Reduced-size apparatus for non-intrusively inspecting an object
First Claim
1. An x-ray based non-intrusive inspection apparatus, comprising:
- a support frame;
an object support secured to the support frame;
a gantry mounted to the support frame and being rotatable about a center axis (C) relative to an object held by the object support;
an x-ray source mounted to the gantry and providing x-rays that transmit through the object, the x-rays having an included angle between first and second shadow lines (L1;
L2) such that a circle of reconstruction is formed upon rotation of the gantry having a radius (R) from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P1) on the first shadow line, a distance from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P2) on the second shadow line (L2) being less than the radius (R); and
a plurality of detectors located in a position to detect the x-rays after leaving the object, wherein the detectors are on a curve having a center axis that is not at the x-ray source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to an x-ray based non-intrusive inspection apparatus. An x-ray source is mounted to a gantry and provides x-rays that transmit through an object. The x-rays have an included angle between first and second shadow lines. A circle of reconstruction is formed upon rotation of the gantry having a radius from a center axis of rotation of the gantry to a closest point on the first shadow line. The second shadow line passes through the center axis so that x-rays transmit through only half of the circle of reconstruction at any given moment. The entire volume within the circle of reconstruction is scanned due to rotation of the gantry. Such an assembly allows for the x-ray source to be placed closer to the center axis of rotation of the gantry without reducing the radius of the circle of reconstruction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An x-ray based non-intrusive inspection apparatus, comprising:
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a support frame; an object support secured to the support frame; a gantry mounted to the support frame and being rotatable about a center axis (C) relative to an object held by the object support; an x-ray source mounted to the gantry and providing x-rays that transmit through the object, the x-rays having an included angle between first and second shadow lines (L1;
L2) such that a circle of reconstruction is formed upon rotation of the gantry having a radius (R) from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P1) on the first shadow line, a distance from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P2) on the second shadow line (L2) being less than the radius (R); anda plurality of detectors located in a position to detect the x-rays after leaving the object, wherein the detectors are on a curve having a center axis that is not at the x-ray source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An x-ray based non-intrusive inspection apparatus, comprising:
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a support frame; an object support secured to the support frame; a gantry mounted to the support frame and being rotatable about a center axis (C) relative to an object held by the objed support; an x-ray source mounted to the gantry and providing x-rays having an included angle between first and second shadow lines (L1;
L2), a point (P1) on the first shadow line (L1) closest to the center axis (C) being farther from the center axis (C) than a point (P2) on the second shadow line (L2) closest to the center axis (C); anda plurality of detectors located in a position to detect the x-rays after leaving the object, wherein the detectors are on a curve having a center axis that is not at the x-ray source.
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13. A method of non-intrusively inspecting an object, comprising:
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emitting x-rays from an x-ray source through the object; rotating the x-ray source about a center axis (C) relative to the object, the x-rays having an included angle between first and second shadow lines (L1;
L2) such that a circle of reconstruction is formed upon rotation of the gantry having a radius (R) from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P1) on the first shadow line (L1), a distance from the center axis (C) to a closest point (P2) on the second shadow line (L2) being less than the radius (R); anddetecting the x-rays after leaving the object with a plurality of detectors located in a position to detect the x-rays after leaving the object, wherein the detectors are on a curve having a center axis that is not at the x-ray source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of non-intrusively inspecting an object, comprising:
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emitting x-rays from an x-ray source through the object; rotating the x-ray source about a center axis (C) relative to the objed, the x-rays having an included angle between first and second shadow lines (L1;
L2), a point (P1) on the first shadow line (L1) closest to the center axis (C) being farther from the center axis (C) than a point (P2) on the second shadow line (L2) closest to the center axis (C); anddetecting the x-rays after leaving the object with a plurality of detectors located in a position to detect the x-rays after leaving the object, wherein the detectors are on a curve having a center axis that is not at the x-ray source.
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Specification