Abstract: The invention provides an inspection system for closed containers, such as luggage, which applies radiant energy, such as x-rays, to a container and receives energy which is scattered, such as by Compton scattering, by objects in the container. The received energy is measured and a three-dimensional image of the objects in the container is constructed. The container may be moved relative to a fan-shaped primary x-ray beam, which illuminates a single slice of the container at a time. For example, the container may be moved by a conveyer belt, or, the container may be held stationary while the x-ray tube may comprise a steerable beam. A plurality of collimated x-ray sensors may receive energy which is scattered, at a fixed angle for each sensor, and transmits those measurements to a processor which reconstructs the three-dimensional image and displays that image for an operator.

Abstract: A baggage system which employs a fan-shaped x-ray beam which scans baggage on a conveyor belt and produces images of the contents of the baggage on a video monitor. The output of an x-ray source is collimated into a narrow linear beam. Objects to be scanned are exposed to this beam with successive slices of the object being so exposed as the conveyor moves the object past the beam. A light emitting screen receives the beam after it has passed through the object and emits a light pattern in accordance with the characteristics of the object being scanned. The light output of the screen is received by an array of photodetectors which generate electrical signals in accordance with the intensity of the light received thereby. The outputs of the photo-detectors are sequentially sampled to provide a series of signals in accordance with the photo-detector outputs. These signals are converted to digital form and stored in a memory.