X-ray Camera Balancer Shading Corrector Brightness Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation-sensitive cameras used in x-ray systems face challenges with non-uniform performance across pixels and cameras, leading to brightness inconsistencies and the need for extensive balancing recordings, especially in computer tomography systems where objects of varying dimensions are imaged from different angles, resulting in a substantial effort for balancing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A camera arrangement with radiation-sensitive sensor elements arranged to record a common object plane with offset fields of view, utilizing a balancer for factory-balancing and a shading corrector for in-situ adjustments to maintain desired mapping functions across the object plane, reducing the need for multiple balancing recordings by dividing the balancing process into factory-balancing and shading correction steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple balancing recordings with different radiation intensities are used to compensate for non-linear performance and sensitivity differences of individual pixels and cameras, then the homogeneity of the combined overall image is improved, but the time and effort required for balancing increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing factory balancing during manufacturing to determine individual mapping functions for each pixel and camera module. These mapping functions are stored and applied during normal operation, eliminating the need for extensive balancing recordings at each imaging session. The balancing is done once during production, and the results are reused for subsequent imaging tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by storing multiple mapping functions for each pixel that correspond to different radiation intensity levels. During operation, the appropriate mapping function is selected based on the current radiation intensity, allowing the system to compensate for non-linear performance without requiring extensive real-time balancing recordings. This transforms the balancing problem from a time-consuming procedural task to a parameter-based lookup operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the x-ray camera is repositioned in a different location or distance in the inhomogeneous radiation field, then the ability to image objects from different angles is improved, but the balancing recordings become invalid and must be regenerated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by determining and storing multiple mapping functions for each pixel that account for different radiation intensity conditions. When the camera is repositioned, the system selects from the pre-determined mapping functions based on the new positioning, rather than requiring complete rebalancing. This allows flexible repositioning while maintaining image homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by creating a universal set of mapping functions that can be applied across different camera positions and radiation field conditions. The same pixel's mapping functions can be used whether the camera is in its original position or repositioned, making the balancing solution universally applicable to multiple configurations without requiring position-specific recalibration.
3Manufacturing precision
If a large number of balancing recordings are taken for each position in computer tomography systems with multiple angles, then the image quality and homogeneity are maintained, but the overall productivity and efficiency of the system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time-consuming balancing operation as a preliminary action during manufacturing, determining comprehensive mapping functions that cover multiple radiation intensity levels and camera positions. This one-time preliminary work enables rapid imaging during actual use, significantly improving productivity while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the balancing process from requiring multiple physical recordings into using pre-determined mapping functions with different parameter sets. Each pixel has stored mapping functions corresponding to different radiation intensity parameters, allowing the system to maintain high image quality across multiple tomography angles without repeating the extensive balancing procedure for each angle.
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
This approach significantly reduces the effort required for generating balancing recordings, allowing for efficient image detection with reduced brightness inconsistencies and improved homogeneity across the image plane, even when x-ray parameters or camera positions change, by maintaining consistent sensor signal mapping functions.
Implementation Method 1
wherein radiation is converted into visible light via an x-ray sensitive scintillator screen
Implementation Method 2
this light may be detected by means of a camera which operates in the visible range
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A camera arrangement for image detection comprising a plurality of radiation-sensitive sensor elements arranged to record a common object plane in offset fields of view. The camera arrangement comprises a balancer and a shading corrector. The balancer is implemented, for balancing the sensor elements, to post-process for each sensor element a sensor signal of the respective sensor signal n by means of balancing information determined in balancing and stored, so that a variation of the intensity I of incoming radiation in the respective field of view leads to a change of the respective post-processed sensor signal according to a desired mapping function Fn(anI), wherein the mapping functions Fn() of all factory- balanced sensor elements are equal to each other and an is a sensor-individual factor. The shading corrector is implemented on the basis of a recording generated by means of the camera arrangement with the sensor elements, to change the sensor element-individual factors an so that intensity differences of the recording are balanced across the common object plane.