Detection and/or classification of materials

摘要

A method processing an image dataset of radiation emergent from a test object after its irradiation by a suitable radiation source is described which comprises the steps of: generating an image dataset comprising a spatially resolved map of items of intensity data from the radiation emergent from the test object; further, resolving the intensity data items spectroscopically between at least two energy bands across the spectrum of the source; numerically processing the spectroscopically resolved intensity data items to determine a further spatially resolved dataset of data items representative of one or more orders of Compound Proton Number and/or effective mass thickness and/or a density; generating a segmented image dataset using the said dataset of data items representative of one or more orders of Compound Proton Number and/or effective mass thickness and/or a density. The method applied as part of a method for the radiological examination of an object and an apparatus for the same are also described.

主权项

1. A method of processing an image dataset of x-ray radiation emergent from a test object after its irradiation by an x-ray radiation source, the method comprising:
generating an image dataset comprising a spatially resolved map of items of x-ray radiation intensity data from the x-ray radiation emergent from the test object; further, resolving the x-ray radiation intensity data items spectroscopically between at least two energy bands across the spectrum of the x-ray radiation source; numerically processing the spectroscopically resolved x-ray radiation intensity data items by: considering a material attenuation coefficient as a plural set of energy dependent polynomial equations with a set of energy dependent coefficients across the said plural set of energy bands; determining a measured attenuation at each said energy band; calculating from the measured attenuation at each said energy band a Compound Proton Number Set comprising plural order powers of weighted atomic numbers, the Compound Proton Number Set comprising solutions to the plural set of energy dependent polynomial equations; and generating a segmented image dataset using the Compound Proton Number Set.