Multi-spectral X-ray target and source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10748735-B2
Application number	US-201815940796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for a multi-spectral X-ray target and source are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method comprises emitting, by a source of the X-ray generator, electrons towards a section of a multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator. In one or more embodiments, the multi-spectral X-ray target is rotatable and comprises a plurality of sections, which each comprise an X-ray generating material and at least two of the sections comprise a different X-ray generating material. The method further comprises generating a set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the section of the multi-spectral X-ray target. The method further comprises rotating the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target. Further, the method comprises repeating the above method steps for all of the remaining sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for operating an X-ray generator, the method comprising:
emitting, by a source of the X-ray generator, electrons towards a first section of a multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator,
wherein the multi-spectral X-ray target is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a motion of the electrons and comprises a plurality of sections, which are each radially extending, including the first section, and
wherein each of the sections comprises an X-ray generating material and at least two of the sections comprise a different X-ray generating material; and
generating, by the first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, a first set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target,
wherein the first set of X-rays comprises a first peak characteristic energy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
rotating, by an anode driver, the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards a second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target;
emitting, by the source, the electrons towards the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator; and
generating, by the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, a second set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target comprises a different X-ray generating material than the first section, and wherein the second set of X-rays comprises a second peak characteristic energy.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:
repeating, for all remaining sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target, rotating the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, emitting the electrons towards the another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, and generating another set of X-rays.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target comprises a different X-ray generating material than one another, and
wherein sets of X-rays generated by each of the sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target each comprise a different peak characteristic energy.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the X-ray generating materials is one of Tungsten (W), Rhenium (Re), Molybdenum (Mo), Niobium (Nb), Tantalum (Ta), or Iridium (Ir).

7. A method for discriminating a specimen, the method comprising:
emitting, by a source of an X-ray generator, electrons towards a first section of a multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator,
wherein the multi-spectral X-ray target is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a motion of the electrons and comprises a plurality of sections, which are each radially extending, including the first section, and
wherein each of the sections comprises an X-ray generating material and at least two of the sections comprise a different X-ray generating material;
generating, by the first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, a first set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target,
wherein the first set of X-rays comprises a first peak characteristic energy;
radiating, through an X-ray window of the X-ray generator, the first set of X-rays towards at least a portion of the specimen;
detecting, by at least one X-ray detector, at least one of the first set of X-rays or a first set of backscattered X-rays, which are produced by the first set of X-rays striking the at least a portion of the specimen; and
processing, by at least one processor, at least one of the first set of X-rays or the first set of backscattered X-rays to discriminate the specimen.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
rotating, by an anode driver, the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards a second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target;
emitting, by the source, the electrons towards the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator;
generating, by the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, a second set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target;
radiating, through an X-ray window of the X-ray generator, the second set of X-rays towards the at least a portion of the specimen;
detecting, by the at least one X-ray detector, at least one of the second set of X-rays or a second set of backscattered X-rays, which are produced by the second set of X-rays striking the at least a portion of the specimen; and
processing, by the at least one processor, at least one of the second set of X-rays or the second set of backscattered X-rays to further discriminate the specimen.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second section of the multi-spectral X-ray target comprises a different X-ray generating material than the first section, and
wherein the second set of X-rays comprises a second peak characteristic energy.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises repeating, for all remaining sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target, rotating the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, emitting the electrons towards the another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target, generating another set of X-rays, radiating the another set of X-rays towards the at least a portion of the specimen, detecting at least one of the another set of X-rays or another set of backscattered X-rays, and processing at least one of the another set of X-rays or the another set of backscattered X-rays to further discriminate the specimen.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the processing comprises:
digitizing, by a detector multiplexer and driver processor, at least one of at least one of the sets of X-rays or at least one of the sets of backscattered X-rays to generate an image for each of the sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target; and
generating, by an image processor, a conglomeration image of the specimen by merging all of the images for each of the sections together.

12. An X-ray generator system, the system comprising:
a multi-spectral X-ray target rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a motion of incoming electrons and comprising a plurality of sections, which are each radially extending,
wherein each of the sections comprises an X-ray generating material and at least two of the sections comprise a different X-ray generating material;
a source to emit the electrons towards a first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target; and
the first section to generate a first set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the first section of the multi-spectral X-ray target,
wherein the first set of X-rays comprises a first peak characteristic energy; and
an anode driver to rotate the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system her comprises an X-ray window to allow for the first set of X-rays to radiate through.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system further comprises at least one X-ray detector to detect at least one of the first set of X-rays or a first set of backscattered X-rays, which are produced by the first set of X-rays striking at least a por

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Safai Morteza
• Georgeson Gary
• Fox Barry R

Classifications

• H01J35/06

  Cathodes · CPC title

• H01J35/08 Primary

  Anodes; Anti cathodes · CPC title

• H05G1/70

  Circuit arrangements for X-ray tubes with more than one anode; Circuit arrangements for apparatus comprising more than one X ray tube {or more than one cathode (H05G1/58 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N2223/423

  multispectral imaging-multiple energy imaging · CPC title

• H01J35/18

  Windows · CPC title