X-ray imaging system with active detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a system having an x-ray source to produce a pencil beam of x-rays to scan an object and a first detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object to produce a scattered image, said apparatus comprising:
- a second detector disposed opposite said first detector, said second detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays passing directly from said x-ray source to said second detector; and
a processor coupled to the system and receiving therefrom information specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays, the processor also coupled to said second detector and producing a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate an intensity value measured by said second detector for a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for use in a system with an x-ray source to produce a pencil beam of x-rays to scan an object and a first detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object to produce a scattered image having a second detector disposed opposite the first detector to provide a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays passing directly from the x-ray source to the second detector; a processor coupled to the system to receive information specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays, the processor also coupled to second detector to produce a shadow image formed of pixels indicating the intensity value measured by the second detector for a plurality of positions of the pencil beam of x-rays; and combining the scattered and shadow image to produce a composite image.
298 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for use in a system having an x-ray source to produce a pencil beam of x-rays to scan an object and a first detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object to produce a scattered image, said apparatus comprising:
-
a second detector disposed opposite said first detector, said second detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays passing directly from said x-ray source to said second detector; and
a processor coupled to the system and receiving therefrom information specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays, the processor also coupled to said second detector and producing a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate an intensity value measured by said second detector for a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for detecting concealed items on or in an object in a system having an x-ray source to produce a pencil bean of x-rays to scan the object and a first detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object to produce a scattered image, said method comprising:
-
detecting x-rays that pass unscattered from said x-ray source to a second detector disposed opposite said first detector;
forming a signal in response to said detection of x-rays;
receiving information from said system to a processor specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays; and
producing a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate an intensity value measured by said second detector for a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for detecting concealed items on or in an object in a system having an x-ray source to produce a pencil beam of x-rays to scan the object and a first detector providing a value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object to produce a scattered image, said method comprising:
-
detecting x-rays that pass unscattered from said x-ray source to a second detector disposed opposite said first detector;
forming a signal in response to said detection of x-rays;
receiving information from said system to a processor specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays; and
producing a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate an intensity value measured by said second detector for a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays.
-
-
34. A system for scanning an object, comprising:
-
an x-ray source to produce a pencil beam of x-rays to scan the object;
a first detector to provide a value representative of the intensity of x-rays scattered from the object;
an image former responsive to said first detector to form a scattered image;
a second detector disposed opposite said first detector, said second detector providing a value representative of an intensity of x-rays passing directly from said x-ray source to said second detector; and
a processor coupled to receive information specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays, the processor also coupled to said second detector and producing a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate an intensity value measured by said second detector for a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A system for scanning an object, comprising:
-
x-ray scanning means for producing a pencil beam of x-rays to scan the object;
scattered x-ray detection means for detecting an intensity of x-rays scattered from the object;
image forming means responsive to said scattered x-ray detection means for forming a scattered image;
direct x-ray detection means disposed opposite said scattered x-ray detection means, said direct x-ray detection means responsive to an intensity of x-rays passing directly from said x-ray source to said direct x-ray detection means; and
processor means coupled to receive information specifying a position of the pencil beam of x-rays, said processor means also responsive to said direct x-ray detection means for forming a shadow image formed of pixels that are not blocked by the object and which indicate intensity values measured by said direct x-ray detection means at a plurality of positions of said pencil beam of x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method for scanning an object, comprising:
-
forming a pencil beam of x-rays with an x-ray source;
scanning the object with the pencil beam of x-rays;
detecting an intensity of x-rays scattered from the object;
forming a scattered image in response to said detecting;
measuring an intensity of x-rays passing directly from said x-ray source to a direct x-ray detector; and
forming a shadow image of pixels that are not blocked at the object and which indicate intensity values measured by the direct x-ray detector at a plurality of positions of the pencil beam of x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
combining the shadow image with the scattered image to form a composite image.
-
-
48. The method of claim 47 wherein the composite image comprises the intensity value from the shadow image where the beam of x-rays impinged the direct x-ray detector, and wherein the composite image comprises the value representative of the intensity of the x-rays scattered from the object where the x-ray beam did not impinge the direct x-ray detector.
Specification