Reflector rack, fabrication method thereof, and narrow brand x-ray filter and system including same

A stackable reflection assembly comprising:

• at least two rails;
• and
• a reflector;
• a cross-section of each rail including at least first and second step portions, each said cross-section being taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail;
• the first step portions of said at least two rails including first mounting surfaces upon which the reflector is disposed;
• the second step portions of said at least two rails including second mounting surfaces;
• at least one rib connecting a first one of the at least two rails to a second one of the at least two rails;
• and
• wherein the at least one rib is of a thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the first step portions such that, when the reflector is disposed on the respective first step portions, the reflector is also disposed on the at least one rib.

A stackable assembly comprising:

• at least two rails;
• and
• a reflector;
• a cross-section of each rail including at least first and second step portions, each said cross-section being taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail, each of said at least two rails having a first end and a second end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail;
• the first step portions of said at least two rails including first mounting surfaces upon which the reflector is disposed;
• the second step portions of said at least two rails including second mounting surfaces;
• at least one rib connecting a first one of the at least two rails to a second one of the at least two rails;
• and
• wherein, for each rail, the following is true,
• a thickness of the second step portion is substantially uniform from the first end, along the longitudinal axis, to the second end thereof, and
• a thickness of the first step portion increases in magnitude, along the longitudinal axis, from a first thickness at the first end to the second thickness at the second end thereof such that a combined thickness of the first and second step portions increases from the first end to the second end.

A narrow band x-ray filter comprising:

• a substrate;
• and
• a sheaf of one or more reflection units stacked upon each other on the substrate, each reflection unit including a rack and a reflector held by the rack;
• each rack including at least two rails, a cross-section of each rail including at least first and second step portions, each said cross-section being taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail, each of said at least two rails having a first end and a second end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail;
• each first step portion including a first mounting surface upon which the respective reflector is disposed;
• each second step portion including a second mounting surface;
• and
• said at least two rails of each rack being spaced apart and oriented with respect to each other so that the longitudinal axes thereof intersect.

A method of making a narrow band x-ray filter, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• and
• stacking one or more reflection units in succession upon the substrate, each reflection unit including a rack and a reflector to be held by the rack;
• the step of stacking, for each reflection unit, including the following,
• disposing the respective rack on a respective underlying structure, and
• disposing the reflector on the rack;
• each rack including at least two rails, in cross-section each rail including at least first and second step portions, each said cross-section being taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail, each of said at least two rails having a first end and a second end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail;
• each first step portion including a first mounting surface upon which the respective reflector is disposed;
• each second step portion including a second mounting surface which can support a rail of another rack disposable thereon;
• and
• said at least two rails of each rack being spaced apart and oriented with respect to each other so that the longitudinal axes thereof intersect.