Granted Patent B2

US 12,618,998 · App. 18/466,725 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventor: Mark Procter (Wilmslow, GB)

Assignee: Rapiscan Holdings, Inc.

G01V5/226G01N23/046G01N23/087G01N23/10G01N2223/1016G01N2223/201G01N2223/206G01N2223/303G01N2223/306G01N2223/309G01N2223/3304G01N2223/3306G01N2223/3307G01N2223/3308G01N2223/419G01N2223/424G01N2223/5015

Abstract

Claims (58)

1 . A system for inspecting an object, comprising:

a source of X-ray radiation;

a horizontal array of detectors, wherein the source and the array of detectors are positioned substantially on a first plane, and wherein the array of detectors has channels or pixels ranging from 1 to 20;

a platform configured to rotate and configured to translate in a vertical trajectory, wherein the platform is positioned on a second plane between the source and the array of detectors, wherein the platform is adapted to receive and support the object, and wherein a rate or speed of vertical translational of the platform is based on a radiation dose output of the source being below 0.5 uSv per hour; and

a computing device configured to:

cause the source to fire a substantially horizontal fan beam of X-rays in a third plane, wherein the third plane is above a top of the object;

acquire calibration data from the array of detectors while the third plane is above the top of the object;

cause the platform to simultaneously rotate and raise the object vertically upwards;

acquire scan data of the object; and

use the calibration and scan data to generate a three dimensional scan image of the object.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object is a densely packed Unit Load Device or a pallet.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source is a LINAC or Betatron configured to operate at an energy ranging from approximately 750 keV and up to 10 MeV.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source has a dose output ranging from 0.01 Gy/min to 30 Gy/min.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source includes a secondary collimator configured to generate the horizontal fan beam of X-rays.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the array of detectors is 1 to 6 channels or pixels tall.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the array of detectors is 8 to 12 channels or pixels tall.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a magnification of approximately 1.525 and a reconstructed resolution of about 22 mm per slice.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a throughput of at least 5 units per hour.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a first drive mechanism configured to rotate the object at a first rotational speed and a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the object at a second rotational speed.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first rotational speed ranges from about 5 minutes a rotation to 30 seconds a rotation, and wherein the second speed ranges from about 30 seconds a rotation to 0.5 seconds a rotation.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the platform further includes a corkscrew/scissor lift that raises or lowers the object.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the platform further includes a hoist that is raised and lowered though a piston assembly for raising or lowering the object.

14 . A method of inspecting an object using a platform positioned between a source of X-ray radiation and a horizontal detector array, the method comprising:

transporting the object over a conveyor to position the object on the platform;

triggering the source to fire a horizontally diverging fan beam, wherein a plane of the fan beam is above a top surface of the object;

acquiring calibration data using the detector array, wherein the array of detectors has channels or pixels ranging from 1 to 20;

causing the platform to rotate as well as rise vertically upwards in order to move the object in a substantially helical trajectory, wherein a rate or speed of vertical movement of the platform is based on a radiation dose output of the source being below 0.5 uSv per hour;

acquiring scan data by exposing the moving object to the fan beam; and

generating, using the calibration and scan data, a three dimensional scan image of the object.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the object is a densely packed Unit Load Device or a pallet.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the source is a LINAC or Betatron configured to operate at an energy ranging from approximately 750 keV and up to 10 MeV.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the source has a dose output ranging from 0.01 Gy/min to 30 Gy/min.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the source includes a secondary collimator configured to generate the horizontal fan beam of X-rays.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the detector array is 1 to 6 channels or pixels tall.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the detector array is 8 to 12 channels or pixels tall.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method enables a magnification of approximately 1.525 and a reconstructed resolution of about 22 mm per slice.

22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method enables has a throughput of at least 5 units per hour.

23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the platform includes a first drive mechanism configured to rotate the object at a first rotational speed and a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the object at a second rotational speed.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the first rotational speed ranges from about 5 minutes a rotation to 30 seconds a rotation, and wherein the second speed ranges from about 30 seconds a rotation to 0.5 seconds a rotation.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the platform further includes a corkscrew/scissor lift that raises or lowers the object.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the platform further includes a hoist that is raised and lowered though a piston assembly for raising or lowering the object.

27 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

causing the platform to move vertically downwards when an entire height of the object has been scanned; and

transporting the object away from the platform while simultaneously conveying another object towards the platform.

28 . A system for inspecting an object, comprising:

a source of X-ray radiation;

a horizontal array of detectors, wherein the source and the array of detectors are positioned substantially on a first plane, and wherein the array of detectors includes channels or pixels ranging from 1 to 20;

a platform configured to rotate as well as translate in a vertical trajectory, wherein the platform is positioned on a second plane between the source and the array of detectors, and wherein the object is disposed on the platform; and

a computing device configured to:

cause the source to fire a substantially horizontal fan beam of X-rays in a third plane, wherein the third plane is above a top of the object;

acquire calibration data from the array of detectors while the third plane is above the top of the object;

cause the platform to simultaneously rotate and raise the object vertically upwards, wherein a rate or speed of vertical movement of the platform is based on a radiation dose output of the source being below 0.5 uSv per hour;

acquire scan data of the object;

use the calibration and scan data in order to generate a three dimensional scan image of the object; and

move the platform vertically downwards to the second plane once an entire height of the object has been irradiated with the fan beam.

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the object is a densely packed Unit Load Device or a pallet.

30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the platform does not rotate while moving vertically downwards.

31 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the platform continues to rotate while moving vertically downwards.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (319)