Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for automatic recognition of concealed objects using multiple energy computed tomography

US6018562A · kind A · utility

364Cited by
4References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 1998
Grant dateJan 25, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 22, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N23/087
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatic recognition and identification of concealed objects and features thereof, such as contraband in baggage or defects in articles of manufacture, is disclosed. The apparatus uses multiple energy X-ray scanning to identify targets with a spectral response corresponding to a known response of targets of interest. Detection sensitivity for both automatic detection and manual inspection are improved through the multiple-energy, multispectral technique. Multichannel processing is used to achieve high throughput capability. Target identification may be verified through further analysis of such attributes as shape, texture, and context of the scan data. The apparatus uses a statistical analysis to predict the confidence level of a particular target identification. A radiograph, CT image, or both may be reconstructed and displayed on a computer monitor for visual analysis by an operator. Finally, the apparatus may receive and store input from the operator for use in subsequent target identification.

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