JP3095185B2 - X-ray luggage inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray baggage inspection apparatus which is installed at an airport, a customs office, a port, or the like, and performs nondestructive inspection of the contents of baggage passing therethrough by X-ray fluoroscopy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional apparatus of this kind. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the conventional apparatus, a load 11 on a load transporting device 5 such as a belt conveyor moves between the X-ray generator 1 and the X-ray detector 3 opposed thereto.
When the package 11 moves, the X-ray beam 10 emitted from the X-ray generator 1 passes through the package 11 and is converted into an electric signal (X-ray transmission signal) by the X-ray detector 3.

In the X-ray detector 3, 480 X-ray detection elements 18 are arranged in a straight line intersecting the baggage transport direction A, and 480 channels of X-ray transmission signals can be obtained. 480
The X-ray transmission signal of the channel is input to the image processing device 4 having a storage device (not shown), and after being subjected to correction processing such as A / D conversion and distortion correction, is stored in the storage device.
As shown in FIG. 6, the storage area 22 of the storage device
2 × 1024 × 8 bits (8 bits are density data part), and a TV monitor display area 20 described later is 480 × 640.
× 8 bits (8 bits are density data part).

The line data 19 for 480 channels stored in the storage device is D / A converted and input to the television monitor 7 to display a linear X-ray fluoroscopic image. At this time, the luggage 11 is moved by the luggage transport device 5, so that the line data 19 for 480 channels becomes the plane data 20 and is displayed on the television monitor 7 as one X-ray fluoroscopic image. Writing to and reading from the storage device is performed in real time.
Each time one package 11 passes through the portion of the X-ray beam 10, the X-ray fluoroscopic image is updated.

[0005] The control device 2 controls the X-ray generation device 1, the image processing device 4 and the luggage transport device 5. Control device 2
Controls the X-ray generation timing by signals from the baggage position detectors 8 and 9.

[0006] Such an X-ray baggage inspection apparatus is installed mainly in airports, customs, harbors, and the like, and performs nondestructive inspection of the contents of the baggage 11. Hereinafter, a specific example of the baggage inspection procedure performed at the airport will be described. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

[0007] After the boarding procedure, the passenger (passenger) inspects the carry-on baggage 11. This inspection is performed continuously for several tens of minutes, and for 1000 or more packages 11 at most (step 701). The monitoring inspector judges the presence or absence of a suspicious object by looking at the X-ray fluoroscopic images of the luggage 11 moving continuously on the television monitor 7 (step 70).
2). If it is determined that there is no suspicious object, the luggage 11 is returned to the passenger (step 708).
When the vehicle arrives at the main body exit, the suspicious baggage 11 is notified to the inspected inspector by the alarm buzzer and the alarm lamp. The inspector puts the luggage 11 on the luggage table, opens the luggage 11 with the consent of the owner (passenger) of the luggage 11, and opens a suspicious object (eg, dangerous goods or a drug) in the luggage 11. The contents that are considered to be (forbidden items) were confirmed (steps 704 to 705).

After the confirmation, the contents which seem to be the suspicious object are taken out and re-examined (Step 706), and if both (the taken out thing and the other thing) are not suspicious, the baggage 11 (the taken out thing and the other Was returned to the passenger (steps 707 to 708). Also, depending on the place where the suspicious object is hidden, it may not be possible to determine whether the object is a suspicious object. In such a case, the direction in which the luggage 11 flows is changed, and an X-ray fluoroscopic image from a different direction from the previous time is displayed on the television. Monitor 7
Was displayed and re-examined (steps 703 and 701).
708).

[0009]

In the above conventional apparatus, while continuously inspecting a large number of packages 11 one after another, a monitoring inspector determines whether or not an object in the package 11 under inspection is a suspicious object. While thinking, the inspection of the luggage 11 of the next passenger has begun, and the perspective image of the luggage 11 where the suspicious object has entered has already disappeared from the television monitor 7. Also, in the case of re-inspection, the re-inspection image and the previous inspection image could not be compared and compared to make a comprehensive judgment, and the inspection efficiency was low.

Further, since the inspector who monitors the television monitor 7 (monitoring inspector) and the inspector who opens the baggage 11 (open inspector) are usually different persons, there is a discrepancy between the two. Tends to occur. In such a case, the fluoroscopic image of the luggage 11 containing the suspicious object has already disappeared from the television monitor 7, so that it is difficult to make a decision and the inspection efficiency is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray baggage inspection device that can improve the inspection efficiency in the above case.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray generator, an X-ray detector for detecting X-rays radiated from the X-ray generator, and a package for detecting the X-rays. A baggage transport device for moving the baggage so as to pass between the device and a X-ray fluoroscopic signal from the X-ray detector to process the X-ray of the baggage;
An X-ray baggage inspection device comprising an image processing device for displaying a fluoroscopic image on a television monitor, wherein the image processing device stores a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic images displayed on the television monitor, as desired, The present invention is also achieved by providing a desired image storage and display means for selectively displaying the stored image on the television monitor when desired.

