Patent ID: 8687764

Claim:
A contraband detection system for screening an object for the presence of contraband materials, the contraband detection system comprising: a first detection apparatus having a first X-ray radiation source and a first X-ray radiation detector; a second detection apparatus having a second X-ray radiation source and a second X-ray radiation detector, the second detection apparatus disposed opposite the first detection apparatus such that the object to be screened for the presence of contraband materials is located between the first detection apparatus and the second detection apparatus; a controller for operating the first detection apparatus and the second detection apparatus; and a data analysis computer operative for receiving signals from the first detection apparatus and the second detection apparatus, wherein the first X-ray radiation source emits a first X-ray radiation beam that is received by the second X-ray radiation detector after passing through the object to generate a first signal commensurate with X-ray radiation detected by the second X-ray radiation detector and the second X-ray radiation source emits a second X-ray radiation beam that is received by the first X-ray radiation detector after passing through the object to generate a second signal commensurate with X-ray radiation detected by the first X-ray radiation detector, and wherein the data analysis computer receives the first signal and the second signal and analyzes the signals to determine whether the object contains contraband materials, and wherein each of the first detection apparatus and the second detection apparatus further comprises a plurality of limbs operative for rotating about a plurality of rotation axes, wherein the plurality of limbs is capable of being articulated to a plurality of positions about the object to screen the object for the presence of contraband materials.