Patent ID: 6921200

Claim:
Imaging apparatus comprising: a radiation source for generating an imaging beam; a camera array comprising a plurality of cameras responsive to the imaging beam and arranged adjacent one another, each camera comprising rows and columns of pixels and having an output for generating image signals; drive means for moving the radiation source and the camera array relative to a subject; signal processor means arranged to receive image signals from the data output of each camera to process the image signals and to generate composite image data and to determine the imaging beam intensity therefrom; wherein the signal processor means further comprises a digital signal processor arranged to apply a compensation algorithm to compensate for misalignment of each image pixel with respect to both x- and y-axes, with the compensation algorithm arranged first to compensate for errors in the positioning of pixels in the direction of the y-axis, which axis corresponds to the direction of scanning, and then in the direction of the x-axis, which axis is transverse to the direction of scanning, thereby to compensate for unexposed and overlapping pixels in the transition zones between the cameras and to compensate for relative misalignment or distortion of the cameras; memory means for storing the composite image data; output means for displaying an image generated from the composite image data; and control means responsive to the image signals and/or the composite image data to control the operation of the signal processor means according to the intensity of the imaging beam; the camera array arranged so that fields of coverage of adjacent cameras overlap in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the camera array, so that the camera array provides full coverage of an elongated imaging zone defined thereby.