Abstract: Radiation is directed at an object, and radiation scattered by the object is sensed. An angular distribution of scatter in the sensed scattered radiation relative to a path of the radiation directed at the object is determined, and the angular distribution is evaluated. One or more atomic numbers, or effective atomic numbers, of materials composing the object is determined based on evaluating the angular distribution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for integrating a table with at least one X-ray source for medical imaging of patients. The apparatus comprises a table on which a patient may be placed, at least one X-ray source configured to generate X-rays at a plurality of X-ray source locations along a linear direction, wherein the at least one X-ray source is arranged to generate the X-rays such that at least some of the X-rays pass through a portion of the table in addition to passing through a portion of a patient placed on the table, and at least one detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements and arranged to detect the at least some of the X-rays passed through the portion of the patient placed on the table, wherein the at least one detector array comprises detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional configuration. Iterative reconstruction techniques may be used to reconstruct an image from X-ray data detected using the at least one detector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.

Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.

Abstract: A system for detecting presence of an organism having an enzyme in a sample, comprising: a cartridge for containing the sample and a substrate such that the enzyme can react with the substrate to produce a biological molecule; a partitioning element mounted in a recess in a base of the cartridge, the partitioning element allowing partitioning of the biological molecule thereinto; a light source for irradiating the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element; and, a detector for detecting fluorescence of the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element, the detected fluorescence being indicative of presence of the organism in the sample; wherein the light source is in a raised cartridge mount of the system that mates with the recess in the base of the cartridge.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating location and size measurements for small scattered objects in a large medium are disclosed.

Abstract: Radiation is directed at an object, and radiation scattered by the object is sensed. An angular distribution of scatter in the sensed scattered radiation relative to a path of the radiation directed at the object is determined, and the angular distribution is evaluated. One or more atomic numbers, or effective atomic numbers, of materials composing the object is determined based on evaluating the angular distribution.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging objects with a sparse detector array that includes fewer detectors than conventional x-ray scanning systems. The sparse detector array is positioned to receive x-ray radiation from the at least one x-ray source after passing through an inspection area. The sparse detector array includes a plurality of rows of detector elements, wherein at least some of the plurality of rows are separated by gaps such that the at least some of the plurality of rows are non-contiguous. An iterative reconstruction process is used to determine a volumetric image of the object from the radiation measurements recorded by the detectors in the sparse detector array.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling transmission of a stepped-frequency radar signal can involve a first antenna and a second antenna. The system can also involve receiving circuitry configured to receive detected reflections from the antennas and to generate data including information associated with frequency and phase shifts. The system can further involve a processor configured to receive the generated data from the receiving circuitry and to analyze the generated data to determine information associated with a moving object located at a side of a wall opposite to the system by differentiating reflections of the transmitted signal detected with the first antenna from reflections of the transmitted signal detected with the second antenna.

Abstract: A container, comprising: a body; and, a closure; wherein the closure has a lid hinged to a ring mounted on the body, the lid moveable from an open position to a closed position; wherein the lid has a tab hinged thereto for: inserting into and engaging a slot formed in the ring as the lid is moved to the closed position from the open position to thereby lock the lid in the closed position; or, receiving and engaging a pin head of a pin mounted on the ring in a hole formed in the tab to thereby hold the lid in the closed position, the pin configured to detach from the ring when the tab and lid are returned to the opened position.

Abstract: Wildfires are detected by controlling image scanning within the viewing range of a video camera to generate digital images that are analyzed to detect gray colored regions, and then to determine whether a detected gray colored region is smooth. Further analysis to determine movement in a gray colored smooth region uses a past image which is within a slow moving time range, as determined by a strategy for controlling the image scanning. Additional analysis connects a candidate region to a land portion of the image, and a support vector machine is applied to a covariance matrix of the candidate region to determine whether the region shows smoke from a wildfire.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a well-being of a target are disclosed. In a method embodiment, data representing a process electric potential signal is received by a computer system. The process electric potential signal may be generated at least in part by one or more electric potential sensors in response to the detection of a change in an electric field of a target spaced apart from the one or more electric potential sensors. The method may further include identifying, using the computer system and based at least in part on the data electronically received by the computer system, a recurring pattern in the received data. The method may also include determining, using the computer system and based at least in part on the received data, whether a deviation from the recurring pattern transgresses a threshold. The deviation may comprise a subset of the data electronically received by the computer system.

Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical device for selecting specific matter, such as plant matter. The device comprises a light source for emitting light having at least (3) wavelengths and for generating a combined beam of light having the at least 3 wavelengths. The device further comprises an optical element for directing a plurality of light beams towards matter including the specific matter. The optical element has first surface portions through which in use the plurality of component light beams are directed to the matter including the specific matter. Each component light beam is directed through a respective first surface portion that has an optical property that is selected so that light intensity differences between the component light beams are reduced.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first conduit for sampling, and a second and third conduit for directing flow throughout the inlet apparatus. Flow may be induced in two opposite directions through the second conduit, which affect the flow of gas through the first conduit for sampling. The various conduits of the apparatus may be connected to a device for inducing flow in different directions. The duration of the flow in a particular direction affects the amount of sample gas that enters a detection device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the well-being of a target are disclosed. In a method embodiment, data representing a signal is received by a computer system. The signal may be generated at least in part by one or more sensors in response to the detection of a change in an electrical field, electric potential, capacitance, and/or dielectric constant of a target spaced apart from the one or more sensors. The method may further include identifying, using the computer system and based at least in part on the data electronically received by the computer system, a recurring pattern in the received data. The method may also include determining, using the computer system and based at least in part on the received data, whether a deviation from the recurring pattern transgresses a threshold. The deviation may comprise a subset of the data electronically received by the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of detection apparatus and/or methods. One aspect relates to an apparatus and/or detection methods for sensing material and/or detection of a predetermined characteristic within a detection zone. Another aspect relates to a method for improving the accuracy of an inspection device by capturing the human interpretation of its classification decision. Still another aspect relates to detection of relatively hard to detect items, for example items inside sealed packages. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of monitoring and/or improving the operation of a detection apparatus in which a detection result is obtained, and an adjustment (if necessary) is made in accordance with a comparison.

Abstract: Effective atomic numbers associated with pixels in a region are received. An effective atomic number is associated with each pixel in the region. X-ray data for the region is received, and an item within the region is identified from the x-ray data. Some of the pixels in the region are correlated with the item such that the item is associated with an effective atomic number. An image of the region is rendered. The pixels of the item have a display style based on the effective atomic number of the item.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.