Rotatable boom cargo scanning system

• US 7,963,695 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Neeraj, Kotowski, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US12/339,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/62, 378/64, 378/187, 378/198
• 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: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

The present invention is a self-contained mobile inspection system and method and, more specifically, improved methods and systems for detecting materials concealed within a wide variety of receptacles and/or cargo containers. In particular, the present invention is an improved method and system for inspecting receptacles and/or cargo containers using a single boom placed on a turntable with pivot points to allow for folding and unfolding of the boom, such that the inspection system is relatively compact in a stowed configuration and has a low center of gravity lending to greater stability.

Claims

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

a. a foldable boom comprising at least a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section;

b. a first detector array housing physically attached to the second section of the foldable boom, wherein said first detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors;

c. a second detector array housing physically attached to the fourth section of the foldable boom wherein the second detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors;

d. at least one source of radiation, wherein said source of radiation is securely attached to a distal end of the third section of the boom; and

e. a turntable, having a top portion physically attached to a proximal end of the first section the boom and a bottom portion physically attached to a rig for rigidly securing the first section the boom during transport and operation.

2. The portable inspection system of claim 1 wherein the radiation source comprises at least one gamma ray source.

3. The portable inspection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one gamma ray source is ⁶⁰Co.

4. The portable inspection system of claim 3 wherein the ⁶⁰Co source is substantially mono-energetic and capable of emitting photons at two distinct energy levels.

5. The portable inspection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one gamma ray source ¹³⁷Cs.

6. The portable inspection system of claim 1 wherein the radiation source and detector array are located on the same single foldable boom.

7. The portable inspection system of claim 1 wherein the turntable is rotatable from 0 to 360 degrees.

8. The portable inspection system of claim 1 wherein the turntable is used to establish a scan angle position.

9. The portable inspection system of claim 8 wherein the scan angle position of the turntable, upon deployment of the system, ranges between 80°

and 100°

.

10. The portable inspection system of claim 8 wherein the scan angle position of the turntable, upon deployment of the system, ranges between 260°

and 280°

.

11. A portable inspection system for generating an image representation of target objects using a radiation source, comprising:

a. a foldable boom comprising a first section connected to a second section using a first connecting member;

a second section connected to a third section, using a second connecting member, and a fourth section connected to a second section at the first connecting member;

b. a first detector array housing physically attached to the second section of the foldable boom, wherein said first detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors;

c. a second detector array housing physically attached to the fourth section of the foldable boom wherein the second detector array housing contains a plurality of detectors;

d. at least one source of radiation, wherein said source of radiation is securely attached to a distal end of the third section of the boom; and

e. a turntable, having a top portion physically attached to a proximal end of the first section the boom and a bottom portion physically attached to a rig for rigidly securing the first section the boom during transport and operation.

12. A cargo inspection system comprising:

a radiation source and a detector array housed in a foldable boom structure having at least two configurations,

wherein a first configuration comprises

a first section in a first plane, physically connected, at its proximal end, to a turntable, wherein said first plane is substantially parallel to a surface platform on a vehicle;

a second section, also in said first plane, wherein said second section is substantially parallel to the first section, and connected to said first section through a first connecting member; and

a third section, also is said first plane, wherein said third section is substantially parallel to the first section and the second section, and connected to the second section through a second connecting member; and

wherein a second configuration comprises

said first section, in a second plane, wherein said second plane is at a non-parallel angle to the surface platform on the vehicle;

said second section, in said second plane, wherein said second section is substantially perpendicular to the first section, and connected to said first section through the first connecting member; and

said third section, in said second plane, wherein said third section is substantially parallel to the first section and perpendicular to the second section and wherein said third section is connected to the second section through the second connecting member.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the non-parallel angle is 90 degrees.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a fourth section, wherein said fourth section is perpendicular to the second section.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the radiation source comprises at least one gamma ray source.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the detector array is located on at least one of the second section or fourth section.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the turntable is rotatable from 0 to 360 degrees.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the turntable is used to establish a scan angle position.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the scan angle position of the turntable, upon deployment of the system, ranges between 80°

and 100°

.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the detector array is located on the second section.