Apparatus and method for producing images corresponding to patterns of high energy radiation

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for recording images on recording mediums which images correspond to high energy radiation patterns. A temporary storage medium, such as an infrared-stimulable phosphor or thermoluminescent material, is exposed to an incident pattern of high energy radiation. A time interval after exposure, a small area beam of long wave length radiation or heat scans the screen to release the stored energy as light. An appropriate sensor receives the light emitted by the screen and produces electrical energy in accordance with the light received. The information carried by the electrical energy is transformed into a recorded image by scanning an information storage medium with a light beam which is intensity modulated in accordance with the electrical energy. Although the invention can be used at any reproduction ratio, it is particularly usable in recording images representative of large format high energy patterns onto microfilm.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for producing an image corresponding to .[.a.]. .Iadd.an incident x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern .[.of radiation of a first wavelength.]., using a medium .[.for.]. releasably storing an .Iadd.energy .Iaddend.image .Iadd.pattern .Iaddend.representative of .[.the.]. .Iadd.such incident x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern, said apparatus comprising: means for .[.applying a second wavelength of radiation to.]. .Iadd.scanning successive sub-areas of .Iaddend.said image storage medium .Iadd.with a beam of low energy radiation of a second wavelength .Iaddend.to cause .[.said.]. .Iadd.respective .Iaddend.storage medium .Iadd.sub-areas sequentially .Iaddend.to .[.emit a third wavelength of.]. .Iadd.release the stored energy in the form of sequential, photoelectrically detectable .Iaddend.radiation .[.having.]. .Iadd.emissions of a third wavelength which constitute .Iaddend.an intensity pattern representative of the stored image;   means for .Iadd.sequentially .Iaddend.sensing the third wavelength radiation .Iadd.emissions .Iaddend.and for producing .Iadd.an .Iaddend.electrical .[.energy in accordance therewith.]. .Iadd.signal representative of the incident x-ray image pattern.Iaddend.; and   means for converting the electrical .[.energy.]. .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.into an image corresponding to the .[.pattern of first wavelength radiation.]. .Iadd.x-ray image. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises means for recording an image smaller than the .Iadd.x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern .[.of first wavelength radiation.].. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus.Iadd., .Iaddend.using a medium .[.for.]. releasably storing an .Iadd.energy .Iaddend.image .Iadd.pattern .Iaddend.representative of .[.a.]. .Iadd.an incident x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern.Iadd., .Iaddend..[.of radiation of a first wavelength.]. for producing an image corresponding to the pattern on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising: means for scanning said storage medium with a .[.second wavelength of.]. .Iadd.beam of low energy .Iaddend.radiation .Iadd.of a second wavelength .Iaddend.to release .[.therefrom.]..Iadd., sequentially from successive scanned medium portions, .Iaddend..[.a third wavelength of.]. .Iadd.photo-detectable .Iaddend.radiation .Iadd.emissions of a third wavelength and .Iaddend.intensity .[.modulated.]. in accordance with the stored image .Iadd.pattern; .Iaddend.   means synchronized with said scanning means for .Iadd.photoelectrically .Iaddend.sensing the .Iadd.sequentially .Iaddend.released third wavelength radiation .Iadd.emissions .Iaddend.and for producing .Iadd.an .Iaddend.electrical .[.energy.]. .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.representative .[.thereof.]. .Iadd.of the x-ray image pattern.Iaddend.; and   means for .[.transforming.]. .Iadd.converting .Iaddend.the electrical energy.]. .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.into a recorded image representative of the .Iadd.x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern.   
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said .[.transforming.]. .Iadd.converting .Iaddend.means comprises: means for producing a fourth wavelength of radiation intensity modulated in accordance with the electrical energy; and   means for recording the representative image on said recording medium with said fourth wavelength radiation. .[.5. A method for producing an image corresponding to a releasably stored image of a pattern of high energy radiation, the method comprising the steps of:   releasing the stored image as light energy modulated in accordance with the image;   converting the modulated light energy into corresponding electrical energy;   producing intensity modulated light which varies in accordance with the electrical energy; and   recording with the intensity modulated light to form an image corresponding   
     
     
        to the pattern of high energy radiation..]. .[.6.  The invention of claim 5 wherein the image recorded is smaller than the high energy radiation 
     
     
        pattern..]. 7. A method of producing a recorded image corresponding to a releasably stored image of a pattern of high energy radiation, the method comprising the steps of: releasing the stored image as emitted light on a point by point basis and converting the image into electrical energy modulated in accordance with the point by point intensity of the light emitted;   converting the modulated electrical energy into correspondingly modulated light; and   recording an image with said modulated light that represents the high   
     
     
        energy radiation pattern on a point by point basis. 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the image recorded is smaller than the pattern of high 
     
     
        energy radiation. 9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the modulated light 
     
