Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, and method for controlling image pickup apparatus

A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus, the method comprising:

• executing, using a detector that includes a plurality of conversion elements which convert radiation into charge and that executes an image pickup operation in which electrical signals based on the charge are output, in a period between a first image pickup operation and a second image pickup operation, which is executed after the first image pickup operation, among the image pickup operations that are performed a plurality of times, inter-image pickup operations including a first inter-image pickup operation for suppressing a lag generated by the first image pickup operation and a second inter-image pickup operation for obtaining, from the detector, dark signals based on charges included in the conversion elements that are in a state in which the radiation is not radiated after the first inter-image pickup operation;
• calculating, using a signal processing unit that executes arithmetic processing on the electrical signals output from the detector, a correction coefficient using a first time until the conversion elements begin to accumulate charges for the second inter-image pickup operation after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed, a second time until the second inter-image pickup operation begins after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed, and the dark signals;
• predicting, using the signal processing unit, an amount of offset to be included in electrical signals output from the detector in the second image pickup operation using a third time until the conversion elements begin to accumulate charges for the second image pickup operation after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed, a fourth time until an operation for outputting the electrical signals begins in the second image pickup operation after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed, and the correction coefficient;
• and
• executing, using the signal processing unit, calculation using the electrical signals and the amount of offset output from the detector in the second image pickup operation.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a detector that includes a plurality of conversion elements which convert radiation into charge and that executes image pickup operations in which electrical signals based on the charge are output;
• a control unit that controls the detector such that the detector executes, in a period between a first image pickup operation and a second image pickup operation, which is executed after the first image pickup operation, among the image pickup operations that are performed a plurality of times, inter-image pickup operations including a first inter-image pickup operation for suppressing a lag generated by the first image pickup operation and a second inter-image pickup operation for obtaining, from the detector, dark signals based on charges included in the conversion elements that are in a state in which the radiation is not radiated after the first inter-image pickup operation;
• and
• a signal processing unit that executes arithmetic processing on the electrical signals output from the detector,
• wherein the signal processing unit is configured to execute, based on a correction coefficient calculated using a time according to a time elapsed after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed and the dark signals, arithmetic processing for correcting offset of the electrical signals output from the detector in the second image pickup operation.

An image pickup system comprising:

• an image pickup apparatus;
• and
• a radiation generation apparatus that generates the radiation,
• wherein the image pickup apparatus includes:
• a detector that includes a plurality of conversion elements which convert radiation into charge and that executes image pickup operations in which electrical signals based on the charge are output;
• a control unit that controls the detector such that the detector executes, in a period between a first image pickup operation and a second image pickup operation, which is executed after the first image pickup operation, among the image pickup operations that are performed a plurality of times, inter-image pickup operations including a first inter-image pickup operation for suppressing a lag generated by the first image pickup operation and a second inter-image pickup operation for obtaining, from the detector, dark signals based on charges included in the conversion elements that are in a state in which the radiation is not radiated after the first inter-image pickup operation;
• and
• a signal processing unit that executes arithmetic processing on the electrical signals output from the detector, and
• wherein the signal processing unit is configured to execute arithmetic processing on the electrical signals output from the detector in the second image pickup operation, using an amount of offset to be included in the electrical signals output from the detector in the second image pickup operation, the amount of offset being predicted using a correction coefficient calculated using a time after the first inter-image pickup for an operation to accumulate charges of the conversion elements in the second inter-image pickup operation is completed and the dark signals, and a time after the first inter-image pickup operation for the operation to accumulate charges of the conversion elements in the second inter-image pickup operation is completed after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed.

A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus, the method comprising:

• executing, using a detector that includes a plurality of conversion elements which convert radiation into charge and that executes an image pickup operation in which electrical signals based on the charge are output, in a period between a first image pickup operation and a second image pickup operation, which is executed after the first image pickup operation, among the image pickup operations that are performed a plurality of times, inter-image pickup operations including a first inter-image pickup operation for suppressing a lag generated by the first image pickup operation and a second inter-image pickup operation for obtaining, from the detector, dark signals based on charges included in the conversion elements that are in a state in which the radiation is not radiated after the first inter-image pickup operation;
• calculating, using a signal processing unit that executes arithmetic processing on the electrical signals output from the detector, a correction coefficient using a time according to a time elapsed after the first inter-image pickup operation is completed and the dark signals;
• and
• executing, using the signal processing unit, based on the correction coefficient, arithmetic processing for correcting offset of the electrical signals output from the detector in the second image pickup operation.