Smiths Heimann Gmbh

Heimann Systems Gmbh

Patricia Schall

Martin Hartick

Georg Geus

Hermann Ries

Frank Cordes

Gregor Hess

Uwe Siedenburg

Joerg Bermuth

Urs Viehboeck

Norbert Haunschild

Andreas Streyl

Sven Wohlgethan

Ullrich Herda

Andreas Frank

George Geus

Gregor Geus

The present invention provides system, devices, and methods for scanning an object while avoiding radiation exposure. For example, the present invention provides systems comprising a scanning device with input and output openings, and a safety sensor adjacent to the input or output opening that sends a signal that turns off or physically blocks electromagnetic radiation if the presence of an invading element (e.g., human hand) is detected by the safety sensor.

Systems and methods for scanning an object while avoiding radiation exposure

The invention relates to a collimator with adjustable focal length, especially for use in X-ray testing devices whose operating principle is based on diffraction phenomena in an object. Fixed focal length collimators used in such X-ray testing devices have to be displaced over a large range. The aim of the invention is to reduce the range of displacement. For this purpose, the collimator has at least two diaphragms having respective substantially circular slots arranged about a common center axis, wherein at least one diaphragm can be displaced along the center axis.

Collimator with an adjustable focal length

A method and an apparatus for detecting items in objects, such as in luggage, wherein a detector apparatus, functioning as a second detector is divided into a lower testing stage and a higher testing stage. In the lower testing stage, the coordinates of the object location are determined, and subsequently, a diffraction apparatus is moved to this location in the higher testing stage. In particular, X-ray diffraction can be employed to determine the explosive material of the item in the object. The diffraction apparatus comprises a collimator/detector arrangement, which is disposed to be adjusted height-wise and laterally in the higher testing stage, with a laterally-adjustable X-ray source, which is synchronized with the collimator/detector arrangement. The collimator/detector arrangement preferably has only one collimator and one detector. The collimator preferably has a conically-expanding ring slot, which a predetermined angle &#x398;of a scatter radiation.

Apparatus and method for detecting items in objects

A diffraction apparatus ( ) for determining crystalline and polycrystalline materials of an item in objects, preferably in luggage, having a collimation/detector arrangement ( ) and an X-ray source ( ) and which is mounted to be adjustable in an X-ray testing machine ( ). The collimation/detector arrangement ( ) is adjustable in height relative to the X-ray source ( ), and the two are also laterally and synchronously adjustable via respective adjustment elements ( ). The collimator ( ) has a conically-expanding round slot ( ), which simulates a predetermined angle (&THgr; ) of a scatter-beam path.

Apparatus for determining the crystalline and polycrystalline materials of an item

The detector materials ( ) of a low energy detector ( ) and a high energy detector ( ) are coordinated with one another to permit better separation of lower and higher energy fractions of polychromatic X-ray (X&prime;) radiation, and consequently, create a better determination of a material of an object through which the X-rays are passed. Thus, a negligible persistence in comparison with the integration time between two detector readings is achieved.

X-ray detecting apparatus

A method for detecting X-rays which are separated into individual energy ranges after penetrating an object, as well as to an arrangement for implementing this method. It is known to detect X-rays (FX) by using detection devices (,), consisting of several identically configured detector pairs. The detector pairs in that case consist of a low-energy detector (,) and a high-energy detector (,). As a result, the weakened X-ray beam (FX&prime;) is separated into individual energy ranges following the X-raying of an object (,). This separation is necessary to determine the types of material in the X-rayed object (,). The disadvantage of known detection devices (,) is that an overlapping of the individual energy ranges occurs in the low-energy detector (,), thereby making it impossible to detect the material type with certainty. This problem is avoided by providing for computing out the high-energy shares absorbed in the low-energy detector (,) with the aid of an additional signal. For this purpose, a second low-energy detector (,) is arranged between the first low-energy detector (,) and the high-energy detector (,). An energy spectrum (FX,) that is absorbed in the second low-energy detector (,) is used to obtain the signal to be subtracted.

Method and arrangement for detecting X-rays

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Weiterstadt, Germany

Patricia Schall