Automated Exposure Control in Radiography

Automated Exposure Control or Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) in x-ray radiography enables automated control of the time that the x-rays are on in x-ray radiography. This is used to control the mAs (i.e. the exposure and the dose received at the image receptor). By reducing the scan time the mAs is decreased and hence the exposure is reduced.

The AEC circuit uses ion chambers mounted right before the image receptor in order to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to the x-ray exposure reaching the image receptor (i.e. the detector). The signal is then amplified and compared with a reference signal that is based on a reference kVp and a user interface setting that enables modulation of the dose.

For more information on the physics of x-ray and CT radiology see:

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Is radiographer are completely replaced in future