X-ray Imaging Volume Aperture Transfer Function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current x-ray imaging technologies face challenges in focusing x-rays due to the low refractive index of materials, leading to inefficient imaging and aberrations, particularly with refractive lenses, and pinhole cameras require long exposure times and are limited to two-dimensional imaging.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system using a volume aperture with a specific shape to create an image transfer function without spatial singularities, allowing for non-refractive high-energy particle beam imaging, which includes configuring apertures to have image transfer functions lacking zeros within a usable spatial frequency range, enabling x-ray imaging with improved efficiency and resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If refractive lenses are used to focus x-rays, then imaging can be performed, but the refractive index is very close to one causing very small ray deflection and poor focusing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces refractive optical systems with a pinhole camera obscura system that uses geometric projection rather than refraction to achieve x-ray imaging. This substitution eliminates the need for materials with specific refractive indices and achieves focusing through simple geometric aperture geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential imaging function from complex refractive lens systems and implements it through a simple pinhole aperture. By removing the refractive element entirely and using only geometric projection, the system achieves focusing without requiring materials with refractive indices different from one.
2Reliability
If pinhole type camera obscura is used for x-ray imaging, then aberration free imaging with wide viewing angles is achieved, but long exposure times are required and only two-dimensional imaging is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional pinhole imaging to three-dimensional volumetric imaging by introducing a third dimension of spatial frequency information. The aperture function is designed to preserve singularities in the transfer function, enabling recovery of depth information and three-dimensional object characteristics from the projected image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mathematical transformation (Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform) that mediates between the two-dimensional pinhole projection and the three-dimensional object. This mathematical intermediary enables extraction of volumetric information from the 2D projection without requiring physical 3D imaging components.
3Reliability
If pinhole imaging system is used, then aberration free imaging is achieved, but singularities occur at zero points of the image transfer function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the aperture function to modify the image transfer function. By designing the aperture with specific geometric characteristics, the transfer function is engineered to avoid zero points that would create singularities. This parameter optimization maintains aberration-free imaging while eliminating harmful singularities in the frequency domain.
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 enables efficient x-ray imaging with improved resolution and reduced aberrations, allowing for three-dimensional imaging and increased power efficiency, while avoiding the limitations of traditional refractive lenses and pinhole cameras.
Implementation Method 1
x-ray-based imaging systems
Implementation Method 2
Absorptive zone plate lenses can be created to focus x-rays using diffraction instead of refraction
Implementation Method 3
Absorptive zone plate lenses
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides systems and methods for x-ray imaging. In some embodiments, an aperture, or a plurality thereof, are configured to have image transfer functions lacking a zero within a usable spatial frequency range. In further embodiments, the image transfer function is determined according to the shape of the aperture and the usable spatial frequency range is determined according to a usable signal to noise ratio.