(19)
(11)EP 3 040 744 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
01.07.2020 Bulletin 2020/27

(21)Application number: 15203078.9

(22)Date of filing:  30.12.2015
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G01V 5/00(2006.01)
G01T 1/17(2006.01)

(54)

X-RAY BEAM INTENSITY MONITORING DEVICE AND X-RAY INSPECTION SYSTEM

VORRICHTUNG ZUR ÜBERWACHUNG DER RÖNTGENSTRAHLINTENSITÄT UND RÖNTGENSTRAHLUNTERSUCHUNGSSYSTEM

DISPOSITIF DE SURVEILLANCE DE L'INTENSITÉ D'UN FAISCEAU DE RAYONS X ET SYSTÈME D'INSPECTION PAR RAYONS X


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 31.12.2014 CN 201410851366
31.12.2014 CN 201410851416

(43)Date of publication of application:
06.07.2016 Bulletin 2016/27

(73)Proprietors:
  • Nuctech Company Limited
    TongFang Building, Shuangqinglu, Haidian District Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • Tsinghua University
    Haidian District, Beijing 100084 (CN)

(72)Inventors:
  • LI, Yuanjing
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • KANG, Kejun
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • LI, Shuwei
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • ZHANG, Qingjun
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • LI, Yulan
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • ZHAO, Ziran
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • LIU, Yinong
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • LIU, Yaohong
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • ZHU, Weibin
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • ZHAO, Xiaolin
    Beijing 100084 (CN)
  • HE, Huishao
    Beijing 100084 (CN)

(74)Representative: Parker, Andrew James 
Meissner Bolte Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB Postfach 86 06 24
81633 München
81633 München (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
US-A- 4 051 377
US-B1- 7 091 486
  
  • Anonymous: "adopt, v. : Oxford English Dictionary", , 5 July 2019 (2019-07-05), XP055602693, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/2665?re directedFrom=adopt#eid [retrieved on 2019-07-05]
  
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


Description

Field of the Invention



[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of X-ray application, and particularly relates to an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device and an X-ray inspection system.

Background of the Invention



[0002] In an X-ray inspection system, an X-ray emitting device is mainly an electron accelerator or an X-ray tube. The X-ray emitting device and a detector array adopted to receive X-ray are placed on both sides of an inspected object. Under normal circumstances, an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitting device contains both a working beam directly irradiated on the detector array and a redundant beam irradiated on the outside of the detector array.

[0003] The X-ray beam is usually a fan-shaped beam, the fan-shaped beam is perpendicular to the ground, and the width of the working beam in the fan-shaped beam at the detector array is generally required to be approximately equal to the width of the detector array. For this reason, a collimator is often arranged between the X-ray emitting device and the detector array. The collimator is adopted to shield the redundant beam in the X-ray beam. When an object is inspected, the collimator is located between the X-ray emitting device and the inspected object.

[0004] In general, the intensity of the X-ray beam is monitored by means of dose monitoring or brightness monitoring of the X-ray beam. Dose monitoring means monitoring the dose intensity of the X-ray beam, judging whether the dose intensity exceeds a regulated dose value, and if so, and sending a dose monitoring signal to perform such operations as alarming or cutting off the power supply of the X-ray emitting device and the like. Brightness monitoring means collecting a fluctuation change value of the intensity of the X-ray beam within each measurement period and sending a brightness correction signal to correct the value collected by the detector array, so as to obtain more accurate information of the inspected object.

[0005] A dose monitoring device and a brightness monitoring device of the X-ray beam are common in the X-ray inspection system, and the two devices independently exist in the X-ray inspection system under normal conditions.

[0006] The X-ray inspection system and the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device thereof in the prior art will be illustrated below by taking it as an example that the electron accelerator is used as the X-ray emitting device of the X-ray inspection system.

[0007] The dose monitoring device in the prior art includes a detecting module, the detecting module is directly placed at the outlet of the X-ray beam of the electron accelerator in general and is located in a box body of the electron accelerator, X-rays directly penetrate through the sensitive volume of the detecting module and irradiate on the inspected object.

