US 2002/0159566 A1 · Method and apparatus for measuring the position, shape, size and intensity distribution of the effective focal spot of an x-ray tube

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for dynamically measuring the position, shape, size and intensity distribution of an effective focal spot of an x-ray tube, wherein at least one of these characteristics changes with respect to time, a detector array is provided that is composed of a number of detector elements, and a micro-hole collimator is disposed between the focal spot and the detector array at a distance closer to the focal spot than to the detector array. An x-ray beam emitted from the focal spot passes through an aperture in the micro-hole collimator, and produces a magnified projection of the focal spot on the detector array. The respective electrical signals from the detector elements of the detector array are sampled, and these sampled signals are combined to dynamically measure the position, shape, size and intensity distribution of the focal spot.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for dynamically measuring a position, shape, size and intensity distribution of an effective focal spot on an anode of an x-ray tube, wherein at least one of said position, shape, size and intensity distribution changes with respect to time, comprising the steps of:

providing a detector array composed of a plurality of detector elements, each of said detector elements generating an electrical signal dependent on x-rays incident thereon;
disposing a micro-hole collimator between said focal spot and said detector array at a distance closer to said focal spot than to said detector array;
emitting an x-ray beam from said focal spot which passes through an aperture in said micro-hole collimator to produce a magnified projection of said focal spot on said detector array;
and
sampling respective electrical signals from said detector element while said magnified projection is incident on said detector array, and combining said respective electrical signals to dynamically measure said position, shape, size and intensity distribution of said focal spot.

2 more elements

An apparatus for dynamically measuring a position, shape, size and intensity distribution of an effective focal spot on an anode of an x-ray tube, wherein at least one of said position, shape, size and intensity distribution changes with respect to time, comprising:

a detector array composed of a plurality of detector elements, each of said detector elements generating an electrical signal dependent on x-rays incident thereon;
a micro-hole collimator disposed between said focal spot and said detector array at a distance closer to said focal spot than to said detector array, said micro-hole collimator having an aperture therein;
means for emitting an x-ray beam from said focal spot which passes through said aperture in said micro-hole collimator to produce a magnified projection of said focal spot on said detector array;
and
circuitry connected to said detector array for sampling respective electrical signals from said detector element while said magnified projection is incident on said detector array to obtain sampled signals;
and
a computer supplied with said sampled signals for combining said sampled signals to dynamically measure said position, shape, size and intensity distribution of said focal spot.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for measuring the position, shape, size and intensity distribution of the effective focal spot of an x-ray tube

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for measuring the position, shape, size and intensity distribution of the effective focal spot of an x-ray tube

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15