EP0760520A1 - Verbesserung der Resolution von aufgenommenen Bildern mit Speicherphosphoren - Google Patents

Verbesserung der Resolution von aufgenommenen Bildern mit Speicherphosphoren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0760520A1
EP0760520A1 EP95305990A EP95305990A EP0760520A1 EP 0760520 A1 EP0760520 A1 EP 0760520A1 EP 95305990 A EP95305990 A EP 95305990A EP 95305990 A EP95305990 A EP 95305990A EP 0760520 A1 EP0760520 A1 EP 0760520A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
apertures
optical
phosphorescent material
substrate
image
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95305990A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
William R. Trutna
James B. Williamson
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HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Priority to EP95305990A priority Critical patent/EP0760520A1/de
Publication of EP0760520A1 publication Critical patent/EP0760520A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
    • G21K4/00—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
    • G21K4/00—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens
    • G21K2004/12—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens with a support

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to photorecording and more particularly to high resolution solid state photorecording.
  • Modern film photography provides both amateurs and professionals with high resolution photographic prints. For example, using a popular 35 millimeter film format, cameras capture scene images on the film, which is subsequently developed into negatives by immersing the film in a sequence of suitable wet chemical baths. Light is projected through the negative onto photosensitive print paper, which is developed into a high resolution photographic print using another sequence of wet chemical baths. Dry, solid state photorecording processes provide advantages since they operate independent of any wet chemical baths.
  • One method comprises directly imaging the scene onto a sheet of storage phosphor particles.
  • Such storage phosphors particles have acceptable light sensitivity equivalent to some types of photographic film.
  • a portion of light of an image incident upon each phosphor particle is scattered to adjacent phosphor particles, degrading resolution of the stored image.
  • the storage phosphor particles are relatively large particles, typically in a range five to ten microns in diameter, they scatter more light than some other smaller particles.
  • a minimum particle size is limited because there is an undesirable decrease in luminescent efficiency as storage phosphor particles are made smaller than approximately five microns in diameter.
  • Image resolution is especially degraded when storing a high contrast image, which includes a very bright region adjacent to a very dark region.
  • Storage phosphors that correspond to the very bright image region scatter a large amount light to adjacent storage phosphors that correspond to the very dark image region. Accordingly, the image recorded by the storage phosphors includes a bright region that has bled over to obscure an adjacent dark region.
  • Another solid state photorecording method comprises directly imaging the scene onto a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and storing in a memory device electrical signals produced by the CCD in response to the imaged scene.
  • CCD Charge Coupled Device
  • the present invention provides a simplified, cost effective optical apparatus for solid state photorecording of optical images with enhanced resolution.
  • the invention avoids the complexity and associated cost of charge coupled device sensors while providing resolution enhancements over previously known phosphor storage technology.
  • the optical apparatus of the invention includes an array of optical apertures and a plurality of portions of a phosphorescent material. Each portion is optically coupled to a respective one of the apertures. The apertures are exposed to an optical image so as to record the image in the plurality of portions of the phosphorescent material.
  • a number of the apertures of the invention is large, preferably within a range of approximately one million to seven million apertures.
  • the number of the apertures is approximately six million.
  • the optical apertures are microscopic optical apertures.
  • each aperture has a respective width dimension within a range of approximately ten to fifty microns.
  • the respective width dimension of each aperture is approximately twelve microns.
  • the array of optical apertures is disposed on a surface of a substrate.
  • the preferred embodiment further includes a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity extends into the substrate from a respective one of the optical apertures.
  • Each portion of the phosphorescent material is disposed within a respective one of the cavities.
  • each cavity has a respective cavity wall for substantially preventing any optical transmission therethrough, thereby substantially optically isolating each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material.
  • a surface of the cavity wall is coated with a highly reflective material.
  • the cavity wall includes a light absorbing material.
  • the cavities comprise shallow pits extending into the surface of the substrate. In an another preferred embodiment the cavities extend entirely through the substrate.
  • Another preferred embodiment includes a plurality of waveguides for substantially optically isolating each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material, wherein each waveguide has a respective extremity integrally coupled with a respective one of the apertures.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a light source for exciting the phosphorescent material to emit light representative of the recorded image.
