Radiation sensitive area detection device and method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautice and Space Administration
InventorsDaniel C. Carter, Diana L. Hecht, William K. Witherow
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Abstract
An area detection device for use with X-ray or ultraviolet radiation wherein light from an integrating device is passed through an optical fiber to fall on a phosphor-containing film which is capable of storing a diffraction pattern formed by the transmission of X-rays or ultraviolet radiation through a sample when the diffraction pattern is projected onto the film and also being capable of fluorescing in correspondence to the diffraction pattern. Fluoresced light from the film is directed back along the fiber and into the integrating device and is fed from the integrating device to a photomultiplier which sends a signal from which the diffraction pattern can be detected.
Claims31
A radiation sensitive area detection device for use in conjunction with an X-ray or ultraviolet radiation source, comprising:
- (a) a phosphor-containing film capable of receiving and storing an image formed by a pattern of incoming radiation falling on the film after deflection or transmission through a sample, and said film being capable of fluorescing to produce fluoresced light in response to stimulation from light;
- (b) a light integrating device;
- (c) a light source positioned to project light into the integrating device;
- (d) an optical fiber having one end positioned directly in front of the phosphor-containing film and the other end connected to the light integrating device, said fiber being capable of directing light entering the integrating device from the light source onto the phosphor-containing film so that said film fluoresces in proportion to the stored image, with said fluoresced light traveling back along the fiber to the integrating device;
- (e) light receiving means connected to the light integrating device for receiving fluoresced light from the integrating device and transmitting a signal corresponding to the amount of fluoresced light;
- and
- (f) signal translating means connected to the light receiving means for translating said transmitted signal to allow detection of the image stored in the phosphor-containing film.
A radiation-sensitive area detection device for use in conjunction with an X-ray or ultraviolet radiation source, comprising
- (a) a phosphor-containing film capable of receiving and storing an image formed by a of incoming radiation falling on the film after deflection or transmission through a sample, said film also being capable of fluorescing in response to stimulation from light, said fluorescence being directly proportional to the stored image;
- (b) an integrating cylinder;
- (c) a light source positioned to project light into the integrating cylinder;
- (d) an optical fiber having one end positioned in front of the film and the other end connected to the integrating cylinder, said optical fiber being capable of directing light from the integrating cylinder onto the phosphor-containing film to cause said film to fluoresce in proportion to the stored image and also being capable or directing the fluoresced light back along the fiber to the integrating cylinder;
- and
- (e) signal processing mean comprising a light receiving means capable of receiving the fluoresced light from the integrating cylinder and transmitting a signal corresponding to the amount of fluoresced light from the phosphor-containing film to allow detection of the stored image.
A method of obtaining an image of the diffraction pattern caused by the deflection or transmission of X-ray or ultraviolet radiation through a sample, comprising the steps of
- (a) directing X-ray or ultraviolet radiation through a sample so that a radiation diffraction pattern from the sample falls upon a phosphor-containing film capable of retaining the image of the diffraction pattern and fluorescing light corresponding to that pattern in response to stimulation by light;
- and
- (b) illuminating the phosphor-containing film with light by means of an optical fiber that receives light from a light source and directs it onto the phosphor-containing film so that the film fluoresces light in a pattern corresponding to the diffraction pattern of the sample and the fluoresced light travels back along the optical fiber to an integrating sphere which directs the fluoresced light to a signal processing means where the fluoresced light is received and translated so as to allow detection of the stored image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.