Method and apparatus for reading photo-stimulated luminescence imaging plates
OwnerJonathan Wachtel, Yoel Fixlerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reading a latent image stored in a photo-stimulated luminescence imaging plate by scanning the imaging plate with a focussed beam of light of a first wavelength to stimulate the stored image to emit light of a second wavelength; collecting the light emitted by the imaging plate; and directing the collected light to a light detector which converts the collected light to electrical signals. The light emitted by the imaging plate is collected by a non-imaging optical system which includes a dichroic mirror selectively directing light of the second wavelength to the light detector and light of the first wavelength away from the light detector.
Claims44
A method of reading a latent image stored in a photo-stimulated luminescence imaging plate by:
- scanning the imaging plate with a focussed beam of light of a first wavelength to stimulate the stored image to emit light of a second wavelength;
- collecting the light emitted by said imaging plate;
- and directing said collected light to a light detector which converts said collected light to electrical signals;
- characterized in that said emitted light is collected by a non-imaging optical system which includes a dichroic mirror selectively directing light of said second wavelength to said light detector and light of said first wavelength away from said light detector;
- said non-imaging optical system further including a light collecting mirror between said imaging plate and said dichroic mirror, said light collecting mirror having:
- an entrance aperture sufficiently close to the imaging plate to collect substantially all the light emitted therefrom;
- an outlet window for outletting the collected light via said dichroic mirror to said light detector;
- a light inlet opening for directing the focussed scanning light beam onto the imaging plate at a predetermined angle of incidence;
- a light dump opening at a predetermined angle of reflection equal to said angle of incidence leading to a dump cavity for receiving and absorbing specularly reflected light from the imaging plate;
- and an inner surface reflecting to said output window light of said second wavelength emitted from said imaging plate.
Apparatus for reading a latent image stored in a photo-stimulated luminescence imaging plate including:
- a beam scanner for scanning the imaging plate with a focussed beam of light of a first wavelength to stimulate the stored image to emit light of a second wavelength;
- a light collector for collecting the light emitted by said imaging plate;
- and a light detector for receiving and converting said collected light to electrical signals;
- characterized in that said light collector includes a non-imaging optical system which includes a dichroic mirror selectively directing light of said second wavelength to said light detector and light of said first wavelength away from said light detector;
- said non-imaging optical system further including a light collecting mirror between said imaging plate and said dichroic mirror, said light collecting mirror having:
- an entrance aperture sufficiently close to the imaging plate to collect substantially all the light emitted therefrom;
- an outlet window for outletting the collected light via said dichroic mirror to said light detector;
- a light inlet opening for directing the focussed scanning light beam onto the imaging plate at a predetermined angle of incidence;
- a light dump opening at a predetermined angle of reflection equal to said angle of incidence leading to a dump cavity for receiving and absorbing specularly reflected light from the imaging plate;
- and an inner surface reflecting to said output window light of said second wavelength emitted from said imaging plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.