Method and apparatus for selectively attenuating a radiation source
US6920203B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21K1/04
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A technique for selectively attenuating a radiation exposure in which a configurable collimator is employed between the radiation source and the radiation target. The configurable collimator typically comprises an array of independently addressable elements each of which has at least a high and a low attenuation state, though intermediate states may also be accommodated. The elements of the array may be selectively addressed to determine their state and to determine the attenuation profile of the collimator. One embodiment of the technique employs an array of microactuated attenuating louvers which may be selectively actuated to determine their radiation transmittance. A second embodiment of the technique employs a suspension of attenuating nematic colloids which may be ordered by the application of an electric or magnetic field. The ordered state of the nematic colloids within an element determine the radiation transmittance of that element. A third embodiment of the technique employs microfluidics to fill an array of fluid chambers with an attenuating fluid. The level of filling within each chamber determines the attenuation produced by that array element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.