Radiation scanning with photon tagging
First Claim
1. A method of examining contents of objects, the method comprising:
- accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy;
colliding the accelerated electrons with a target to cause generation of X-ray photons;
scanning at least a portion of an object with at least some of the X-ray photons;
determining first energies of at least some of the X-ray photons after scanning;
determining second energies of at least some of the accelerated electrons after colliding with the target;
correlating respective first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning with second energies of respective accelerated electrons after colliding with the target;
determining third energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the second energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons after colliding with the target and the predetermined acceleration energy; and
determining whether a suspect material is at least potentially present based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the third energies of the detected X-ray photons prior to scanning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of examining contents of objects comprises accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy and colliding the accelerated electrons with a target. An object is scanned with the generated X-ray photons. First energies of X-ray photons are determined after scanning and second energies of accelerated electrons are determined after colliding with the target, and correlated. Energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning are determined based, at least in part, on the second energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons and the predetermined acceleration energy. A potential presence of suspect material is determined based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the third energies of the detected X-ray photons prior to scanning. Systems are also disclosed.
35 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of examining contents of objects, the method comprising:
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accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy; colliding the accelerated electrons with a target to cause generation of X-ray photons; scanning at least a portion of an object with at least some of the X-ray photons; determining first energies of at least some of the X-ray photons after scanning; determining second energies of at least some of the accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; correlating respective first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning with second energies of respective accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; determining third energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the second energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons after colliding with the target and the predetermined acceleration energy; and determining whether a suspect material is at least potentially present based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the third energies of the detected X-ray photons prior to scanning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for examining contents of an object, the system comprising:
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means for accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy; means for colliding the accelerated electrons with a target to cause generation of X-ray photons; means for scanning at least a portion of the object with the X-ray photons; means for detecting energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning; means for determining energies of respective accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; means for correlating respective detected energies of X-ray photons after scanning with determined energies of the respective accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; means for determining energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the determined energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons after colliding with the target and the predetermined acceleration energy; and means for determining whether a suspect material is at least potentially present based, at least in part, on the detected energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the determined energies of the respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning.
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12. A system for examining contents of an object, the system comprising:
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at least one radiation source, the source comprising; an accelerator configured to accelerate electrons to a predetermined energy; and a target, wherein impact of the accelerated electrons with the target causes generation of X-ray photons to scan an object; at least one first detector positioned to detect energies of at least some of the X-ray photons after scanning; a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field to deflect the accelerated electrons after impacting the target; at least one second detector to detect at least some of the deflected electrons; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one first and second detectors, the at least one processor configured to; determine first energies of respective X-ray photons detected by the first detector; determine second energies of respective electrons detected by the second detector, after the respective electrons impact the target; correlate first energies of respective X-ray photons with respective second energies of respective detected electrons; determine third energies of the respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the determined second energies of respective correlated electrons and the predetermined acceleration energy; and provide an output indicative of the potential presence of suspect material based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons and the third energies of the respective X-ray photons prior to scanning. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of examining an object, the method comprising:
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accelerating a plurality of charged particles to a predetermined acceleration energy; colliding the accelerated charged particles with a target to cause generation of X-ray radiation photons; scanning at least a portion of an object with at least some of the radiation photons; determining first energies of respective radiation photons after scanning; determining functions of the energies of accelerated charged particles after colliding with the target, detected within predetermined time periods; correlating respective first energies of radiation photons after scanning with respective functions of the energies of the accelerated charged particles after colliding with the target; determining approximate second energies of respective photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the functions of the energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons after colliding with the target and the predetermined acceleration energy; and providing an output based, at least in part, on the approximate second energies of respective radiation photons prior to scanning and respective first energies of the radiation photons after scanning. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification