High angular resolution x-ray collimator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A collimator, comprising:
- a bundle of optical fibers bonded together to form a solid core, the solid core having an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a plurality of pores therein, the outer core being sliced partially and leaving a portion of the outer core intact to provide a stack of plates with the pores aligned in registration ensuring passage of an x-ray beam, therethrough; and
a housing enclosing the stack of plates to preserve registration of the pores.
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Abstract
A method of producing a high angular resolution collimator implemented in an inspection system for detecting the presence of selected crystalline materials, such as explosives or drugs. The system includes an x-ray source and an array of energy dispersive detectors to sense radiation scattered by the objects being inspected. The collimator includes a bundle of optical fibers bonded together to form a stack of plates having a plurality of microcapillaries therein to pass an x-ray beam therethrough. The method includes the steps of stacking the plates, aligning the plates in registration, and etching an inner core without disrupting registration.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A collimator, comprising:
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a bundle of optical fibers bonded together to form a solid core, the solid core having an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a plurality of pores therein, the outer core being sliced partially and leaving a portion of the outer core intact to provide a stack of plates with the pores aligned in registration ensuring passage of an x-ray beam, therethrough; and a housing enclosing the stack of plates to preserve registration of the pores. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A high angular resolution x-ray collimator, comprising:
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a plurality of plates stacked adjacent to each other, each plate being formed from a bundle of bonded glass fibers, the stack of plates having an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a plurality of holes formed by removal of a fiber core from each glass fiber such that the holes in each plate are aligned in registration to permit passage of x-rays therethrough; and a collar containing the stack of plates such that registration between aligned holes on adjacent plates is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An x-ray diffraction inspection system for detecting crystalline materials, that are within parcels being inspected comprising:
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a light source irradiating a parcel being inspected with an x-ray beam; a collimator for excluding unwanted x-rays scattered from the object, the collimator comprising a plurality of plates stacked adjacent to each other, each plate being formed from a bundle of bonded glass fibers, the stack of plates having an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a plurality of holes aligned in registration to ensure passage of wanted x-rays therethrough, and a housing containing the stack of plates to provide registration between holes in adjacent plates; and a detector for measuring the intensity of scattered light passed through the collimator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of producing a collimator, comprising the steps of:
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fusing a bundle of optical fibers; cutting the bundle of optical fibers along its length to make a plurality of plates; etching an inner core within the plates to remove a portion of each optical fiber to provide holes extending through each plate; and stacking the plurality of plates to align the holes through adjacent plates such that the holes are in registration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of producing a collimator, comprising the steps of:
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fusing a bundle of optical fibers; machining a flat in the bundle of optical fibers; cutting the bundle of optical fibers along its length forming individual plates; etching an inner core of each plate to remove material from the optical fibers to form holes extending through each plate; stacking the plates adjacent to each other; aligning the plates such that the holes through adjacent plates are in registration; housing the stacked plate to preserve registration; and doping the housing with lead oxide. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of x-ray diffraction inspection for detecting crystalline materials within parcels being inspected, comprising:
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irradiating a parcel with an x-ray beam; collimating x-rays from the parcel with a collimator which excludes unwanted x-rays scattered from the object, the collimator comprising a plurality of plates stacked adjacent to each other, each plate being formed from a bundle of bonded glass fibers, the stack of plates having an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having a plurality of holes aligned in registration to permit passage of x-rays through the aligned holes, and a housing containing the stack of plates to preserve registration; and detecting the intensity of scattered light passed through the collimator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification