Method and apparatus producing plural images of different contrast range by X-ray scanning

Claim 1

Apparatus for simultaneously producing plural radiographic images of a subject comprising: a scanning X-ray source having a broad target plate and an electron gun for directing an electron beam towards said target plate and having electron beam deflection means for sweeping said electron beam along said target plate in a first direction in response to a first sweep signal and a means for sweeping said electron beam in a second orthogonal direction in response to a second sweep signal to establish a moving origin point of X-rays on said target plate which sweeps through a raster pattern thereon, an X-ray detector spaced apart from said source whereby said subject may be disposed therebetween, said detector having an active radiation-sensitive area which is substantially smaller than said raster pattern and having means for producing X-ray count signals in response to X-rays which impinge on said radiation-sensitive area, at least one X-Y display device having a screen and means for producing a plurality of points of light at separate areas of said screen and having means for concurrently sweeping each of said points of light in a first direction in response to a first sweep signal and means for concurrently sweeping each of said points of light in a second orthogonal direction in response to a second sweep signal and having a plurality of signal terminals for receiving intensity signals to individually and concurrently control the intensities of each of said points of light, a first sweep frequency generator coupled to said x-ray source and to said display device to supply said first sweep signal thereto, a second sweep frequency generator coupled to said X-ray source and to said display device to supply said second sweep signal thereto, and a plurality of signal-processing circuits, each being connected to said X-ray detector and to an associated separate one of said intensity signal terminals to supply said intensity signals to said associated one of said intensity signal terminals, said signal-processing circuits having means for concurrently establishing a different predetermined intensity signal range for each of said intensity signal terminals in response to the same set of output signals from said detector.

Claim 9

A method of simultaneously producing plural radiographic images of the subject wherein said images may exhibit different contrast-range characteristics, comprising the steps of: disposing said subject between a moving X-ray origin point and an X-ray detector, concurrently generating a plurality of points of light on a screen, each point of light being at a separate area thereof, synchronously sweeping said X-ray origin point and said points of light in similar raster patterns, modulating the intensity of a first of said points of light in response to variations of the output of said X-ray detector with an intensity signal which varies within a first range of signal amplitudes, and concurrently modulating the intensity of a second of said points of light in response to the same variations of the output of said X-ray detector with a second intensity signal which varies within a second different range of signal amplitudes.

Claim 10

A method of simultaneously producing plural radiographic images of the subject wherein said images may exhibit different contrast-range characteristics, comprising the steps of: disposing said subject between a moving X-ray origin point and an X-ray detector, concurrently generating a plurality of points of light on a screen, each point of light being at a separate area thereof, synchronously sweeping said X-ray origin point and said points of light in similar raster patterns, modulating the intensity of a first of said points of light in response to variations of the output of said X-ray detector with an intensity signal which varies within a first range of signal amplitudes, and concurrently modulating the intensity of a second of said points of light in response to the same variations of the output of said X-ray detector with a second intensity signal which varies within a second different range of signal amplitudes.