METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL CONTROL OF SCANNING X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEMS

X-ray images are produced on a monitor display screen by situating the subject between a detector having a minute x-ray sensitive area and an x-ray source having an extensive anode plate on which an x-ray origin point is swept in a raster pattern similar to the raster of the display monitor. Operating parameters of the x-ray source are controlled by digital data processing circuits which enable magnification of operator selected areas of the image by reducing the size of x-ray source raster pattern and repositioning of the raster pattern on the anode plate in response to operator actuation of one or more computer input devices. In the preferred form, the system also enables image enhancements and control of image characteristics such as contrast and brightness in response to actuations of the input devices or in response to programming. X-ray exposure and image acquisition time may be reduced by operator selection of only specific areas of particular interest for high resolution scanning. In the preferred form, the apparatus can detect a particular gray level in the image data and relocate the scan to image the region where the gray level is found. This enables fixed imaging of a moving object.