Smart alignment for digital radiography

A method of operating an x-ray imaging system comprising the steps of:

• positioning a digital radiographic (DR) detector adjacent to a patient;
• positioning a radiation source such that the patient is located between the DR detector and the radiation source;
• displaying guidance information on a display screen, the guidance information for positioning the radiation source in a properly aligned imaging position;
• positioning the radiation source according to the guidance information;
• and
• capturing a radiographic image of the patient.

An x-ray imaging system for capturing radiographic images of a patient, the system comprising:

• an x-ray source including a transmitter;
• a free standing manually positionable digital radiographic (DR) detector including a plurality of AEC sensors, the digital radiographic detector having a receiver, wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured to determine an orientation of the digital radiographic detector relative to the x-ray source, and wherein each of the plurality of AEC sensors are individually activatable;
• and
• an AEC selection interface configured to receive an operator selection of one or more of the plurality of AEC sensors to be activated, wherein the x-ray imaging system is configured to activate the operator selected ones of the AEC sensors for radiographic imaging of the patient, and wherein the AEC selection interface indicates a current position of each of the plurality of AEC sensors relative to the detector based on the determined orientation of the digital radiographic detector.