Patent ID: 7655917
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
1. A residual charge amount estimation method for estimating the amount of residual charges remaining in a radiation image detector which includes a charge generation layer that generates charges by receiving radiation and a detection layer stacked on top of another, the detection layer including: multitudes of pixels, each having a collection electrode for collecting the charges generated in the charge generation layer, a capacitor for storing the charges collected by the charge collection electrode, and a TFT switch for reading out the charges stored in the capacitor; multitudes of scanning lines for switching ON/OFF the TFT switches; and multitudes of data lines through which the charges stored in the capacitors are read out, the method comprising the steps of: detecting by a leak current detector a leak current flowing out through each of the data lines with each of the TFT switches being switched OFF; reading out by an image signal readout device an image signal flowing out through each of the data lines by sequentially switching ON the TFT switches connected to each of the scanning lines on a scanning line-by-scanning line basis; calculating by an average leak current calculation device an average leak current per unit saturated pixel from the leak current detected from at least one of the data lines on which a saturated pixel having a saturated value of the image signal is found and the number of saturated pixels; and estimating by a residual charge amount estimation device the amount of residual charges remaining in the unit saturated pixel based on the average leak current.