US-20260126402-A1 - Methods and Systems for Accurate Temporal Correlation of Non-Stationary X-Ray Beams with Detector Arrays for Enhanced Detection Capabilities

US20260126402A1US 20260126402 A1US20260126402 A1US 20260126402A1US-20260126402-A1

Abstract

An X-ray inspection system for inspecting an object includes at least a rotating collimated X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam, segmented detectors, and a controller. The controller is configured to turn on and off each detector based, at least in part, on a predefined time relative to when the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source begins to sweep over the inspection space.

Inventors

Neil Duncan Carrington

Assignees

RAPISCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251014

Claims (20)

1 . An X-ray inspection system for inspecting an object placed within an inspection space, the system comprising: at least one rotating collimated X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam; a plurality of segmented detectors, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to turn on and off each detector based, at least in part, on a predefined time relative to when the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source begins to sweep over the inspection space.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a position encoder for recording positions of the rotating collimator X-ray source.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is coupled to each of the plurality of segmented detectors, wherein the controller receives the recorded positions of the rotating collimator X-ray source from the position encoder and wherein the controller is configured to turn on and off each of the plurality of segmented detectors based, at least in part, on the received recorded positions.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate an initial signal to each plurality of segmented detectors and wherein the initial signal indicates a time when the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source begins to sweep the inspection space.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to determine when radiation from the X-ray beam is detected within an integration window.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to communicate to the controller a detection time, relative to the initial signal, in which radiation from the X-ray beam is detected within the integration window.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to transmit its detection time to the controller, and wherein the detection time is different for each of the plurality of segmented detectors.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to activate each of the plurality of segmented detectors based on its detector-specific detection time.
9 . A method of inspecting an object placed within an inspection space, the method comprising: performing a calibration process before inspecting said object, wherein the calibration process comprises: activating at least one rotating collimated X-ray source in order to sweep an X-ray beam across the inspection space from a starting position to an end position; activating each of the plurality of segmented detectors, such that each of the plurality of segmented detectors is turned on concurrently and capable of recording data throughout the X-ray beam's sweep across the inspection space from the starting position to the end position; at each of the plurality of segmented detectors, recording data indicative of a peak X-ray signal and an associated initiation time and an associated termination time of the peak X-ray signal; and using a controller, acquiring said data from each of the plurality of segmented detectors, determining the peak X-ray signal, the associated initiation time and the associated termination time for each of the plurality of segmented detectors, and storing the associated initiation time and the associated termination time for each of the plurality of segmented detectors, inspecting the object by: activating the at least one rotating collimated X-ray source in order to sweep the X-ray beam across the inspection space from the starting position to the end position; activating each of the plurality of segmented detectors, such that each of the plurality of segmented detectors is turned on only at its associated initiation time and turned off only at its associated termination time.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein, during said calibration process, the activation of each of the plurality of segmented detectors is concurrently, and wherein, during said inspecting of the object, the activation of each of the plurality of segmented detectors is sequential.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising recording positions of the at least one rotating collimator X-ray source using a position encoder.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, at the controller, the recorded positions of the at least one rotating collimator X-ray source from the position encoder, wherein the controller is configured to turn on and off each of the plurality of segmented detectors based, at least in part, on the received recorded positions.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate an initial signal to each plurality of segmented detectors and wherein the initial signal indicates a time when the X-ray beam begins to sweep the inspection space.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to communicate to the controller a detection time, relative to the initial signal, in which radiation from the X-ray beam is detected.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to transmit its initiation time and termination time to the controller, and wherein the initiation time and termination time is different for each of the plurality of segmented detectors.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein, during the calibration process, each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to analyze said data, identify the peak X-ray signal, determine the associated initiation time and the associated termination time of the identified peak X-ray signal, and transmit the associated initiation time and the associated termination time of the identified peak X-ray signal to the controller.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein, during the calibration process, each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to transmit said data to the controller and wherein the controller is configured to identify the peak X-ray signal, determine the associated initiation time and the associated termination time of the identified peak X-ray signal, and store the associated initiation time and the associated termination time of the identified peak X-ray signal.
