Patent ID: 7245693
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An x-ray inspection system, comprising: an x-ray source; an on-axis x-ray sensor configured to capture on-axis images of radiation from the x-ray source, wherein the x-ray source is displaced from the on-axis x-ray sensor, wherein the x-ray source and the on-axis x-ray sensor are positioned on an axis conceptually drawn between the x-ray source and the on-axis x-ray sensor, and wherein a sensing surface of the on-axis x-ray sensor is located in a plane whose normal is substantially parallel to the axis; at least one off-axis x-ray sensor configured to capture off-axis images of radiation from the x-ray source, wherein each of the at least one off-axis x-ray sensor is positioned off the axis; a fixture configured to maintain an article between i) the x-ray source, and ii) the on-axis x-ray sensor and the at least one off-axis x-ray sensor, wherein the fixture is movable with respect to the x-ray source, the on-axis x-ray sensor, and the at least one off-axis x-ray sensor; an accumulation circuit configured to receive and accumulate images captured by the on-axis x-ray sensor and the at least one off-axis x-ray sensor; and an analysis circuit configured to i) receive on-axis images from the accumulation circuit, ii) identify a feature of the article or the fixture, which feature is captured in at least one of the on-axis images, and iii) determine, at least in part from the identified feature, positional calibration information for the x-ray inspection system.