Fast dual energy for general radiography

US10136868B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Yun Zou · Clifton Park, US
• John Michael Sabol · Sussex, US
• Brian David Yanoff · Niskayuna, US
• Hao Lai · Niskayuna, US
• Biju Jacob · Niskayuna, US
• Katelyn Rose Nye · Glendale, US
• Feng Chen · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 3, 2015
• Grant date: Nov 27, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2223/423
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Some embodiments are associated with an X-ray source configured to generate X-rays directed toward an object, wherein the X-ray source is to: (i) generate a first energy X-ray pulse, (ii) switch to generate a second energy X-ray pulse, and (iii) switch back to generate another first energy X-ray pulse. A detector may be associated with multiple image pixels, and the detector includes, for each pixel: an X-ray sensitive element to receive X-rays; a first storage element and associated switch to capture information associated with the first energy X-ray pulses; and a second storage element and associated switch to capture information associated with the second energy X-ray pulse. A controller may synchronize the X-ray source and detector.