Patent · US Expired

Multiple image scanning X-ray method and apparatus

US5237598A · kind A · utility

185Cited by
8References
31Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 1992
Grant dateAug 17, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N13/337
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

X-ray examination of objects, which may be very large objects such as aircraft, boat hulls or lengthy pipelines, is accomplished with an x-ray source having a moving x-ray origin point that is scanned in a raster pattern. At least one x-ray detector having a very small x-ray sensitive area is disposed behind or within the object and provides an output signal indicative of internal characteristics of an adjacent region of the object. The source and detector undergo relative travel at least in a lateral direction during the examination to provide a sequence of different x-ray views that may include views of successive regions of the object, views from different angles and stereo views. X-ray images are produced at one or more monitor screens by sweeping a point of light in a raster pattern corresponding to that of the x-ray source while modulating the intensity of the point of light in accordance with the output signal of the detector. An array of spaced apart detectors may be used to simplify examination of large objects or to speed examination of small objects.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.