Patent US5493596A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5493596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High-energy X-ray inspection system
Assignee: American Science and Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1995-07-07
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Granted: 1996-02-20
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Expires: 2015-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A high-energy X-ray inspection system comprises an X-ray source for generating high energy X rays for inspecting the contents of large objects. The source is contained within an enclosure having an integrally-formed precollimator device that limits the radiation emitted from the source to form a "fan-beam" of X rays. A novel rotating cylindrical collimator converts the fan-beam into a pencil-beam of X rays, which is further limited by a fixed-slit collimator. The high-energy pencil-beam penetrates the entire area of an object and is intercepted by a detector, which transforms the X rays into image data for presentation on a display screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Annis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/20; G01V5/22; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/083; G01N23/10; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/04; G21K1/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A high-energy X-ray inspection system for inspecting the contents of a container, said inspection system comprising: a pulsed high-energy source for radiating a cone of X rays, said source contained within an enclosure having an integrally-formed precollimator that limits said radiated cone to a fan-beam of X rays; and a rotating cylindrical collimator for converting said fan-beam into a pencil-beam of X rays, said rotating cylindrical collimator having a helical slit extending along an outer surface thereof, said fan-beam intersecting said helical slit along a chord of said outer surface to generate a line of pencil-beams for penetrating the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A high-energy X-ray inspection system for inspecting the contents of a container, said inspection system comprising: a pulsed high-energy source for radiating a cone of X rays, said source contained within an enclosure having an integrally-formed precollimator that limits said radiated cone to a fan-beam of X rays; and a rotating cylindrical collimator for converting said fan-beam into a pencil-beam of X rays, said rotating cylindrical collimator having a helical slit extending along an outer surface thereof, said fan-beam intersecting said helical slit along a chord of said outer surface to generate a line of pencil-beams for penetrating the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The inspection system of claim 1 wherein said high-energy source is a pulsed linear accelerator having a repetition rate of 10,000 pulses per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The inspection system of claim 2 wherein said precollimator comprising a shield and a slit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The inspection system of claim 3 further comprising a detector for intercepting said pencil-beam penetrating the container and for transforming said line of pencil-beams into image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The inspection system of claim 4 further comprising a fixed-slit collimator arranged between said rotating cylindrical collimator and the container, said fixed-slit collimator further limiting said line of pencil-beams prior to penetrating the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The inspection system of claim 5 wherein said detector comprises a plurality of scintillating screens optically coupled to a plurality of photo-multiplier tubes, said scintillating screens being arranged in a back-to-back configuration to increase the efficiency of said detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
A high-energy X-ray inspection system for inspecting the contents of a container, said inspection system comprising: a pulsed linear accelerator for radiating a cone of X rays, said accelerator contained within an enclosure having an integrally-formed precollimator that limits said radiated cone to a fan-beam of X rays; a rotating cylindrical collimator for converting said fan-beam into a pencil-beam of X rays, said rotating cylindrical collimator having a helical slit extending along an outer surface thereof, said fan-beam intersecting said helical slit along a chord of said outer surface to generate a sweeping line of pencil-beams for penetrating the container; a detector for intercepting said sweeping line of pencil-beams penetrating the container and for transforming said sweeping line of pencil-beams into image data; and a fixed-slit collimator situated between said rotating cylindrical collimator and detector, said fixed-slit collimator further limiting said sweeping line of pencil-beams prior to penetrating the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A high-energy X-ray inspection system for inspecting the contents of a container, said inspection system comprising: a pulsed linear accelerator for radiating a cone of X rays, said accelerator contained within an enclosure having an integrally-formed precollimator that limits said radiated cone to a fan-beam of X rays; a rotating cylindrical collimator for converting said fan-beam into a pencil-beam of X rays, said rotating cylindrical collimator having a helical slit extending along an outer surface thereof, said fan-beam intersecting said helical slit along a chord of said outer surface to generate a sweeping line of pencil-beams for penetrating the container; a detector for intercepting said sweeping line of pencil-beams penetrating the container and for transforming said sweeping line of pencil-beams into image data; and a fixed-slit collimator situated between said rotating cylindrical collimator and detector, said fixed-slit collimator further limiting said sweeping line of pencil-beams prior to penetrating the container.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for efficiently inspecting the contents of a container, said method comprising the steps of: generating a cone of high-energy X rays using a pulsed linear accelerator; limiting said cone to a fan-beam of X rays with a precollimator; converting said fan-beam of X rays into a pencil-beam of X rays in response to said fan-beam of X rays intersecting a helical slit of a rotating cylindrical collimator; collimating said pencil-beam of X rays with a fixed-slit collimator and directing said pencil-beams of X rays through the container; intercepting said pencil-beams of X rays with a plurality of scintillating screens of a detector and producing visible light in response to said intercepting of said pencil-beams; and activating a selected group of photo-multipliers disposed along said detector to detect the visible light and to produce image data, the activation of said selected group of photo-multipliers reducing noise and improving the quality of said image data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for efficiently inspecting the contents of a container, said method comprising the steps of: generating a cone of high-energy X rays using a pulsed linear accelerator; limiting said cone to a fan-beam of X rays with a precollimator; converting said fan-beam of X rays into a pencil-beam of X rays in response to said fan-beam of X rays intersecting a helical slit of a rotating cylindrical collimator; collimating said pencil-beam of X rays with a fixed-slit collimator and directing said pencil-beams of X rays through the container; intercepting said pencil-beams of X rays with a plurality of scintillating screens of a detector and producing visible light in response to said intercepting of said pencil-beams; and activating a selected group of photo-multipliers disposed along said detector to detect the visible light and to produce image data, the activation of said selected group of photo-multipliers reducing noise and improving the quality of said image data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-19 | 1999-08-21 | 2000-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-19 | 2003-08-21 | 2004-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-19 | 2007-08-21 | 2008-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |