Patents by Inventor Alex Chalmers

Alex Chalmers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090257555
    Abstract: An inspection system, and inspection methods, based upon an imaging enclosure characterized by an enclosing body. A source of penetrating radiation and a detector module are concealed entirely within the body of a conveyance such as a trailer. A characterizing value or an image is formed with respect to an inspected object that is disposed entirely outside the conveyance and the characterizing value or image is made available to a remotely disposed operator. Additional detectors may be disposed distally to the inspected object and may detect transmitted, or forward-scattered, penetrating radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Chalmers, Louis W. Perich, Peter J. Rothschild, William John Baukus, Jeffrey Schubert
  • Patent number: 7505556
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an imaging enclosure characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, are both concealed entirely within the body of an enclosure such as a shipping container for convenient operational deployment. Multiple modules, such as for providing power and for enclosing an operator console may be coupled to the imaging enclosure. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Chalmers, Louis W. Perich, Peter Rothschild, William John Baukus
  • Publication number: 20070269005
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an imaging enclosure characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, are both concealed entirely within the body of an enclosure such as a shipping container for convenient operational deployment. Multiple modules, such as for providing power and for enclosing an operator console may be coupled to the imaging enclosure. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Alex Chalmers, Louis Perich, Peter Rothschild, William Baukus
  • Patent number: 7218704
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an enclosed conveyance such as a van, capable of road travel, for inspecting persons or objects. The conveyance is characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, both contained entirely within the body of the enclosed conveyance, irradiate the person or object with a time-variable scanning profile. A detector module generates a scatter signal based on the scatter of penetrating radiation. A proximity sensor may be employed to generate a relative motion signal based on a relative disposition of the conveyance and the inspected object. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Adams, Alex Chalmers, Lee Grodzins, Louis W. Perich, Peter Rothschild
  • Patent number: 7099434
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an enclosed conveyance such as a van, capable of road travel, for inspecting objects of inspection that may include persons. The conveyance is characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, both contained entirely within the body of the enclosed conveyance, irradiate an object with a time-variable scanning profile. A detector module generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the object, while a proximity sensor generates a relative motion signal based on a relative disposition of the conveyance and the inspected object. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: William Adams, Alex Chalmers, Lee Grodzins, Louis W. Perich, Peter Rothschild
  • Publication number: 20040256565
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an enclosed conveyance such as a van capable of road travel. The conveyance is characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. The system has a source of penetrating radiation contained entirely within the body of the enclosed conveyance and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam for irradiating an object with a time-variable scanning profile. A detector module generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the object, while a proximity sensor generates a relative motion signal based on a relative disposition of the conveyance and the inspected object. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, exhibits sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: William Adams, Alex Chalmers, Lee Grodzins, Louis W. Perich, Peter Rothschild
  • Publication number: 20040086078
    Abstract: An inspection system based upon an enclosed conveyance such as a van, capable of road travel, for inspecting objects of inspection that may include persons. The conveyance is characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, both contained entirely within the body of the enclosed conveyance, irradiate an object with a time-variable scanning profile. A detector module generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the object, while a proximity sensor generates a relative motion signal based on a relative disposition of the conveyance and the inspected object. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: William Adams, Alex Chalmers, Lee Grodzins, Louis W. Perich, Peter Rothschild
  • Patent number: 6658087
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a physical object in a nautical environment includes a radiation source capable of directing a beam of penetrating radiation toward the physical object, and a detector capable of detecting the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation. In addition to detecting the reaction, the detector is capable of delivering an output signal characterizing the physical object. Accordingly, the output signal is based upon the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Chalmers, Charles Squires
  • Publication number: 20020185612
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a physical object in a nautical environment includes a radiation source capable of directing a beam of penetrating radiation toward the physical object, and a detector capable of detecting the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation. In addition to detecting the reaction, the detector is capable of delivering an output signal characterizing the physical object. Accordingly, the output signal is based upon the reaction of the physical object to the penetrating radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Alex Chalmers, Charles Squires