Patent ID: 6806486
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and in a direction different from a length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) successively reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices of said line sensor in accordance with said movement, wherein said line light source is constituted of an organic EL device.