Patent · US Expired

Multi-sensor explosive detection system using an articifical neural system

US5153439A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
21References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1991
Grant dateOct 6, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V5/234
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A nuclear detection system and method uses an artificial neural system to efficiently detect explosives in checked airline baggage or other parcels with a high probability of detection (PD) and a low probability of false alarms (PFA). The detection system detects the presence of nitrogen and other elements and their rough density distribution within the object under investigation by performing a nuclear-based analysis of the object. The detection system includes a source of neutrons; an array of gamma ray detectors; at least one neutron detector; means for irradiating the object being examined with neutrons from the neutron source, which neutrons interact with the atomic nuclei of one or more specific elements, e.g., nitrogen, chlorine, or hydrogen present within the object so as to cause elemental-specific gamma rays to be emitted; means for capturing and counting the elemental-specific gamma rays and determining their approximate origin within the object, thereby providing a rough measure of the density distribution of these specific elements within the object; and means for detecting neutrons that pass through the object without substantially interacting with atomic nuclei, ther…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.