Method and apparatus for enhanced X-ray computing arrays
An x-ray imaging system utilizes enhanced computing arrays. A plurality of x-ray illumination source positions are utilized to produce x-ray radiation at each of the x-ray illumination source positions and to project x-ray radiation towards an object. A detector detects x-ray radiation from the object and transmits detector images for each of the illumination source positions. A memory buffer stores the detector images from the detector. A graphics processing unit formats the detector images and constructs a complete frame data set with the detector images for each of the illumination source positions. Another graphics processing unit receives the complete frame data set and performs image reconstruction on the complete frame data set.
1. An x-ray imaging system for imaging an object comprising:
a plurality of x-ray illumination source positions for producing x-ray radiation at each of said illumination source positions and projecting said x-ray radiation towards said object;
a detector for detecting said x-ray radiation from said object and transmitting detector images for each of said illumination source positions;
a memory buffer for storing said detector images from said detector;
a first graphics processing unit coupled to said memory buffer for formatting said detector images and for constructing a complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions stored in said memory buffer;
a second graphics processing unit coupled to said first graphics processing unit for receiving, from said first graphics processing unit, said complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions and for performing image reconstruction on said complete frame data set; and
a bus coupled to said first graphics processing unit and said second graphics processing unit, wherein said complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions is transferred from said first graphics processing unit to said second graphics processing unit in a single burst operation.
2. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a scanning beam x-ray source.
3. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a direct memory access unit coupled to said first graphics processing unit for direct memory access of memory by said first graphics processing unit.
4. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a direct memory access unit coupled to said first graphics processing unit for direct memory access of memory by said first graphics processing unit.
5. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a direct memory access unit coupled to said second graphics processing unit for direct memory access of memory by said second graphics processing unit.
6. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a PCI-E bus coupled to said first graphics processing unit and said second graphics processing unit.
7. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a third graphics processing unit coupled to said first graphics processing unit and said memory buffer for receiving said complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions and performing image reconstruction on said complete frame data set.
8. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein said second graphics processing unit further comprises a plurality of blocks of worker threads capable of performing independent calculations and memory operations.
9. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a multi-detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, wherein said memory buffer stores a count of incoming photons striking a surface of each of said detector elements, wherein exposures of each focal spot in said multi-detector array are separated in time, and wherein said first graphics processing unit sums said count for said exposures over said each focal spot for each of said detector elements.
10. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein said first graphics processing unit aggregates data from adjoining pixel elements of said detector and combines them as a single element.
11. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein said formatting said detector images comprises an operation selected from the group of: reshaping said detector images; transposing said detector images; transforming an image frame stored in a row-by-row format into a column-by-column format; and transforming an image frame stored in a column-by-column format into a row-by-row format.
12. A method for x-ray imaging of an object comprising:
producing x-ray radiation from a plurality of x-ray illumination source positions;
directing said x-ray radiation towards said object;
measuring an amount of said x-ray radiation striking a detector;
producing detector images of said object for each of said plurality of x-ray illumination source positions based on said amount of said x-ray radiation striking said detector;
using a first graphics processing unit to construct a complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions;
transmitting said complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions from said first graphics processing unit to a second graphics processing unit in a single burst operation; and
using said second graphics processing unit to perform image reconstruction on said complete frame data set received from said first graphics processing unit.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
producing said complete frame data set at least once every 130 milliseconds.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
identifying any of said detector images that are dropped from said complete frame data set using said first graphics processing unit.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
aggregating image data for each of said illumination source positions to form said detector images.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
transferring said complete frame data set with said detector images for each of said illumination source positions from said first graphics processing unit to said second graphics processing unit at a rate of 30 Hz.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
organizing computation for said image reconstruction in blocks of worker threads wherein each of said worker threads performs independent calculations and memory operations.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
aggregating image data for each of said illumination source positions to form said detector images; and
organizing computation for said image reconstruction in blocks of worker threads wherein each of said worker threads performs independent calculations and memory operations.
19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
transmitting detector images from said detector at a rate of at least 1 MHz.
20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
transposing said complete frame data set using said first graphics processing unit.