Radiation image information read-out method and system

Abstract

An image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet is read out by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface. A variable transmittance medium whose transmittance to the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is variable continuously or stepwise is inserted into the optical path of the light between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric surface of the photodetector The transmittance of the variable transmittance medium is changed according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A radiation image information read-out method for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of: 
 inserting a variable transmittance medium whose transmittance to the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is variable continuously or stepwise into the optical path of the light between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric surface of the photodetector, and    changing the transmittance of the variable transmittance medium according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.    
     
     
         2 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 1  in which the variable transmittance medium is an electrochromic element.  
     
     
         3 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 1  in which the variable transmittance medium is a NCAP type liquid crystal element.  
     
     
         4 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 1  in which the variable transmittance medium is a ND filter system.  
     
     
         5 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 1  in which the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is determined according to the radiographing menu when the radiation image information on the object was recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.  
     
     
         6 . A radiation image information read-out method for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface, wherein the improvement comprises the step of 
 changing the amount of the stimulating light impinging upon the stimulable phosphor sheet continuously or stepwise according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.    
     
     
         7 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 6  in which the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is determined according to the radiographing menu when the radiation image information on the object was recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.  
     
     
         8 . A radiation image information read-out system for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface, wherein the improvement comprises. 
 a variable transmittance medium which is variable continuously or stepwise in transmittance to the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof and is inserted into the optical path of the light between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric surface of the photodetector, and    a transmittance changing means which changes the transmittance of the variable transmittance medium according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.    
     
     
         9 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 8  in which the variable transmittance medium is an electrochromic element.  
     
     
         10 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 8  in which the variable transmittance medium is a NCAP type liquid crystal element.  
     
     
         11 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 8  in which the variable transmittance medium is a ND filter system.  
     
     
         12 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 8  in which the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is determined according to the radiographing menu when the radiation image information on the object was recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.  
     
     
         13 . A radiation image information read-out system for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface, wherein the improvement comprises 
 a means for changing the amount of the stimulating light impinging upon the stimulable phosphor sheet continuously or stepwise according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.    
     
     
         14 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 13  in which the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is determined according to the radiographing menu when the radiation image information on the object was recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.  
     
     
         15 . A radiation image information read-out method for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating light and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector, wherein the improvement comprises the step of 
 setting the sensitivity of the photodetector so that the amount of light emitted from a blank portion on the stimulable phosphor sheet becomes larger than that corresponding to the upper limit of the operable range of the photodetector, and    controlling the irradiation energy of the stimulating light so that the level of a signal component obtained by the photodetector by reading the light emitted from the blank portion is minimized in the range higher than the upper limit of the read-out signal level range corresponding to the operable range of the photodetector.    
     
     
         16 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 15  in which preliminary read-out is effected prior to final read-out of the radiation image information on the object and the sensitivity of the photodetector is set on the basis of the image information obtained by the preliminary read-out.  
     
     
         17 . A radiation image information read-out method as defined in  claim 15  in which a plurality of levels of the sensitivity of the photodetector is registered in advance in relation to different radiographing menus and the sensitivity of the photodetector is set to the sensitivity level corresponding to the radiographing menu for the radiation image information to be read out.  
     
     
         18 . A radiation image information read-out system for obtaining an image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet comprising a stimulating light projecting means which exposes the stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating light thereby causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon and a photodetector which detects the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof, wherein the improvement comprises 
 a sensitivity setting means which sets the sensitivity of the photodetector so that the amount of light emitted from a blank portion on the stimulable phosphor sheet becomes larger than that corresponding to the upper limit of the operable range of the photodetector, and    a stimulating energy control means which controls the irradiation energy of the stimulating light so that the level of a signal component obtained by the photodetector by reading the light emitted from the blank portion is minimized in the range higher than the upper limit of the read-out signal level range corresponding to the operable range of the photodetector.    
     
     
         19 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a preliminary read-out means which effects preliminary read-out prior to final read-out of the radiation image information and the sensitivity setting means sets the sensitivity of the photodetector on the basis of the image information obtained by the preliminary read-out.  
     
     
         20 . A radiation image information read-out system as defined in  claim 18  further comprising a means for registering a plurality of levels of the sensitivity of the photodetector in relation to different radiographing menus, wherein the sensitivity setting means sets the sensitivity of the photodetector to the sensitivity level corresponding to the radiographing menu for the radiation image information to be read out.