Inspection systems with two X-ray scanners in a first stage inspection system
First Claim
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1. An inspection system comprising:
- a first inspection stage comprising;
a first X-ray scanner, wherein the first X-ray scanner comprises an X-ray tube having an extended spectral emission;
a second X-ray scanner wherein the first X-ray scanner and second X-ray scanner are positioned around an inspection volume, wherein the first X-ray scanner is positioned at a 7 o'"'"'clock position relative to said inspection volume, wherein the second X-ray scanner is positioned at a 5 o'"'"'clock position relative to said inspection volume, and wherein X-ray projections from the first X-ray scanner and X-ray projections from the second X-ray scanner are mirrored relative to a central vertical scanning plane in said inspection volume, a detector array positioned around the inspection volume and configured to generate image data;
wherein the detector array comprises an array of stacked detectors, wherein a first detector of said stacked detectors is positioned to detect low energy X-ray photons emitted from one of the first X-ray scanner or second X-ray scanner and wherein a second detector of said stacked detectors is positioned behind the first detector to detect higher energy photons emitted from a same one of the first X-ray scanner or second X-ray scanner;
a conveyor belt positioned with said inspection volume and configured to move an object being inspected through said inspection volume; and
a first processor coupled to said detector array and configured to receive said image data and generate an image volume file of the object being inspected.
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Abstract
This invention is directed towards finding, locating, and confirming threat items and substances. The inspection system is designed to detect objects that are made from, but not limited to, special nuclear materials (“SNM”) and/or high atomic number materials. The system employs advanced image processing techniques to analyze images of an object under inspection (“OUI”), which includes, but is not limited to baggage, parcels, vehicles and cargo, and fluorescence detection.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An inspection system comprising:
a first inspection stage comprising; a first X-ray scanner, wherein the first X-ray scanner comprises an X-ray tube having an extended spectral emission; a second X-ray scanner wherein the first X-ray scanner and second X-ray scanner are positioned around an inspection volume, wherein the first X-ray scanner is positioned at a 7 o'"'"'clock position relative to said inspection volume, wherein the second X-ray scanner is positioned at a 5 o'"'"'clock position relative to said inspection volume, and wherein X-ray projections from the first X-ray scanner and X-ray projections from the second X-ray scanner are mirrored relative to a central vertical scanning plane in said inspection volume, a detector array positioned around the inspection volume and configured to generate image data;
wherein the detector array comprises an array of stacked detectors, wherein a first detector of said stacked detectors is positioned to detect low energy X-ray photons emitted from one of the first X-ray scanner or second X-ray scanner and wherein a second detector of said stacked detectors is positioned behind the first detector to detect higher energy photons emitted from a same one of the first X-ray scanner or second X-ray scanner;a conveyor belt positioned with said inspection volume and configured to move an object being inspected through said inspection volume; and a first processor coupled to said detector array and configured to receive said image data and generate an image volume file of the object being inspected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Specification