[0012]

The desired image storage and display means stores a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic images displayed on the television monitor when desired, and selectively displays the stored image on the television monitor when desired. Therefore, when the luggage containing the suspicious object is displayed on the television monitor, the X-ray fluoroscopic image is stored by the desired image storage and display means, and the stored image and the image displayed in real time during the reexamination. Can be compared and observed, and the overall judgment can be made on the presence or absence of a suspicious object while comparing and observing all the result images inspected a plurality of times, thereby increasing the inspection efficiency.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of an X-ray baggage inspection apparatus according to the present invention. In this FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes an image processing device as in FIG. The image processing device 4 converts the signal from the X-ray detector 3 into an A / D signal.
A D converter 41, a correction circuit 42 for performing a correction process such as distortion correction on an output of the A / D converter 41, a storage device 43 for storing an output (image data) of the correction circuit 42, and an output of the storage device 43 D / A converter 4 for converting a video signal into a video signal
4 is the same as that of FIG. 5, but in the present invention, in addition to these, a desired image storage and display means is provided.

The desired image storage and display means is for storing a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic images displayed on a television monitor, which will be described later, when desired, and selectively displaying the stored image on the television monitor when desired. It comprises a suspicious object image storage device 45 and a selector 46.

The suspicious object image storage device 45 includes a plurality of, here, n image memories 451 to 45n. Among these image memories 451 to 45n, the image data stored in the image memory selected by the selector 46 is transferred to the storage device 43, sent to the television monitor via the D / A converter 44, and Can be displayed. In addition, the suspicious object image storage device 45 can store the perspective image of the luggage 11 containing the suspicious object during the inspection in the image memory (any one of 451 to 45n) selected by the selector 46. . A suspicious object sample to be described later can be similarly stored in the image memory (any of 451 to 45n).

FIG. 7 also shows a television monitor as in FIG.
In the present invention, the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the package 11 displayed in real time and the stored image from the suspicious object image storage device 45
Switching display on one television monitor or simultaneous display on two television monitors is possible. Here, an example is shown in which the two television monitors 7a and 7b can be simultaneously displayed, and an X-ray fluoroscopic image of the package 11 displayed in real time is displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a by the suspicious object image storage device 45.
Are displayed on the suspicious object television monitor 7b.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a luggage inspection place provided with the above-described apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 12 is an X-ray luggage inspection apparatus main body, and 13 is a passenger passage. A monitoring room 14 includes the monitoring television monitor 7a, the suspicious object television monitor 7b, and the controller 15. Here, the controller 15 incorporates the image processing device 4 shown in FIG. 1 and the control device (device indicated by reference numeral 2 in FIG. 5) of each part of the X-ray baggage inspection device main body 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes an open area for the luggage 11a containing a suspicious object, which is provided with an open table 17 and a suspicious object television monitor 7b that displays the same image as the suspicious object television monitor 7b installed in the monitoring room 14. ing. Others are the same as FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of a baggage inspection procedure at the baggage inspection place shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a baggage (perspective image) and a suspicious object sample on the television monitors 7a and 7b shown in FIG. It is a figure showing the example of a display picture.

Hereinafter, a specific example of the baggage inspection procedure using the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a suspicious object sample image I1 in FIG. 4 (in the illustrated example, dynamite, a knife, scissors, a pistol, and a syringe are shown from the upper left, and a sword is shown in the lower part) are shown in the image processing apparatus 4 in FIG. For example, the image memory 45 of the object storage device 45
1 (step 301).

The carry-on luggage 11 is inspected one after another by the X-ray luggage inspection apparatus main body 12 when a passenger (not shown) passes through the passenger passage 13 of FIG. 2 (step 30).
2). The inspector inspects the luggage 11 in the monitoring room 14 of FIG.
Can be monitored by the monitoring television monitor 7a. The controller 15 can operate the image processing apparatus 4 and the X-ray baggage inspection apparatus main body 12 shown in FIG.

Now, when inspecting the luggage 11,
It is assumed that a see-through image of the luggage 11 containing the suspicious object is displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a as shown by I2 in FIG. 4 (step 304). When no suspicious object is found from this display image, the monitoring inspector
Press the alarm switch (not shown) attached to 5. As a result, a signal is output from the controller 15, and the selector 46 of the image processing device 4 receives the signal, and stores the image I2 displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a in the image memory 452 of the suspicious object image storage device 45 in FIG. (Step 3
05). On the other hand, the luggage 11 is re-inspected by changing the examination direction (for example, from the portrait display to the landscape display) (steps 303 and 302).

