X-Ray Inspection Trailer

• US 20090257555A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Peter J., Chalmers, Alex, Perich, Louis W., Baukus, William John, Schubert, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/368,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/20 by using diffraction of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating crystal structure; by using scattering of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating non-crystalline materials; by using reflection of the radiation by the materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0025 Measuring scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0066 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0075 Passive interrogation for hand, feet or portals G01T1/167; for contaminated surface areas G01T1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/232 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods

Abstract

An inspection system, and inspection methods, based upon an imaging enclosure characterized by an enclosing body. A source of penetrating radiation and a detector module are concealed entirely within the body of a conveyance such as a trailer. A characterizing value or an image is formed with respect to an inspected object that is disposed entirely outside the conveyance and the characterizing value or image is made available to a remotely disposed operator. Additional detectors may be disposed distally to the inspected object and may detect transmitted, or forward-scattered, penetrating radiation.

Claims

1. A method for employing penetrating radiation to inspect an object, the method comprising:

a. generating a beam of penetrating radiation originating entirely within the body of a conveyance;

b. scanning the penetrating radiation across the object, the object disposed entirely outside the body of the conveyance;

c. detecting penetrating radiation scattered by the object into the body of the conveyance by means of a detector module concealed within the body of the conveyance and generating a backscatter signal; and

d. transmitting a value of a specified characteristic of the object to an operator disposed remotely to the conveyance, the value based at least in part on the backscatter signal.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is disposed upon a body of a person.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

forming an image of the object based at least in part on the backscatter signal.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

generating a signal based on detection of any penetrating radiation naturally emitted by the object.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

detecting penetrating radiation scattered by the object into the forward-scatter detector and generating a forward-scatter signal.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting a value of a specified characteristic of the object to an operator disposed remotely to the conveyance includes transmitting a value based at least on both the backscatter signal and the forward-scatter signal.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising transmitting a value of a distinct characteristic of the object based at least on the forward-scatter signal.

8. An inspection system for inspection of an object by a remotely disposed operator, the system comprising:

a. a first conveyance characterized by an enclosing body;

b. a source of penetrating radiation contained entirely within the enclosing body for generating a beam of penetrating radiation incident upon the object;

c. a detector module, contained entirely within the enclosing body, for generating a signal based upon penetrating radiation scattered by the object; and

d. an image generator for converting the signal to an image of the object for viewing by the remotely disposed operator.

9. An inspection system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the first conveyance is a trailer.

10. An inspection system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising an operator console for operation by an operator remotely disposed within a separate module coupled to the first conveyance.

11. An inspection system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a forward-scatter detector disposed entirely outside the first conveyance.

12. An inspection system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the forward-scatter detector is coupled to a second conveyance.