Cargo scanning system

• US 7,517,149 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Security Products USA Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kotowaki, Andreas F., Agrawal, Neeraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US11/948,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20080075232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/58, 378/62, 378/102, 378/146, 378/148, 378/98.8, 378/86, 378196-198
• US Class Current: 378/198
• 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 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

The inspection methods and systems of the present invention are mobile, rapidly deployable, and capable of scanning a wide variety of receptacles cost-effectively and accurately on uneven surfaces. The present invention is directed toward a portable inspection system for generating an image representation of target objects using a radiation source, comprising a mobile vehicle, a detector array physically attached to a movable boom having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is physically attached to the vehicle. The invention also comprises at least one source of radiation. The radiation source is fixedly attached to the distal end of the boom, wherein the image is generated by introducing the target objects in between the radiation source and the detector array, exposing the objects to radiation, and detecting radiation.

Claims

1. A mobile inspection system for generating an image representation of target object using a radiation source, comprising:

a foldable boom comprising a first vertical portion which is physically attached to a vehicle, a first horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion;

a first detector array housing physically attached to the first horizontal portion of the foldable boom, wherein said first detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors;

a second detector array housing physically attached to the first vertical portion of the foldable boom wherein the second detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors; and

at least one source of radiation wherein said radiation source is fixedly attached to a distal end of the second vertical portion of said boom and wherein the radiation source has at least a first position and a second position, wherein said first position orients a zero degree center point of said radiation source toward a lower portion of the target object and said second position orients the zero degree center point of said radiation source toward an upper portion of the target object.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic system located in the vehicle to rotate the boom.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor to determine when a target object is positioned between the radiation source and the detector array.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the sensor, upon being activated by the movement of a target object, transmits a signal to activate said radiation source.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first vertical portion of the boom has a main body physically attached to the vehicle, the horizontal portion of the boom has an outer arm physically attached to the main body, and the second vertical portion of the boom has a telescopic arm physically attached to the outer arm.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the boom has a first configuration and a second configuration.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein, in said first configuration, the outer arm and telescopic arm are positioned in a substantially parallel horizontal alignment with said vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein, in said second configuration, the outer arm and telescopic arm are positioned in a substantially perpendicular alignment with said vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the radiation source is collimated through an adjustable collimator.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the radiation source is aligned with the detector array.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the radiation source is aligned with the detector array using optical triangulation techniques.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector array comprises detectors and wherein said detectors are angled at substantially 90 degrees relative to a focal point of said radiation source.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said detectors are arranged in a dual row.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said dual row of detectors are configured in an interlacing configuration.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein data generated by said dual row of detectors are subjected to imaging processing.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said imaging processing blends images detected by each of said dual rows into a single image.

17. A method for inspecting objects using an inspection system that generates an image representation of a target object using a radiation source, comprising the steps of:

transporting a detector array, a foldable boom, and at least one source of radiation to an operation site, wherein the foldable boom comprises a first vertical portion, which is physically attached to a vehicle, a first horizontal portion, and a second vertical portion;

wherein the detector array is housed within a first detector array housing physically attached to the first horizontal portion of the foldable boom and a second detector array housing physically attached to the first vertical portion of the foldable boom, and wherein the radiation source is fixedly attached to a distal end of the second vertical portion of said boom;

creating a detection region by moving said first horizontal portion of the boom away from said vehicle and by moving said second vertical portion of the boom into a substantially parallel position relative to said first vertical portion;

moving the vehicle passed the target object such that said target object passes through said detection region;

orienting a zero degree center point of said radiation source toward a lower portion of the target object and activating said radiation source;

orienting the zero degree center point of said radiation source toward an upper portion of the target object;

exposing the target object to radiation emitted from the radiation source wherein the exposing step results in secondary radiation; and

detecting secondary radiation by the detector array.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the motion of the vehicle is substantially constant.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the vehicle comprises a hydraulic system to move said boom.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of detecting when the target object enters the detection region.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the first vertical portion of the boom has a main body physically attached to the vehicle, the horizontal portion of the boom has an outer arm physically attached to the main body, and the second vertical portion of the boom has a telescopic arm physically attached to the outer arm.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the boom has a first configuration and a second configuration.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein, in said first configuration, the outer arm and telescopic arm are positioned in substantially parallel horizontal alignment with said vehicle.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein, in said second configuration, the outer arm and telescopic arm are positioned in substantially perpendicular alignment with said vehicle.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the radiation source is aligned with the detector array.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the radiation source is aligned with the detector array using optical triangulation techniques.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein the detector array comprises detectors and wherein said detectors are angled at substantially 90 degrees relative to a focal point of said radiation source.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said detectors are arranged in a dual row.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said dual row of detectors are configured in an interlacing configuration.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein data generated by said dual row of detectors are subjected to imaging processing.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said imaging processing blends images detected by each of said dual rows into a single image.