18 . An non-transient computer readable medium adapted to store programmatic instructions that, when executed, cause an inspection system to be calibrated and cause an object to be inspected within the inspection system by: performing a calibration process before inspecting said object, wherein the calibration process comprises: activating at least one rotating collimated X-ray source in order to sweep an X-ray beam across the inspection space from a starting position to an end position; activating each of the plurality of segmented detectors, such that each of the plurality of segmented detectors is turned on concurrently and capable of recording data throughout the X-ray beam's sweep across the inspection space from the starting position to the end position; at each of the plurality of segmented detectors, recording data indicative of a peak X-ray signal and an associated initiation time and an associated termination time of the peak X-ray signal; and using a controller, acquiring said data from each of the plurality of segmented detectors, determining the peak X-ray signal, the associated initiation time and the associated termination time for each of the plurality of segmented detectors, and storing the associated initiation time and the associated termination time for each of the plurality of segmented detectors; and inspecting the object by activating the at least one rotating collimated X-ray source in order to sweep the X-ray beam across the inspection space from the starting position to the end position; and activating each of the plurality of segmented detectors, such that each of the plurality of segmented detectors is turned on at its associated initiation time and turned off at its associated termination time.
19 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising programmatic instructions that, when executed, cause positions of the at least one rotating collimator X-ray source to be recorded using a position encoder.
20 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising programmatic instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to receive the recorded positions of the at least one rotating collimator X-ray source from the position encoder and to turn on and off each of the plurality of segmented detectors based, at least in part, on the received recorded positions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE The present specification relies on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/714,995 titled “Methods and Systems for Accurate Temporal Correlation of Non-Stationary X-Ray Beams with Detector Arrays for Enhanced Detection Capabilities”, filed on Nov. 1, 2024, for priority. The above-mentioned application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present specification relates to X-ray inspection systems that include optimized detection systems with reduced signal to noise ratios. In particular, the present specification relates to the temporal correlation of non-stationary X-ray beams with detector arrays in an X-ray inspection system, such that individual detectors are selectively activated, thereby reducing noise. BACKGROUND Conventionally in X-ray inspection systems comprising an X-ray source and X-ray detectors, all of the detectors are turned on while an X-ray beam emanating from the source sweeps an inspection space lying between the source and the detectors. While a detector is turned on for detecting X-ray beams, the detector also captures noise signals, which eventually have to be filtered out in order to obtain a clean, accurate, and useable X-ray image. Hence, the unwanted noise signals captured by the detectors, occurring even when the detectors are not in the path of a transmitted or scattered X-ray beam, decrease the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the X-ray inspection system. There is need for X-ray inspection systems and methods that reduce the capture of unwanted noise by detectors in the course of an X-ray scan. Further, there is a need for an approach that can effectively adapt to any detector geometry and is not limited to a specific detector configuration. Finally, there is a need for an approach that can be reliably implemented in a variety of different scanning systems. Some examples of different scanning systems include portal, cargo, hand-held and mobile systems. For example, in some embodiments, a portal X-ray scanner may be deployed for scanning people, parcels and pallets. In some embodiments, the X-ray scanner may be configured as a high-energy or dual-energy system for imaging cargo (including containers, vehicles and railcars). Yet again, in some embodiments, the X-ray scanner may be deployed on a mobile inspection vehicle. Exemplary systems include those described in, but not limited to, the following patents and patent publications, which are assigned to the Applicant herein and incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,457,275; 8,908,831; 9,562,866; 10,156,642; 10,578,752; 8,633,823; 9,772,426; 10,302,807; 10,768,338; 11,287,391; 9,632,206; 10,386,504; 10,600,609; 9,465,135; 8,579,506; 9,688,517; 8,389,942; 8,993,970; 8,971,485; 9,817,151; 10,754,058; 11,579,328; 9,158,027; 10,585,207; 9,223,052; 11,275,194; 11,768,313; 8,644,453; 9,429,530; 8,433,036; 8,774,357; 9,121,958; 10,007,021; 10,816,691; 9,274,065; 10,698,128; 11,119,245; 11,561,321; 11,852,775; 9,057,679; 9,823,201; 9,835,756; 8,903,046; 9,632,205; 10,408,967; 10,942,291; 11,307,325; 11,822,041; 8,582,720; 9,128,198; 8,389,941; 8,963,094; 9,329,285; 9,218,933; 9,791,590; 10,317,566; 11,550,077; 9,625,606; 9,310,323; 9,557,427. SUMMARY The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods, which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, and not limiting in scope. The present application discloses numerous embodiments. In some embodiments, the present specification is directed towards an X-ray inspection system for inspecting an object placed within an inspection space, the system comprising: at least one rotating collimated X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam; a plurality of segmented detectors, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to turn on and off each detector based, at least in part, on a predefined time relative to when the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source begins to sweep over the inspection space. Optionally, the system further comprises a position encoder for recording positions of the rotating collimator X-ray source. Optionally, the controller is coupled to each of the plurality of segmented detectors, wherein the controller receives the recorded positions of the rotating collimator X-ray source from the position encoder and wherein the controller is configured to turn on and off each of the plurality of segmented detectors based, at least in part, on the received recorded positions. Optionally, the controller is configured to communicate an initial signal to each plurality of segmented detectors and wherein the initial signal indicates a time when the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source begins to sweep the inspection space. Optionally, each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to determine when radiation from the X-ray beam is detected within an integration window. Optionally, each of the plurality of segmented detectors is configured to communi