Imaging with digital tomography and a rapidly moving x-ray source

A computed tomography system, comprising:

• means for providing a pencil beam of electrons;
• means for receiving said pencil beans of electrons, for directing said beam of electrons along a selected path, and for bending said pencil beam of electrons and for scanning said bended electron beam along a line to form a scanning redirected beam;
• a linear target that is struck by said scanning redirected beam of electrons and generates a cone of x-rays that moves along a target line as a result of said scanning redirected beam;
• a collimator that receives said scanning cone of x-rays and generates a scanning fan beam directed to an object under inspection, wherein each point in the object under inspection receives x-rays from at least 180 degrees about the object under inspection;
• a line of detectors positioned in the same plane as the linear target to detect x-rays that pass through the object under inspection, and provide sensed signals indicative thereof;
• and
• a processing system that receives said sensed signals and forms a computed tomography image of selected planes through the object under inspection.

A computed tomography system, comprising:

• a plurality of x-ray sources arranged around an object under inspection, each of said x-ray sources including
• (i) means for providing a pencil beam of electrons;
• (ii) an electromagnet assembly that receives said pencil beam of electrons and is configured and arranged to direct said beam of electrons along a selected path and bend said pencil beam of electrons and scans the bended electron beam along a line to form a scanning redirected beam;
• (iii) a linear target that is struck by said scanning redirected beam of electrons and generates a cone of x-rays that moves along a target line as a result of said scanning redirected beam;
• (iv) a slit collimator that receives said scanning cone of x-rays and generates a scanning fan beam directed to an object under inspection,
• wherein said plurality of x-ray sources surround the object under inspection such that the object receives x-rays from at least 180 degrees about the object under inspection;
• lines of detectors positioned to detect x-rays that pass through the object under inspection, and provide sensed signals indicative thereof;
• and
• a computing device that receives said sensed signals to form a computed tomography image of the object under inspection.