Method and device for the production of digital images

• US 7,184,518 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institut De Fisica D'Altes Energies (Ifae)
• Original Assignee: Institut De Fisica D'Altes Energies (Ifae)
• Inventors: Chmeissani, Mokhtar, Fernandez, Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yun; Jurie
• Application Number:
  US10/493,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 378/19, 378/98.8, 378/62, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/98.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2928 using solid state detectors

Abstract

In the method are repeated the stages of: exposing (6) a zone of a sample to the X-rays through a collimator, exposing only the parts of the sample placed between it and some secondary boards of a main board; obtaining (7) the data generated by exposure of the sample; and moving (8) the mobile support to another zone of the sample. Next, the data to obtain a complete digital image are processed. The device comprises a source of X-rays, a data-gathering device, a detection module which has a main board upon which are arranged secondary boards, a collimator fitted between the main board and the source of X-rays; and a unit for processing the data. A continuous image without size limitation is obtained.

Claims

1. Method for producing digital images which comprises two subsequent and independent steps:

a. Repeating a predetermined number of times the stages of;

exposing (6) a zone of a sample to the X-rays emitted by a source of X-rays (11), through a collimator (12), exposing only the parts of the sample placed between it and some secondary boards (2) which each comprise a solid state detector and form a removable part of a main board (1) which is fixed to a mobile support (20), each of said solid-state detectors (3) coupled to an integrated reading electronics device, a programmable logic controlling unit (4) and a local information-storage device (5);

saving and storing (7) in the local information-storage device (5) the data generated by exposing the sample to X-rays, using an electronic reading system and a data-gathering device;

repositioning on the basis of a sweeping two dimensional motion (8) the mobile support (20) to another previously unexposed zone of the sample;

b. After the entire area of the sample has been exposed to the X-rays, reading out the data (10) stored in the local information-storage device (5) to a processing unit, where the data is processed and combined to obtain a full digital image of the sample to be displayed on the monitor.

2. Device for the production of digital images comprising:

a source of X-rays;

a data-gathering device;

a detection module which has a main board (1) upon which are arranged a plurality of easily replaceable secondary boards (2), wherein each secondary board (2) comprises a solid-state detector (3) coupled to an integrated reading electronics device, programmable logic controlling unit (4) and an information-storage (5), and wherein the detection module is fixed to a mobile support (20);

a collimator (12) fitted between the main board (1) and the source of X-rays (11); and

a unit for processing the data obtained by the data-gathering device.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the programmable logic controlling unit (4) and the information-storage device (5) may be located outside the secondary board (2) but not outside of the data-gathering device itself.

4. Device according to claims 2, wherein the relative dimensions of the secondary board (2) and of the solid-state detectors (3) depend on the number of stages, that is, on the manner in which the sweeping movement of the main board (1) is carried out.

5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the information storage device is a memory unit with high speed of access for reading and writing.

6. Device according to claim 2, wherein the collimator (12) has a plurality of holes which coincide in position and size with the solid-state detectors (3) mounted on the secondary boards (2).

7. Device according to claim 2, wherein the unit for processing of the data obtained by the data-gathering device is a personal computer, which is used to combine the data into a full image of the sample.

8. Device according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the solid-state detector (3) is between 10 μ

m and 1 cm.

9. Device according to claim 2, wherein the surface area of the solid-state detectors (3) is between 1 mm×

1 mm and 100 mm×

100 mm.

10. Device according to claim 2, wherein the energy of the X-rays generated by the X-ray source is between 1 KeV and 2 MeV.

11. Device according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the solid-state detector (3) is between 300 μ

m and 2 mm.

12. Device according to claim 2, wherein the surface area of the solid-state detectors (3) is between 5 mm×

5 mm and 15 mm×

15 mm.