A raster scanning x-ray source can be light and small, and can have high resolution. A raster-assembly can be attached directly to and can encircle an x-ray tube. The raster-assembly can adjoin or can be very close to the x-ray tube, resulting in a small and lightweight scanning x-ray source. X-rays can backscatter back into the x-ray tube instead of into a detector, thus improving resolution of the resulting image. A voltage-multiplier, which can be used with the x-ray source, can include separate voltage-multiplier-stages in a stack.

A shutter for controlling radiation exposure includes a rotatable member. The rotatable member is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The rotatable member includes a passageway, wherein the passageway is positioned to receive radiation in the open position and is not positioned to receive radiation in the closed position. In the closed position, the rotatable member may substantially block or absorb the radiation. The passageway may collimate the radiation into a beam of radiation. The rotatable member may include a plurality of passageways positioned to receive radiation in the open position. The rotatable member may be rotatable between a plurality of open positions, each open position corresponding to at least one passageway. The open positions may align the source of radiation with different passageways in the rotatable member to form a different beam shape, a different number of beams, a different beam direction, or combinations thereof.

A miniature mechanical shutter having a chamber, a shutter member having an aperture formed therethrough that is mounted to the chamber to allow translation and rotation about an axis. A pair of cap members are disposed on opposing ends of the shutter member to support the shutter member during the translation and rotation. The shutter further comprising a plurality of magnet members, such that a first of the plurality of magnet members is disposed in a first end of the shutter member, a second of the plurality of magnet members is disposed in a second end of the shutter member opposite the first end, and a third of the plurality of magnets members is disposed external to the chamber. At least one of the plurality of magnet members is responsive to an electrical impulse to translate and/or rotate the shutter member between an opened position and a closed position.

A multiple frame x-ray imaging system is disclosed with capability of differential x-ray exposure of different input areas of an image intensifier or other x-ray detector. Collimators are provided to control the amount of radiation in various regions of the image and image processing is provided to provide the display of images of different qualities.

The present specification discloses a multi-view X-ray inspection system having, in one of several embodiments, a three-view configuration with three X-ray sources. Each X-ray source rotates and is configured to emit a rotating X-ray pencil beam and at least two detector arrays, where each detector array has multiple non-pixellated detectors such that at least a portion of the non-pixellated detectors are oriented toward both the two X-ray sources.

A multiple frame x-ray imaging system is disclosed with capability of differential x-ray exposure of different input areas of an image intensifier or other x-ray detector. Collimators are provided to control the amount of radiation in various regions of the image and image processing is provided to provide the display of images of different qualities.

A collimating system (100) for collimating radiation received under different angles for performing tomography is described. The collimating system (100) comprises a static collimator (110) comprising a plurality of collimating apertures (112), shutters (120) for separately and temporarily shutting at least two of said collimating apertures (112), wherein the shutters (120) having a shutting element (122) for blocking said at least two collimating apertures (112), and at least one collimating element (140) distinct from the shutting element (122) for collimating radiation passing through non-shut collimating apertures (112) in a direction so as to control overlap between radiation stemming from different non-shut collimating apertures (112). The invention also relates to an imaging system comprising such a collimating system, a method for collimating and a corresponding controller and software related products.

Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus (“apparatus”) for non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter that includes a vacuum tube, an x-ray shield enclosed within the vacuum tube. The x-ray shield includes at least one emission aperture. The apparatus also includes a cathode enclosed within the vacuum tube and that is operable to generate an electron stream. Also included is an anode, enclosed within the vacuum tube and located relative to the cathode, to receive the electron stream and convert the electron stream from the cathode to an x-ray stream, and located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the x-ray stream through the at least one emission aperture. Also disclosed are a system and a method that utilize the apparatus.

A method of limiting a X-ray beam, for example in connection with an extraoral radiographic apparatus, includes moving at least two blades of a blade limiting device through one actuator only, so as to produce a X-ray beam having the desired shape, wherein the actuator moves the at least two blades at the same time, in a direct way and in the same direction, even in the event of inversion of the direction of movement of the blades.

The present disclosure provides an X-ray generator with adjustable collimation. The X-ray generator comprises: an assembly of X-ray source, which includes an X-ray tube having a cathode and an anode and a front collimator; a high voltage generator, which is disposed in an extended chamber of a housing for the X-ray tube and which is used for supplying a direct current high voltage between the cathode and the anode of the X-ray tube to excite X-ray beams; a collimation adjustment unit, which is rotatably disposed outside of the front collimator and which is used for adjusting fan-type X-ray beams into continuous pencil-type X-ray beams; and a cooling unit, which is independently mounted to the X-ray tube and which is used for cooling the anode of the X-ray tube; wherein, the assembly of X-ray source, the high voltage generator, the collimation adjustment unit and the cooling unit are integrated as a whole. The X-ray generator with adjustable collimation according to the disclosure has a compact construction, which is helpful in miniaturization, modularization and high efficiency of a security detection equipment.