Patent · US Expired

Sidescatter X-ray detection system

US5642394A · kind A · utility

221Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 1996
Grant dateJun 24, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N23/207
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An edge enhancement X-ray imaging system inspects an object for detecting an illegal component. The system illuminates the object with penetrating radiation which is sidescattered from the object and captured by a pair of radiant detectors. The detectors are symmetrically positioned opposite each other, being adjacent the two sides of the object. Each detector has a detecting surface substantially parallel to the beam for converting sidescattered radiation into a pair of electrical signals which define a location of an edge of the illegal component. In response to the electrical signals, a video display produces a visual image of the edge. In another embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a pair of backscatter detectors which convert the backscattered radiation into a second pair of electrical signals producing a second visual image on the video display. As a result of superimposing the second image onto the first image associated with the sidescatter detectors, the detection of components of the object is greatly improved.

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