Patent ID: 7541605

Claim:
A radiation image information read-out apparatus, comprising: a stimulable phosphor layer, which stores radiation image information, and which emits light of an intensity proportional to the radiation image information when secondary stimulating rays are irradiated to the stimulable phosphor layer; a response speed converting fluorescent substance layer, which converts the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor layer into light having a life time longer than a light emission life time of the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor layer; a photo-conductor layer, which exhibits electrical conductivity when the light having been obtained from the conversion performed by the response speed converting fluorescent substance layer is irradiated to the photo-conductor layer; and an electroluminescent layer which emits the secondary stimulating rays, which are to be irradiated to the stimulable phosphor layer, when a voltage is applied across the electroluminescent layer; stimulating ray source control means for controlling the application of the voltage across the electroluminescent layer, such that scanning of the stimulable phosphor layer with the secondary stimulating rays is performed, and for causing the electroluminescent layer to emit pulsed secondary stimulating rays at predetermined time intervals; and image signal acquiring means for detecting electric charges that are generated in the photo-conductor layer within the predetermined time intervals after the pulsed secondary stimulating rays have been emitted from the electroluminescent layer, thereby acquiring an image signal that represents the radiation image information, wherein all of the layers are overlaid one upon another and combined with one another into an integral body.