Variable Angle Collimator for Steerable X-ray Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray collimation technologies face challenges in maintaining a consistent beam size and flux over large angular ranges, leading to significant reductions in beam size and flux, especially with higher energy X-rays, which require thicker shielding materials, and introduce complexity and cost with active solutions like rotating cylinders.
Innovation Solution
A variable angle collimator system that electronically controls the angle of the X-ray beam by manipulating the electron beam's focal point on an anode, using a stationary collimator with a helically cut cylinder and hyperbolic paraboloid surfaces to maintain a consistent beam cross-section independently of the angle, without physically moving components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a stationary pinhole aperture is used to form a collimated beam, then the device complexity is low, but the beam cross-sectional area and flux are significantly reduced at large angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotating aperture mechanism that dynamically adjusts the aperture orientation to remain perpendicular to the beam direction at all angles. This dynamic adjustment maintains constant beam cross-sectional area and flux throughout the angular range, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and maintained beam quality at large angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the aperture dynamically as the beam angle changes. By adjusting the aperture's rotational position to match the beam angle, the system maintains optimal beam properties across the full angular range while using a relatively simple rotating mechanism.
2Quantity of substance
If a rotating cylinder with bore is used to maintain constant beam size, then the beam cross-sectional area remains constant, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a rotating aperture mechanism that is simpler than a full rotating cylinder. The aperture rotates to maintain perpendicular orientation to the beam, achieving constant beam flux with reduced mechanical complexity compared to synchronous rotation of a cylindrical bore with the electron beam.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential function of maintaining constant beam flux by using a simple rotating aperture, rather than implementing the more complex rotating cylinder solution. This selective extraction of the core function reduces device complexity while maintaining beam quality.
3Reliability
If thicker shielding material is used for higher energy X-rays, then the collimation effectiveness improves, but the beam cross-sectional area is further reduced at increasing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically orients the aperture to remain perpendicular to the beam direction, which compensates for the beam size reduction effect. This dynamic orientation maintains constant beam cross-sectional area and flux even when thicker shielding is used for high-energy X-rays, resolving the contradiction between collimation effectiveness and beam flux.
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 the production of a steerable collimated X-ray beam with consistent size and flux across various angles, reducing complexity and cost compared to active solutions, while maintaining flexibility and control over beam characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source configured to produce x-ray radiation
Implementation Method 2
the collimator comprising material opaque to the x-ray radiation produced by the radiation source
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2I
Figure 2J~2L
AI summary
A system for producing a controllable beam of radiation is controllable electronically, and includes no parts that must move relative to one another while in operation to form the beam. The direction and cross-section of the beam may be controlled electronically by controlling an electron beam. Various embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the aperture material thickness without requiring movement of the aperture or physical components that create the aperture. Some embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the beam angle.