Patent Number: 047180765
Section: claims

1. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: means for generating X-rays, including electron gun means for emitting an electron beam, anode target means for receiving the electron beam emitted by said electron gun means, and for irradiating X-rays at an X-ray focal spot on said anode target means, and means for moving said X-ray focal spot in a first direction by a first distance on said anode target means;  a slit plate, separated from said X-ray generator means by a second distance, and disposed substantially parallel to said first direction in which said X-ray focal spot moves, said slit plate formed with a plurality of elongated slits which allow X-rays to pass therethrough, and which are arranged side-by-side, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction in which the X-ray focal spot moves on said anode target means, said slits being adjacent to each other and separated from each other by a third distance;  means for detecting X-rays, having a two-dimensional input plane, including a projected area, arranged opposite to said slit plate, so as to accommodate a subject to be imaged between said slit plate and said detcting means, said X-ray detecting means being separated from said slit plate by a fourth distance, said X-ray detecting means for detecting X-rays having passed through said slits and the subject and impinged on said two-dimensional input plane, and converting said X-rays into electrical signals indicative thereof, the detected x-rays being comprised of scattered components and fundamental components, where the fundamental components comprise x-rays which pass directly through the subject without scattering,  said first, second, third and fourth distances having a relation such that, when the X-ray focal spot moves on said anode target by said first distance, those areas on said two-dimensional input plate of said X-ray detecting means, on which X-rays having passed through adjacent slits impinge, partially overlap;  data processing means for processing said electrical signals converted by said X-ray detecting means, said data processing means providing processed electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components of the X-rays having passed through said slits and the subject, including: (1) means for dividing said projected area into a plurality of portions which extend parallel to said second direction in which said slits extend, and (2) means for acquiring electrical signals corresponding to the fundamental components from each of said portions, said fundamental components being those of the X-rays which impinge onto that area on said two-dimensional input plate which are projected from said x-ray focal spot through said slits, said data processing means comprises means for reconstructing an X-ray image based on said electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components; and  image display means for displaying the image reconstructed by said data processing means.  generating X-rays using an electron gun which emits an electron beam at an anode target to an X-ray focal spot thereupon;  collimating said X-rays by providing a slit plate separated from the electrion gun, said slit plate formed with a plurality of elongated slits which allow X-rays to pass therethrough and which extend in a first direction;  detecting X-rays with detector means, which have passed through said slit plate and a subject to be X-rayed, the detected x-rays being comprised of scattered components and fundamental components, where the fundamental components comprise x-rays which pass directly through the subject without scattering,  moving x-ray focal spot on said anode target in a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction, so as to form a plurality of x-rays which scan several areas on said detector means, where the scanned areas formed by x-rays passing through adjacent slits partially overlap,  converting said detected x-rays to electrical signals;  processing said electrical signals by providing processed electrical signals corresponding to fundamental components of the X-rays having passed through said slits and said subject, said processing occurring by dividing a projected area into a plurality of continuous portions, each of which extend parallel to said first direction in which the slits extend, and acquiring first electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components from each of the portions;  reconstructing an X-ray image based on said first electrical singals; and  displaying the reconstructed image. 2. An x-rays imaging apparatus according to claim 1 in which said X-ray detecting means comprises an X-ray image intensifier. 3. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 in which said X-ray detecting means comprises a camera tube. 4. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, in which said data processing means picks up the electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components and electrical signals corresponding to scattered components appearing on an area outside, but near said projected area on said two-dimensional input plane, said data processing means comprises mean for processing said signals to eliminate the scattered signals. 5. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 in which said data processing means comprises means for storing both the electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components and the electrical signals corresponding to scattered components appearing on an area outside said projected area on said two-dimensional input plate, and comprises further processing means to remove the electrical signals corresponding to scattered components appearing on said outside area so that only the electrical signals corresponding to said fundamental components are provided to said data processing means. 6. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, in which said slit plate is a lead plate having through-holes forming said slits. 7. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means for moving the X-ray focal spot is for reciprocally moving said focal spot in a third direction parallel to said first direction in which said focal spot moves, a first frequency, by which said focal spot reciprocally moves in said fist direction, being higher than a second frequency, by which said focal spot moves in said third direction. 8. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing means has means for dividing said projected are into a plurality of continuous portions. 9. A method for perofrming X-ray imaging, comprising the steps of: