X-ray Data Processing Correcting Pixel Shape Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In X-ray data processing, the statistical variation of count values is influenced by pixel shape, leading to inaccuracies in data correction, especially near gaps between readout chips, resulting in loss of incident position information and uneven distribution of count values.

Innovation Solution

An X-ray data processing apparatus and method that corrects count values by calculating a correspondence relationship between actual and virtual pixels, incorporating randomness to account for pixel shape and position, and applying a random shift based on standard deviation to distribute count values appropriately, eliminating the influence of pixel shape on statistical variation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If count values are corrected by simple area ratio division in pixels near gaps, then the correction process is simple, but the statistical variation becomes dependent on pixel shape causing inaccurate correction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of correction processVSAvoidaccuracy of count value correction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the correction parameter from simple area ratio to a probability distribution function that incorporates statistical variation. By modeling the distribution of X-ray photons according to pixel shape and position, the correction accurately accounts for statistical effects while maintaining computational feasibility through analytical solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual pixels as an intermediary concept between actual pixels and the final corrected image. Virtual pixels provide a regular grid structure that mediates the irregular sampling pattern near gaps, allowing accurate reconstruction through probability-based distribution while simplifying the overall correction framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pixels are formed to match the gap shape, then the reading chip tiling is accommodated, but the count values require complex processing to restore uniform pixel arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to reading chip tilingVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to physically modify pixels to match the regular grid, the patent inverts the approach by mapping irregular actual pixels to virtual pixels through probability distribution. This inversion allows the irregular sampling pattern to be accurately represented in a regular virtual pixel framework, simplifying subsequent processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtual pixels as idealized copies of the regular pixel grid that do not exist physically but represent the desired output structure. By distributing count values from actual pixels to virtual pixels according to probability distributions, the method creates an accurate copy of what the data would look like with uniform pixel sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If count values from large area pixels are distributed uniformly, then the calculation is simple, but information about incident position is lost causing grid-like artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of distribution calculationVSAvoidloss of incident position information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different probability distribution functions for different regions within a pixel, particularly near gaps. The distribution parameters are adjusted locally based on the pixel's position and shape, preserving incident position information while maintaining computational efficiency through analytical solutions for each local region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10101476B2X-ray data processing apparatus and method and program therefor

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 RIGAKU CORP

AI summary

Provided are an X-ray data processing apparatus and a method and a program therefor which can eliminate the influence of the phenomenon that the statistical variation of a count value after distribution is estimated differently from that at another position and can prevent the influence of correction from remaining. An X-ray data processing apparatus 200 that corrects the count value of X-ray intensity detected by a pixel array type detector includes a storage unit 220 to store a correspondence relationship of the shape and the position of a virtual pixel with respect to the shape and the position of an actual pixel, and a distribution unit 260 to distribute the count value of the actual pixel to the virtual pixel using a correspondence relationship in which randomness is provided to the stored correspondence relationship, and outputs the count value distributed to the virtual pixel as a correction result.