X-ray scanner with secondary radiation detector

• US 4,870,670 A
• Filed: 10/05/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Inventors: Geus, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Janice A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Application Number:
  US07/253,484
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 378/86-90, 378/6-7, 378/57, 378/62
• US Class Current: 378/87
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation

Abstract

An article inspection system has separate detectors for primary radiation and scattered radiation which are generated by an article upon being irradiated with X-radiation. The scattered radiation detector is disposed so that no primary radiation is incident thereon. The primary radiation detector is scanned at a frequency to produce a primary radiation image. The scattered radiation incoming to the scattered radiation detector is modulated at a frequency synchronized with the scanning frequency for the primary radiation detector, so that only scattered radiation is incident on the scattered radiation detector which emanates from the region of the article which is currently being scanned for primary radiation.

Claims

1. An x-ray scanner for inspecting an article comprising:

means for generating a fan-shaped x-ray beam;

means for moving said article through said x-ray beam so that said article is irradiated thereby and generates primary radiation and scattered radiation;

a primary radiation detector line consisting of a plurality of detector elements, each detector element receiving primary radiation from a region of said article and generating a signal corresponding thereto;

means for scanning said elements of said primary radiation detector line at a scanning frequency for generating a primary radiation image of said article;

means for detecting said scattered radiation disposed so that said primary radiation is not incident thereon; and

means for modulating said scattered radiation incident on said means for detecting scattered radiation at a frequency synchronized with said scanning frequency so that only scattered radiation is incident on said means for detecting scattered radiation which is emitted by a region of said article currently being scanned for primary radiation.

2. An x-ray scanner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for modulating has a plurality of slotted diaphragms which collimate said scattered rays.

3. An x-ray scanner as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for modulating is a rotating drum having a central opening in which said means for detecting said scattered radiation is disposed, and wherein said slotted diaphragms extend radially from said central opening.

4. An x-ray scanner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising mean for simultaneously visually protraying said primary radiation image and data corresponding to said scattered radiation from said means for detecting said scattered radiation.

5. An x-ray scanner for inspecting an article comprising:

means for generating a fan-shaped x-ray beam;

means for moving said article through said x-ray beam so that said article is irradiated thereby and generates primary radiation and scattered radiation;

a primary radiation detector line consisting of a plurality of detector elements, each detector element receiving primary radiation from a region of said article and generating a signal corresponding thereto;

means for scannng said elements of said primary radiation detector line at a scanning frequency;

image processing means for generating a primary radiation image of said article from said signals of said elements of said primary radiation detector line;

means for visually displaying said primary radiation image;

means for detecting said scattered radiation disposed so that primary radiation is not incident thereon; and

a rotatable drum having a central opening receiving said means for detecting said scattered radiation and a plurality of slotted diaphragms extending radially from said central opening, said drum rotating at a speed synchronized with said scanning frequency so that said slotted diaphragms define a sector of scattered radiation which moves through said article so that only scattered radiation is incident on said means for detecting which is emitted by a region of said article currently being scanned for primary radiation.

6. An x-ray scanner as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for detecting said scattered radiation is connected to said image processor means for combining data corresponding to said scattered radiation with said primary radiation image for simultaneous display therewith on said means for displaying.

7. A method for operating an x-ray scanner for inspecting an article comprising the steps of:

generating a fan-shaped x-ray beam;

moving an article to be inspected through said x-ray beam and irradiating said article with x-ray so that said article generates primary radiation and scattered radiation;

detecting said primary radiation generated by said article in a primary radiation detector line including a plurality of detector elements, each detector element receiving said primary radiation from a region of said article and generating a signal corresponding thereto;

scanning the elements of said primary radiation detector line at a scanning frequency and generating a primary radiation image of said article from the signals of said elements;

detecting said scattered radiation generated by said article isolated from said primary radiation; and

modulating the scattered radiation prior to detecting said scattered radiation, at a frequency synchronized with said scanning frequency so that only scattered radiation is detected which corresponds to a region of said article currently being scanned for primary radiation.