Dynamic Dose Reduction in X-Ray Inspection

A method for dynamically regulating x-ray dose, the method comprising:

• a. generating an x-ray beam by impinging an electron beam upon an x-ray production target at a focal spot;
• b. collimating the x-ray beam at a source collimator;
• c. detecting a portion of the x-ray beam that traverses an inspected object;
• and
• d. varying a parameter of an aperture of the source collimator.

A method for dynamically regulating x-ray dose, the method comprising:

• a. generating an x-ray beam by impinging an electron beam upon an x-ray production target at a focal spot;
• b. collimating the x-ray beam at a source collimator;
• and
• c. varying a dimension characterizing the focal spot in such a manner as to maintain the portion of the x-ray beam that traverses the inspected object below a specified limit.

An x-ray system for generating an x-ray beam of dynamically regulated dose, the x-ray system comprising:

• a. an electron accelerating structure for accelerating a beam of electrons for formation of a focal spot on an x-ray producing target and for generating an x-ray beam;
• b. a source collimator for collimating the x-ray beam;
• c. a detector for receiving a portion of the x-ray beam that traverses an inspected object and for generating a detector signal;
• d. a filter dynamically interposable by translation between the focal spot and the source collimator;
• and
• e. a processor adapted to dynamically interpose the filter between the focal spot and the source collimator on a basis of the detector signal.