Since re-examination confirmed scissors and what appeared to be a knife, it is assumed that the monitoring inspector again pressed the alarm switch (step 304). This allows
At this time, the image I3 displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a is stored in the image memory 453 of the suspicious object image storage device 45 in FIG. 1 in the same manner as in step 305 (step 306). At the same time, the selector 46 displays the latest stored image in the image memories 451 to 45n of the suspicious object image storage device 45, that is, the memory image I3 on the suspicious object television monitor 7b. In addition, the warning buzzer sound gives an opening instruction to the opening inspector at the opening area 16 in FIG.

The inspector in the shedding area 16 shown in FIG. 2 puts the luggage 11a, which has appeared from the exit of the X-ray luggage inspection apparatus main body 12 and contains suspicious objects, on the shedding table 17 and owns the same. (Passenger) 's consent and open (Step 30)
7). Then, the display image I on the suspicious object television monitor 7b is displayed.
While comparing 3 with luggage 11a, take out suspicious objects (knife, scissors, and iron plate (black-filled portion in FIG. 4))
The process is returned to the inspection (step 308).

When the reinspection image I4 of FIG. 4 (a transmission image including a suspected pistol) is displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a by the reinspection (step 309), the monitoring inspector presses the alarm switch again. Thereby, at this time, the reinspection image I4 displayed on the monitoring television monitor 7a
Is stored in the image memory 454 of the suspicious object image storage device 45 in FIG. 1 in the same manner as in step 306 (steps 306 to 307). At the same time, the selector 46 displays the latest stored image in the image memories 451 to 45n of the suspicious object image storage device 45, here, the memory image I4 on the suspicious object television monitor 7b. In addition, the warning buzzer sound gives an opening instruction to the opening inspector at the opening area 16 in FIG.

The inspected inspector receiving the instruction to open is the luggage 11a.
Then, when the suspicious object is no longer found after re-examination, the luggage 11a excluding the suspicious object is returned to the owner (steps 308 to 310).
Suspicious objects will be kept with the airline.

In the above-described luggage inspection procedure, when the suspicious object is determined (steps 304 and 309), the determination is further facilitated by referring to the memory image I1 of the suspicious object sample in FIG.

The switching of the memory images I1 to I4 of FIG. 4 displayed on the suspicious object television monitor 7b of FIG. 2 can be performed by the selector 46 of FIG.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic images displayed on a television monitor are stored when desired, and the stored images are selectively displayed on the television monitor as desired. Since image storage and display means were provided,
On the other hand, when necessary, the perspective image of the luggage containing the suspicious object is stored or displayed on the television monitor, so that the perspective image of the luggage containing the suspicious object has already disappeared from the television monitor. Re-confirmation is possible even after the error has occurred, and the inspection efficiency is improved. In the case of re-inspection, it is also possible to compare and contrast the re-inspection image with the previous inspection image and make a comprehensive judgment. Further, the suspicious object sample image is stored in advance in the desired image storage and display means. Can be compared with the inspection image, which has the effect of improving the inspection efficiency.

Further, even if there is a discrepancy between the judgment of the surveillance inspector and the inspected inspector, the perspective image of the luggage containing the suspicious object can be displayed again on the television monitor.
The decision between the two parties can be easily settled, and this also has the effect of improving the inspection efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a baggage inspection place provided with the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a baggage inspection procedure in the device of the present invention at the baggage inspection place in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a display image of a luggage and a suspicious object sample on a television monitor in a luggage inspection in the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying a storage area of a storage device and a television monitor display area in the image processing apparatus of the X-ray baggage inspection apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a baggage inspection procedure in the conventional apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 X-ray detector 4 Image processing device 41 A / D converter 42 Correction circuit 43 Storage device 44 D / A converter 45 Suspicious object image storage device 46 Selector 7 Television monitor 7a Monitoring television monitor 7b Suspicious object television monitor 11 Luggage 11a Luggage containing suspicious objects 15 Controller

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01V 5/00 G01N 23/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An X-ray generator, an X-ray detector for detecting X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator, and
And load transportation device which moves so as to pass between the line generator and the X-ray detector, the X-ray fluoroscopic image image of the parcel by processing the X-ray fluoroscopy signal from the X-ray detector on the TV monitor An X-ray baggage inspection device comprising: an image processing device to be displayed; wherein the image processing device stores a sample image of a suspicious object
Sample image storage means, displayed on the television monitor
Select any fluoroscopic image from the X-ray fluoroscopic images
Designation means and designation for storing the designated X-ray fluoroscopic image
Image storage means and the sample image storage means
The image most similar to the specified image from the sample images
And a sample image selecting means for selecting an image.
Monitoring television monitor to be displayed on the system and designated image storage means
Stored in the image and / or sample image storage means
TV monitor for suspicious objects that displays sample images of suspicious objects
And the TV monitor for suspicious objects has a luggage monitoring location and a luggage release location.
An X-ray baggage inspection device, which is installed at two locations, namely,