Location of focal plane
A method and apparatus for generating a panoramic image of part of a target, comprises providing a scanner having a source of penetrating radiation facing a detector having an array of sensors for the penetrating radiation. The target is positioned between the source of penetrating radiation and the detector, and scanned with relative rotation of the scanner and the target. Radiation received at a plurality of the sensors spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the relative rotation is separately recorded. A panoramic image is generated by combining for each pixel of the panoramic image outputs from different sensors at different times during the relative rotation, the combined outputs being selected to represent rays of radiation passing through a point on a defined curve. The generated panoramic image and a graphical representation of the defined curve are displayed. Instructions are received from a user to alter the defined curve. The generating and displaying of the panoramic image are repeated using the altered curve.
1. A method of generating a panoramic image of part of a target, comprising:
providing a scanner having a source of penetrating radiation facing a detector having an array of sensors for the penetrating radiation; positioning the target between the source of penetrating radiation and the detector; scanning the target with relative rotation of the scanner and the target; separately recording radiation received at a plurality of the sensor positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the relative rotation; generating a panoramic image by combining for each pixel of the panoramic image outputs from different sensor positions at different times during the relative rotation, the combined outputs being selected to represent rays of radiation passing through a point on a defined curve; displaying the generated panoramic image and a graphical representation of the defined curve; receiving from a, user instructions to alter the defined curve; and repeating the generating and displaying of the panoramic image using the altered curve.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising repeating the receiving of instructions and generating and displaying of the panoramic image at least once.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of instructions comprises displaying a graphical representation of the altered curve together with the graphical representation of the original curve, and permitting the user to manipulate the graphical representation of the altered curve.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the detector has a plurality of rows of sensors spaced in the axial direction of the relative rotation and generating the panoramic image comprises for each point of the image combining outputs from sensor positions in an appropriate row.
5. A method according to claim 1 of generating a panoramic dental image, wherein the target is at least part of a human head, and the initial curve is an approximation to a contour of a human dental arch.
6. A method according to claim 1 . wherein the penetrating radiation is x-rays.
7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising changing the focal trough depth of the panoramic image by changing the length of the row of sensors from which outputs are combined to form a pixel of the panoramic image.
8. A machine readable medium containing a computer program for generating a panoramic image of pan of a target, the computer program comprising instructions to cause a computer to: receive outputs from a scanner having a source of penetrating radiation facing a detector having an array of sensors far thc penetrating radiation, while the scanner scans a target positioned between the source of penetrating radiation and the detector with relative rotation of the scanner and the target so as to provide separate outputs representing radiation received at a plurality of sensor positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the relative rotation; generate a panoramic image by combining for each pixel of the panoramic image outputs from different sensor positions at different times during the relative rotation, the combined outputs being selected to represent rays of radiation passing through a point on a defined curve; display the generated panoramic image and a graphical representation of the defined curve; receive from a user instructions to alter the defined curve; and repeat the generating and displaying of the panoramic image using the altered curve.
9. A machine readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein computer program further comprises instructions to cause the computer to repeat the receiving of instructions and generating and displaying of the panoramic image at least once.
10. A machine readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein computer program further comprises instructions to cause the computer to display a graphical representation of the altered curve together with the graphical representation of the original curve, and to receive instructions by permitting the user to manipulate the graphical representation of the altered curve.
11. A machine readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the detector has a plurality of rows of sensors spaced in the axial direction of the relative rotation, further comprising instructions to cause the computer to generate the panoramic image for each point of the image by combining outputs from sensors in an appropriate row of sensors.
12. A machine readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein computer program further comprises instructions to cause the computer to change the focal trough depth of the panoramic image by changing the length of the row of sensors from which outputs are combined to form a pixel of the panoramic image.
13. A machine-readable medium according to claim 8 wherein said medium comprises a solid state or magnetic memory.
14. Apparatus comprising a computer coupled to and configured to perform the functions of the program in the machine readable medium according to claim 8 .
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising: a scanner having a source of penetrating radiation facing a detector having an array of sensors for the penetrating radiation, the target being positionable between the source of penetrating radiation and the detector, the scanner being arranged to scan the target with relative rotation of the scanner and the target, the scanner being arranged to provide separate outputs representing radiation received at a plurality of sensor positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the relative rotation; and
wherein the computer is arranged to generate the panoramic image from the outputs from the scanner.