Radiation-Based Weight Estimation in Security Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security inspection systems require cumbersome and costly weighing hardware to estimate the weight of objects, which complicates the inspection process and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A method and device using dual-energy or single-energy radiation scanning to estimate the weight of objects by creating a mass-thickness attenuation curve with calibration material blocks, allowing for accurate weight calculation without traditional weighing hardware, by interpolating mass-thickness values from grayscale feature values and pixel areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If weighing hardware (such as weighing sensor, electronic scale, or weighbridge) is incorporated into the inspection system to acquire weight of objects, then weight measurement capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight measurement capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical weighing hardware with a radiation-based measurement system. The inspection system uses radiation scanning to obtain attenuation data, which is then processed to calculate weight information, substituting mechanical weighing sensors and scales with a non-contact radiation measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The radiation inspection system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acquires both imaging data and weight information using the same radiation scanning mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate weighing hardware, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If weighing hardware is incorporated into the inspection system to acquire weight of objects, then weight measurement capability is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight measurement capabilityVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation inspection system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acquires both imaging data and weight information using the same radiation scanning mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate weighing hardware, reducing system cost while maintaining measurement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical weighing hardware with a radiation-based measurement system. The inspection system uses radiation scanning to obtain attenuation data, which is then processed to calculate weight information, substituting mechanical weighing sensors and scales with a non-contact radiation measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If traditional weighing hardware is used to measure object weight, then weight information is acquired, but inspection efficiency decreases due to complex and cumbersome system structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight information acquisitionVSAvoidinspection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation inspection system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acquires both imaging data and weight information using the same radiation scanning mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate weighing hardware, reducing system cost while maintaining measurement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical weighing hardware with a radiation-based measurement system. The inspection system uses radiation scanning to obtain attenuation data, which is then processed to calculate weight information, substituting mechanical weighing sensors and scales with a non-contact radiation measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Simplifies the inspection system structure while providing accurate weight information, eliminating the need for conventional weighing hardware and enhancing inspection efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining a grayscale feature value corresponding to each pixel of an object to be inspected by a single-energy radiation scanning; obtaining a mass-thickness value for a corresponding pixel from a pre-created mass-thickness attenuation curve by utilizing the grayscale feature values for respective pixels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3327430B1Method and apparatus for estimating the weight of an inspected object in safety inspection system
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 NUCTECH CO LTD
  • EP3327430B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3327430B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3327430B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and device for estimating weight of an object to be inspected in an inspection system. An effective atomic number and a high-energy gray value of the dual-energy corresponding to each pixel of the object to be inspected are obtained by a dual-energy radiation scanning. A mass-thickness value for a corresponding pixel is obtained from a pre-created mass-thickness attenuation curve by utilizing the effective atomic numbers and the high-energy gray value of the dual-energy for respective pixels. Weight information for at least a part of the object to be inspected is calculated by multiplying the mass-thickness value by the area of the pixel. Such a method may accurately calculate the weight of the object to be inspected and save the cost for a conventional weighing hardware.