X-ray sensor
AssigneeE2V Technologies (UK) Limited
InventorIan Moody
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray sensor 60 includes a phosphorescent phosphor 601 susceptible to x-ray irradiation 12 for forming an image in the phosphor, the phosphor having a decay period 71 persistent after an irradiation period 75. A photoelectric sensor array 603 is arranged to receive phosphorescent emission from the phosphorescent phosphor 601 corresponding to the image. The photoelectric sensor array is gated off for a gated period 72 during at least some of, or exceeding, the irradiation period 75 to dump output from the photoelectric sensor array means generated during at least some of the irradiation period to reduce the effect of direct x-ray irradiation of the photoelectric sensor array. A signal is at least primarily output from the sensor from persisting phosphorescence from the phosphor during the decay period.
Claims39
An x-ray sensor comprising phosphorescent phosphor means susceptible to x-ray irradiation for forming an image in the phosphor means and having a decay period persistent after an irradiation period;
- photoelectric sensor array means arranged to receive phosphorescent emission from the phosphorescent phosphor means corresponding to the image;
- gating means arranged for gating off the photoelectric sensor array means during at least some of the irradiation period to dump output from the photoelectric sensor array means generated during the at least some of the irradiation period;
- and accumulating means arranged for accumulating charge generated by the photoelectric sensor array means from decaying phosphorescence from the phosphor means during at least some of the decay period.
A method of x-ray radiography comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an x-ray sensor comprising photoelectric sensor array means and phosphorescent phosphor means susceptible to x-ray irradiation and having a decay period persistent after irradiation;
- b. irradiating the phosphorescent phosphor means with x-rays for an irradiation period to form an image in the phosphor means, with the photoelectric sensor array means gated off during at least some of the irradiation period to dump output from the photoelectric sensor array means generated during the at least some of the irradiation period;
- c. un-gating the photoelectric sensor array means;
- d. accumulating a charge generated by the photoelectric sensor array means from decaying phosphorescence from the phosphor means during at least some of the decay period;
- and
- e. forming a digital image signal from an output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.