Method and apparatus for assessing characteristics of liquids
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Method for performing security screening at a security checkpoint, comprising:
- a) performing an X-ray inspection on hand carried baggage and on a liquid product comprised of a container holding a liquid while the liquid product remains outside the hand carried baggage with a same X-ray imaging device, the X-ray inspection generating X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage and X-ray image data of the liquid product;
b) processing the X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage to render an image of the hand carried baggage on a display to assist an operator in determining if the baggage contains illegal objects;
c) processing with a computer the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the computer being programmed with software to;
i) derive path length information based at least in part on the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the path length information being an approximation of a distance travelled by an X-ray through the liquid of the liquid product;
ii) use the derived path length information to determine if the liquid held in the container is a security threat.
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Abstract
A method to perform security screening at an airport on hand-carried baggage. The method includes requesting passengers with hand carried baggage to remove from the baggage a container that holds a liquid and perform an x-ray inspection on the hand carried baggage and on the container while the container remains outside the baggage. According to the method, the results of the x-ray inspection are used to determine if the baggage contains illegal objects and if the liquid is a security threat.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. Method for performing security screening at a security checkpoint, comprising:
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a) performing an X-ray inspection on hand carried baggage and on a liquid product comprised of a container holding a liquid while the liquid product remains outside the hand carried baggage with a same X-ray imaging device, the X-ray inspection generating X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage and X-ray image data of the liquid product; b) processing the X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage to render an image of the hand carried baggage on a display to assist an operator in determining if the baggage contains illegal objects; c) processing with a computer the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the computer being programmed with software to; i) derive path length information based at least in part on the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the path length information being an approximation of a distance travelled by an X-ray through the liquid of the liquid product; ii) use the derived path length information to determine if the liquid held in the container is a security threat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for performing security screening at a security checkpoint on hand-carried baggage and on liquid products, said system comprising:
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a) an X-ray imaging device for performing an X-ray inspection on hand carried baggage and on liquid products, said X-ray imaging device generating X-ray image data; b) a processor module in communication with the X-ray imaging device for receiving X-ray image data generated by said X-ray imaging device, said X-ray image data including X-ray image data associated with a liquid product and X-ray image data associated with a piece of hand carried baggage, the liquid product being comprised of a bottle holding a liquid, said processor module being programmed for; i) processing the X-ray image data associated with the piece of hand carried baggage to generate an image signal; ii) processing X-ray image data associated with the liquid product to; (1) derive path length information based at least in part on the X-ray image data associated with the liquid product, the path length information being an approximation of a distance travelled by an X-ray through the liquid of the liquid product; (2) process the path length information to determine if the liquid held in the container is a security threat; c) an output including a display in communication with the processor module for; i) rendering an image of the hand carried baggage based on the image signal to assist an operator in detecting an illegal object in the hand carried baggage; and ii) displaying a notification on the display conveying results obtained when determining if the liquid held in the container is a security threat. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A computer readable storage medium storing a program element suitable for execution by a computing apparatus for performing security screening at a security checkpoint on hand-carried baggage and on a liquid product, the liquid product being comprised of a container holding a liquid, said computing apparatus comprising:
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a) a memory unit; b) a processor operatively connected to said memory unit, said program element when executing on said processor being operative for; i) receiving X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage and X-ray image data of the liquid product, said X-ray image data being generated by performing an X-ray inspection with a same X-ray imaging device on the hand carried baggage and on the liquid product while the liquid product remains outside the baggage; ii) processing the X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage to render an image of the hand carried baggage on a display to assist an operator in determining if the baggage contains illegal objects; iii) processing the X-ray image data of the liquid product to; (1) derive path length information based at least in part on the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the path length information being an approximation of a distance travelled by an X-ray through the liquid of the liquid product; and (2) use the derived path length information to determine if the liquid held in the container is a security threat. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for use in performing security screening at a security checkpoint on hand-carried baggage and on a liquid product, the liquid product being comprised of a container holding a liquid, said apparatus comprising:
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a) an input for receiving X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage and X-ray image data of the liquid product, said X-ray image data being generated by performing an X-ray inspection with a same X-ray imaging device on the hand carried baggage and on the liquid product while the liquid product remains outside the baggage; b) a processor programmed for; i) processing the X-ray image data of the hand carried baggage to render an image of the hand carried baggage on a display to assist an operator in determining if the baggage contains illegal objects; ii) processing the X-ray image data of the liquid product to; (1) derive path length information based at least in part on the X-ray image data of the liquid product, the path length information being an approximation of a distance travelled by an X-ray through the liquid of the liquid product; and (2) use the derived path length information to determine if the liquid held in the container is a security threat. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification