X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Diffraction – reflection – or scattering analysis
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-06-19
Church, Craig E. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Diffraction, reflection, or scattering analysis
C378S063000, C378S086000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249567
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting materials concealed within, or on, a vehicle, particularly for inspecting the undercarriage of a vehicle when personnel are present within the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is desirable to determine the presence of objects, such as contraband, weapons, or explosives, that have been concealed, for example, in a moving vehicle, or, additionally, under the moving vehicle, in either case, without requiring the subjective determination of a trained operator. The determination should be capable of being made while the container is in motion. In case a detection is made, a visual image should be available for verification. The use of images produced by detection and analysis of penetrating radiation scattered from an irradiated object, container, or vehicle is the subject, for example, of U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,247 (Annis et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,683 (Swift et al.), where are herein incorporated by reference. The techniques taught in the prior art, however, require that the motion of the inspected object relative to the source of radiation be at a controlled rate, either by moving the inspected object on a conveyor, by sweeping the orientation of the source, or by mounting both source and detector arrangement on a single movable bed and driving them past the inspected object at a known or determinable rate.
The use of x-rays traversing a moving railway car or other large shipping container has been taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,973, issued Jun. 8, 1999, incorporated herein by reference. The '973 patent taught embodiments wherein transmitted x-rays are detected by one or more detectors placed on the side of the car distal to the source of irradiation. Disadvantages of the inspection systems based on transmitted x-rays include their typical insensitivity to organic materials having low attenuation, especially those in sheet form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, in one of its embodiments, there is provided an inspection system for inspecting an underside of a vehicle. The system has a source of radiation for providing an upwardly directed beam of specified cross-section, and a detector arrangement, disposed beneath the surface, for detecting radiation from the beam scattered by any material disposed on the underside of the moving vehicle and for generating a scattered radiation signal. The inspection system also has a controller for characterizing the material disposed on the underside of the vehicle based at least on the scattered radiation signal.
In accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention, the vehicle may be a train car, an automobile, or a truck. The source of penetrating radiation may be an x-ray source and may additionally have a beam scanning mechanism, mechanical or electromagnetic, and the beam direction may be substantially vertically upward. The inspection system may include a display for displaying a scatter image of the material disposed on the underside of the vehicle and may further include a sensor for associating pre-stored characteristics of the vehicle such that the scattered radiation signal may be compared with the pre-stored characteristics.
In accordance with further alternate embodiments of the invention, the source of penetrating radiation of the inspection system may emit x-rays with an end-point energy between 50 and 225 keV, and particularly with an end-point energy of 80 keV, having no appreciable penetration of the underside of the vehicle. The inspection system may have a ramp disposed above the source of penetrating radiation and the detector arrangement such that the vehicle may be driven over the source of radiation and the detector arrangement. The inspection system may have a velocity sensor for registering the velocity of the vehicle with respect to the inspection system and an optical camera for providing an image in visible light of any material disposed on the underside of the moving vehicle. In accordance with yet further embodiments of the invention, the beam of penetrating radiation may have a variable energy spectrum and the controller may characterize the material disposed on the underside of the vehicle based at least on a combination of the scattered radiation signal under conditions of illumination with a first energy spectrum and conditions of illumination with a second energy spectrum.
In accordance with yet further embodiments of the invention, an inspection system is provided for inspecting contents of a vehicle moving at a grade of travel over a surface. The system has a source for providing a beam of penetrating radiation of specified cross-section directed in a beam direction having a dominant vertical component that may be directed upward or downward. The system has a detector arrangement for detecting radiation scattered from the beam by the contents of the moving vehicle and for generating a scattered radiation signal and a velocity sensor for registering the velocity of the vehicle with respect to the inspection system. Finally the system has a controller for characterizing the contents of the vehicle based at least on the scattered radiation signal and the velocity of the vehicle.
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patent: 5394454 (1995-02-01), Harding
patent: 5692028 (1997-11-01), Geus et al.
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patent: 5696806 (1997-12-01), Grodzins et al.
patent: 5764683 (1998-06-01), Swift et al.
patent: 5910973 (1999-06-01), Grodzins
patent: 5974111 (1999-10-01), Krug et al.
patent: 0 491 977 A1 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 2 277 013 B (1996-12-01), None
patent: WO 98/03889 (1998-01-01), None
International Search Report Jun. 9, 2000.
Grodzins Lee
Rothschild Peter
American Science & Engineering, Inc.
Bromberg & Sunstein LLP
Church Craig E.
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