X-ray imaging apparatus and method of generating stereoscopic image
Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus and a method for generating a stereoscopic image by using the apparatus. The stereoscopic image generation method includes emitting first X-rays toward a target object at a first emission angle, detecting the first X-rays which have propagated through the target object in order to acquire a first X-ray image, emitting second X-rays toward the target object at a second emission angle which is different from the first emission angle, detecting the second X-rays which have propagated through the target object in order to acquire at least a second X-ray image, and generating a stereoscopic image based on the first X-ray image and the at least second X-ray image.
1. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
a X-ray generator which is configured to emit first X-rays toward a target object at a first emission angle and to emit second X-rays toward the target object at a second emission angle which is different from the first emission angle, wherein a dosage level of the second X-rays is lower than a dosage level of the first X-rays;
a detector which is configured to detect the first X-rays and the second X-rays;
an image processor which is configured to acquire a first X-ray image from the detected first X-rays and to acquire a second X-ray image from the detected second X-rays, of which the dosage level is lower than the dosage level of the first X-rays, and to generate a stereoscopic image by combining the acquired first X-ray image and the acquired second X-ray image; and
a display which is configured to display the generated stereoscopic image,
wherein the image processor is further configured to match an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image by improving the image quality of the second X-ray image.
2. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to improve the image quality of the second X-ray image by using information of the first X-ray image.
3. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to match an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image prior to generating the stereoscopic image.
4. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a basic image controller which is configured to display the first X-ray image on a first screen and to display the second X-ray image on a second screen.
5. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a difference angle δ between the first emission angle and the second emission angle satisfies 0<δ≦10°.
6. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
an X-ray generator which is configured to emit first X-rays toward a target object at a first emission angle and to emit second X-rays toward the target object at a second emission angle which is different from the first emission angle, wherein a dosage level of the second X-rays is lower than a dosage level of the first X-rays;
a detector which is configured to detect the first X-rays and the second X-rays;
an image processor which is configured to acquire a first X-ray image from the detected first X-rays and to acquire a second X-ray image from the detected second X-rays of which the dosage level is lower than the dosage level of the first X-rays; and
a display apparatus comprising a first display which is configured to display the acquired first X-ray image, a second display which is configured to display the acquired second X-ray image, and a third display which is configured to receive light beams which respectively correspond to the first and second X-ray images and to display a stereoscopic image which is based on the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image and which is generated by using a half mirror method,
wherein the image processor is further configured to match an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image by improving the image quality of the second X-ray image.
7. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image processor is further configured to improve the image quality of the second X-ray image by using information of the first X-ray image.
8. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image processor is further configured to match an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image prior to the generation of the stereoscopic image.
9. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a difference angle δ between the first emission angle and the second emission angle satisfies 0<δ≦10°.
10. A method for generating a stereoscopic image by using an X-ray imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
emitting first X-rays toward a target object at a first emission angle;
detecting the first X-rays which have propagated through the target object in order to acquire a first X-ray image;
emitting second X-rays toward the target object at a second emission angle which is different from the first emission angle, wherein a dosage level of the second X-rays is lower than a dosage level of the first X-rays;
detecting the second X-rays in order to acquire a second X-ray image;
matching an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image by improving the image quality of the second X-ray image; and
generating a stereoscopic image by using the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the improving the image quality of the second X-ray image comprises:
improving the image quality of the second X-ray image by using information of the first X-ray image.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the matching an image quality of the first X-ray image with an image quality of the second X-ray image is performed prior to the generating the stereoscopic image.
13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising simultaneously displaying the first X-ray image, the second X-ray image, and the stereoscopic image.
14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a difference angle δ between the first emission angle and the second emission angle satisfies 0<δ≦10°.
15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the generating the stereoscopic image comprises using the first X-ray image as a left eye image and using the least second X-ray image as a right eye image.
16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the generating the stereoscopic image comprises applying a first color filter to the first X-ray image, applying a second color filter to the second X-ray image, and overlapping the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image in order to generate a combination image.
17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the generating the stereoscopic image comprises using a polarized glass technique with respect to the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image.
18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the generating the stereoscopic image comprises repeatedly displaying each of the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image at a respective predetermined interval such that the displaying is synchronized with shutter glasses to be used by a viewer.
19. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the generating the stereoscopic image comprises applying a half mirror technique with respect to each of the first X-ray image and the second X-ray image.