[0008] The monitoring method adopted by the brightness monitoring device in the prior art is to collect a brightness signal by using a redundancy detector at the upper edge region of the fan-shaped beam in the detector array for X-ray inspection and send the brightness correction signal to correct the value collected by the detector array.

[0009] In a process of implementing the present invention, the inventor of the present invention finds that the above prior art has the following disadvantages:
in the dose monitoring device in the prior art, the X-ray beam intensity is lost because of the necessity of penetrating through the sensitive volume of the detecting module, namely, the detecting sensitive volume intervenes in the X-ray beam intensity and a structure of energy spectrum arriving at the inspected object. Moreover, since the electron accelerator is a heavy current installation, while the detecting module of the dose monitoring device is a weak current instrument, the detecting module is very susceptible to electromagnetic interference of the former, and can only provide average dose information within a certain period of time in general, for example, a few seconds. In the X-ray inspection system, to ensure safety, when the dose of the X-ray beam is larger than a regulated threshold, the power supply of the X-ray emitting device must be cut off as soon as possible, thus the dose monitoring device is required to be reliable and accurate in measurement, but the dose monitoring device in the above prior art is difficult to satisfy this requirement.

[0010] In the brightness monitoring device in the prior art, the redundancy detector of the detector array is susceptible to interference of a reflected signal, mechanical deformation and other factors of the inspected object. Moreover, when the X-ray emitting device is the electron accelerator, the X-ray beam intensity on the "main beam" direction (i.e., the direction of the electron beam) of the X-ray beam is large, the larger the included angle of a position with the "main beam" is, the weaker the X-ray beam intensity is, and the X-ray beam intensity of the region where the redundancy detector is located is generally weak, so that the monitoring result is affected ultimately.

[0011] United States patent US4051377A discloses scanning X-ray examination apparatus. The output dose behind the body to be examined in a scanning X-ray examination device is kept constant by controlling the incident dose. An examination can be performed quicker and with a smaller total radiation dose, and a better image of the absorption variations can be obtained. Variations in the detection signal caused by variations in the beam intensity of the radiation source can be compensated for by arranging a detector in a portion of the radiation beam which is not incident on the object.

Summary of the Invention



[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device and an X-ray inspection system, which can improve the service efficiency of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device. The other purpose of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection system, and the monitoring result of X-ray beam intensity of the X-ray inspection system is more accurate and reliable.

[0013] According to the invention, the problem is solved by means of an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device as defined in independent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device according to the invention are set forth in the subclaims. Additional details of the device are provided herein.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device includes a plurality of intensity detecting modules, and the plurality of intensity detecting modules are coupled with the same data processing module.

[0015] Further, the intensity detecting modules are independently sealed respectively.

[0016] According to the invention, the data processing module includes an integrating amplifier and a signal conversion device, the integrating amplifier is coupled with the intensity detecting module to receive the detecting signal and output a voltage signal, and the signal conversion device is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output the dose monitoring signal and the brightness correction signal.

[0017] According to the invention, the signal conversion device includes a voltage comparator and an analog-digital converter, the voltage comparator is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output a level signal to serve as the dose monitoring signal, and the analog-digital converter is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output a digital signal to serve as the brightness correction signal.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the intensity detecting module is a scintillation detecting module or a gas detecting module.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides an X-ray inspection system, including an X-ray emitting device, a detector array and an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device in any item in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0020] Further, an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitting device includes a working beam irradiated on the detector array and a redundant beam irradiated on the outside of the detector array, and the intensity detecting module of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is arranged between the X-ray emitting device and the detector array to be irradiated by the redundant beam and send the detecting signal.

[0021] Further, the X-ray inspection system further includes a collimator, and the intensity detecting module is located between the X-ray emitting device and the collimator.

[0022] Further, the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device includes a plurality of intensity detecting modules which are symmetrically arranged relative to the working beam.

[0023] Further, the X-ray beam is a fan-shaped beam, and the intensity detecting module is located on the sector side of the fan-shaped beam.

[0024] Further, the intensity detecting module is a scintillation detecting module, the scintillation detecting module includes a scintillator, a photosensor and a shielding layer, one end of the scintillator is coupled with the photosensor, the scintillator is located between the photosensor and the working beam to irradiate the redundant beam on the scintillator, and the shielding layer is arranged on the periphery of the photosensor.