  • a photoelectric sensor is optically coupled with phosphorescent material for generating an electric signal in response to light emitted by the phosphorescent material.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a detailed cut away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a substrate assembly of the block diagram of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed cut away cross sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the substrate assembly of the block diagram of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a detailed cut away perspective view of optical waveguides of the block diagram of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a substrate assembly 101.
  • the assembly comprises a substrate having a surface wherein an array of optical apertures is disposed on the surface. Additionally, there is a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity extends into the substrate from a respective one of the optical apertures. Furthermore, the assembly includes a plurality of portions of a phosphorescent material wherein each portion is disposed within a respective one of the cavities and is optically coupled with a respective one of the apertures.
  • the preferred embodiment further comprises an image source 103 in optical communication with the substrate assembly.
  • the image source exposes the apertures to an optical image so as to record the image in the plurality of portions of the phosphorescent material.
  • Various image sources are known in the art. For example a view camera having a lens is advantageously employed to focus an image of a scene onto the array of apertures.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a light source 105 for exciting the phosphorescent material to emit light representative of the recorded image.
  • a desired wavelength characteristic of the exciting light source is chosen based upon the phosphorescent material.
  • phosphorescent materials such as Europium and Samarium doped Calcium Sulfide, which store a record of exposure to visible light, and which emit visible light representative of the record when excited with light of an infrared wavelength.
  • Alternative suitable phosphors are known, for example those which are discussed in Preparation and Characteristics of Solid Luminescent Materials, especially Chapter 7, by Brian O'Brien, pages 115 - 371, John Wiley & Sons (1948), which are incorporated by reference.
  • a photoelectric sensor 107 for example a high gain photomultiplier, is optically coupled with the phosphorescent material for generating an electric signal in response to light emitted by the phosphorescent material.
  • the exciting light source provides a beam or bar of light that is scanned over the apertures, so that at any given time during a scan only a limited number of the phosphor portions are emitting light. Accordingly, at any given time during the scan, full resources of the photoelectric sensor are advantageously concentrated on sensing only the limited number of phosphor portions.
  • FIG. 2 is a detailed cut away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the substrate assembly 101 of the block diagram of FIG. 1.
  • a two dimensional array of optical apertures 203 is disposed on the surface of the substrate 205.
  • a number of the apertures of the invention is large, preferably within a range of approximately one million to seven million apertures. For example in a preferred embodiment the number of the apertures is approximately six million apertures. For sake of simplicity, far fewer apertures are shown in FIG. 2.
  • the optical apertures are microscopic optical apertures.
  • each aperture has a respective width dimension, W, within a range of approximately ten to fifty microns.
  • the respective width dimension of each aperture is approximately twelve microns.
  • the apertures of the array are arranged proximate one another, so that each aperture is separated from a respective adjacent aperture by a distance less than the width of any aperture.
  • each one of the cavities 206 extends into the substrate from a respective one of the optical apertures.
  • Each portion of the phosphorescent material is disposed within a respective one of the cavities.
  • the cavities comprise uniform shallow pits extending into the surface of the substrate. For example, using photolithography techniques a silicon substrate is masked and anisotropically etched to produce the uniform shallow pits.
  • An alternative manufacturing method comprises impressing uniform pits into a thermosetting plastic substrate, using techniques similar to those employed in manufacturing audio compact disks.
  • Each cavity has a respective cavity wall for substantially preventing any optical transmission therethrough, thereby substantially optically isolating each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material.
  • a surface of the cavity wall is coated with a highly reflective material 207.
  • a highly reflective metal coating such as a layer of aluminum, is sputtered onto the substrate.
  • the highly reflective material is preferred, it should be understood that the invention is not strictly limited to such embodiments since the optical isolation from the scattered light is advantageously provided by other materials and other arrangements of materials.
  • the cavity wall includes a light absorbing material.
  • the assembly includes a plurality of portions of a phosphorescent material wherein each portion is disposed within a respective one of the cavities and is optically coupled with a respective one of the apertures.
  • phosphor particles are disposed in the cavities by spreading the particles as a dust over the surface of the substrate.
  • a transparent plate not shown in FIG. 2, is placed on the substrate surface to insure that the phosphors remain in the cavities.
  • a the phosphor particles may be mixed with a suitable binder such polyvinyl alcohol.
  • two cavities in foreground of FIG. 2 are cut away and are shown without phosphorescent material disposed therein.
