Image Archive (IA)

What is Image Archive?

Image Archive is a software package developed by EG&G Astrophysics.

• Image Archive allows the security screener to view or "look back" on the last 600 to 1300 images of bags scanned on the x-ray system.
• These images are stored in RAM on the PC and then written to the hard drive.
• These images may be viewed on the LS by the security screener when the system is not actively scanning bags.

What does Image Archive do?

Its purpose is to assist the security screener by allowing the review of past bags.

• Review of images (Image Retrieval mode) is activated by pressing and holding the "0" button on the zoom keypad and then pressing the VIEW key. IMAGE RETRIEVAL ENABLED will appear on the banner bar at the bottom of the screen.
• The image may be scrolled forward or backwards by using the FWD and REV conveyer keys.
• If an image is of interest the scrolling may be stopped by pressing the STOP conveyer key.
• To exit Image Retrieval mode again press the "0" button on the zoom keypad and then pressing the VIEW key. IMAGE RETRIEVAL DISABLED will appear on the banner bar at the bottom of the screen.

All image enhancement features are available during Image Retrieval mode.

• Organic Stripping
• Inorganic Stripping
• B/W Reverse
• Pseudo Color
• Etc.

How does Image Archive work?

The Image Archive upgrade incorporates a "state of the art" Pentium II PC that is embedded inside the LS x-ray machine.

• The PC "buffers" the images in RAM.
• When the RAM is "full" (approx. 20 to 25 images) the images are written to the hard drive.
• The Image Archive feature can run simultaneously with the Operator Assist function.

The LS and the Pentium PC communicate via the SCSI and CAN buses.

• The image information is transmitted from the LS system to the PC via the SCSI data bus.

Limitations

The current version of 8-bit Image Archiving has several limitations.

• Very minor image "jitter" occurs when the PC writes from RAM to the hard drive.
• Image Retrieval Mode does not have date and time stamps.
• All images are stored in one big (1 Gb) file.
• The DISPWIM program for "offline" image viewing is not supported.

Future Efforts

Our 12-bit combination OA/IA/TIP system is being evaluated by the FAA. We believe that an 8-bit version of the 12-bit software can be developed that will have the following features installed.

• Discrete files with date and time stamps.
• DSIPWIM compatible.

However, the images may not "scroll" in the retrieval mode.