[0025] Further, the intensity detecting module is a gas detecting module, the gas detecting module includes a high-voltage plate electrode, a collection plate electrode and a working gas, the high-voltage plate electrode is located between the X-ray emitting device and the collection plate electrode and is vertical to the incidence direction of the X-ray beam to irradiate the redundant beam on the high-voltage plate electrode, and the working gas is located between the high-voltage plate electrode and the collection plate electrode.

[0026] Through a detailed description on exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to accompanying drawings below, other features and advantages of the present invention will be clear.

Brief Description of the Drawings



[0027] The accompanying drawings illustrated herein are used for providing further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the present application, and the exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the illustration thereof are used for explaining the present invention, rather than constituting improper limitations to the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a layout schematic diagram of an X-ray inspection system in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional schematic diagram of a B-B direction of the X-ray inspection system as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle of an intensity detecting module of an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device in the X-ray inspection system as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a sectional structure principle of a C-C direction of the intensity detecting module as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of the X-ray inspection system as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle in an overlooking direction of an intensity detecting module of an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device in an X-ray inspection system in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle of the intensity detecting module as shown in Fig. 6, observed in a direction vertical to an X-ray fan-shaped beam.



[0028] In Fig. 1 to Fig. 7, marks in the accompanying drawings are respectively as follows:
1
represents an electron accelerator;
2
represents a detector array;
3
represents a collimator;
4
represents an inspected object;
5
represents a scintillation detecting module;
51
represents a scintillator;
52
represents a photosensor;
53
represents a shielding layer;
6
represents a gas detecting module;
61
represents a high-voltage plate electrode;
62
represents a collection plate electrode;
63
represents a working gas.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments



[0029] A clear and complete description of technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be given below, in combination with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the embodiments described below are merely a part, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. A description on at least one exemplary embodiment below is actually only illustrative, and cannot be used as any limitation to the present invention or the application or the use thereof. All of the other embodiments, obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without any creative effort, fall into the protection scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, relative arrangement of components and steps, numeric expressions and numerical values described in these embodiments generate no limitation to the scope of the present invention. Meanwhile, it should be understood that, for the convenience of description, the sizes of various components shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to an actual proportional relationship. The technology, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but the technology, the methods and the equipment should be deemed to be a part of the authorized specification under appropriate circumstances. In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any particular value should be interpreted as being merely an example, not a restriction. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments can have different values. It should be noted that, similar marks and letters represent similar items in the following accompanying drawings, so that once a certain item is defined in an accompanying drawing, the item does not need to be further discussed in the subsequent accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1



[0031] Fig. 1 to Fig. 5 show an X-ray inspection system in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 1 is a layout schematic diagram of an X-ray inspection system in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional schematic diagram of a B-B direction of the X-ray inspection system as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the X-ray inspection system in the first embodiment includes an X-ray emitting device adopted to emit X-rays, a collimator 3, a detector array 2 used in X-ray inspection and an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device.

[0033] Wherein, the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is adopted to monitor the X-ray beam intensity of the X-ray emitting device. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device includes an intensity detecting module and a data processing module. The data processing module is coupled with the intensity detecting module to receive the detecting signal sent by the intensity detecting module and output an X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal.

[0034] The X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal includes a dose monitoring signal of the X-ray beam and a brightness correction signal of the X-ray beam. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device can simultaneously perform dose monitoring and brightness monitoring, thereby improving the service efficiency of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device.

[0035] An X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitting device includes a working beam irradiated on the detector array 2 and a redundant beam irradiated on the outside of the detector array 2. The intensity detecting module of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is preferably arranged between the emitting device and the detector array 2 to be irradiated by the redundant beam and send a detecting signal.

[0036] The intensity detecting module of the X-ray inspection system adopts the redundant beam of the X-ray beam, and the intensity detecting module is basically free from the influence of the X-ray emitting device and the inspected object 4, so that the monitoring result of the X-ray beam intensity can be more accurate and reliable. Further, since the intensity detecting module has no influence on the working beam, thereby having no influence on the intensity of the working beam arriving at the inspected object 4 and the detector array 2.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the X-ray emitting device is an electron accelerator 1. In other non-shown embodiments, the X-ray emitting device can be other X-ray emitting devices, such as an X-ray tube, etc.

