Patent ID: 6459759
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An X-ray tomography apparatus for taking tomograms inside an object, comprising:an X-ray source for irradiating an X-ray beam to said object; an X-ray detection unit for detecting said X-ray beam transmitting through said object to generate a transmission image of said object on the basis of the detected X-ray beam; an XY-stage, on which said object is placed; a display unit for monitoring said transmission image of said object; a moving mechanism coupled with said XY-stage and a drive unit for moving said object to change an X-ray irradiation area of said object; a control unit for controlling said moving mechanism to stop said object at a desired position in accordance with the transmission image monitored by said display unit, and disconnecting said moving mechanism of said XY-stage from said drive unit; and a rotating mechanism for rotating said object about a rotation axis inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an irradiation axis of said X-ray beam; wherein said X-ray detection unit detects said X-ray beam transmitting through said object and rotates the detected image in synchronism with the rotation of said object to provide a rotation image, an image of tomogram of said object including an intersection of said rotation axis and said irradiation axis; said drive unit comprising first drive unit for driving said moving mechanism; a second drive unit for driving said rotating mechanism; a first coupling mechanism for coupling said moving mechanism to said first drive unit; a second coupling mechanism for coupling said rotating mechanism to said second drive unit; and a sensor unit for detecting a rotation position of said rotating mechanism, wherein when said sensor unit detects a predetermined rotation position while said rotating mechanism is rotating, said control unit controls said second coupling mechanism so as to disconnect said rotating mechanism from said second drive unit and further controls said first coupling mechanism so as to couple said moving mechanism to said first drive unit; and a base for fixing said first and second drive units, said base being arranged independently of movement of said moving mechanism and rotating mechanism.