Abstract: An x-ray scanning system, and corresponding method, includes an x-ray source that produces incident x-ray radiation having end-point x-ray energy, which, in various embodiments, can be greater than about 200 keV, between about 200 keV and about 500 keV, or greater than about 500 keV. The system also includes a disk chopper wheel that can be irradiated by and attenuate the incident x-ray radiation. The disk chopper wheel further defines one or more slits configured to pass the incident x-ray radiation through the disk chopper wheel for scanning a target. In some embodiments, the high end-point x-ray energies with disk chopper wheels are facilitated by forming the incident x-ray radiation as a collimated fan beam and/or orienting the chopper wheel with a wheel plane substantially non-perpendicular to a fan beam plane, increasing effective thickness of a disk chopper wheel to attenuate incident x-rays of higher energies.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system, and corresponding method, includes an x-ray source that produces incident x-ray radiation having end-point x-ray energy, which, in various embodiments, can be greater than about 200 keV, between about 200 keV and about 500 keV, or greater than about 500 keV. The system also includes a disk chopper wheel that can be irradiated by and attenuate the incident x-ray radiation. The disk chopper wheel further defines one or more slits configured to pass the incident x-ray radiation through the disk chopper wheel for scanning a target. In some embodiments, the high end-point x-ray energies with disk chopper wheels are facilitated by forming the incident x-ray radiation as a collimated fan beam and/or orienting the chopper wheel with a wheel plane substantially non-perpendicular to a fan beam plane, increasing effective thickness of a disk chopper wheel to attenuate incident x-rays of higher energies.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system includes an x-ray source that produces a collimated fan beam of incident x-ray radiation. The system also includes a chopper wheel that can be irradiated by the collimated fan beam. The chopper wheel is oriented with a wheel plane containing the chopper wheel substantially non-perpendicular relative to a beam plane containing the collimated fan beam. In various embodiments, a disk chopper wheel's effective thickness is increased, allowing x-ray scanning with end point energies of hundreds of keV using relatively thinner, lighter, and less costly chopper wheel disks. Backscatter detectors can be mounted to an exterior surface of a vehicle housing the x-ray source, and slits in the disk chopper wheel can be tapered for more uniform target irradiation.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system includes an x-ray source that produces a collimated fan beam of incident x-ray radiation. The system also includes a chopper wheel that can be irradiated by the collimated fan beam. The chopper wheel is oriented with a wheel plane containing the chopper wheel substantially non-perpendicular relative to a beam plane containing the collimated fan beam. In various embodiments, a disk chopper wheel's effective thickness is increased, allowing x-ray scanning with end point energies of hundreds of keV using relatively thinner, lighter, and less costly chopper wheel disks. Backscatter detectors can be mounted to an exterior surface of a vehicle housing the x-ray source, and slits in the disk chopper wheel can be tapered for more uniform target irradiation.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system includes an x-ray source that produces a collimated fan beam of incident x-ray radiation. The system also includes a chopper wheel that can be irradiated by the collimated fan beam. The chopper wheel is oriented with a wheel plane containing the chopper wheel substantially non-perpendicular relative to a beam plane containing the collimated fan beam. In various embodiments, a disk chopper wheel's effective thickness is increased, allowing x-ray scanning with end point energies of hundreds of keV using relatively thinner, lighter, and less costly chopper wheel disks. Backscatter detectors can be mounted to an exterior surface of a vehicle housing the x-ray source, and slits in the disk chopper wheel can be tapered for more uniform target irradiation.

Abstract: A vehicle barrier apparatus includes a base and a deployable element. The deployable element is rotatably coupled to the base, enabling transition from a stored orientation to a deployed orientation. The deployable element can engage a vehicle physically in the deployed orientation to impair vehicle motion. An actuating mechanism is mechanically coupled to the deployable element cause the deployable element to move from the stored orientation to the deployed orientation responsive to a trigger. The apparatus may include a triggering device that detects the vehicle and provides the trigger to the actuating mechanism responsive to the detection. In addition, or alternatively, the apparatus can include a communications interface that receives a trigger communication from a remote location and causes the trigger to be provided to the actuating mechanism. The apparatus may be portable.

Abstract: A vehicle barrier apparatus includes a base and a deployable element. The deployable element is rotatably coupled to the base, enabling transition from a stored orientation to a deployed orientation. The deployable element can engage a vehicle physically in the deployed orientation to impair vehicle motion. An actuating mechanism is mechanically coupled to the deployable element cause the deployable element to move from the stored orientation to the deployed orientation responsive to a trigger. The apparatus may include a triggering device that detects the vehicle and provides the trigger to the actuating mechanism responsive to the detection. In addition, or alternatively, the apparatus can include a communications interface that receives a trigger communication from a remote location and causes the trigger to be provided to the actuating mechanism. The apparatus may be portable.

Abstract: A vehicle barrier apparatus includes a base and a deployable element. The deployable element is rotatably coupled to the base, enabling transition from a stored orientation to a deployed orientation. The deployable element can engage a vehicle physically in the deployed orientation to impair vehicle motion. An actuating mechanism is mechanically coupled to the deployable element cause the deployable element to move from the stored orientation to the deployed orientation responsive to a trigger. The apparatus may include a triggering device that detects the vehicle and provides the trigger to the actuating mechanism responsive to the detection. In addition, or alternatively, the apparatus can include a communications interface that receives a trigger communication from a remote location and causes the trigger to be provided to the actuating mechanism. The apparatus may be portable.

Abstract: A vehicle barrier apparatus includes a base and a deployable element. The deployable element is rotatably coupled to the base, enabling transition from a stored orientation to a deployed orientation. The deployable element can engage a vehicle physically in the deployed orientation to impair vehicle motion. An actuating mechanism is mechanically coupled to the deployable element cause the deployable element to move from the stored orientation to the deployed orientation responsive to a trigger. The apparatus may include a triggering device that detects the vehicle and provides the trigger to the actuating mechanism responsive to the detection. In addition, or alternatively, the apparatus can include a communications interface that receives a trigger communication from a remote location and causes the trigger to be provided to the actuating mechanism. The apparatus may be portable.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system includes an x-ray source that produces a collimated fan beam of incident x-ray radiation. The system also includes a chopper wheel that can be irradiated by the collimated fan beam. The chopper wheel is oriented with a wheel plane containing the chopper wheel substantially non-perpendicular relative to a beam plane containing the collimated fan beam. In various embodiments, a disk chopper wheel's effective thickness is increased, allowing x-ray scanning with end point energies of hundreds of keV using relatively thinner, lighter, and less costly chopper wheel disks. Backscatter detectors can be mounted to an exterior surface of a vehicle housing the x-ray source, and slits in the disk chopper wheel can be tapered for more uniform target irradiation.

Abstract: An edge enhancement X-ray imaging system inspects an object for detecting an illegal component. The system illuminates the object with penetrating radiation which is sidescattered from the object and captured by a pair of radiant detectors. The detectors are symmetrically positioned opposite each other, being adjacent the two sides of the object. Each detector has a detecting surface substantially parallel to the beam for converting sidescattered radiation into a pair of electrical signals which define a location of an edge of the illegal component. In response to the electrical signals, a video display produces a visual image of the edge. In another embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a pair of backscatter detectors which convert the backscattered radiation into a second pair of electrical signals producing a second visual image on the video display.