Confocal scanner system and method
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Saccomanno, Ivan B. Steiner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiation image that has been stored in an image plate (19), such as a photostimulable phosphor screen is read by stimulating an information-bearing target area (13) with stimulating light (1). The information bearing target area responds to this stimulation by emitting information-bearing light (2) and reflecting backscatter light (3). The combination (4) of information-bearing light and backscatter light is collimated, allowing efficient rejection of backscatter light. The information-bearing light is subsequently focused onto an information receiving target (17), such as a charge-coupled device (CCD).
Claims8
A radiation information recording system comprising:
- (a) a first tapered non-imaging optical element configured to accept a light input and provide a collimated light output;
- (b) a first prism having first, second, and third surfaces, said first surface of said first prism adjacent said first tapered non-imaging optical element and in optical communication therewith;
- (c) a second tapered non-imaging optical element having a first surface and a second surface distally opposed said first surface, said first surface of said second tapered non-imaging optical element being adjacent said second surface of said a first prism and in optical communication therewith;
- (d) an image aperture (20) adjacent said second surface of said second tapered non-imaging optical element and in optical communication therewith;
- (e) a second prism having first, second, and third surfaces, said first surface of said second prism adjacent said third surface of said first prism and in optical communication therewith;
- (f) a beam-splitter located between said first surface of said second prism adjacent said third surface of said first prism;
- and
- (g) a third tapered non-imaging optical element having a first surface and a second surface distally opposed said first surface, said first surface of said third tapered non-imaging optical element being adjacent said second surface of said second prism and in optical communication therewith.
A method for using stimulating light (1) to stimulate an information bearing target area (13) into releasing information bearing light (2) and transferring said information bearing light to an information receiving target (17), wherein said initial stimulating light and said resultant information-bearing light do not pass through a common refractive element having optical power, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving (110) stimulating light (1) of a first sense from a light source (11);
- (b) illuminating (120) said information bearing target area with stimulating light (1), said illumination occurring about the normal (21) of an image aperture (20) coincident with a portion of the information-bearing target area;
- (c) receiving (130) a combination of information bearing light of a second sense emitted from said information bearing target area in response to said illumination and backscatter light (3) of the first sense reflected from said information-bearing target,
- (i) said information bearing light being of a second sense, and
- (ii) said reception also occurring about the normal of said aperture;
- (d) collimating (140) the combination of information bearing light and backscatter light to form a collimated combined light (4);
- (e) rejecting (150), in collimated space, the backscatter light portion from said collimated combined light;
- (f) recovering (160) said information-bearing light;
- and
- (e) transferring (170) said information bearing light to said information receiving target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.