Method and apparatus for imaging obscured areas of a test object
First Claim
1. An apparatus for imaging a region of interest that is positioned on or within a test object that is obscured by a first obscuration body positioned on or within said test object but positioned outside said region of interest, comprising:
- an x-ray source having a cathode for producing a steerable electron beam;
a controller coupled to the x-ray source, wherein the controller directs the electron beam to predetermined locations on a target anode,the predetermined locations being determined from an obscuration geometry of the first body relative to the area of interest;
a detector positioned to receive x-rays that are transmitted through the test object from each of the predetermined locations and to produce images corresponding to each of the predetermined locations; and
an imaging system that combines the images to produce an unobscured image of said region of interest.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for imaging obscured areas of a test object. The apparatus includes an x-ray source having a cathode for producing a steerable electron beam. A controller directs the electron beam to predetermined locations on a target anode. The user may flexibly select appropriate predetermined positions. The predetermined locations may be obtained from the geometry of an obscuration. A detector receives x-rays that are transmitted through the test object from each of the predetermined locations, and produces images corresponding to each of the predetermined locations. The images are digitized and may be combined to produce an unobscured image of a region of interest.
53 Citations
60 Claims
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1. An apparatus for imaging a region of interest that is positioned on or within a test object that is obscured by a first obscuration body positioned on or within said test object but positioned outside said region of interest, comprising:
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an x-ray source having a cathode for producing a steerable electron beam; a controller coupled to the x-ray source, wherein the controller directs the electron beam to predetermined locations on a target anode, the predetermined locations being determined from an obscuration geometry of the first body relative to the area of interest; a detector positioned to receive x-rays that are transmitted through the test object from each of the predetermined locations and to produce images corresponding to each of the predetermined locations; and an imaging system that combines the images to produce an unobscured image of said region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of imaging a region of interest that is positioned on or within a test object that is obscured by a first obscuration body positioned on or within said test object but positioned outside said region of interest, comprising:
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generating an electron beam; directing the electron beam to predetermined locations on a target anode, wherein the predetermined locations are selected from a set of locations on the target anode determined from an obscuration geometry of the first body relative to the area of interest, whereby an x-ray beam is emitted toward the test object from the predetermined locations on the target anode; and for each of the predetermined locations, forming an image of said region of interest on or within the test object by detecting a portion of the x-ray beam transmitted through the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for imaging a region of interest that is positioned on or within a test object that is obscured by a first obscuration body positioned on or within said test object but positioned outside said region of interest, comprising:
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a radiation source that produces a beam of radiation; a controller coupled to the radiation source, wherein the controller directs the beam of radiation towards predetermined locations of said test object, the predetermined locations being determined from an obscuration geometry of the first body relative to the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of imaging a region of interest that is positioned on or within a test object that is obscured by a first obscuration body positioned on or within said test object but positioned outside said region of interest, comprising:
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generating a radiation beam; directing the radiation beam to predetermined locations on the test object, wherein the predetermined locations are selected from a set of locations on the test object determined from an obscuration geometry of the first body relative to the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification