US Patent 11966004 Enhanced security threat detection

A method, and corresponding system, provides enhanced security threat detection. The method includes: irradiating a target from a stationary x-ray source having end-point energy of at least 88 keV; enabling target motion with respect to the stationary x-ray source; detecting resulting x-rays received from the target; generating an image of an interior of the target based on the resulting x-rays; performing analysis of the image for an indication of a weapon; producing signals representing an energy spectrum of the resulting x-rays; analyzing the signals for characteristic x-ray fluorescence that can be emitted from lead potentially present in the target; providing an indication, based on the signals, of a probability of lead ammunition being present; and outputting an indication of likelihood of a security threat based on the analysis of the image for the weapon indication and the probability of lead ammunition.