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X-ray scanner with partial energy discriminating detector array

  • US 9,823,383 B2
  • Filed: 01/06/2014
  • Issued: 11/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An X-ray system for screening an object, comprising:

  • a first X-ray source configured to transmit a first X-ray fan beam through the object in order to generate a vertical X-ray projection view of the object;

    a first vertical, linear array of transmission detectors, wherein said vertical, linear array of transmission detectors comprises a first set of dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors and a first set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the first X-ray source and wherein the first X-ray fan beam intersects a subset of the vertical, linear array of transmission detectors;

    a second X-ray source configured to transmit a second X-ray fan beam through the object in order to generate a horizontal X-ray projection view of the object, wherein the vertical X-ray projection view and horizontal X-ray projection view define an inspection region;

    a second horizontal, linear array of transmission detectors, wherein said horizontal, linear array of transmission detectors comprises a second set of dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors and a second set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the second X-ray source and wherein the second X-ray fan beam intersects a subset of the horizontal, linear array of transmission detectors;

    a receptacle for holding an object, wherein said receptacle defines an object holding region and wherein a width of said receptacle is defined by a first dimension; and

    a conveyor adapted to move the receptacle through the inspection region, said conveyor having a width defined by a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension, wherein the first vertical, linear array of transmission detectors is populated with the first set of energy discriminating detectors in a first region defined by a projection of the first X-ray fan beam of said first dimension onto the first vertical, linear array of transmission detectors and is populated with said first set of dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors positioned adjacent to said first region and wherein the second horizontal, linear array of transmission detectors is populated with the second set of energy discriminating detectors in a second region defined by a projection of the second X-ray fan beam of said first dimension onto the second horizontal, linear array of transmission detectors and is populated with said second set of dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors positioned adjacent to said second region, thereby resulting in a portion of the vertical X-ray projection view passing through the object holding region being aligned with the first set of energy discriminating detectors and a portion of the horizontal X-ray projection view passing through the object holding region being aligned with the second set of energy discriminating detectors.

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