Digitally Switchable X-Ray Source for Material Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional x-ray imaging devices struggle to accurately determine the material composition of objects based on x-ray images, as materials with different properties exhibit similar contrast in low and high energy x-rays, making it difficult to differentiate between materials like paper, plastic, and metals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a digitally switchable x-ray source with controlled anode voltages to generate synchronized x-ray pulses, allowing for the collection and synthesis of x-ray images at various voltage levels, enabling the determination of material composition by analyzing differences in image contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional x-ray imaging devices use single voltage level imaging, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but the material differentiation capability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic switching between different anode voltage levels (e.g., 80 kV and 20 kV) to generate x-ray images at multiple energy levels. This periodic action allows the same imaging device to capture different material contrast information sequentially, enabling material differentiation without requiring multiple permanent imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameter (anode voltage) of the x-ray source to produce images at different energy levels. By varying the voltage parameter between high (80 kV) and low (20 kV) levels, the system exploits the different attenuation characteristics of materials at various energies, allowing paper, plastic, and metals to be differentiated based on their unique contrast responses.
2Measurement precision
If multiple x-ray images at different voltages are captured sequentially, then material composition can be determined, but the imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses rapid periodic switching between voltage levels to capture multiple energy-level images in quick succession. This periodic action minimizes the time gap between high-voltage and low-voltage image acquisition, reducing motion artifacts and total imaging time while still obtaining sufficient data for material composition determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification by comparing images at different voltage levels before conducting detailed analysis. By quickly identifying materials based on their contrast differences between high and low voltage images, the system can determine material composition more efficiently without requiring exhaustive analysis of all image data.
3Speed
If a digitally switchable x-ray source is used, then fast response and material differentiation are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a digitally switchable x-ray source that can dynamically change its operating voltage level in response to control signals. This dynamic capability allows the system to rapidly switch between high and low voltage modes, achieving fast response times for material differentiation while using a single versatile source rather than multiple fixed sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The digitally switchable x-ray source serves multiple functions by operating at different voltage levels. A single device performs both high-energy imaging (for dense materials like metals) and low-energy imaging (for lighter materials like paper and plastic), eliminating the need for multiple specialized sources and reducing overall system complexity despite the added switching capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate material identification by generating high-quality x-ray images that differentiate between various materials, including metals and organic materials, through the controlled emission of x-rays at different voltage levels, improving the precision of material determination in x-ray imaging.
Implementation Method 1
The X-ray source is generated by accelerating the electrons emitted in the vacuum tube towards an anode target and the accelerated electrons striking the Anode electrode
Implementation Method 2
it includes a gate electrode and an anode electrode installed adjacent to the electron emitter, and is configured to emit electrons by an electric field formed between the gate electrode and the electron emitter
Implementation Method 3
electrons are accelerated by an electric field formed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and the X-ray is emitted by hitting the X-ray target installed on the anode side by an accelerated electron beam
Data Source
AI summary
Material of an object is detected by an x-ray imaging device capturing a sample set of x-ray images at various anode voltages comparing the x-ray images and using differences between the x-ray images of the sample set to determine material of an imaged object. A composite image is synthesized of the object from the x-ray images representing different materials constructing the object