Multiple mode digital X-ray imaging system

An apparatus including a multiple mode X-ray detector system for supporting multiple X-ray image display modes by providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions, comprising:

• a detector array configured to receive a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith
• receive and convert a plurality of X-ray photons corresponding to a two-dimensional image into a first plurality of image signals representing a first two-dimensional array which includes a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• provide a second plurality of image signals representing a second two-dimensional array which includes a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of detector array receiver circuits, coupled to said detector array, configured to receive a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receive and combine said second plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith provide a third plurality of image signals representing a third two-dimensional array which includes said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• wherein said plurality of detector array receiver circuits comprises a plurality of capacitive switching circuits configured to receive a portion of said plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receive and combine selected ones of said second plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith provide said third plurality of image signals.

An apparatus including a multiple mode X-ray imaging system for supporting multiple X-ray image display modes by providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions in a still image mode or an image motion mode including correcting for defective pixels individually or in groups, comprising:

• a detector array configured to receive a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith receive and convert a plurality of X-ray photons into a first plurality of image signals, wherein
• said plurality of X-ray photons correspond to a two-dimensional image represented by a first two-dimensional array which includes a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• said first plurality of image signals represent a second two-dimensional array which includes a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• a plurality of detector array receiver circuits, coupled to said detector array, configured to receive a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receive and combine said first plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith provide a second plurality of image signals representing a third two-dimensional array which includes said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• a first data processing circuit, coupled to said plurality of detector array receiver circuits, configured to receive and process together said second plurality of image signals with a corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith provide a plurality of successive sets of corrected image data, wherein said plurality of successive sets of correction data represents a plurality of correction factors, each one of said plurality of correction factors corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of super pixels and each one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data includes a first data subset which indicates whether said respective one of said plurality of super pixels is defective;
• a first data selection circuit, coupled to said first data processing circuit, configured to receive and select between individual ones of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data and individual ones of said corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith provide a first plurality of successive sets of selected data, wherein an individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding individual one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data when said first data subset indicates that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective, and wherein said individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding one of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data when said first data subset does not indicate that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective;
• a data scaling and summing circuit, coupled to said first data selection circuit, configured to receive and scale said first plurality of successive sets of selected data, receive and scale a stored data sum signal and sum said scaled first plurality of successive sets of selected data and said scaled stored data sum signal and in accordance therewith provide a data sum signal, wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data is scaled in accordance with a first scaling factor and said stored data sum signal is scaled in accordance with a second scaling factor, and wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a plurality of successive sets of image data, and further wherein each one of said plurality of successive sets of image data includes a plurality of super pixel data with active and inactive data states and which corresponds to said third two-dimensional array;
• and
• a data memory circuit, coupled to said data scaling and summing circuit, configured to receive and selectively store said data sum signal and in accordance therewith provide said stored data sum signal;
• wherein said data scaling and summing circuit and said data memory circuit cooperatively operate in one of a plurality of operational modes during said reception of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data;
• wherein, in a first one of said plurality of operational modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is between zero and unity, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which equals a difference between unity and said first scaling factor value;
• and wherein, in a second one of said plurality of operational modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is initially unity when a first one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, remains unity when a subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and becomes zero when a further subsequent third one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which is initially zero, becomes unity when said subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and remains unity thereafter.

A method of providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions in a still image mode or an image motion mode including correcting for defective pixels individually or in groups, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith:
• receiving and converting a plurality of X-ray photons which correspond to a two-dimensional image into a first plurality of image signals which represent a first two-dimensional array including a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• generating a second plurality of image signals which represent a second two-dimensional array including a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• and
• receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said second plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of image signals which represent a third two-dimensional array including said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• receiving and processing together said third plurality of image signals with a corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith generating a plurality of successive sets of corrected image data, wherein said plurality of successive sets of correction data represents a plurality of correction factors, each one of said plurality of correction factors corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of super pixels and each one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data includes a first data subset which indicates whether said respective one of said plurality of super pixels is defective;
• selecting between individual ones of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data and individual ones of said corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith generating a first plurality of successive sets of selected data, wherein an individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding individual one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data when said first data subset indicates that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective, and wherein said individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding one of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data when said first data subset does not indicate that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective;
• receiving and scaling said first plurality of successive sets of selected data, receiving and scaling a stored data sum signal and summing said scaled first plurality of successive sets of selected data and said scaled stored data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating a data sum signal, wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data is scaled in accordance with a first scaling factor and said stored data sum signal is scaled in accordance with a second scaling factor, and wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a plurality of successive sets of image data, and further wherein each one of said plurality of successive sets of image data includes a plurality of super pixel data with active and inactive data states and which corresponds to said third two-dimensional array;
• and
• selectively storing said data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating said stored data sum signal;
• wherein said step of receiving and scaling said first plurality of successive sets of selected data, receiving and scaling a stored data sum signal and summing said scaled first plurality of successive sets of selected data and said scaled stored data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating a data sum signal and said step of selectively storing said data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating said stored data sum signal are cooperatively performed in one of a plurality of performance modes during said reception of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data;
• wherein, in a first one of said plurality of performance modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is between zero and unity, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which equals a difference between unity and said first scaling factor value;
• and
• wherein, in a second one of said plurality of performance modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is initially unity when a first one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, remains unity when a subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and becomes zero when a further subsequent third one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which is initially zero, becomes unity when said subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and remains unity thereafter.

