Voti Inc.

Rapiscan Holdings, Inc.

Simon Archambault

William Awad

Philippe Desjeans-Gauthier

Emmanuel St-Aubin

Ola El Bakry

An article for screening includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A forward wall, an aft wall and side walls each extend between the top surface and the bottom surface. A longitudinal recess extends at least partially across the top surface has a first lateral wall extending away from the top surface toward the bottom surface and meeting with a base wall at a predetermined angle therebetween for positioning of a liquid material relative to the first lateral wall and the base wall. The predetermined angle is for restricting data in a data range provided by a scanning operation of the liquid material to data provided within the predetermined angle between the first lateral wall and the base wall of the recess. The liquid material may be contained within a container positioned within the recess. Preferably, the article is an insert for a security screening tray.

Tray insert for screening tray

A method for detecting the maximum potential presence of a material in an object. The method includes obtaining raw x-ray image data comprising a plurality of pixels for the object from an X-ray scanning device, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels has associated therewith an attenuation value and an effective atomic number (Z) for the pixel. The method further includes converting, for each pixel having a Zvalue greater than a threshold effective atomic number (Z), the Zat the pixel to the Zwhile applying a correction factor to the attenuation value for the pixel to bring the attenuation value into correspondence with the conversion of the Zvalue for the pixel and determining a maximum potential amount of the material present at each pixel based on the corrected attenuation value at the pixel. This renders material more apparent in visual display.

Material detection in X-ray security screening

Material detection in x-ray security screening

Insert for screening tray

A method of determining at least one x-ray scanning system geometric property includes the steps of positioning a calibration device inside a scanning chamber of the scanning device, the chamber being intersected by at least one fan beam of x-rays during a scanning operation, measuring a distance between the calibration device and at least one inner wall of the chamber, scanning the calibration device to produce an image of the calibration device, identifying pixels representing the a geometric feature of the calibration device in the image, determining a position and orientation of the pixels representing the geometric feature in the image and, determining a scanning system property based on the position and orientation of the pixels representing the geometric feature in the image. The position and orientation of the feature in the scanning chamber and the x-ray scanning system property may be determined simultaneously.

Calibration method and device therefor

There is provided a method for assigning an attribute to x-ray attenuation including scanning in an x-ray scanning device first and second reference materials each having known atomic composition, dimensions and orientation in the scanning device. The device emits x-rays which pass through the first reference material with first reference material path lengths and the second reference material with second reference material path lengths. The x-rays are detected by detectors to provide a plurality of dual-energy attenuation images having dual-energy x-ray attenuation information. The dual-energy x-ray attenuation information in the dual-energy attenuation images is associated with the first and second reference material path lengths. Then, each of the first and second reference material path lengths are expressed collectively as a function of the associated attenuation information to define attenuation surfaces upon which may be imposed dual-energy attenuation values to determine corresponding first and second reference material equivalent path lengths.

Methods for assigning attributes to an image of an object scanned with ionizing electromagnetic radiation

A method for assigning attributes to an unknown object includes the steps of scanning the unknown object at least partially overlapping with a background object within an x-ray scanning device to provide dual-energy attenuation images having dual-energy attenuation information representing an overlap region wherein the background object and the unknown object overlap, decomposing the attenuation images into reference material equivalent path length images, removing the background object to provide reference material equivalent path lengths representing the unknown object, converting the reference material equivalent path lengths representing the unknown object into unknown object path lengths multiplied by a predetermined scaling factor, reducing the scaling factor to provide a contour of the unknown object and unknown object path lengths, and, determining a density and effective atomic number of the unknown object.

Methods for reconstructing an unknown object in a scanned image

A method for assigning one of a safe and threat condition to an object includes determining density and effective atomic number values for a plurality of predetermined safe and threat objects, plotting the values in a probability map to correlate corresponding density and effective atomic number values with each of the safe and threat objects, scanning an object to provide dual-energy attenuation images representing the object, decomposing the attenuation images into dual-reference material equivalent path length images to provide reference material equivalent path lengths representing the object, converting the reference path lengths into object path lengths, determining the effective atomic number for each pixel representing the object, and, imposing the effective atomic number and the mass density of the unknown object onto the probability map to determine a probability that the object is correlated with one of the predetermined safe and threat objects.

Methods for assigning a threat or safe condition to an object in an image

There is provided a method for assigning an attribute to x-ray attenuation including the steps of acquiring first and second reference material equivalent path length information associated with a first range of dual-energy x-ray attenuation information, acquiring second and third reference material equivalent path length information associated with a second range of dual-energy x-ray attenuation information, and, joining the first the first dual-energy x-ray attenuation information range with the second dual-energy x-ray attenuation information range using coefficients representing dual-energy x-ray attenuation information of the second reference material to define a third dual-energy x-ray attenuation information range upon which may be imposed dual-energy x-ray attenuation values within the third dual-energy x-ray attenuation information range to determine corresponding first reference material equivalent path lengths and third reference material equivalent path lengths.

Methods for extending a range for assigning attributes to an object in an image

There is provided a method for assigning an attribute to an unknown object overlapping with a predetermined background object. The unknown object is scanned overlapping with the background object within an x-ray scanning device to obtain a plurality of dual-energy attenuation images having attenuation information representing the background object and an overlap region wherein the background object and the unknown object overlap. The dual-energy attenuation images are decomposed into reference material equivalent path length images. The reference material equivalent path lengths representing the background object in the overlap region are determined and eliminated from the overlap region to provide reference material equivalent path length images having first and second reference material equivalent path lengths through only the unknown object.

Methods for removing a background object from an image

A technique for enhancing an image includes manipulating a base image to highlight pixels showing a particular material based on the energy absorption information of each pixel. In another technique, pixels in a base image are each converted to an output value to produce a converted image. Another technique allows imaging an obstructed object within a base image which is made of pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I. An obstruction region contains pixels representing a combined signal Ihaving traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer. Knowing a layer signal Irepresenting a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of the obstruction region, the layer signal Imay be removed from the combined signal I, in order to reveal the original signal Irepresenting an image of the obstructed object.

Techniques for imaging a scanned object

A scanning system, corresponding bracket and method are for scanning an object. The system has a frame defining a scanning chamber in which the object to be scanned is placed. The system also has a displacement assembly which displaces the object into and out of the scanning chamber. The system can also have a source which emits electromagnetic radiation or X-rays against the object within the scanning chamber such that the EM radiation passes through the object. The system can also have detectors arranged around the scanning chamber which detect the EM radiation which passes through the object. Each of the detectors forms a detector angle with a plane which can vary from one detector to the next. Similarly, the source can form an angle with the horizontal plane. The system, bracket, and method allow for the production of representative three-dimensional views of the object.

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St-Laurent, Canada

Simon Archambault