Method and apparatus of 3D X-ray imaging for high speed scanning of large articles

• Main Author: ROSNER, JEFFREY S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.12.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES; GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; IRRADIATION DEVICES; MEASURING; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR PHYSICS; PHYSICS; TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TESTING

A systemÄ10Ü for forming an image of an objectÄ20Ü. The systemÄ10Ü includes a first scanning x-ray sourceÄ73, 74Ü for generating x-rays that diverge from a source point along a first scan pathÄ59Ü, the point being variable and determined by an input signal provided by a controllerÄ30Ü. A plurality of x-ray detectors are positioned with respect to the first scan pathÄ59Ü and are readout by the controllerÄ30Ü. A conveyorÄ11Ü moves the object relative to the first scanning x-ray sourceÄ73, 74Ü and the plurality of x-ray detectors. The objectÄ20Ü is divided into a plurality of voxelsÄ40Ü, and the x-ray detectors are positioned such that x-rays pass through each voxel and arrive at one of the detectors when the source point is located at a plurality of points along the first scan pathÄ59Ü. The controllerÄ30Ü preferably generates a three-dimensional representation of the objectÄ20Ü from the x-ray measurements. A systemÄ10Ü for forming an image of an objectÄ20Ü. The systemÄ10Ü includes a first scanning x-ray sourceÄ73, 74Ü for generating x-rays that diverge from a source point along a first scan pathÄ59Ü, the point being variable and determined by an input signal provided by a controllerÄ30Ü. A plurality of x-ray detectors are positioned with respect to the first scan pathÄ59Ü and are readout by the controllerÄ30Ü. A conveyorÄ11Ü moves the object relative to the first scanning x-ray sourceÄ73, 74Ü and the plurality of x-ray detectors. The objectÄ20Ü is divided into a plurality of voxelsÄ40Ü, and the x-ray detectors are positioned such that x-rays pass through each voxel and arrive at one of the detectors when the source point is located at a plurality of points along the first scan pathÄ59Ü. The controllerÄ30Ü preferably generates a three-dimensional representation of the objectÄ20Ü from the x-ray measurements.