Combined computed tomography and nuclear resonance fluorescence cargo inspection system and method
First Claim
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1. A method for inspecting a container for contraband, said method comprising:
- scanning the container using computed tomography (CT) to identify a location of an item of interest;
determining a nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) scan configuration based on the location of the item of interest;
positioning the container in the NRF scan configuration;
irradiating the item of interest with high-energy photons;
detecting gamma rays emitted from the item of interest to generate signals representative of the detected gamma rays; and
analyzing the generated signals to determine a presence of contraband.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for scanning a container for contraband are provided. In one aspect, a method includes scanning the container using computed tomography (CT) to identify a location of an item of interest, determining a nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) scan configuration based on the location of the item of interest, positioning the container in the NRF scan configuration, irradiating the item of interest, detecting gamma rays emitted from the item of interest to generate signals representative of the detected gamma rays, and analyzing the generated signals to determine a presence of contraband.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting a container for contraband, said method comprising:
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scanning the container using computed tomography (CT) to identify a location of an item of interest; determining a nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) scan configuration based on the location of the item of interest; positioning the container in the NRF scan configuration; irradiating the item of interest with high-energy photons; detecting gamma rays emitted from the item of interest to generate signals representative of the detected gamma rays; and analyzing the generated signals to determine a presence of contraband. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A scanning system for inspecting an item of interest within a container, said scanning system comprising:
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a platform configured to position the container to facilitate minimizing an attenuation of radiation transmitted through the container and to facilitate maximizing a solid angle; at least one X-ray source comprising a collimator, said at least one X-ray source configured to transmit an X-ray beam through the container, said collimator configured to focus the transmitted X-ray beam on the item of interest; at least one X-ray detector configured to generate a signal based on detected radiation transmitted through the container by said at least one X-ray source; and at least one gamma-ray detector positioned with respect to the object within the container and configured to detect fluorescent radiation emitted by the item of interest and generate a signal representative of the detected fluorescent radiation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for inspecting contents of a container using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF), said method comprising:
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positioning the container on a platform; scanning the container with a first X-ray beam from at least one X-ray source, the X-ray beam transmitted through the container; identifying a location of an item of interest within the container; determining a scan configuration based on the location of the item of interest within the container to optimize NRF signals; repositioning the container based on the determined scan configuration; focusing a second X-ray beam from the at least one X-ray source on the item of interest; detecting gamma-rays emitted by the item of interest by at least one gamma-ray detector; and processing the detected gamma-rays and displaying the results to a user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification