Multiple image scanning X-ray method and apparatus
First Claim
1. In a non-tomographic x-ray scanning system for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes x-ray source means for scanning a charged particle beam in a raster pattern on a target plate to produce x-rays successively at different areas of said plate, at least one x-ray detector for disposition at the opposite side of said object from said x-ray source, said x-ray detector having an x-ray sensitive area and means for producing an electrical output signal that is inactive of x-rays impinging on said sensitive area, said sensitive area being sufficiently small in relation to said raster pattern to cause said output signal to vary in accordance with variations of radiation transmissivity at different regions of said object as said charged particle beam is swept in said raster pattern, the improvement comprising:
- traveling means for effecting lateral travel of at least one of said x-ray source and said x-ray detector relative to the other thereof in at least one direction during examination of said object which means enables obtaining of a series of different views of said object during said examination thereof by movement of said one of said x-ray detector and said source, andmeans for generating a sequence of different x-ray views of said object at successive stages of said lateral travel by correlating variations of said output signals with the position of said charged particle beam in said raster pattern at the time that the variations occur.
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Abstract
X-ray examination of objects, which may be very large objects such as aircraft, boat hulls or lengthy pipelines, is accomplished with an x-ray source having a moving x-ray origin point that is scanned in a raster pattern. At least one x-ray detector having a very small x-ray sensitive area is disposed behind or within the object and provides an output signal indicative of internal characteristics of an adjacent region of the object. The source and detector undergo relative travel at least in a lateral direction during the examination to provide a sequence of different x-ray views that may include views of successive regions of the object, views from different angles and stereo views. X-ray images are produced at one or more monitor screens by sweeping a point of light in a raster pattern corresponding to that of the x-ray source while modulating the intensity of the point of light in accordance with the output signal of the detector. An array of spaced apart detectors may be used to simplify examination of large objects or to speed examination of small objects.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a non-tomographic x-ray scanning system for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes x-ray source means for scanning a charged particle beam in a raster pattern on a target plate to produce x-rays successively at different areas of said plate, at least one x-ray detector for disposition at the opposite side of said object from said x-ray source, said x-ray detector having an x-ray sensitive area and means for producing an electrical output signal that is inactive of x-rays impinging on said sensitive area, said sensitive area being sufficiently small in relation to said raster pattern to cause said output signal to vary in accordance with variations of radiation transmissivity at different regions of said object as said charged particle beam is swept in said raster pattern, the improvement comprising:
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traveling means for effecting lateral travel of at least one of said x-ray source and said x-ray detector relative to the other thereof in at least one direction during examination of said object which means enables obtaining of a series of different views of said object during said examination thereof by movement of said one of said x-ray detector and said source, and means for generating a sequence of different x-ray views of said object at successive stages of said lateral travel by correlating variations of said output signals with the position of said charged particle beam in said raster pattern at the time that the variations occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In an x-ray scanning system for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes x-ray source means for scanning a charged particle beam in a raster pattern on a target plate to produce x-rays successively at different areas of said plate, at least one x-ray detector for disposition at the opposite side of said object from said x-ray source, said x-ray detector having an x-ray sensitive area and means for producing an electrical output signal that is inactive of x-rays impinging on said sensitive area, said sensitive area being sufficiently small in relation to said raster pattern to cause said output signal to vary in accordance with variations of radiation transmissivity at different regions of said object as said charged particle beam is swept in said raster pattern, the improvement comprising:
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traveling means for effecting lateral travel of at least one of said x-ray source and said x-ray detector relative to the other thereof in at least one direction during examination of said object, and means for generating a sequence of different x-ray views of said object at successive stages of said lateral travel by correlating variations of said output signals with the position of said charged particle beam in said raster pattern at the time that the variations occur, wherein said means for generating a sequence of different x-ray views includes at least one cathode ray tube monitor having a display screen which is impacted by an electron beam that is swept in a raster pattern, means for modulating said electron beam in accordance with said output signal of said detector, and means for synchronizing said raster patterns of said x-ray source means and said monitor, wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of said x-ray detectors disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming a detector array and means for generating different sequences of said x-ray views from the output signals of different ones of said detectors suring said lateral travel, further including means for generating a first image at said display screen from the output signal of a first of said detectors and for generating a second image at said display screen from another of said detectors, and means for limiting visibility of said first image to one eye of an observer and for limiting visibility of said second image to the other eye of the observer whereby said observer perceives a three dimensional image of said object, and wherein said detectors are arranged in spaced apart pairs which provides the output signals for generating said first and second images, the numbers of each pair being spaced apart a distance that is smaller than the spacing of successive pairs from each other.
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21. In an x-ray scanning system for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes x-ray source means for scanning a charged particle beam in a raster pattern on a target plate to produce x-rays successively at different areas of said plate, at least one x-ray detector for disposition at the opposite side of said object from said x-ray source, said x-ray detector having an x-ray sensitive area and means for producing an electrical output signal that is indicative of x-rays impinging on said sensitive area, said sensitive area being sufficiently small in relation to said raster pattern to cause said output signal to vary in accordance with variations of radiation transmissivity at different regions of said object as said charged particle beam is swept in said raster pattern, the improvement comprising:
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traveling means for effecting lateral travel of at least one of said x-ray source and said x-ray detector relative to the other thereof in at least one direction during examination of said object, and means for generating a sequence of different x-ray views of said object at successive stages of said lateral travel by correlating variations of said output signals with the position of said charged particle beam in said raster pattern at the time that the variations occur, wherein said x-ray source means includes a plurality of vacuum tubes each having a face defined by a separate one of said target plates, said faces of said vacuum tubes being positioned to jointly provide a continuous x-ray origin area which is of greater extent in a direction normal to the direction of said lateral travel than the raster patterns at a single one of said target plates. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. In an x-ray scanning system for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes x-ray source means for scanning a charged particle beam in a raster pattern on a target plate to produce x-rays successively at different areas of said plate, at least one x-ray detector for disposition at the opposite side of said object from said x-ray source, said x-ray detector having an x-ray sensitive area and means for producing an electrical output signal that is indicative of x-rays impinging on said sensitive area, said sensitive area being sufficiently small in relation to said raster pattern to cause said output signal to vary in accordance with variations of radiation transmissivity at different regions of said object as said charged particle beam is swept in said raster pattern, the improvement comprising:
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traveling means for effecting lateral travel of at least one of said x-ray source and said x-ray detector relative to the other thereof in at least one direction during examination of said object, and means for generating a sequence of different x-ray views of said object at successive stages of said lateral travel by correlating variations of said output signals with the position of said charged particle beam in said raster pattern at the time that the variations occur, wherein said traveling means enables translation of said detector in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and also enables turning of said detector about an axis of rotation that extends in parallel relationship with said target plate of said x-ray source means. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. In a method for examining internal characteristics of an object which system includes the steps of generating x-rays at an x-ray origin point, moving said origin point in a raster pattern to define a raster area, locating said object in the path of x-rays that are emitted from said raster area, detecting said x-rays at least at one detection point and producing an electrical output signal in response to the detected x-rays that is indicative of variations of x-ray transmissivity within the scanned region of said object, the improvement comprising:
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traveling at least one of said raster area and said detection point laterally relative to the other thereof during the examination of said object to generate output signals for producing a series of different views of said object, and using the output signals that originate at successive locations along the path of travel of said one of said raster area and said detection point to generate a sequence of different non-topographic x-ray views of said object. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. In a method for examining internal characteristics of an object which includes the steps of generating x-rays at an x-ray origin point, moving said origin point in a raster pattern to define a raster area, locating said object in the path of x-rays that are emitted from said raster area, detecting said x-rays at least at one detection point and producing an electrical output signal in response to the detected x-rays that is indicative of variations of x-ray transmissivity within the scanned region of said object, the improvement comprising:
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traveling at least one of said raster area and said detection point laterally relative to the other during the examination of said object, and using the output signals that originate at successive locations along the path of travel of said one of said raster area and said detection point to generate a sequence of different x-ray views of said object, wherein said x-ray detection point is traveled along a circular path about an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to said raster area and which intersects said object. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification