# US 12,007,343 B2 · X-ray beam shaping apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,343 B2 - Document ID: US12007343B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/600,803 - Filed: 2020-04-03 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-04 - Assignees: Malvern Panalytical Limited - Applicants: Malvern Panalytical B.V. - Inventors: Milen Gateshki; Alexander Kharchenko; Detlef Beckers; Nicholas Norberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007343B2 ## CPC - G01N 23/207: Diffractometry using detectors, e.g. using a probe in a central position and one or more displaceable detectors in circumferential positions - G01N 23/20008: Constructional details of analysers, e.g. characterised by X-ray source, detector or optical system; Accessories therefor; Preparing specimens therefor (monochromators for X- rays using crystals G21K1/06) - G21K 1/046: {varying the contour of the field, e.g. multileaf collimators} - G01N 2223/056: diffraction - G01N 2223/1016: X-ray - G01N 2223/306: computer control - G01N 2223/316: collimators - G01N 2223/3306: object rotates - G01N 2223/606: texture - G01N 2223/607: strain - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES ## Abstract A beam shaping apparatus (10) for use in an X-ray analysis device (40). The beam shaping apparatus processes an input beam (32) from an X-ray beam source (20), and generates an output beam (34) with an output beam shape for irradiating a sample (112) held by a sample holder (22) of the X-ray analysis device. Movement of the output beam shape is controlled in dependence upon a varying tilt angle (χ) of the sample (112), this defined by a tilt position of the sample holder (22). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beam shaping apparatus (10) for use in an X-ray analysis device (40), wherein the X-ray analysis device comprises a sample holder (22), for holding a sample (112) at a variable tilt angle (χ) about a tilt axis (24), the beam shaping apparatus (10) comprising: a beam shaping element (28) adapted to receive an input beam (32) from an X-ray source (20), and generate an output beam (34) having an output beam shape, and a controller (36) operatively coupleable in use with the X-ray analysis device (40), the controller (36) adapted to control movement of the output beam shape dependent upon the variable tilt angle (χ) of the sample (112), wherein the output beam shape is an elongate shape, the elongate shape having a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, and the output beam shape defining a longitudinal axis (50) extending along the length and a transverse axis extending along the width, and wherein the movement includes rotation, and wherein the controller (36) is configured to control rotation of the output beam shape so as to maintain the longitudinal axis (50) substantially parallel with a plane defined by a surface of a sample (112) held in use by the sample holder (22). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the controller (36) is adapted to control rotation of the output beam shape to rotate in correlation with the variable tilt angle (χ) of the sample (112). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the beam shaping element (28) is arranged to be moveable within the input beam (32), and wherein the movement of the output beam shape by the controller (36) is achieved by controlling movement of the beam shaping element (28) within the input beam (32). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus (10) of claim 3, wherein the beam shaping element (28) is rotatable about an axis coinciding with an axis of the input beam (32). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the beam shaping apparatus comprises one or more actuators configured to implement the movement of the output beam shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the beam shaping element (28) comprises a mask element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus (10) of claim 6, wherein the mask element defines an X-ray transmissive slit (46). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the controller (36) is configured to control the movement of the output beam shape such that an area and/or shape of a footprint (114) of the beam formed on a sample (112) held in use by the sample holder (22) changes less, as the tilt angle (χ) varies through a defined range of tilt angles (χ), than it would if the output beam shape remained stationary. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the controller (36) is configured to control the movement of the output beam shape such that a total amount of flux incident on the sample remains substantially constant across a defined range of tilt angles (χ). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the controller (36) is configured to control the movement of the output beam shape so as to maintain an incident footprint (114) of the beam within a boundary of a surface of a sample (112) held in use by the sample holder (22). ### Claim 11 An X-ray analysis device (40) comprising: a sample holder (22), for holding a sample (112) at variable tilt angle (χ) about a tilt axis (24); an X-ray source (20); a beam shaping element (28) adapted to receive an input beam (32) from the X-ray source (20), and generate an output beam (34) having an output beam shape, the sample holder (22) being arranged to receive the output beam, and a controller (36) operatively coupled with the X-ray analysis device (40), and adapted to control movement of the output beam shape dependent upon the variable tilt angle (χ), wherein the output beam shape is an elongate shape, the elongate shape having a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, and the output beam shape defining a longitudinal axis (50) extending along the length and a transverse axis extending along the width, and wherein the movement includes rotation, and wherein the controller (36) is configured to control rotation of the output beam shape so as to maintain the longitudinal axis (50) substantially parallel with a plane defined by a surface of a sample (112) held in use by the sample holder (22). ### Claim 12 A method of controlling a beam shaping apparatus (10), the apparatus for use in an X-ray analysis device (40), wherein the X-ray analysis device comprises a sample holder (22), for holding a sample (112) at a variable tilt angle (χ) about a tilt axis (24), and wherein the beam shaping apparatus comprises a beam shaping element (28) adapted to receive an input beam (32) from an X-ray source (20), and generate an output beam (34) having an output beam shape, and the method comprising: obtaining from the X-ray analysis device (40) a signal indicative of the tilt angle (χ) of the sample (112) about the tilt axis (24), and controlling movement of the output beam shape dependent upon the variable tilt angle (χ), based on the obtained signal, wherein the output beam shape is an elongate shape, the elongate shape having a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, and the output beam shape defining a longitudinal axis (50) extending along the length and a transverse axis extending along the width, and wherein the movement includes rotation, and wherein the controller (36) is configured to control rotation of the output beam shape so as to maintain the longitudinal axis (50) substantially parallel with a plane defined by a surface of a sample (112) held in use by the sample holder (22). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A computer program product comprising computer program code wherein, when the code is executed on at least one physical computing device, and the at least one physical computing device is operatively coupled with the beam shaping apparatus (10) defined in claim 12, the code causes the at least one physical computing device to carry out the method defined in claim 12.