Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for material discrimination. The systems and methods include a single source that generates both neutrons and photons, and a single imaging array with a common detector that detects the neutrons and the photons generated from the single source. The systems and methods allow for a determination of the contents, and/or the effective atomic number (“Z”) of the contents, of an object without physical inspection of the interior of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing targets on an opposite side of a wall are disclosed. In some aspects, the techniques include providing an indication to a user that portions of reflected radar signals were blocked by radiofrequency-blocking material at the wall. In some aspects, the techniques include identifying candidate targets as multipath echoes or motion-induced errors based on a correlation map.

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 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: An inspection system that makes dual energy measurements with a detector array that has selective placement of filter elements adjacent a subset of detectors in the array to provide at least two subsets of detector elements sensitive to X-rays of different energies. Dual energy measurements may be made on objects of interest within an item under inspection by forming a volumetric image using measurements from detectors in a first of the subsets and synthetic readings computed from measurements made with detectors in the array, including those that are filtered. The volumetric image may be used to identify the objects of interest to and source points that, for each object of interest, provide a low interference path to one of the detectors in the second of the subsets. Measurements made with radiation emanating from those source points are used for dual energy analysis of the objects of interest.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile cargo inspection system mounted on a vehicle chassis type which does not include rails that extend from near the front of the vehicle to near the back. As such, detection components may be placed between the front and rear axles of the vehicle without penetrating radiation having to pass through a chassis rail before reaching the cargo to be inspected. As a result, the weight of the vehicle-mounted cargo inspection system may be more evenly distributed from the front of the vehicle to the back, and from one side of the vehicle to the other, thus making the system easier to operate, safer, and less costly to maintain than conventional systems.

Abstract: A volumetric image of a space is acquired from an imaging system. The space includes an object of interest and another object, and the volumetric image includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. A two-dimensional radiograph of the space is acquired from the imaging system. The two-dimensional radiograph of the space includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. The two-dimensional radiograph and the volumetric image are compared at the imaging system. A two-dimensional image is generated based on the comparison. The generated two-dimensional image includes the object of interest and excludes the other object.