Dual Carriage X-Ray Personnel Screening System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personnel screening systems using backscatter and millimeter wave technology struggle to image items on the far side of a subject or those artfully concealed, requiring additional scans and reducing throughput, while also exposing subjects to higher radiation doses.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with two carriages and a vertical positioner system that synchronously displaces x-ray sources and detectors to produce penetrating radiation from opposite sides, allowing for simultaneous imaging of both transmission and scatter radiation, thereby enhancing detection accuracy and reducing radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional scans are performed to increase detection accuracy, then detection accuracy is improved, but throughput rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the imaging process into two distinct carriages: one dedicated to transmission imaging and another to scatter imaging. This segmentation allows both imaging modes to operate simultaneously and independently, eliminating the need for sequential scanning while maintaining high detection accuracy for concealed objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges transmission and scatter imaging capabilities into a single integrated system with dual carriages. Both imaging modes are combined to provide comprehensive detection in one pass, achieving high detection accuracy without requiring multiple separate scans, thus maintaining high throughput rate.
2Measurement precision
If additional scans are performed to image concealed objects, then detection capability is improved, but radiation dose deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments radiation exposure into two specialized detection paths: transmission detection for general structure and scatter detection for concealed objects. This segmentation allows each detection mode to use optimized radiation levels, improving detection capability while minimizing total radiation dose compared to multiple full scans.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines transmission and scatter detection in a single simultaneous operation, allowing both detection capabilities to work together to image concealed objects without requiring additional separate scans, thereby improving detection capability while limiting radiation dose exposure.
3Measurement precision
If backscatter and millimeter wave technology are used for surface imaging, then imaging capability is improved, but penetration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges transmission imaging (which provides penetration capability) with scatter imaging (which provides surface and concealed object detection) into a single integrated system. This combination allows the system to simultaneously achieve both penetration capability and surface imaging capability, overcoming the limitation of backscatter and millimeter wave technology.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate and efficient imaging of concealed objects with high throughput and low radiation exposure, improving detection capabilities while maintaining subject safety and system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each carriage includes a source that is adapted to produce a beam of penetrating radiation incident on the subject
Implementation Method 2
The at least one detector receives radiation produced by at least one of the sources after interaction of the radiation with the subject
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for inspecting personnel or their effects. A first and second carriage each carries a source for producing a beam of penetrating radiation incident on a given subject. A positioner provides for relative motion of each beam vis-à-vis the subject in a motion, the vertical component of which is one-way. A detector receives radiation produced by at least one of the sources after the radiation interacts with the subject.