[0038] The collimator 3 is located between the X-ray emitting device and the detector array 2. The collimator 3 is adopted to shield the redundant beam. When an inspected object 4 is inspected, the collimator 3 is located between the X-ray emitting device and the inspected object 4, and the working beam of the X-ray beam irradiates the inspected object 4 and the detector array 2 after passing through the collimator 3.

[0039] When the X-ray inspection system is provided with the collimator 3, the intensity detecting module is located between the X-ray emitting device and the collimator 3. Owing to this arrangement, the direct electromagnetic interference from the electron accelerator 1 is avoided, and meanwhile the monitoring result of the X-ray beam intensity will not be influenced by the arrangement of the collimator 3.

[0040] Preferably, the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device includes a plurality of intensity detecting modules which are symmetrically arranged relative to the working beam. By means of the plurality of intensity detecting modules which are symmetrically arranged relative to the working beam, when the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitting device deflects, the detecting signals sent by the intensity detecting modules can compensate each other, so that the monitoring result of the X-ray beam intensity can be more accurate and reliable compared with that when only a single intensity detecting module is arranged. Two intensity detecting modules are specifically arranged in the first embodiment. In other non-shown embodiments, more intensity detecting modules, for example 4, can be arranged.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the working beam is a fan-shaped beam, and the intensity detecting module is located on the sector side of the fan-shaped beam. Owing to this arrangement, the intensity detecting module is located at a "main beam" of the X-ray beam and is closer to the central position of the X-ray beam, so that information of the X-ray beam identify can be provided more effectively.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the sector of the fan-shaped beam is perpendicular to the ground, one side where the electron accelerator 1 is located is a front side, one side where the detector array 2 is located is a back side, one intensity detecting module (called a left detecting module and a right detecting module below) is respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the sector of the fan-shaped beam. Wherein, the left detecting module and the right detecting module are placed between the electron accelerator 1 and the collimator 3 and are adopted to generate the X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal after transmitting the obtained detecting signals to the data processing module for merging and converting.

[0043] The left detecting module and the right detecting module are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the sector of the fan-shaped beam and are located at positions capable of being directly irradiated by the redundant beam, so as to monitor the X-ray beam intensity via the redundant beam. The left detecting module and the right detecting module are isolated by a certain gap, and the width of the gap is large enough to guarantee that the working beam can be irradiated within a range required by the width of the detector array 2 without being influenced.

[0044] The left detecting module and the right detecting module are two detectors having symmetrical geometrical shapes and the same structure. In a direction vertical to the sector of the X-ray beam, when an enough sensitive size satisfies left and right deflection of the fan-shaped beam, the coverage widths of the sensitive volumes of the two detectors are still not exceeded. The intensity detecting module can have a plurality of implementation manners. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle of the intensity detecting module of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a sectional structure principle of a C-C direction of the intensity detecting module as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 illustrate the working principle of the intensity detecting module in the first embodiment with one of the left detecting module and the right detecting module as an example. In Fig. 4, L represents the incidence direction of the X-ray beam.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, in the first embodiment, both the left detecting module and the right detecting module are scintillation detecting modules 5. Each scintillation detecting module 5 includes a scintillator 51, a photosensor 52, a shielding layer 53 and a reflecting layer (not shown). Wherein, one end of the scintillator 51 is coupled with the photosensor 52 and is located between the photosensor 52 and the working beam. The shielding layer 53 is arranged on the periphery of the photosensor 52 to shield the photosensor 52 from the damage of scattered X-rays. The shielding layer 53 is preferably made of a heavy metal. The reflecting layer is wrapped on a non-coupling surface on which the scintillator 51 is not coupled with the photosensor 52. The material of the reflecting layer can be titanium dioxide. In addition, a respective light sealing structure is arranged in the scintillation detecting modules 5, and the scintillator 51 and the photosensor 52 are arranged in the corresponding sealing structure which is guaranteed to donot leak light.