A method of providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions in a still image mode or an image motion mode including correcting for defective pixels individually or in groups, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and converting a plurality of X-ray photons into a first plurality of image signals, wherein
• said plurality of X-ray photons correspond to a two-dimensional image represented by a first two-dimensional array which includes a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• said first plurality of image signals represent a second two-dimensional array which includes a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said first plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a second plurality of image signals which represent a third two-dimensional array including said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• receiving and processing together said second plurality of image signals with a corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith generating a plurality of successive sets of corrected image data, wherein said plurality of successive sets of correction data represents a plurality of correction factors, each one of said plurality of correction factors corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of super pixels and each one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data includes a first data subset which indicates whether said respective one of said plurality of super pixels is defective;
• selecting between individual ones of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data and individual ones of said corresponding plurality of successive sets of correction data and in accordance therewith generating a first plurality of successive sets of selected data, wherein an individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding individual one of said plurality of successive sets of correction data when said first data subset indicates that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective, and wherein said individual one of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a corresponding one of said plurality of successive sets of corrected image data when said first data subset does not indicate that said corresponding respective one of said plurality of pixels is defective;
• receiving and scaling said first plurality of successive sets of selected data, receiving and scaling a stored data sum signal and summing said scaled first plurality of successive sets of selected data and said scaled stored data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating a data sum signal, wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data is scaled in accordance with a first scaling factor and said stored data sum signal is scaled in accordance with a second scaling factor, and wherein said first plurality of successive sets of selected data includes a plurality of successive sets of image data, and further wherein each one of said plurality of successive sets of image data includes a plurality of super pixel data with active and inactive data states and which corresponds to said third two-dimensional array;
• and
• selectively storing said data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating said stored data sum signal;
• wherein said step of receiving and scaling said first plurality of successive sets of selected data, receiving and scaling a stored data sum signal and summing said scaled first plurality of successive sets of selected data and said scaled stored data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating a data sum signal and said step of selectively storing said data sum signal and in accordance therewith generating said stored data sum signal are cooperatively performed in one of a plurality of performance modes during said reception of said first plurality of successive sets of selected data;
• wherein, in a first one of said plurality of performance modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is between zero and unity, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which equals a difference between unity and said first scaling factor value;
• and
• wherein, in a second one of said plurality of performance modes,
• said first scaling factor has a value which is initially unity when a first one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, remains unity when a subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and becomes zero when a further subsequent third one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said inactive data state, and
• said second scaling factor has a value which is initially zero, becomes unity when said subsequent second one of said plurality of successive sets of image data is in said active data state and remains unity thereafter.

A method of providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith:
• receiving and converting a plurality of X-ray photons which correspond to a two-dimensional image into a first plurality of image signals which represent a first two-dimensional array including a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• generating a second plurality of image signals which represent a second two-dimensional array including a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• and
• receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said second plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of image signals which represent a third two-dimensional array including said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• wherein said second and third pluralities of image signals comprise first and second pluralities of electrical charges, respectively;
• and
• said step of receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said second plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of image signals comprises receiving a portion of said plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and capacitively combining selected ones of said first plurality of electrical charges and in accordance therewith generating said second plurality of electrical charges.

A method of providing X-ray image signals having selectable spatial resolutions, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of detector control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and converting a plurality of X-ray photons into a first plurality of image signals, wherein:
• said plurality of X-ray photons correspond to a two-dimensional image represented by a first two-dimensional array which includes a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns of pixels which together correspond to said two-dimensional image and which individually correspond to respective portions of said two-dimensional image, and
• said first plurality of image signals represent a second two-dimensional array which includes a second plurality of rows and said first plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of rows of pixels and respective individual ones of said first plurality of columns of pixels, respectively;
• receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said first plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a second plurality of image signals which represent a third two-dimensional array including said second plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns of super pixels which selectively represent respective individual ones of said second plurality of rows of super pixels and respective individual ones or multiple adjacent ones of said first plurality of columns of super pixels, respectively;
• wherein said first and second pluralities of image signals comprise first and second pluralities of electrical charges, respectively;
• and
• said step of receiving a plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and combining said first plurality of image signals and in accordance therewith generating a second plurality of image signals comprises receiving a portion of said plurality of receiver control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and capacitively combining selected ones of said first plurality of electrical charges and in accordance therewith generating said second plurality of electrical charges.