X-ray inspection using co-planar pencil and fan beams
AssigneeAmerican Science and Engineering, Inc.
InventorsWilliam L. Adams, Lee Grodzins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inspection system is for inspecting an object with penetrating radiation. A source of penetrating radiation provides a beam of radiation. The beam alternates between a first beam shape and a second beam shape, the first and second beam shapes being coplanar. A first detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam transmitted through the object and generating a transmitted radiation signal. A second detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam scattered by the object and generating a scattered radiation signal. A processor determines at least one characteristic of the object based at least on the transmitted and scattered radiation signals.
Claims26
An inspection system for inspecting an object with penetrating radiation, the system comprising:
- a source of penetrating radiation for providing a beam of radiation, the beam alternating between a first beam shape and a second beam shape, the first and second beam shapes being coplanar;
- a first detector arrangement for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam transmitted through the object and generating a transmitted radiation signal;
- a second detector arrangement for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam scattered by the object and generating a scattered radiation signal;
- and
- a processor for determining at least one characteristic of the object based at least one of the transmitted and scattered radiation signals.
A method for characterizing an object, the method comprising:
- illuminating the object with penetrating radiation formed into a beam,
- the beam alternating between a first beam shape and a second beam shape, the first and second beam shapes being coplanar;
- detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam that is transmitted through the object so as to generate a transmitted radiation signal;
- detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam that is scattered by the object so as to generate a scattered radiation signal;
- and
- determining at least one characteristic of the object based at least on the transmitted and scattered radiation signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.