Rapiscan Systems, Inc.

Rapiscan Security Products, Inc.

Quantum Magnetics, Inc.

Rapiscan, Inc.

Kenneth Robert Mann

Kristian R Peschmann

Sondre Skatter

Todor Petrov

Timothy Rayner

Keith Alan Clark

Sauveur Chemouni

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having microwave arrays comprised of microwave transmitters in radiographic alignment with microwave receivers. The microwave array emits controllably directed microwave radiation toward an object under inspection. The object under inspection absorbs radiation in a manner dependent upon its metal content. The microwave radiation absorption can be used to generate a measurement of metal content. The measurement, in turn, can be used to calculate at least a portion of the volume and shape of the object under inspection. The measurement can be compared to a plurality of predefined threats. The microwave screening system is used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

Methods and systems for the rapid detection of concealed objects

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having microwave arrays comprised of microwave transmitters in radiographic alignment with microwave receivers. The microwave array emits controllably directed microwave radiation toward an object under inspection. The object under inspection absorbs radiation in a manner dependent upon its metal content. The microwave radiation absorption can be used to generate a measurement of metal content. The measurement, in turn, can be used to calculate at least a portion of the volume and shape of the object under inspection. The measurement can be compared to a plurality of predefined threats. The microwave screening system can be used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

The present invention is directed toward a magnetic resonance based material detection system that includes a resonator probe which is highly resonant, is cost effective and has a compact magnetic structure with a low cost tuning mechanism and high quality factor (Q). The probe is relatively immune to radio frequency interference and can be used in close proximity to other resonator probes of similar design, complementary sensing equipment, and electromagnetic shielding due to its low external magnetic field. It is preferred that, if the magnetic resonance based detection equipment is used with complementary sensing equipment that uses x-rays, the portion of shielding that intersects the x-ray beam is made of thin material of a conductive nature which retains electromagnetic shielding properties while causing minimal attenuation to x-rays. In one embodiment, the resonator probe is a rectangular-shaped single turn toroid fabricated from copper sheets. The resonator probe also has adjacent walls forming an inspection volume such that materials can be passed through this inspection volume.

Nuclear quadrupole resonance based inspection system using a highly resonant and compact magnetic structure

An explosives detection system which includes computed tomography (CT) and quadrupole resonance (QR) sensors for identifying particular explosive compounds present in passenger baggage. The CT sensor may be configured to automatically identify the presence or absence of bulk military, commercial, and sheet explosives during CT scanning of the baggage. Similarly, the QR sensor may be configured to responsively generate RDX and PETN signals during QR scanning of the passenger baggage. Using any of a variety of inspection protocols, the explosives detection system may generate an output alarm based upon data obtained from the CT and QR sensors.

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Surrey, United Kingdom

Kenneth Robert Mann