     
        is scanned to produce the recorded image. 10. An image forming method using an energy storing medium which is characterized by an ability to store .[.radiant.]. .Iadd.x-ray .Iaddend.energy of a first wavelength and release that energy in the form of .[.detectable.]. .Iadd.photo-detectable .Iaddend.radiation of a second wavelength when stimulated .Iadd.by radiant energy of a third wavelength, .Iaddend.said method comprising: .[.simultaneously.]. exposing .Iadd.the operative portions of .Iaddend.said medium to .[.a.]. .Iadd.respective portions of an x-ray image .Iaddend.pattern of radiation of said first wavelength .Iadd.to form in said medium a stored energy pattern corresponding to said x-ray image pattern;   .Iadd.sequentially .Iaddend.stimulating .Iadd.successive portions of .Iaddend.said medium to .Iadd.sequentially .Iaddend.release .Iadd.stored .Iaddend.energy .Iadd.in the form of emissions .Iaddend.of said second wavelength .Iadd.having intensities respectively .Iaddend.corresponding to .Iadd.portions of .Iaddend.said .Iadd.stored x-ray energy .Iaddend.pattern;   converting said energy .Iadd.emissions .Iaddend.of said second wavelength to an electrical signal; and   using said electrical signal to control formation of an image corresponding   
     
     
        to said .[.original.]. pattern of radiation. 11. An image forming method using an intermediate medium capable of storing energy when exposed to x-radiation, which energy is releasable as light when stimulated by infrared radiation, said method comprising: exposing said medium to a pattern of x-radiation to form a pattern of stored energy in said medium;   scanning said medium with stimulating infrared radiation to release light energy modulated in accordance with said pattern;   converting said light energy to an electrical signal;   using said electrical signal to modulate the intensity of a light beam; and   scanning said modulated light beam across a light sensitive recording material to form an image corresponding to said .[.original.]. pattern of   
     
     
        x-radiation. 12. Apparatus for producing a recorded image corresponding to a pattern of high energy radiation, using a medium having temporarily stored therein an image representative of said pattern as releasable energy, said apparatus comprising: means for scanning said temporary storage medium to release the stored energy therefrom;   means coordinated with said scanning means for sensing the energy released and for transforming the released energy into electrical energy; and   means for converting said electrical energy into an intensified output   
     
     
        image corresponding to the pattern of high energy radiation. 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said medium for temporarily storing an image comprises an infrared-stimulable phosphor screen and said scanning means 
     
     
        comprises a source of infrared radiation. 14. The invention of claim 12 wherein said medium for temporarily storing an image comprises a thermoluminescent screen and said scanning means comprises means for 
     
     
        scanning said medium with heat concentrated in a small area. .Iadd.15. The invention defined in claim 1 or 3 wherein said converting means includes means for modifying said electrical signal to improve the image information thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said modifying means improves the signal to noise ratio of said electrical image signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said modifying means processes said electrical signal to provide image edge enhancement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said modifying means processes said electrical image signal to modify image intensity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The invention defined in claim 7 including, prior to the step of converting said electrical energy into recording light, the step of modifying said electrical energy to improve its image information. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The invention defined in claim 19 wherein the electrical energy is modified to improve signal to noise ratio. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The invention defined in claim 19 wherein the electrical energy is modified to provide image edge enhancement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The invention defined in claim 19 wherein the electrical energy is modified as to image intensity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The invention defined in claim 10 or 11 including the step of modifying said electrical signal, prior to its use in formation of a corresponding image, to improve the image information thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The invention defined in claim 23 wherein said electrical signal is modified to improve signal to noise ratio. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The invention defined in claim 23 wherein said electrical signal is modified to provide image edge enhancement. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.26.  The invention defined in claim 23 wherein said electrical signal is modified as to image intensity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A radiographic imaging system comprising: (a) image storage means having an image zone which is: (i) responsive to an incident x-ray image pattern for producing a corresponding stored energy pattern and (ii) responsive to stimulating radiation for releasing energy so stored as light emissions;   (b) means for supporting said image storage means;   (c) scanning means for effecting sequential application of such stimulating radiation to successive image zone portions of said image storage means to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (d) detector means for optically collecting said sequential light emissions and for producing an electrical signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (e) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding   
     
