation source fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said high-energy radiation source configured to produce radiation that is transmitted through the object as the object rotates with said platform; an array of detectors fixedly positioned with respect to said platform, said array of detectors configured to measure radiation transmitted through the object and generate at least one signal representative of the detected radiation; and a processor configured to reconstruct a plurality of images in real time based at least partially on the at least one signal received from said array of detectors. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification