Portable Security Inspection System

• US 20180128935A1
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morton, Edward James
• Granted Patent: US 10,317,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• 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 5/224 Multiple energy techniques using one type of radiation, e.g. X-rays of different energies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/232 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/226 takes precedence

Abstract

The present specification discloses a radiographic inspection system for screening an area. The inspection system has a container that defines an enclosed volume, a radiation source positioned within the enclosed volume, a detector array, a movable structure attached to a portion of the base of the container, and a controller programmed to move the movable structure to achieve an optimum height of the radiation source'"'"'s field of view based upon a plurality of data.

Claims

1. An inspection system for screening an object under inspection comprising:

a container with four walls, a ceiling and a base that defines an enclosed volume;

at least one radiation source positioned within said enclosed volume, wherein emissions from said radiation source define a field of view;

at least one detector array positioned within said enclosed volume or physically attached to said container; and

a plurality of legs attached to said container at each of four corners, wherein said plurality of legs are extendable to at least one height position from ground level and wherein said at least one height position is determined using a plurality of data.

2. The inspection system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data includes dimensions of the objects under inspection, desired inspection area, detector array configuration, desired field of view, X-ray source type, X-ray source configuration, and constraining structures or the presence of people.

3. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein said container further comprises vertical recesses at each of four corners to accommodate said plurality of legs.

4. The inspection system of claim 3, wherein in a stowed position said plurality of legs rest within said vertical recesses to lie at least partially embedded with respect to the vertical walls of said container.

5. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein in a stowed position said container rests on a trailer portion of a transportation vehicle.

6. The inspection system of claim 5, wherein in a deployed position at a surveillance site, at least one of said plurality of legs is first extended horizontally outwards from said four corners of the container and subsequently vertically downwards so that said plurality of legs are in contact with the ground thereby lifting said container off from the trailer portion.

7. The inspection system of claim 6, wherein said trailer portion is driven away from the container once said plurality of legs are in contact with the ground and said inspection system is in a fully deployed position.

8. The inspection system of claim 6, wherein to transport said container from said surveillance site the trailer portion is driven beneath said container and said plurality of legs are vertically retracted to lower and stow said container on said trailer portion.

9. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one source and said at least one detector array are configured to generate scan information from an object under inspection.

10. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein once deployed, said legs are telescopically retracted such that said container is in contact with the ground, two of said four walls of said container are folded down.

11. The inspection system of claim 10, wherein once two of said four walls of said container are folded down, said ceiling is optionally vertically extended upwards if required by the scanning application to form a drive thought portal at said surveillance site.

12. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one source and said at least one detector array are configured to generate multi-view scan images of an object under inspection.

13. An inspection system for deployment at a surveillance site, comprising:

a container with four walls, a ceiling and a base that defines an enclosed volume, wherein said container is stowed on a trailer portion of a transportation vehicle;

at least one radiation source positioned within said enclosed volume, wherein emissions from said radiation source define a field of view;

at least one detector array positioned within said enclosed volume or physically attached to said container; and

a plurality of legs attached to said container at each of four corners, wherein said plurality of legs are extendable by first moving said at least one of said plurality of legs horizontally outwards from said container and subsequently moving said plurality of legs vertically downwards so that the legs are in contact with the ground, thereby lifting said container off of said trailer portion.

14. The inspection system of claim 13, wherein a height of said container above the ground is adjustable using a telescopic motion of said plurality of legs.

15. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein the height of said container above the ground is determined using a plurality of data wherein said plurality of data includes dimensions of the objects under inspection, desired inspection area, detector array configuration, desired field of view, X-ray source type, X-ray source configuration, and constraining structures or the presence of people.

16. The inspection system of claim 13, wherein said at least one source and said at least one detector array are configured to generate scan information from an object under inspection.

17. A method of deploying an inspection system comprising:

a container with four walls, a ceiling and a base that defines an enclosed volume, wherein said container is stowed on a trailer portion of a transportation vehicle;

at least one radiation source positioned within said enclosed volume, wherein emissions from said radiation source define a field of view;

at least one detector array positioned within said enclosed volume or physically attached to said container; and

a plurality of legs attached to said container at each of four corners of said container, the method comprising;

extending at least one of said plurality of legs horizontally outwards from said four corners of said container;

extending said plurality of legs vertically downwards so that said plurality of legs is in contact with the ground at a surveillance site;

continuing to extend said plurality of legs vertically downwards to enable said container to be lifted off from the trailer portion and be supported fully on said plurality of legs at said surveillance site; and

,

driving said trailer portion away from said surveillance site.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a height of said plurality of legs is adjusted to accommodate a plurality of scanning heights.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the height of said container above the ground is determined using a plurality of data wherein said plurality of data includes dimensions of the objects under inspection, desired inspection area, detector array configuration, desired field of view, X-ray source type, X-ray source configuration, and/or constraining structures or the presence of people.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of legs is fully retracted such that said container is positioned at ground level, two of said four walls of said container are folded down and said ceiling is optionally vertically extended upwards to form a drive thought portal at said surveillance site.