Patent · US Active

Reconstruction of x-ray images into basis function components using multiple-energy sources

US7873201B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
3References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 10, 2005
Grant dateJan 18, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2223/643
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An inspection system that forms material sensitive X-ray images of items under inspection. The images are decomposed into basis function images using basis functions representative of materials of interest. The decomposed images may be processed separately to detect concentrations of a material of interest corresponding to one or more of the basis functions. When operated in this mode, the inspection system may be used in applications such as material sorting or security screening. At least one basis function is selected to distinguish a material of interest from other materials likely contained with the item, allowing one of the basis function images to be analyzed to obtain information about a specific material of interest. The images may be automatically analyzed or may be superimposed for display with different visual characteristics assigned to the components associated with each basis function for analysis by a human operator.

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