Patent Document ID: 5519437
Application ID: 08331629
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for imaging dental x-ray images obtained from a CCD electronic image sensor which generates an output signal corresponding to each picture element of said image sensor, comprising the steps of: exposing said image sensor to x-ray radiation; obtaining an output signal from said image sensor; transferring a level of said output signal obtained from said image sensor for each picture element, by a non-linear transfer function, to a new output signal level; calculating a correction signal prior to and during an exposure of said image sensor to x-ray radiation, said correction signal being dependent on both a dark signal of said image sensor and an x-ray radiation exposure time of said image sensor; compensating, by a compensation means, an amplitude of said new output signal level from each picture element of said image sensor using said calculated correction signal to thereby cause signal values of faintly exposed picture elements to be repositioned at a steepest portion of a signal level interval, said signal level interval corresponding to a curve relating signal level and material density, said compensated output signal corresponding to a predetermined intensity corresponding to a light intensity obtained using dental x-ray film; and displaying said compensated new output signal on a video display.