Material Identification via X-Ray Attenuation Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying and detecting contained materials, such as liquids, within containers using high energy radiation are inefficient due to the need for large databases of transmission characteristics, which are time-consuming to interrogate, especially in applications like airport security where speed is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves collecting and analyzing radiation data to generate analytical functions that isolate the container's and contents' effects, allowing for the creation of a library of virtual data that can quickly match scanned materials against known compositions without interference from container characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large database of transmission characteristics for various containers and contents is created, then material identification accuracy is improved, but database interrogation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission characteristic data into two separate components: container characteristics and contents characteristics. By creating separate databases for container types and material contents, the system avoids storing and interrogating a single massive database of all possible container-content combinations, thereby reducing search time while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes container characteristics from the transmission data to isolate the contents characteristics. This is achieved by measuring transmission through empty containers first, then subtracting these container-specific characteristics from the total transmission data to obtain pure contents information for identification.
2Reliability
If transmission characteristics for all container types and contents combinations are stored, then identification reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex identification problem into two simpler sub-problems: identifying container type and identifying contents material. This segmentation reduces database complexity by creating two smaller, specialized databases instead of one enormous database covering all combinations, while maintaining reliable identification through the combined results.
3Loss of information
If container characteristics are included in the transmission data analysis, then complete material identification is achieved, but container interference reduces measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts container characteristics from the total transmission data through a subtraction process. By first measuring transmission through empty containers and then subtracting these characteristics from the transmission data of filled containers, the system isolates the contents characteristics for precise identification while still accounting for the complete system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses empty container measurements as an intermediary reference to eliminate container interference. These measurements serve as a mediator that allows the system to separate container effects from contents effects, enabling precise contents identification without losing information about the complete 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
This approach enables rapid and accurate identification of contained materials by removing container interference, allowing for efficient matching and verification of contents, thus improving the speed and accuracy of material identification processes.
Implementation Method 1
a high energy ionising radiation beam traverses a cross section of the object
Implementation Method 2
The transmission of x-rays through a material can be given by the exponential attenuation law
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Method for the identification of a homogeneous material (e.g. a liquid) in a container (e.g. a bottle) by measuring its X-ray or gamma spectrum and deriving its specific attenuation function. The method comprises building a database of the attenuation functions of empty containers, of containers filled with various fluid materials and of the contained fluid materials itself (by subtracting or devoluting the empty-container-attenuation-function from the filled-container-attenuation-function), recording the spectrum of an unknown material in a container and comparing this spectrum to the spectra in the database.