     
        to said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  Radiographic imaging apparatus constructed to receive and cooperate with a storage means having an image zone which is: (i) responsive to an incident x-ray image pattern for producing a corresponding stored energy pattern and (ii) responsive to stimulating radiation for releasing energy so stored as light emissions, said apparatus comprising: (a) scanning means for sequentially applying such stimulating radiation to successive image zone portions of a received image storage means to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (b) detector means for optically collecting said sequential light emissions and for producing an electrical signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding to said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. Radiographic imaging apparatus for receiving an image storage medium having an image storage zone which:   (i) has been exposed to the image elements of an x-ray image and stores energy in a pattern corresponding to said x-ray image and (ii) is responsive to stimulating radiation to release stored energy as light emission, said apparatus comprising:   (a) scanning means for sequentially applying such stimulating radiation to successive portions of such a received storage medium to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (b) detector means for optically collecting said sequential light emissions and for producing an electrical signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding to said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. An improved imaging system for medical radiography, said system comprising:   (a) image storage means having an image zone of a format that comprises a plurality of image point portions which: (i) are responsive to respective portions of an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation;   (b) means for supporting said image storage means;   (c) scanning means for discretely providing such stimulating radiation sequentially on successive image point portions of said image zone so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with the stored energy pattern corresponding to the exposed x-ray pattern;   (d) detector means for sensing the sequential light emissions discretely and for producing, in response thereto, a time-varying electrical signal containing image point information corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (e) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding   
     
     
        to said x-ray pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  The system defined in claim 27 or 30, wherein said storage means is constructed to be readily insertable into, and removable from, its operative location relative to said scanning means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The system defined in claim 31 wherein said storage means is flexible. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The system defined in claim 27 or 30, wherein said storage means is constructed for facile transfer between a separate operative location at which it is imagewise exposed and 
     
     
        said scanning means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  An improved medical-radiographic imaging apparatus useful with image storage means having an image zone of a format size which accommodates a medical x-ray image pattern and that comprises a plurality of image point portions which: (i) are responsive to respective portions of such an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation, said apparatus comprising: (a) scanning means for discretely providing stimulating radiation sequentially on successive image point portions of the image zone of such image storage means so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with the stored energy pattern corresponding to the exposed x-ray image pattern; and   (b) detector means for sensing the sequential light emissions discretely and for producing, in response thereto, a time-varying electrical signal containing image point information corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding   
     
     
        to said x-ray pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  Medical radiographic imaging apparatus constructed to receive and cooperate with image storage means having an image zone that comprises a plurality of image points which: (i) have been exposed to respective portions of an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation, said apparatus comprising: (a) scanning means for discretely providing stimulating radiation sequentially on successive image point portions of the image zone of a received image storage means so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with the stored energy pattern corresponding to the exposed x-ray image pattern;   (b) detector means for sensing the sequential light emissions discretely and for producing, in response thereto, a time-varying electrical signal containing image point information corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) means for converting said electrical signal into an image corresponding   
     
     
        to said x-ray pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal; (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein and (iii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and recording an image, corresponding to the information therein, on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal and (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The invention in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for receiving an electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein and (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and recording an image, corresponding to the information therein, on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal and (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and recording an image, corresponding to the information therein, on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal; (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein; (iii) means for imagewise processing such electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement and (iv) means for receiving such image signal and recording a modified image pattern on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal; (ii) means for imagewise processing an electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement and (iii) means for receiving such image signal and recording a modified image pattern on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The invention defined in claims 1, 3, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, or 35 wherein said converting means comprises: (i) means for storing an electrical image signal; (ii) means for receiving an electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein and (iii) means for imagewise processing such electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The invention defined in claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 including means for providing relative movement between said detector means and said image storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The invention defined in claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said detector means includes: (i) photoelectric transducer means, (ii) light guide means, located proximate said image storage means, for directing emitted light to said transducer means; and (iii) means for providing relative movement between said light guide means and said image storage means during operation of said scanning means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The invention defined in claim 44 wherein the relative movement between said light guide and image storage means is synchronized with said scanning means so that said light guide is sequentially in proximate locations respectively to stimulated point portions of said 
     
     
        image storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46.  The invention defined in claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means includes means for receiving said electrical image signal and recording an image which corresponds to said exposed x-ray image pattern, but which is reduced in format size relative to said exposed x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. The invention defined in claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 34 or 35 wherein said converting means includes means for receiving said electrical image signal and displaying an image which corresponds to said exposed x-ray image pattern, but which is reduced in format size relative to said exposed x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A radiographic imaging method comprising: (a) exposing the image zone of a temporary image storage medium, of the type that is: (i) responsive to an incident x-ray image pattern for producing a corresponding stored energy pattern and (ii) responsive to stimulating radiation for releasing energy so stored as light emissions, to an x-ray image pattern;   (b) sequentially applying such stimulating radiation to successive image zone portions of said image storage media to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (c) optically collecting and photoelectrically detecting said sequential light emissions to produce an electrical image signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (d) converting said electrical image signal into an image corresponding to   
     
