Patent ID: 6818913
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
A method of reading image information, comprising the steps of:using an image recording sheet which has a stimulable phosphor layer that emits photostimulated luminescence light of a quantity corresponding to energy stored when irradiated with stimulating light, and a solid-state image detector which has a photoconductive layer that exhibits conductibility when irradiated with said photostimulated luminescence light; scanning said image recording sheet carrying said image information recorded thereon with said stimulating light; guiding photostimulated luminescence light obtained by said scanning so that said photostimulated luminescence light is incident on said photoconductive layer, detecting electric charge generated in said photoconductive layer by the incidence of said photostimulated luminescence light, under an electric field applied across said photoconductive layer; and obtaining an image signal which carries said image information by detecting said electric charge; wherein the stimulable phosphor layer of said image recording sheet is simulated with said stimulating light having a wavelength of 600 nm or greater and emits said photostimulated luminescence light having a wavelength of 500 nm or less; the photoconductive layer of said solid-state image detector contains amorphous selenium as its main component and also has a smaller area than that of said image recording sheet; and said scanning is performed by moving said solid-state image detector relative to said image recording sheet on the surface thereof, wherein an electric field under which avalanche amplification is obtained within said photoconductive layer is applied.