X-ray scanner with partial energy discriminating detector array
The present specification describes a scanning/inspection system configured as a dual-view system using dual-energy sensitive stacked detectors that are partially populated with multi-energy discriminating detectors for overall enhanced energy resolution and therefore improved discrimination of materials through better estimation of material physical properties such as density and effective atomic number.
1. A system for screening an object, comprising:
a conveyor to move the object through an inspection region;
a first X-ray source configured to transmit X rays through the object for generating a vertical X-ray projection view of the object;
a second X-ray source configured to transmit for X rays through the object for generating a horizontal X-ray projection view of the object, wherein the vertical X-ray projection view and horizontal X-ray projection view spatially overlap and define the inspection region;
a first array of detectors, wherein the first array of detectors comprises a first set of dual-energy sensitive detectors and a first set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the first X-ray source; and
a second array of detectors, wherein the second array of detectors comprises a second set of dual-energy sensitive detectors and a second set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the first X-ray source and wherein the second array of detectors are positioned substantially perpendicular to the first array of detectors within the inspection region.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receptacle configured to carry the object on the conveyor, wherein the receptacle is a tray further comprising a foam insert that has at least one channel to align the object for screening.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of dual-energy sensitive detectors comprise stacked detectors.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of energy discriminating detectors and second set of energy discriminating detectors are fabricated from high-Z semiconductor materials including at least one of cadmium-telluride (CdTe), cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT), mercury iodide (HgI.sub.2), selenium (Se), lead iodide (PbI.sub.2), or gallium arsenide (GaAs).
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is a liquid, aerosol, gel (LAG) item.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor for receiving output signals from each of the first array of detectors and the second array of detectors and overlaying said output signals onto a visual image of the object.
7. A method for screening an objects, comprising:
moving the object through an inspection region using a conveyor;
generating a vertical X-ray projection view of the object using a first X-ray source;
generating a horizontal X-ray projection view of the object using a second X-ray source, wherein the vertical X-ray projection view and horizontal X-ray projection view spatially overlap and define the inspection region;
detecting X-rays transmitted through the said object using a first array of detectors and a second array of detectors, wherein the first array of detectors comprises a first set of dual-energy sensitive detectors and a first set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the first X-ray source and wherein the second array of detectors comprises a second set of dual-energy sensitive detectors and a second set of energy discriminating detectors positioned adjacent, not behind, each other relative to the first X-ray source and wherein the second array of detectors are positioned substantially perpendicular to the first array of detectors within the inspection region.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a receptacle wherein the receptacle is a tray further comprising a foam insert that has at least one channel to align the object for screening.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first set of dual energy sensitive detectors and the second set of dual energy sensitive detectors comprise stacked detectors.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first set and second set of energy discriminating detectors comprise at least one of high-Z semiconductor materials, cadmium-telluride (CdTe), cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT), mercury iodide (HgI.sub.2), selenium (Se), lead iodide (PbI.sub.2), or gallium arsenide (GaAs).
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the object is a liquid, aerosol, gel (LAG) item.
12. The method of claim 7 further comprising processing output signals from the first array of detectors and the second array of detectors to form a visual image of the object.