Adaptive CT scanning system
View Patent ↗Apparatus, systems, and methods that provide an X-ray interrogation system having a plurality of stationary X-ray point sources arranged to substantially encircle an area or space to be interrogated. A plurality of stationary detectors are arranged to substantially encircle the area or space to be interrogated, A controller is adapted to control the stationary X-ray point sources to emit X-rays one at a time, and to control the stationary detectors to detect the X-rays emitted by the stationary X-ray point sources.
1. A luggage scanning apparatus, consisting of:
a conveyer for moving the luggage through an interrogation space;
a plurality of stationary X-ray point sources arranged to substantially encircle said interrogation space, said stationary X-ray point sources emitting X-rays that are directed to the luggage moving through said interrogation space;
a plurality of individual detectors arranged to substantially encircle said interrogation space, said individual detectors positioned to receive said X-rays that are directed to the luggage moving through said interrogation space by said plurality of stationary X-ray point sources, said individual detectors oscillated relative to the luggage and to each other to increase resolution; and
a controller adapted to control said stationary X-ray point sources to emit said X-rays from an individual stationary X-ray point source one at a time, and to control said individual detectors to detect said X-rays emitted by said individual stationary X-ray point source one at a time.
2. The luggage scanning apparatus of claim 1
wherein said controller and said individual detectors detect measured values from said individual detectors, and determine from the measured values whether values are within a pre-established error range
wherein upon determining that said measured values are within said pre-established error range, adjusting said X-rays from said stationary X-ray point sources for re-interrogation, and
wherein upon determining that said measured values are within said pre-established error range, controlling said X-rays from said stationary X-ray point sources to emit said X-rays upon a predetermined condition.
3. The luggage scanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of stationary X-ray point sources are each preprogrammed with their own acceleration voltage.
4. An X-ray interrogation method for interrogating luggage, consisting of the steps of:
positioning a plurality of stationary X-ray point sources to substantially encircle an interrogation space, said stationary X-ray point sources emitting X-rays for interrogating the luggage;
positioning a plurality of individual detectors arranged to substantially encircle said interrogation space for receiving the X-rays that have been emitted by said stationary X-ray point sources for interrogating the luggage;
moving the luggage through said interrogation space;
oscillating said individual detectors relative to the luggage and to each other to increase resolution, and
providing a controller adapted to control said stationary X-ray point sources to emit X-rays one at a time, and to control said detectors to detect said X-rays emitted by said stationary X-ray point sources for interrogation the luggage.
5. The X-ray interrogation method of claim 4 ,
wherein said controller and said detectors detect measured values from said detectors, and determine from the measured values whether values are within a pre-established error range,
wherein upon determining that said measured values are within said pre-established error range, adjusting said X-rays from said X-ray point sources for re-interrogation, and
wherein upon determining that said measured values are within said pre-established error range, controlling said X-rays from said X-ray point sources to emit said X-rays upon a predetermined condition.