Integration of X-ray line-scan detectors
The line-scan detector is the heart of any scanning X-ray system, but "making it friends" with your software and hardware is often not easy: network protocols, synchronization with conveyor motion, calibration, multi-energy modes. We take this task on — we have extensive practical experience integrating line-scan detectors, first and foremost those manufactured by Detection Technology.
Experience with Detection Technology
We have worked extensively with Detection Technology detector systems and their X-LIB SDK library. We know their specifics from practice, not from documentation:
- The X-GCU protocol (data acquisition unit): a command channel and an image transmission channel over the network (UDP).
- IP configuration, addressing of detector cards, and working with multiple cards in a single system.
- Support for multi-energy modes and working with several detector lines.
- C++ and .NET interfaces, as well as Camera Link support.
- Correction processes: on-board (on the detector) and off-board (in software), including the piecewise method and Hi/Lo trigger modes.
Experience with Detection Technology transfers to other line-scan detectors as well — the principles of data acquisition, synchronization and calibration are largely similar. We will integrate the detector from whichever manufacturer is chosen for your project.
What integration includes
Data acquisition and connection
- Establishing a connection with the detector system (command channel and data channel).
- Real-time acquisition of image lines with buffering.
- Configuring detectors: number of cards, sensitivity for each energy channel, filtering modes (averaging / summation).
- Handling of connection errors with automatic reconnection.
Scan synchronization
- By integration time — a fixed data acquisition period.
- By encoder trigger — synchronization with conveyor motion over the distance traveled (pulses per unit length, trigger divider).
- Setting the geometric offset between detector lines (for two views).
Calibration
- Offset and gain calibration.
- Choice of calibration location: on-board (inside the detector itself) or off-board (in software), with the coefficients loaded back into the detector.
- Saving and loading calibrations to and from the detector system's non-volatile memory.
- Independent calibration of energy channels and views.
Handover to processing
- A clean, synchronized data stream ready for the image-processing pipeline (DRM, filtering, colorization).
- Alignment of frame formats and metadata.
How it fits into the project
Encoder / conveyor
scan trigger
- X-ray detectorDetection Technology and others
- X-LIB / driver
- line acquisition
- calibration
- your softwaredual energy processing
We can:
- embed the detector into your existing software — develop a driver/adapter with a clear API and hand it over to your team;
- provide a ready-made data acquisition module as part of our image-processing software;
- harmonize the detector with the controller — synchronization of the generator, conveyor and detector (see X-ray system controllers).
The result of integration
- Stable, real-time acquisition of detector data with no line loss.
- Correct synchronization of the image with the object's motion.
- A calibrated image ready for processing.
- A documented API/adapter and source code for your team.
Related services
Need to integrate a detector?
Let us know the detector model (or which one you are choosing) and describe the system — we will assess the scope of integration and propose a solution.