933 results about "Beam source" patented technology

An imaging apparatus and related method comprising a source that projects a beam of radiation in a first trajectory; a detector located a distance from the source and positioned to receive the beam of radiation in the first trajectory; an imaging area between the source and the detector, the radiation beam from the source passing through a portion of the imaging area before it is received at the detector; a detector positioner that translates the detector to a second position in a first direction that is substantially normal to the first trajectory; and a beam positioner that alters the trajectory of the radiation beam to direct the beam onto the detector located at the second position. The radiation source can be an x-ray cone-beam source, and the detector can be a two-dimensional flat-panel detector array. The invention can be used to image objects larger than the field-of-view of the detector by translating the detector array to multiple positions, and obtaining images at each position, resulting in an effectively large field-of-view using only a single detector array having a relatively small size. A beam positioner permits the trajectory of the beam to follow the path of the translating detector, which permits safer and more efficient dose utilization, as generally only the region of the target object that is within the field-of-view of the detector at any given time will be exposed to potentially harmful radiation.

An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical system; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting to the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers.

A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem comprises a series of data acquisition nodes, each dedicated to a collection detection module and a plurality of data reduction nodes, made available on a peer to peer basis to each data acquisition nodes. Improved methods for detecting signal in the presence of noise are also provided.

The present invention is related to a patient positioning imaging device for positioning a patient in a hadron therapy device provided with a rotatable gantry (20). The patient positioning imaging device comprises a rotatable structure (10) provided with an extensible arm or foldable pivoting arm (12) arranged for connecting an imaging beam source (121) and an extensible structure or foldable pivoting structure (14) arranged for carrying an imaging beam receiver (141). The rotatable structure (10) is arranged for taking CBCT shots of the patient while the patient is located in an offset position with respect to an isocentre of the hadron therapy device, said offset position being in the direction of a rotational axis of the rotatable gantry (20). The rotatable structure (10) is arranged for being rotated while the rotatable gantry (20) remains fixed, and while the extensible or pivoting arm (12) and the extensible or pivoting structure (14) are in extended or unfolded position.

A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, applying a first powder layer on a work table, directing a first energy beam from a first energy beam source over said work table causing said first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to a corresponding model to form a first cross section of said at least one three-dimensional article, where said first energy beam is fusing a first article with parallel scan lines in a first direction, fusing a second scan line in said first direction in said first layer in said first article within a predetermined time interval after fusing a first scan line in said first article, wherein at least one intermediate scan line is fused within said time interval at another predetermined position and where said first and second scan lines are adjacent to each other.

A method for forming a three-dimensional article comprising the steps of: applying a model of the three dimensional article, applying a first powder layer on a work table, directing a first electron beam from a first electron beam source over the work table causing the first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to the model to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article, directing a second electron beam from a second electron beam source over the work table, registering at least one setting of the first electron beam source, registering at least one setting of the second electron beam source, correcting the position of the second electron beam depending on the at least one setting of the first electron beam source and the at least one setting of the second electron beam source.

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a model of the at least one three-dimensional article; applying a first powder layer on a work table; directing a first energy beam from a first energy beam source over the work table causing the first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to corresponding models to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article, where the first energy beam is fusing at least a first region of a first cross section with parallel scan lines in a first direction; varying a distance between two adjacent scan lines, which are used for fusing the powder layer, as a function of a mean length of the two adjacent scan lines.

A method and system for performing an ocular irradiation procedure on a patient's eye is disclosed. The system includes a head support for supporting the patient's head, an eye-contact device attachable to the front portion of the patient's eye, to stabilize the position of the eye; and a position detector for determining the position of the contact device in the external coordinate system. A source of a collimated electromagnetic radiation beam in the system is controlled by a beam-positioning assembly for positioning the beam source such that the beam, when activated, is aimed along a selected path at a selected coordinate in the external coordinate system corresponding to a selected target region in the patient's eye.

A radiation apparatus (10) includes a beam source (12) generating radiation beam toward a target (11). A projection detector (17) detects the images of the target (11) formed by the radiation beam. In a radiation treatment session using the apparatus (10), the beam source (12) first generates a low intensity beam. The projection detector (17) generates image signals of a patient under the treatment. A control module (18) in the apparatus (10) develops a treatment plan in accordance with a treatment prescription and the image signals. Subsequently, the beam source (12) generates a treatment beam according to the treatment plan. The projection detector (17) can generate further image signals formed by the treatment beam to verify the treatment process.

