High resolution imaging using optically transparent phosphors
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsAlan L. Huston, Brian L. Justus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Images are formed by exposing optically transparent, optically stimulable luminescent glasses including luminescent centers and trapping centers, to patterned, ionizing radiation. The images may be read immediately, using scintillation, or may be stored in the glasses for subsequent reading using optically stimulated detrapping of stored charges.
Claims22
A system for high resolution imaging of an object, comprising:
- a source of ionizing radiation directed toward the object so as to form a projection of said object;
- a sheet of an optically transparent, optically stimulable glass, said sheet being positioned so as to be exposed to said projection, said optically transparent, optically stimulable glass being a glass matrix that includes luminescent centers and trapping centers, said trapping centers having the ability to store trapped charges until said glass matrix is exposed to an optical energy, said trapping centers being directly stimulable by said optical energy to cause said trapped charges to recombine and emit light energy.
A system for reading high resolution images of an object, comprising:
- a sheet of an optically transparent, optically stimulable glass that includes luminescent centers and trapping centers, said trapping centers having the ability to store trapped charges, said optically stimulable glass having been exposed to ionizing radiation and having trapped charges, generated by said exposure, stored in said trapping centers;
- a source of light, said source directing light upon said sheet, said light being of a wavelength that directly stimulates said trapped charges so as to cause said trapped charges to recombine and emit light;
- and
- a photodetector positioned to detect said emitted light.
An imaging method for providing high resolution images of an object using ionizing radiation, comprising the steps of:
- directing ionizing radiation at an object so that said ionizing radiation forms a projection of said object;
- exposing a sheet of an optically transparent, optically stimulable glass to said projection, said optically transparent, optically stimulable glass including luminescent centers and trapping centers, said trapping centers having the ability to store trapped charges formed by exposure of said optically transparent, optically stimulable glass to said transmitted ionizing radiation.
A system for high resolution imaging of an object, comprising:
- a source of ionizing radiation directed toward the object so as to form a projection of said object;
- a layer of optically transparent, optically stimulable glass powder dispersed within a film of a non-glass material, said layer being positioned so as to be exposed to said projection, said optically transparent, optically stimulable glass powder including luminescent centers and trapping centers, said trapping centers having the ability to store trapped charges until said glass is exposed to an optical energy, said trapping centers being directly stimulable by said optical energy to cause said trapped charges to recombine and emit light energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.