Speckle-based imaging diffuser and method for controllably fabricating same
| DWPI Title: Phase contrast imaging mask for x-ray phase contrast imaging mask, has illumination beam transparent substrate to transmit illumination beam, and illumination beam affecting pattern on illumination beam transparent substrate, where illumination beam affecting pattern has multiple of mask sub-windows |
| Abstract: A mask for use in a speckle-based x-ray or neutron phase contrast imaging system and methods of making the mask are disclosed. The mask may either absorb or change the phase of the incident x-ray or neutron beam. The mask in various embodiments has consistent statistics across the mask, is locally unique (thereby avoiding ambiguous correlations), has a speckle size on the order of the imaging system's resolution, has a speckle pattern that is visible through the sample being imaged, and/or is matched to the energy level of the imaging system and the sample density. These mask attributes are controlled by the method and materials used in the fabrication of the mask. Various embodiments use a pseudo-random binary array for generating the required speckle pattern. |
| Use: Phase contrast imaging mask used in the XPCI mask (claimed). |
| Advantage: The fabrication process can be improved by controlling the metal particle size distribution, using a sifting process to distribute the metal particles, and using a vibrating plate, each of which may improve randomness while reducing gaps and clumps. The desired relative pixel sizes of the PRBA XPCI mask and the X-ray imaging detector depend on the reconstruction algorithms that will be used, whether the unique sub-window feature of the PRBA will be used to advantage or if a PRBA is simply a convenient way of engineering a repeatable random pattern so the speckle statistics are homogenous, but maintaining the unique sub-window is not essential. Thus, the need exists for XPCI masks, and a method for making them, that should have consistent statistics across the XPCI mask, be locally unique to avoid ambiguous correlations, have a speckle size on the order of the imaging system's resolution, have a speckle pattern that is visible through the sample, and be matched to the energy level of the imaging system and the sample density. The XPCI mask in various embodiments has consistent statistics across the mask, is locally unique (thereby avoiding ambiguous correlations), has a speckle size on the order of the XPCI system's resolution, has a speckle pattern that is visible through the sample being imaged, and/or is matched to the energy level of the imaging system and the sample density. |
| Novelty: Phase contrast imaging (PCI) mask comprises an illumination beam transparent substrate adapted to transmit an illumination beam, and an illumination beam affecting pattern formed on the illumination beam transparent substrate, where the illumination beam affecting pattern includes a multiple of mask sub-windows, each mask sub-window of the multiple of mask sub-windows including a unique two-dimensional (2D) pseudo-random binary array (PRBA), each 2D PRBA corresponding to a folded pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS), each 2D PRBA including a 2D array of PRBA PCI mask pixels, and each PRBA PCI mask pixel being adapted to one of transmit, absorb, or change a phase of the illumination beam. |
| Filed: 3/21/2023 |
| Application Number: US18124092A |
| Tech ID: SD 15494.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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