US6278115B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray inspection system detector with plastic scintillating material
Assignee: NORTH STAR HIGH VOLTAGE
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Filing: 1999-08-27
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Granted: 2001-08-21
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Expires: 2019-08-27
Abstract
Abstract Transmission and scatter detectors for an x-ray inspection system preferably employing a moving pencil beam comprise a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy. The detectors also include light detectors that are cooperatively mounted to the plastic scintillating material to detect photons within the plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on the front planar surface. The detector may be a transmission detector or a scatter detector. The detectors of the present invention are relatively thin in comparison to prior art detectors, which allows shielding to be reduced. In addition, the detectors of the present invention have a greater efficiency of detection in comparison to the prior art detectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Annis
- 👤 Richard J. Adler
- 👤 Robert J. Richter-Sand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/20; G01V5/22; G01V5/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A detector for an x-ray inspection system utilizing a pencil beam, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by x-ray energy; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on said front planar surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A detector for an x-ray inspection system utilizing a pencil beam, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by x-ray energy; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on said front planar surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The detector of claim 1 , wherein (i) said plastic scintillating material includes a back planar surface that is parallel to said front planar surface, (ii) said means for detecting are cooperatively mounted to said back planar surface, and (iii) said front planar surface and said back planar surface are located in parallel planes separated by a distance of several inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 2 , wherein said detector is configured as a scatter detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 2 , wherein said detector is configured as a transmission detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detector of claim 2 , wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The detector of claim 2 , wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of photodiodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The detector of claim 1 , wherein (i) said plastic scintillating material includes a back planar surface that is parallel to said front planar surface, (ii) said means for detecting are cooperatively mounted to said back planar surface, and (iii) said front planar surface and said back planar surface are located in parallel planes separated by a distance of less than about one meter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A scatter detector for an x-ray inspection system, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy, and a back planar surface that is parallel with said front planar surface, wherein said front and back planar surfaces represent a thickness dimension of said scintillating materials and are separated by a distance of at least about one tenth of the x-ray mean free path length; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays striking said front planar surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A scatter detector for an x-ray inspection system, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy, and a back planar surface that is parallel with said front planar surface, wherein said front and back planar surfaces represent a thickness dimension of said scintillating materials and are separated by a distance of at least about one tenth of the x-ray mean free path length; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays striking said front planar surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The detector of claim 8 , wherein said front planar surface and said back planar surface are separated by a distance of several inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The detector of claim 9 , wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of photomultiplier tubes that are cooperatively mounted to said back planar surface to detect photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays striking said front planar surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A transmission detector for an x-ray inspection system utilizing a pencil beam, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on said front planar surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A transmission detector for an x-ray inspection system utilizing a pencil beam, comprising: a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy; and a means cooperatively mounted to said plastic scintillating material for detecting photons within said plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on said front planar surface.
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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) | 2004-08-20 | 2005-02-19 | 2005-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-20 | 2009-02-19 | 2009-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-20 | 2013-02-19 | 2013-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |