Rotate/rotate method and apparatus for computed tomography x-ray inspection of large objects
First Claim
1. A method for inspecting a component having a dimension larger than a fan beam of an x-ray inspection system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an x-ray beam having a selected fan angle and a source focal point;
(b) positioning a first portion of the component substantially completely within the x-ray beam;
(c) rotating the component 360 degrees around a component inspection rotational axis;
(d) collecting an attenuated x-ray beam that passes through the component during rotation;
(e) generating a multiplicity of electrical signals responsive to the collected attenuated x-ray beam;
(f) incrementally moving the component inspection rotational axis around the x-ray source focal point to position a next portion of the component within the x-ray beam, the component inspection rotational axis being maintained at a selected radius from the x-ray source focal point;
(g) repeating steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) until all portions of the component to be inspected have passed through the x-ray fan beam; and
(h) combining the electrical signals from step (e) to construct a cross-sectional image of the component at a selected plane through the component.
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Abstract
A method for inspecting a component having dimensions larger than a fan beam angle of an x-ray inspection system includes the steps of: providing an x-ray beam having a selected fan angle in a source focal point; positioning a portion of the component substantially completely within the x-ray beam; rotating the component 360 degrees around a component inspection rotational axis; collecting the attenuated x-ray beam that passes through the component during rotation; generating a multiplicity of electrical signals responsive to the collected x-ray beam; incrementally moving the component inspection rotational axis about the x-ray source focal point to position another portion of the component within the x-ray beam; and repeating the steps of rotating the part 360 degrees about a component inspection rotational axis and incrementally moving the part inspection rotational axis about the x-ray source focal point until the entire component has passed through the fan beam.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting a component having a dimension larger than a fan beam of an x-ray inspection system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an x-ray beam having a selected fan angle and a source focal point; (b) positioning a first portion of the component substantially completely within the x-ray beam; (c) rotating the component 360 degrees around a component inspection rotational axis; (d) collecting an attenuated x-ray beam that passes through the component during rotation; (e) generating a multiplicity of electrical signals responsive to the collected attenuated x-ray beam; (f) incrementally moving the component inspection rotational axis around the x-ray source focal point to position a next portion of the component within the x-ray beam, the component inspection rotational axis being maintained at a selected radius from the x-ray source focal point; (g) repeating steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) until all portions of the component to be inspected have passed through the x-ray fan beam; and (h) combining the electrical signals from step (e) to construct a cross-sectional image of the component at a selected plane through the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A CT x-ray system for inspecting a component having a dimension larger than a fan beam of the system, comprising:
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an x-ray source for generating a beam having a focal point; first means for rotating the component 360°
around a component inspection rotation axis with at least a portion of the component within the x-ray beam;component manipulator means having at least two linear axes of motion for incrementally rotating the component around the x-ray source focal point to position another portion of the component within the x-ray beam, said component inspection rotational axis being maintained at a selected radius from the x-ray source focal point; and detector means for collecting an attenuated x-ray beam which passes through the component to reconstruct a component cross-sectional image at a selected plane through the component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification