Radiant energy – Source with recording detector – Using a stimulable phosphor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-04
2004-01-20
Porta, David (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Source with recording detector
Using a stimulable phosphor
C250S591000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06680483
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image detecting device and readout exposure apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a readout exposure apparatus for reading out image data stored on an image detecting device by scanning aforementioned image detecting device with readout electromagnetic radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been known in the field of medical radiology image readout systems employing photoconductive members such as panels composed of a-Se, etc., which are sensitive to X-rays, employed as light sensitive members or electrostatic recording members for improving diagnostic performance and reducing the quantity of radiation a subject is bombarded with, wherein an electrostatic recording member is irradiated by X-ray, etc. radiation carrying radiation image data, a latent image charge carrying the radiation image data is placed on the electrostatic recording member, after which, by scanning the light sensitive member with a laser beam a current is produced therein, and by detection of that current by the flat electrodes or stripe electrodes on both sides of the light sensitive member, the electrostatic latent image carried by the latent image charge, that is, the radiation image data (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,176,275, 5,440,146, and 5,510,626, “A Method of Electronic Readout of Electrophotographic and Electroradiographic Images”; Journal of Applied Photographic Engineering, Volume 4, Number 4, Fall 1978 pp178-182 (hereinafter referred to as 1), etc.).
In the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,176,275 and 5,510,626, and document 1, a narrow line of light formed by the expansion of a beam output by an argon laser is focused onto the light sensitive member by a cylindrical lens in the apparatus, so that the narrow line of light is mechanically deflected and scanned over the light sensitive member. The stored electrostatic image is readout in a linear manner by a plurality at line electrodes arranged in a stripe pattern.
In addition, a readout system for reading out radiation image data stored on an electrostatic recording member comprising a first photoconductive layer transparent to recording radiation, a recording photoconductive layer that exhibits conductivity upon irradiation thereof by recording radiation, a charge transport layer that acts substantially as an insulator to charges in the same polarity as that of the charge placed on the first photoconductive layer and substantially as a conductor to charges in the reverse polarity thereto, a readout photoconductive layer that exhibits conductivity upon irradiation thereof by readout radiation, and a second photoconductive layer, which is transparent to readout radiation, superposed one on the other in that order, has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10(1999)-232824.
According to the readout apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10(1999)-232824, an electrostatic recording member is scanned by readout electromagnetic radiation generated by a light source, and the electrostatic image stored in the electrostatic recording member is readout. A line-shaped exposure light means, a laser beam scanning means, etc. have been proposed for use as the readout exposure apparatus, which is a light source for emitting readout electromagnetic radiation. Further, a plurality of light emitting points arranged in a line, etc. has been proposed for use as a line-shaped exposure apparatus.
When such a line-shaped exposure means having a plurality of light emitting points arranged in a line is used as the readout exposure apparatus of the detecting device described above, the light emitting points can be considered to be in a relationship of a one-to-one correspondence with the irradiation points (readout pixels) on the detecting device. However, in such a system, when on of the light emitting points malfunctions and a decrease in the quantity of light output is thereby decreased, because the exposure light for the corresponding irradiation point on the detection device is insufficient, a malfunction of only one of the light emitting points from among the plurality of light emitting points is regarded as a malfunctioning of the light source. In addition, if there is inconsistency between light emitting points with regard to the quantity and angle at which light is emitted, as a result, a problem arises in that artifacts occur in the images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed in consideration of the circumstances described above, and it is a main objective of the present invention to provide a readout exposure apparatus in which the frequency of light source malfunction is reduced and inconsistencies in exposure are controlled.
The readout exposure apparatus for reading out data recorded on an image detecting device by scanning said image detecting device with readout electromagnetic radiation according to the present invention comprises an exposure light source having a plurality of light emitting points arranged in a line, a first optical means, which has an optical member for focusing said electromagnetic radiation through an opening having a slit, that spatially filters the electromagnetic radiation emitted from each of the light emitting points of the exposure light source, wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitted from each light emitting point passing through the first optical means enters the image detecting device after having been dispersed along the lengthwise direction of said exposure light source, whereby each portion of the image detection device is simultaneously exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted from multiple light emitting points from among said plurality of light emitting points.
The expression “each portion of the image detecting device” refers to each portion of the image detecting device included exposure zone.
Note that it is desirable that the slit opening extend in the lengthwise direction of the exposure light source, and that the optical member focus the electromagnetic radiation emitted from each light emitting point in the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the exposure light source.
In addition, it is desirable that a second optical means be provided for focusing the electromagnetic radiation passing through the first optical means in the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the exposure light source.
Note that the optical member can be a SELFOC lens and the second optical means a cylindrical lens, or both the optical member and the second optical means can be cylindrical lenses.
Note that aforementioned exposure light source can be a plurality of LED or LD chips arranged in a line, or it can be an LED or LD array.
Note that the image detection device can be an electrostatic recording member that records image data as an electrostatic latent image, and by scanning thereof by readout electromagnetic radiation a current corresponding to aforementioned electrostatic latent image can be generated, or it can be a stimulable phosphor sheet that cumulatively stores image data and emits a stimulated emission corresponding to aforementioned image data upon irradiation thereof by readout electromagnetic radiation.
Note that the referent of the expression “electromagnetic radiation” includes all wavelengths of light in the visible range, infrared range, etc., and for cases in which the image detecting device is an electrostatic recording member, can be any wavelength by which the “electrostatic latent image” can be readout, and for cases in which the image detecting device is a stimulable phosphor sheet, any wavelength of light that causes stimulated emission to be emitted can be used as the stimulating light. This holds true for that described below.
As described above in the description of the prior art, a light source comprised of a plurality of light emitting points arranged in a line can be used as the aforementioned readout exposure apparatus. If the light source is formed of N light emitting points, i
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Porta David
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Sung Christine
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