# US 10,441,242 B2 · X-ray apparatus comprising a collimator and method of operating the collimator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,242 B2 - Document ID: US10441242B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/868,612 - Filed: 2015-09-29 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-03 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dae-soo Kim; Han-ju Nam; Young-jun Lee; Jin-ho Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441242B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/587: {Alignment of source unit to detector unit} - A61B 6/06: Diaphragms - A61B 6/08: Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams - A61B 6/4085: {Cone-beams} - A61B 6/42: Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis - A61B 6/4208: {characterised by using a particular type of detector} - A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors} - A61B 6/4283: {characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette} - A61B 6/44: {Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis} - A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley} - A61B 6/4452: {the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other} - A61B 6/4476: {related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit} - A61B 6/5258: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise} - A61B 6/547: {involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device} - G21K 1/02: using diaphragms, collimators - G21K 1/04: using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers - A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES ## Abstract An X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray source configured to radiate X-rays, a collimator configured to adjust a radiation field of the X-rays and rotate on an optical axis direction of the X-rays, a ring-shaped first rotation transfer unit centered on an optical axis of the X-rays in the X-ray source, a second rotation transfer unit interlocked with the ring-shaped first rotation transfer unit and configured to rotate as the collimator rotates, a rotation sensor configured to sense an amount of rotation of the second rotation transfer unit, and a detector comprising a receiving surface on which the X-rays radiated from the collimator are incident. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An X-ray apparatus, comprising: an X-ray source to radiate X-rays; a collimator which is rotatable on an optical axis direction of the X-rays to adjust a radiation field of the X-rays; a ring-shaped first rotation transfer device on the X-ray source; a second rotation transfer device on the collimator so as to rotate with rotation of the collimator, the second rotation transfer device being engaged with the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device so as to rotate around the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device as the collimator rotates; a rotation sensor which, based on an amount of rotation of the second rotation transfer device, senses an amount of rotation of the collimator with respect to the X-ray source; a detector having a receiving surface on which the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source and having the radiation field adjusted by the collimator are incident; a processor which calculates, based on the amount of rotation of the collimator sensed by the rotation sensor, a misalignment between the radiation field adjusted by the collimator and the receiving surface; and an output unit which outputs an X-ray image in which the calculated misalignment is corrected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The X-ray apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an image generator configured to generate an image signal based on a detection signal generated by the X-rays incident on the receiving surface of the detector and the amount of rotation sensed by the rotation sensor. ### Claim 3 An X-ray apparatus, comprising: an X-ray source to radiate X-rays; a collimator to adjust a radiation field of the X-rays radiated by the X-ray source; a connector having a ring shape with open ends, with one end of the connector fixed to the X-ray source and an other end of the connector rotatably connected to the collimator, so that the collimator is rotatable with respect to the X-ray source on an optical axis direction of the X-rays; a ring-shaped first rotation transfer device on the X-ray source; a second rotation transfer device on the collimator so as to rotate with rotation of the collimator, the second rotation transfer device being engaged with the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device so as to rotate around the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device as the collimator rotates; a rotation sensor to sense an amount of rotation of the second rotation transfer device; and a detector having a receiving surface on which the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source and having the radiation field adjusted by the collimator are incident. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The X-ray apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device is positioned along an outer circumferential surface of the connector, and the second rotation transfer device and the rotation sensor are positioned outside the connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The X-ray apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device and the second rotation transfer device commonly comprise a pair of gears that rotate while being interlocked with each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The X-ray apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device and the second rotation transfer device commonly comprise a pair of roller devices that rotate according to a sliding motion while being in contact with each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The X-ray apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device is positioned along an inner circumferential surface of the connector, and the second rotation transfer device and the rotation sensor are positioned inside the connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The X-ray apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device and the second rotation transfer device commonly comprise a pair of gears that rotate while being interlocked with each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The X-ray apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ring-shaped first rotation transfer device and the second rotation transfer device commonly comprise a pair of roller devices that rotate according to a sliding motion while being in contact with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The X-ray apparatus of claim 3, wherein the collimator further comprises: an X-ray entrance window through which the X-rays enter and an X-ray exit window through which the X-rays exit; and a radiation field range adjustor disposed in the X-ray entrance window and the X-ray exit window. ### Claim 11 A method of operating an X-ray apparatus that includes an X-ray source to radiate X-rays, a collimator which is rotatable on an optical axis direction of the X-rays to adjust a radiation field of the X-rays, and a detector having a receiving surface on which the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source and having the radiation field adjusted by the collimator are incident, the method comprising: obtaining information about a position of the detector; sensing, via a rotation sensor, an amount of rotation of the collimator; determining an amount of rotation of a detection signal generated by the X-rays incident on the receiving surface of the detector, based on the sensed amount of rotation of the collimator and the obtained information about the position of the detector; generating a corrected image signal based on the determined amount of rotation of the detection signal; and outputting an image in accordance with the corrected image signal.