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US 6,268,613 B1Granted
Multiple-head phosphor screen scanner
AssigneePhormax Corporation
InventorsGary Cantu, Wayne Evans, Todd Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple-head scanning device (20) for reading an image stored on a photostimulable phosphor storage screen (10), comprising, a rotatable frame having a center (13) and an outer perimeter (15); a photomultiplier tube (40) mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the center (13) of the rotatable frame; a plurality of radially extending optical trains (12) mounted to the rotatable frame at 120 degrees to one another, each optical train (12) configured to direct incident laser light towards phosphor storage screen (10) and to direct response radiation emitted by phosphor storage (10) screen in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube (40).
Claims71
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame at 120 degrees to one another, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, each optical train comprising a laser.
A system for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising, in combination:
- a photostimulable medium, and
- a three-head scanning device comprising:
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- a photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame,
- three lasers mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three lasers are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame and equidistant from one another;
- three dichroic mirrors mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three dichroic mirrors are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame and equidistant from one another, each dichroic mirror directing laser light from one of the three lasers towards the photostimulable medium and each dichroic mirror directing response radiation from the photostimulable medium radially inwards towards the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- three focusing lenses, each mounted between a reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium.
5 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a three-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the three-head scanning device comprising three equidistantly spaced-apart scanning heads disposed about a common center at angles of 120 degrees to one another, such that each scanning head successively traces an path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a dedicated laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
A multiple-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- and
- a plurality of radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, each optical train comprising a laser.
1 more element
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a multiple-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the multiple-head scanning device comprising a plurality of radially extending optical trains each having a scanning head disposed proximal an outer perimeter of the scanning device, such that each scanning head successively traces an path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head each optical train comprising a laser;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
A system for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising, in combination:
- a photostimulable medium, and
- a three-head scanning device comprising:
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- a photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame,
- three lasers mounted to the rotatable frame at locations proximal the center of the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three lasers are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame and equidistant from one another;
- three dichroic mirrors mounted to the rotatable frame at locations proximal the center of the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three dichroic mirrors are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame, each dichroic mirror directing laser light from one of the three lasers towards the photostimulable medium and each dichroic mirror directing response radiation from the photostimulable medium radially inwards towards the photomultiplier tube;
- three focusing lenses, each mounted between a reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- a positioning system for adjusting the position of the dichroic mirror in a radial direction, comprising a heating element mounted to a thermal expansion material, the thermal expansion material mounted to the dichroic mirror such that the expansion of the thermal expansion material causes the dichroic mirror to move in a radial direction;
- and
- a bi-cell mounted adjacent the rotatable frame at a location at the perimeter of the rotating frame, the bi-cell comprising a pair of light detectors for determining the optical radius of each of the successive scanning heads by determining the radial distance from the center of the rotating frame to a focussed laser spot under each of the scanning heads.
7 more elements
A system for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising, in combination:
- a photostimulable medium, and
- a three-head scanning device comprising:
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- a photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame,
- three lasers mounted to the rotatable frame at locations proximal the center of the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three lasers are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame and equidistant from one another;
- three dichroic mirrors mounted to the rotatable frame at locations proximal the center of the rotatable frame, wherein each of the three dichroic mirrors are mounted equidistant from the center of the rotatable frame, each dichroic mirror directing laser light from at least one of the three lasers towards the photostimulable medium and each dichroic mirror directing response radiation from the photostimulable medium radially inwards towards the photomultiplier tube;
- three focusing lenses, each mounted between a reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- a positioning system for adjusting the position of the dichroic mirror in a radial direction, comprising a heating element mounted to a thermal expansion material, the thermal expansion material mounted to the dichroic mirror such that the expansion of the thermal expansion material causes the dichroic mirror to move in a radial direction;
- and
- a CCD mounted under the rotatable frame at a location at the perimeter of the rotating frame for determining the optical radius of each of the successive scanning heads by determining the radial distance from the center of the rotating frame to a focussed laser spot under each of the scanning heads.