     
        said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49.  A radiographic imaging method using a storage medium having an image zone that is responsive to an incident x-ray image pattern for producing a corresponding stored energy pattern and is responsive to stimulating radiation for releasing energy so stored as light emissions, said method comprising: (a) exposing the image zone portions of such storage medium to respective portions of an x-ray image pattern;   (b) sequentially applying such stimulating radiation to successive image zone portions of said exposed storage medium to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (c) optically directing said sequential light emissions to a detector and photoelectrically detecting the emissions to produce an electrical image signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (d) converting said electrical image signal to an image corresponding to   
     
     
        said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50.  A radiographic imaging method for use with an image storage medium having image storage portions which: (i) have been exposed to an x-ray image and store energy in a pattern corresponding to said x-ray image and (ii) are responsive to stimulating radiation to release stored energy as light emission, said method comprising: (a) sequentially applying such stimulating radiation to successive portions of said storage medium to release energy stored therein as respective sequential light emissions;   (b) optically collecting and detecting said sequential light emissions to produce an electrical image signal corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) converting said electrical image signal into an image corresponding to said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. An improved imaging method for medical radiography, said method comprising:   (a) exposing, to an x-ray pattern constituting a medical radiographic image, the plurality of image point portions that comprise the image zone of an image storage medium, and that: (i) are responsive to respective portions of an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation;   (b) discretely scanning such stimulating radiation sequentially onto successive image point portions of said storage medium so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with the stored energy pattern corresponding to the x-ray image pattern;   (c) discretely detecting the sequential light emissions and producing, in response thereto, a time-varying electrical image signal containing the image point information corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (d) converting said electrical image signal into an image corresponding to   
     
     
        said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52.  An improved medical-radiographic imaging method useful with image storage medium having an image zone that comprises a plurality of image point portions which: (i) are responsive to respective portions of an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation, said method comprising: (a) exposing the image point portions of said storage medium to an x-ray pattern constituting a medical radiographic image;   (b) scanning such stimulating radiation sequentially onto successive image point portions of said storage medium so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with the stored energy pattern corresponding to the x-ray image pattern;   (c) detecting the sequential light emissions discretely and sequentially, and photoelectrically producing, in response thereto, an electrical image signal containing the image point information of said x-ray image pattern; and   (d) converting said electrical image signal into an image corresponding to   
     
     
        said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53.  The method defined in claims 48, 49, 51 or 52 further including the step of transferring said storage medium between x-ray exposing and scan-stimulating locations after said exposing step. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A medical radiographic imaging method useful with image storage medium having an image zone that comprises a plurality of image points which: (i) have been exposed to respective portions of an incident x-ray image pattern to discretely store corresponding energy pattern portions and (ii) are discretely responsive to stimulating radiation, of lower quantum energy than said x-ray image pattern, to release their stored energy pattern portions as respective emissions of light radiation, said method comprising: (a) scanning such stimulating radiation sequentially onto successive image point portions of such storage medium so as to sequentially release successive light emissions in accordance with its stored energy pattern;   (b) photoelectrically detecting the sequential light emissions discretely so as to produce a time-varying electrical image signal containing image point information corresponding to said x-ray image pattern; and   (c) converting said electrical image signal into an image corresponding to said x-ray image pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. The invention defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said detecting step includes providing relative movement between a photoelectric detector means and said image storage medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. The invention defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said detecting step includes, during said scanning step, relatively moving said storage medium and a light guide which is located proximate said image storage medium for directing light emissions to a photoelectric transducer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. The invention defined in claim 56 wherein the relative movement between said light guide and image storage means is synchronized with said scanning of stimulating radiation so that said light guide is sequentially in proximate locations respectively to stimulated point portions of said image storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said converting step includes: (i) storing said electrical image signal; (ii) receiving said electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein or (iii) receiving said electrical image signal and recording an image corresponding to the information therein on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said converting step includes: (i) receiving said electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein and (ii) receiving said electrical image signal and recording an image corresponding to the information therein on a record medium. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.60.  The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said converting step includes: imagewise processing said electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said converting step includes: (i) imagewise processing said electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement and (ii) receiving such image signal and recording a modified image on a record medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 wherein said converting step includes: (i) receiving said electrical image signal and displaying a visible image corresponding to the information therein and (ii) imagewise processing said electrical image signal to provide image intensification, improved signal to noise or image edge-enhancement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.63. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 further comprising the steps of monitoring the photoelectrically detected output of a stimulated medium test portion, which has received a test exposure, and adjusting the storage medium's exposures to stimulating 
     
     
        radiation in response to such detected output. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64.  The method defined in claim 63 wherein said adjusting step comprises varying the scan rate of said stimulating radiation in response to such detected output. .Iaddend. .Iadd.65. The method defined in claims 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 or 54 further comprising the steps of monitoring the photoelectrically detected output of a stimulated medium test portion, which has received a test exposure, and adjusting the amplification of the electrical image signal in response to such detected test output. .Iaddend.