Patent ID: 6784448
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A method for reading a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor layer comprising the steps of:(a) applying a stimulating light with a stimulating light-applying unit onto an area of the stimulable phosphor layer, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer has inherent surface irregularities, and wherein the stimulable phosphor layer has a means for forming a reference plane to track the surface irregularities; whereby a stimulated emission emits from said light-applied area of the stimulable phosphor layer through a lens, the lens having a focal depth measured from a mean height of the stimulable phosphor layer; and wherein an intensity of the stimulated emission corresponds to a level of energy stored by phosphors in said light-applied area of the stimulable phosphor layer; (b) receiving the stimulated emission emitting through the lens with a stimulated emission-receiving plane, wherein the stimulated emission-receiving plane is spaced at a distance from the light-applied area of the stimulable phosphor layer, and wherein the distance is predetermined so as to focus the stimulated emission emitting through the lens onto the stimulated emission-receiving plane; (c) photoelectrically converting the stimulated emission into electrical signals; (d) repeating (a) through (c) for every area of the stimulable phosphor layer, wherein the distance is maintained by the reference plane forming means such that the distance varies only within the focal depth; and (e) assembling the electrical signals to form the radiation image.