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, a plurality of X-Y display devices each having a screen and means for producing a point of light thereon and having means for sweeping said point of light in a first direction in response to a first sweep signal and means for sweeping said point of light in a second orthogonal direction in response to a second sweep signal and means for warying the intensity of said point of light in response to an intensity signal, a first sweep frequency generator coupled to said X-ray source and to each of said display devices to supply said first sweep signal to each thereof, a second sweep frequency generator coupled to said X-ray source and each of said display devices 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 display devices to supply said intensity signal to said associated one of said display devices, said signal processing circuits having means for establishing a different predetermined intensity signal range for each said display devices in response to 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, generating a point of light on each of a plurality of screens, 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, modulating the intensity of a second of said points of light in response to said 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, generating a point of light on each of a plurality of screens, 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, modulating the intensity of a second of said points of light in response to said variations of the output of said X-ray detector with a second intensity signal which varies within a second different range of signal amplitudes.