| CPC G01N 23/046 (2013.01) [G01N 23/083 (2013.01); G01N 2223/04 (2013.01); G01N 2223/33 (2013.01); G01N 2223/419 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
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1. An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising:
an X-ray generator;
an X-ray detector that is placed to be opposed to the X-ray generator across an object to be inspected, the X-ray detector being configured to:
repeatedly acquire a plurality of X-ray images of the object; and
repeatedly output a periodic acquisition timing signal indicating a timing for acquiring each of the plurality of X-ray images, a CT image being formed based on a specific number of images of the plurality of X-ray images;
a rotation mechanism including a motor, the rotation mechanism being configured to perform a rotation operation in which one of a set of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector and the object is rotated relative to the other of the set of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector and the object; and
a controller configured to control the X-ray generator, the X-ray detector, and the rotation mechanism,
wherein the controller is further configured to:
cause the X-ray detector to start to acquire the plurality of X-ray images before the rotation mechanism performs the rotation operation;
repeatedly receive the periodic acquisition timing signal from the X-ray detector;
activate one of the periodic acquisition timing signal and a first signal, the first signal being generated based on the repeatedly received periodic acquisition timing signal, a signal level of the first signal being varied in response to a receiving timing of the repeatedly received periodic acquisition timing signal;
generate a motor start signal for starting the motor based on the repeatedly received periodic acquisition timing signal when the controller activates the periodic acquisition timing signal;
generate the motor start signal based on the first signal when the controller activates the first signal;
start to generate a motor drive signal at a first receiving timing of the periodic acquisition timing signal after the controller generates the motor start signal; and
drive the motor by the motor drive signal;
the specific number of images of the plurality of X-ray images correspond to images acquired, by the X-ray detector, after the controller starts to generate the motor drive signal and a rotation speed of the motor reaches a fixed speed, and
the CT image is generated based on the specific number of images of the plurality of X-ray images.
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