[0046] The scintillator 51 (i.e., a sensitive volume) of the scintillation detecting module 5 is preferably made of a scintillation crystal. The length between the scintillator 51 and the photosensor 52 is preferably large enough to guarantee that the deflection of the fan-shaped beam will not arrive at the position of the photosensor 52. The scintillator 51 is preferably vertical to the incidence direction L of the X-ray beam.

[0047] When the scintillation detecting module 5 detects the X-ray beam intensity, the X-rays are irradiated onto the scintillation crystal to emit twinkling light, the photosensor 52 absorbs the twinkling light to generate an electric signal, and the electric signal output by the photosensor 52 is input to the data processing module for subsequent processing.

[0048] The scintillation detecting module 5 has the advantages of large sensitive medium density and high sensitivity.

[0049] Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of the X-ray inspection system as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the data processing module is coupled with the intensity detecting modules, the detecting signals output by the intensity detecting modules are transmitted to the data processing module together, after the data processing module receives the detecting signals of the intensity detecting modules, the data processing module merges and processes the detecting signals herein and outputs the X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, the data processing module includes an integrating amplifier and a signal conversion device. Wherein, the integrating amplifier is coupled with the intensity detecting modules to receive the detecting signals sent by the intensity detecting modules and output a voltage signal. The amplitude of the voltage signal is in direct proportion to the X-ray beam intensity. The signal conversion device is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal of the integrating amplifier and output the X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, in the first embodiment, the signal conversion device specifically includes a voltage comparator and an analog-digital converter. The voltage comparator and the analog-digital converter are independently converted.

[0052] The voltage comparator is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal of the integrating amplifier and output a level signal to serve as the dose monitoring signal of the X-ray beam. A reference voltage of the voltage comparator is determined according to regulated X-ray dose intensity. The dose monitoring signal is adopted to control whether to cut off the power supply of the X-ray emitting device or alarm or not.

[0053] The analog-digital converter is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal of the integrating amplifier and output a digital signal to serve as the brightness correction signal of the X-ray beam.

[0054] The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of the X-ray inspection system in the first embodiment can simultaneously perform dose monitoring and brightness monitoring, thereby improving the service efficiency of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device. Moreover, the intensity of the working beam is not influenced by dose monitoring anymore, and the electromagnetic interference from the electron accelerator 1 is avoided. The brightness monitoring is not influenced by the inspected object 4 or the mechanical deformation of the system anymore.

Embodiment 2



[0055] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment as follows: in the second embodiment, the scintillation detecting module 5 in the first embodiment is replaced by a gas detecting module 6 to serve as the intensity detecting module. Wherein, the left detecting module and the right detecting module respectively adopt a gas detecting module 6 with the same structure to detect the intensity of the X-ray beam.

[0056] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle in an overlooking direction of an intensity detecting module of an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device in an X-ray inspection system in the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure principle of the intensity detecting module as shown in Fig. 6, observed in a direction vertical to an X-ray fan-shaped beam. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 illustrate the working principle of the intensity detecting module in the second embodiment with one of the left detecting module and the right detecting module as an example. In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, L represents the incidence direction of the X-ray beam.

[0057] See Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the gas detecting module 6 includes a gas ionization chamber. The gas ionization chamber includes two plate electrodes, which are respectively a high-voltage plate electrode 61 and a collection plate electrode 62. The two plate electrodes are vertical to the incidence direction L of the X-ray beam. The high-voltage plate electrode 61 is connected to high-voltage electricity and is irradiated by the redundant beam, and the collection plate electrode 62 is coupled with the data processing module. A working gas 63 is located between the high-voltage plate electrode 61 and the collection plate electrode 62. The high-voltage plate electrode 61, the collection plate electrode 62 and the working gas 63 need to be in a sealing structure.

[0058] The advantages of using the gas detecting module 6 as the intensity detecting module lie in that no irradiation damage is caused, a detection area is enlarged easily and the cost is low. For other non-illustrated portions in the second embodiment, please refer to relevant contents in the first embodiment. The portions will not be repeated redundantly herein.


