Versatile Beam Scanner with Fan Beam
AssigneeAmerican Science and Engineering, Inc.
InventorsLee Grodzins, Jeffrey R. Schubert, Omar Al-Kofahi, Peter J. Rothschild
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A versatile beam scanner for generating a far-field scanned pencil beam, and, alternatively, a far-field pencil beam. An angle selector limits the angular extent of an inner fan beam emitted by a source of penetrating radiation. The source and angle selector may be translated, along a direction parallel to a central axis of a multi-aperture unit, in such a manner as to generate a scanned far-field pencil beam, when rings of apertures are interposed between the source and an inspected target, or, alternatively, a far-field fan beam, when no ring of apertures is interposed.
Claims9
A scanning apparatus for generating both a far-field scanned beam and a far-field fan beam for incidence upon an inspection target, the far-field scanned beam characterized by an angular extent, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a source of radiation for generating an inner fan beam of radiation effectively emanating from a source axis and characterized by a width;
- b. an angle selector, stationary during the course of scanning, for limiting an angular extent of the inner fan beam;
- c. a multi-aperture unit rotatable about a central axis and interposed between the source and the inspection target during generation of the far-field scanned beam;
- and
- d. an actuator for driving the source and angle selector along a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the multi-aperture unit in such a manner as to permit the far-field fan beam to be emitted uninterrupted by the multi-aperture unit.
A scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the angle selector includes a shutter position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.