A power schedule calculation method utilizes an idealized geometry to predict laser power levels on an additive path during laser deposition. The method calculates beam power for any point along the path traveled to form a build having a geometry. Each point along the path has associated with it an idealized geometry comprising a melt pool, hot zone and bulk portion. The method comprises creating a geometric description representing the geometry of the build during the process, creating a path description representing the path of the beam source through space during the process, calculating the idealized geometry for the point on the path based upon the geometric description and path description, calculating an energy balance at the melt pool for the point on the path, calculating total energy needed at the point on the path and calculating optimum beam source power. In the calculations, build temperature is based upon a calculation of hot zone temperature derived from the idealized geometry.

A focus/detector system of an X-ray apparatus and a method for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings, are disclosed. In an embodiment of the system, the system includes a beam source equipped with a focus and a focus-side source grating, arranged in the beam path and generates a field of ray-wise coherent X-rays, a grating/detector arrangement having a phase grating and grating lines arranged parallel to the source grating for generating an interference pattern, and a detector having a multiplicity of detector elements arranged flat for measuring the position-dependent radiation intensity behind the phase grating. Finally, the detector elements are formed by a multiplicity of elongate scintillation strips, which are aligned parallel to the grating lines of the phase grating and have a small period, whose integer multiple corresponds to the average large period of the interference pattern which is formed by the phase grating.

An automated system and method of geometric 3D point location. The invention teaches a system design for translating a CAD model into real spatial locations at a construction site, interior environment, or other workspace. Specified points are materialized by intersecting two visible pencil light beams there, each beam under the control of its own robotic ray-steering beam source. Practicability requires each beam source to know its precise location and rotational orientation in the CAD-based coordinate system. As an enabling sub-invention, therefore, an automated system and method for self-location and self-orientation of a polar-angle-sensing device is specified, based on its observation of three (3) known reference points. Two such devices, under the control of a handheld unit downloaded with the CAD model or pointlist, are sufficient to orchestrate the arbitrary point location of the invention, by the following method: Three CAD-specified reference points are optically defined by emplacing a spot retroreflector at each. The user then situates the two beam source devices at unspecified locations and orientations. The user then trains each beam source on each reference point, enabling the beam source to compute its location and orientation, using the algorithm of the sub-invention. The user then may select a CAD-specified design point using the handheld controller, and in response, the handheld instructs the two beam sources to radiate toward the currently selected point P. Each beam source independently transforms P into a direction vector from self, applies a 3×3 matrix rotator that corrects for its arbitrary rotational orientation, and instructs its robotics to assume the resultant beam direction. In consummation of the inventive thread, the pair of light beams form an intersection at the specified point P, giving the worker visual cues to precisely position materials there. This design posits significant ease-of-use advantages over construction point location using a single-beam total station. The invention locates the point effortlessly and with dispatch compared to the total station method of iterative manual search maneuvering a prism into place. Speed enables building features on top of point location, such as metered plumb and edge traversal, and graphical point selection. The invention eliminates the need for a receiving device to occupy space at the specified point, leaving it free to be occupied by building materials. The invention's beam intersection creates a pattern of instantaneous visual feedback signifying correct emplacement of such building materials. Unlike surveying instruments, the invention's freedom to situate its two ray-steering devices at arbitrary locations and orientations, and its reliance instead on the staking of 3 reference points, eliminates the need for specialized surveying skill to set up and operate the system, widening access to builders, engineers, and craftspeople.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for forming at a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together with at least one energy beam so as to form the article, said method comprising the steps of generating a model of said three-dimensional article; applying a first powder layer on a work table; directing said at least one energy beam from at least one energy beam source over said work table causing said first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to said model to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article; introducing a predetermined pattern laterally separated from said first cross section for reducing thickness variations in a powder layer provided on top of said first cross section.

An unmanned vehicle is provided. The unmanned vehicle includes a navigation system configured to navigate the unmanned vehicle relative to a beam of energy emitted from a beam source, a power receiver configured to receive energy from the beam, and an energy storage system configured to store received energy for use in selectively powering the unmanned vehicle.