7 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a three-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the three-head scanning device comprising three spaced-apart scanning heads disposed about a common center, such that each scanning head successively traces an path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head, wherein each of the three scanning heads is activated in sequence such that only one scanning head is gathering image data at a time;
- and
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
3 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a multiple-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the multiple-head scanning device comprising a plurality of radially extending optical trains each having a scanning head disposed proximal an outer perimeter of the scanning device, such that each scanning head successively traces a path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head, wherein each of the three scanning heads is activated in sequence such that only one scanning head is gathering image data at a time;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a multiple-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the multiple-head scanning device comprising a plurality of radially extending optical trains each having a scanning head disposed proximal an outer perimeter of the scanning device, such that each scanning head successively traces a path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head, wherein each of the laser sources are operated continuously and mechanical shielding is provided such that only one scanning head is gathering image data at a time;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, each optical train comprising:
- (i) a laser mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame, the laser emitting the incident laser light in a direction generally nonnull to a direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (ii) a dichroic mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the laser, the dichroic mirror positioned to reflect the incident laser light emitted by the laser in the direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iii) a reflecting mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, wherein the reflecting mirror is positioned to reflect the incident laser light in the direction generally normal to the direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iv) a steering mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the photomultiplier tube, the steering mirror being positioned to reflect the response radiation into the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- (v) a focusing lens between the reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the reflecting mirror and the focussing lens back and forth in a radial direction.
8 more elements
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, wherein each optical train comprises:
- (i) a laser mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame, the laser emitting the incident laser light in a direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (ii) a reflecting mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, wherein the reflecting mirror is positioned to reflect the incident laser light in a direction generally nominal to the direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iii) a dichroic mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, the dichroic mirror positioned to reflect the response radiation in a direction radially inwards to the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iv) a steering mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the photomultiplier tube, the steering mirror being positioned to reflect the response radiation into the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- (v) a focusing lens between the reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the reflecting mirror, the dichroic mirror and the focussing lens back and forth in a radial direction.
8 more elements
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising, a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, wherein each optical train comprises:
- (i) a laser mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, the laser emitting the incident laser light in a direction generally normal to the rotatable frame;
- (ii) a dichroic mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the laser, the dichroic mirror positioned to reflect the response radiation in a direction radially inwards to the center of the rotatable frame;
- and
- (iii) a steering mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the photomultiplier tube, the steering mirror being positioned to reflect the response radiation into the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- (iv) a focusing lens between the reflecting mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the laser, the dichroic mirror and the focussing lens back and forth in a radial direction.
7 more elements
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, wherein each optical train comprises:
- (i) a laser mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame, the laser emitting the incident laser light in a direction generally normal to a direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame
- (ii) a dichroic mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the laser, the dichroic mirror positioned to reflect the incident laser light emitted by the laser in the direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iii) a steering mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the photomultiplier tube, the steering mirror being positioned to reflect the response radiation into the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- (iv) a focusing lens between the dichroic mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the dichroic mirror and the focussing lens up and down in an axial direction.
7 more elements
A three-head scanning device for reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising,
- a rotatable frame having a center and an outer perimeter;
- at least one photomultiplier tube disposed at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame;
- three radially extending optical trains mounted to the rotatable frame, each optical train configured to direct incident laser light towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium in response to the incident laser light towards the photomultiplier tube, wherein each optical train comprises:
- (i) a laser mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the center of the rotatable frame, the laser emitting the incident laser light in a direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (ii) a dichroic mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, the dichroic mirror positioned to reflect the response radiation in a direction generally normal to the direction radially outwards from the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iii) a reflecting mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location proximal the outer perimeter of the rotatable frame, wherein the reflecting mirror is positioned to reflect the response radiation in a direction radially inwards to the center of the rotatable frame;
- (iv) a steering mirror mounted to the rotatable frame at a location adjacent the photomultiplier tube, the steering mirror being positioned to reflect the response radiation into the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- (v) a focusing lens between the dichroic mirror and the photostimulable medium to focus the incident laser light on the photostimulable medium and to collimate response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the laser, the dichroic mirror and the focussing lens up and down in an axial direction.
8 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a three-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the three-head scanning device comprising three spaced-apart scanning heads disposed about a common center, such that each scanning head successively traces a path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center, wherein the optical diameter of the three-head scanning device is dimensioned to be at least 1.1547 times the width of the photostimulable medium;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
A method of reading an image stored on a photostimulable medium, comprising:
- rotating a multiple-head scanning device over the surface of the photostimulable medium, the multiple-head scanning device comprising a plurality of radially extending optical trains each having a scanning head disposed proximal an outer perimeter of the scanning device, such that each scanning head successively traces an path across the surface of the photostimulable medium, wherein each scanning head is configured to direct incident laser light from a laser source towards the photostimulable medium and to direct response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium towards a photomultiplier tube disposed at the common center;
- activating each of the scanning heads by emitting incident laser light from a laser source dedicated to the scanning head, wherein each of the scanning heads is activated in sequence such that only one scanning head is gathering image data at a time;
- measuring the response radiation emitted by the photostimulable medium with the photomultiplier tube, thereby gathering image data in polar coordinate form;
- and
- advancing the photostimulable medium in a first direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.