Computed tomography scanning apparatus and method with temperature compensation for dark current offsets
US5970113A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/226
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing CT scans of baggage being carried or loaded onto commercial aircraft are described. The CT baggage scanner of the invention includes numerous features which provide the system with high baggage throughput on the order of seven hundred bags per hour as well as improved image quality and accurate target detection. In one aspect, the scanner includes an adaptive image reconstruction window which identifies data collected from the field of view that are not related to the baggage being scanned. These unrelated data are excluded from the image reconstruction process, resulting in greatly reduced reconstruction time and increased baggage throughput. The invention also includes the capability of performing calibration "air scans" with objects such as the system conveyor in the field of view. Data gathered during the calibration scan are applied to a threshold, and data exceeding the threshold are assumed to be from X-rays that are unobstructed by objects in the field of view and are therefore used to perform the air calibration. The baggage scanner can also analyze scan data to identify shapes of objects, particularly, objects formed in the shape of a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.