Claims

1. An X-ray beam intensity monitoring device, comprising an intensity detecting module and a data processing module, wherein the intensity detecting module is arranged to be irradiated by the X-ray beam and send a detecting signal, the data processing module is coupled with the intensity detecting module to receive the detecting signal and output an X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal comprises a dose monitoring signal of the X-ray beam and a brightness correction signal of the X-ray beam;
characterized in that:

the data processing module comprises an integrating amplifier and a signal conversion device, the integrating amplifier is coupled with the intensity detecting module to receive the detecting signal and output a voltage signal, and the signal conversion device is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output the dose monitoring signal and the brightness correction signal

wherein the signal conversion device comprises a voltage comparator and an analog-digital converter, the voltage comparator is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output a level signal to serve as the dose monitoring signal, and the analog-digital converter is coupled with the integrating amplifier to receive the voltage signal and output a digital signal to serve as the brightness correction signal.


 
2. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device comprises a plurality of intensity detecting modules, and the plurality of intensity detecting modules are coupled with the same data processing module.
 
3. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the intensity detecting modules are independently sealed respectively.
 
4. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the intensity detecting module is a scintillation detecting module (5) or a gas detecting module (6).
 
5. An X-ray inspection system, comprising an X-ray emitting device, a detector array (2) and an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device of any one of the previous claims.
 
6. The X-ray inspection system of claim 5, wherein an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitting device comprises a working beam irradiated on the detector array (2) and a redundant beam irradiated on the outside of the detector array (2), and the intensity detecting module of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device is arranged between the X-ray emitting device and the detector array (2) to be irradiated by the redundant beam and send the detecting signal.
 
7. The X-ray inspection system of either of claim 5 or claim 6, in particular claim 6, wherein the X-ray inspection system further comprises a collimator (3), and the intensity detecting module is located between the X-ray emitting device and the collimator (3).
 
8. The X-ray inspection system of any one of claims 5 to 7, in particular claim 6, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device comprises a plurality of intensity detecting modules which are symmetrically arranged relative to the working beam.
 
9. The X-ray inspection system of any one of claims 5 to 8, in particular claim 6, wherein the X-ray beam is a fan-shaped beam, and the intensity detecting module is located on the sector side of the fan-shaped beam.
 
10. The X-ray inspection system of any one of claims 5 to 9, in particular claim 6, wherein the intensity detecting module is a scintillation detecting module (5), the scintillation detecting module (5) comprises a scintillator (51), a photosensor (52) and a shielding layer (53), one end of the scintillator (51) is coupled with the photosensor (52), the scintillator (51) is located between the photosensor (52) and the working beam to irradiate the redundant beam on the scintillator (51), and the shielding layer (53) is arranged on the periphery of the photosensor (52).
 
11. The X-ray inspection system of any one of claims 5 to 10, in particular claim 6, wherein the intensity detecting module is a gas detecting module (6), the gas detecting module (6) comprises a high-voltage plate electrode (61), a collection plate electrode (62) and a working gas (63), the high-voltage plate electrode (61) is located between the X-ray emitting device and the collection plate electrode (62) and is vertical to the incidence direction of the X-ray beam to irradiate the redundant beam on the high-voltage plate electrode (61), and the working gas (63) is located between the high-voltage plate electrode (61) and the collection plate electrode (62).
 


Ansprüche

1. Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung, welche ein Intensitätserfassungsmodul und ein Datenverarbeitungsmodul umfasst, wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul derart angeordnet ist, dass es von dem Röntgenstrahl bestrahlt wird und ein Erfassungssignal sendet, wobei das Datenverarbeitungsmodul mit dem Intensitätserfassungsmodul gekoppelt ist, um das Erfassungssignal zu empfangen und ein Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungssignal auszugeben, wobei das Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungssignal ein Dosisüberwachungssignal des Röntgenstrahls und ein Helligkeitskorrektursignal des Röntgenstrahls umfasst;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Datenverarbeitungsmodul einen integrierenden Verstärker und eine Signalumwandlungsvorrichtung umfasst, wobei der integrierende Verstärker mit dem Intensitätserfassungsmodul gekoppelt ist, um das Erfassungssignal zu empfangen und ein Spannungssignal auszugeben, und wobei die Signalumwandlungsvorrichtung mit dem integrierenden Verstärker gekoppelt ist, um das Spannungssignal zu empfangen und das Dosisüberwachungssignal und das Helligkeitskorrektursignal auszugeben,
wobei die Signalumwandlungsvorrichtung einen Spannungskomparator und einen Analog-Digital-Wandler umfasst, wobei der Spannungskomparator mit dem integrierenden Verstärker gekoppelt ist, um das Spannungssignal zu empfangen und ein Pegelsignal auszugeben, welches als das Dosisüberwachungssignal dient, und wobei der Analog-DigitalWandler mit dem integrierenden Verstärker gekoppelt ist, um das Spannungssignal zu empfangen und ein digitales Signal auszugeben, welches als das Helligkeitskorrektursignal dient.
 
2. Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung eine Vielzahl von Intensitätserfassungsmodulen umfasst, und wobei die Vielzahl von Intensitätserfassungsmodulen mit dem gleichen Datenverarbeitungsmodul gekoppelt sind.
 
3. Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Intensitätserfassungsmodule jeweils unabhängig voneinander abgedichtet sind.
 
4. Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul ein Szintillationserfassungsmodul (5) oder ein Gaserfassungsmodul (6) ist.
 
5. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem, umfassend eine Röntgenstrahl-Emissionsvorrichtung, eine Detektoranordnung (2) und eine Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung, wobei die Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung die Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche ist.
 
6. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach Anspruch 5, wobei ein von der Röntgenstrahl-Emissionsvorrichtung emittierter Röntgenstrahl einen Arbeitsstrahl, der auf die Detektoranordnung (2) gestrahlt wird, und einen redundanten Strahl umfasst, der auf die Außenseite der Detektoranordnung (2) gestrahlt wird, und wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul der Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung zwischen der Röntgenstrahl-Emissionsvorrichtung und der Detektoranordnung (2) angeordnet ist, um von dem redundanten Strahl bestrahlt zu werden und das Erfassungssignal zu senden.
 
7. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, insbesondere nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem ferner einen Kollimator (3) umfasst, und wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul zwischen der Röntgenstrahl-Emissionsvorrichtung und dem Kollimator (3) angeordnet ist.
 
8. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 7, insbesondere nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Röntgenstrahl-Intensitätsüberwachungsvorrichtung eine Vielzahl von Intensitätserfassungsmodulen umfasst, die in Relation zum Arbeitsstrahl symmetrisch angeordnet sind.
 
9. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, insbesondere nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Röntgenstrahl ein fächerförmiger Strahl ist und das Intensitätserfassungsmodul auf der Sektorseite des fächerförmigen Strahls angeordnet ist.
 
10. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 9, insbesondere nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul ein Szintillations-Erfassungsmodul (5) ist, das Szintillations-Erfassungsmodul (5) einen Szintillator (51), einen Photosensor (52) und eine Abschirmschicht (53) umfasst, wobei ein Ende des Szintillators (51) mit dem Photosensor (52) gekoppelt ist, der Szintillator (51) zwischen dem Photosensor (52) und dem Arbeitsstrahl angeordnet ist, um den redundanten Strahl auf den Szintillator (51) abzustrahlen, und wobei die Abschirmschicht (53) an der Peripherie des Photosensors (52) angeordnet ist.
 
11. Röntgenstrahl-Inspektionssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 10, insbesondere nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Intensitätserfassungsmodul ein Gaserfassungsmodul (6) ist, wobei das Gaserfassungsmodul (6) eine Hochspannungsplattenelektrode (61), eine Sammelplattenelektrode (62) und ein Arbeitsgas (63) umfasst, wobei die Hochspannungsplattenelektrode (61) zwischen der Röntgenstrahl-Emissionsvorrichtung und der Sammelplattenelektrode (62) angeordnet ist und senkrecht zur Einfallsrichtung des Röntgenstrahls steht, um den redundanten Strahl auf die Hochspannungsplattenelektrode (61) zu strahlen, und wobei sich das Arbeitsgas (63) zwischen der Hochspannungsplattenelektrode (61) und der Sammelplattenelektrode (62) befindet.
 


Revendications

1. Dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X, comprenant un module de détection d'intensité et un module de traitement de données, dans lequel le module de détection d'intensité est agencé pour être irradié par le faisceau de rayons X et pour envoyer un signal de détection, le module de traitement de données est couplé au module de détection d'intensité pour recevoir le signal de détection et pour sortir un signal de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X, dans lequel le signal de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X comprend un signal de détection de surveillance de dose du faisceau de rayons X et un signal de correction de luminosité du faisceau de rayons X ;
caractérisé en ce que :

le module de traitement de données comprend un amplificateur d'intégration et un dispositif de conversion de signal, l'amplificateur d'intégration est couplé au module de détection d'intensité pour recevoir le signal de détection et pour sortir un signal de tension, et le dispositif de conversion de signal est couplé à l'amplificateur d'intégration pour recevoir le signal de tension et pour sortir le signal de surveillance de dose et le signal de correction de luminosité,

dans lequel le dispositif de conversion de signal comprend un comparateur de tension et un convertisseur analogique/numérique, le comparateur de tension est couplé à l'amplificateur d'intégration pour recevoir le signal de tension et pour sortir un signal de niveau destiné a servir à titre de signal de surveillance de dose, et le convertisseur analogique/numérique est couplé à l'amplificateur d'intégration pour recevoir le signal de tension et pour sortir un signal numérique destiné à servir à titre de signal de correction de luminosité.


 
2. Dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X comprend une pluralité de modules de détection d'intensité, et la pluralité de modules de détection d'intensité sont couplés au même module de traitement de données.
 
3. Dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les modules de détection d'intensité sont scellés de manière indépendante respectivement.
 
4. Dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le module de détection d'intensité est un module de détection de scintillation (5) ou un module de détection de gaz (6).
 
5. Système d'inspection par rayons X, comprenant un dispositif émetteur de rayons X, un réseau de détecteurs (2) et un dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de surveillance rayons X, dans lequel le dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de surveillance rayons X est le dispositif de surveillance d'intensité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
 
6. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon la revendication 5, dans lequel un faisceau de rayons X émis par le dispositif émetteur de rayons X comprend un faisceau de travail irradié sur le réseau de détecteurs (2) et un faisceau redondant irradié sur l'extérieur du réseau de détecteurs (2), et le module de détection d'intensité du dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X est agencé entre le dispositif émetteur de rayons X et le réseau de détecteurs (2) pour être irradié par le faisceau redondant et pour envoyer le signal de détection.
 
7. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 5 ou 6, en particulier la revendication 6, dans lequel le système d'inspection par rayons X comprend en outre un collimateur (3), et le module de détection d'intensité est situé entre le dispositif émetteur de rayons X et le collimateur (3).
 
8. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 7, en particulier la revendication 6,
dans lequel le dispositif de surveillance de l'intensité d'un faisceau de rayons X comprend une pluralité de modules de détection d'intensité qui sont agencés symétriquement relativement au faisceau de travail.
 
9. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, en particulier la revendication 6, dans lequel le faisceau de rayons X est un faisceau en forme d'éventail, et le module de détection d'intensité est situé sur le côté du secteur du faisceau en forme d'éventail.
 
10. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 9, en particulier la revendication 6, dans lequel le module de détection d'intensité est un module de détection de scintillation (5), le module de détection de scintillation (5) comprend un scintillateur (51), un photodétecteur (52) et une couche écran (53), une extrémité du scintillateur (51) est couplée au photodétecteur (52), le scintillateur (51) est situé entre le photodétecteur (52) et le faisceau de travail pour irradier le faisceau redondant sur le scintillateur (51), et la couche écran (53) est agencée sur la périphérie du photodétecteur (52).
 
11. Système d'inspection par rayons X selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 10, en particulier la revendication 6, dans lequel le module de détection d'intensité est un module de détection de gaz (6), le module de détection de gaz (6) comprend une électrode en forme de plaque à haute tension (61), une électrode en forme de plaque de collecte (62) et un gaz de travail (63), l'électrode en forme de plaque à haute tension (61) est située entre le dispositif émetteur de rayons X et l'électrode en forme de plaque de collecte (62), et est verticale par rapport à la direction d'incidence du faisceau de rayons X pour irradier le faisceau redondant sur l'électrode en forme de plaque à haute tension (61), et le gaz de travail (63) est situé entre l'électrode en forme de plaque à haute tension (61) et l'électrode en forme de plaque de collecte (62).
 




Drawing

















Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description