  • each portion comprises phosphor particles that are relatively large particles, typically in a range five to ten microns in diameter.
  • a minimum particle size is limited because there is an undesirable decrease in luminescent efficiency as phosphor particles are made smaller, for example, smaller than approximately five microns in diameter.
  • particle shapes are not uniform, although for sake of simplicity the phosphor particles are shown as uniform in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed cut away cross sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the substrate assembly of the block diagram of FIG. 1.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 2 and discussed in detail previously herein.
  • each optical aperture 303 of FIG. 3 has a respective width dimension, W.
  • each of the cavities 306 extend from a respective aperture entirely through the substrate 305, as shown in cross section of the substrate in FIG. 3.
  • a silicon substrate is masked and anisotropically etched for an extended period of time sufficient to produce the cavities extending entirely through the substrate.
  • each cavity shown in FIG. 3 has a respective cavity wall for substantially preventing any optical transmission therethrough, thereby substantially optically isolating each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material.
  • a surface of the cavity wall is coated with a highly reflective material as discussed in detail previously herein with respect to FIG. 2.
  • a respective portion of phosphorescent material (not shown in FIG. 3) is disposed in each of the cavities.
  • a respective sheet 308 of a transparent material for providing additional structural support is laminated onto each of a first surface and an opposing surface of the substrate.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • this embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of waveguides 401.
  • Each waveguide has a respective extremity integral with a respective optical aperture.
  • the extremities of the waveguides are arranged so as to provide a two dimensional planar array of the optical apertures.
  • each waveguide include an optically transparent plastic polymer. Particles of phosphorescent material are suspended within the plastic of the waveguides.
  • this embodiment includes a plurality of portions of the phosphorescent material wherein each portion is disposed within a respective one of the waveguides and is optically coupled with a respective one of the waveguide optical apertures.
  • the preferred embodiment further comprises an image source 403 in optical communication with the waveguides.
  • the image source exposes the apertures to an optical image so as to record the image in the plurality of portions of the phosphorescent material.
  • the waveguides substantially optically isolate each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a light source 405 for exciting the phosphorescent material to emit light representative of the recorded image.
  • a photoelectric sensor 407 is optically coupled with phosphorescent material for generating an electric signal in response to light emitted by the phosphorescent material.
  • FIG. 5 is a detailed cut away perspective view of optical waveguides 401 of the block diagram of FIG. 4.
  • Each waveguide has a respective extremity integral with a respective optical aperture 503.
  • the extremities of the waveguides are arranged so as to provide a two dimensional planar array of the optical apertures.
  • Each waveguide includes a suitable optical material, preferably an optically transparent photo-curable plastic polymer.
  • Particles of phosphorescent material (not shown in FIG. 5) are suspended within the plastic of the waveguides 401. Accordingly, there is a plurality of portions of the phosphorescent material, wherein each portion is disposed within a respective one of the waveguides and is optically coupled with a respective one of the waveguide optical apertures.
  • Plastic material 505 having a refractive index substantially different than that of the waveguides is disposed between adjacent waveguides. Accordingly, the waveguides substantially optically isolate each portion of the phosphorescent material from any light scattered from any other portion of the phosphorescent material.
  • optically transparent photo-curable plastic polymer intermixed with phosphor particles is masked and exposed to ultraviolet light to produce the waveguides. The ultraviolet light causes the plastic material of the waveguides to polymerize, thereby substantially increasing refractive index of the plastic material of the waveguides. Since the plastic material 505 disposed between the adjacent waveguides is masked to avoid contact with the ultraviolet light, the plastic material disposed between the adjacent waveguides is not polymerized and has a refractive index substantially lower than that of the waveguides.
  • the present invention provides a simplified, cost effective optical apparatus for solid state photorecording of optical images with enhanced resolution.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
EP95305990A 1995-08-29 1995-08-29 Verbesserung der Resolution von aufgenommenen Bildern mit Speicherphosphoren Withdrawn EP0760520A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95305990A EP0760520A1 (de) 1995-08-29 1995-08-29 Verbesserung der Resolution von aufgenommenen Bildern mit Speicherphosphoren

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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EP95305990A EP0760520A1 (de) 1995-08-29 1995-08-29 Verbesserung der Resolution von aufgenommenen Bildern mit Speicherphosphoren

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EP0760520A1 true EP0760520A1 (de) 1997-03-05

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Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1149833A (fr) * 1955-05-23 1958-01-02 Philips Nv écran renforçateur pour raidographies
US2882413A (en) * 1953-12-04 1959-04-14 Vingerhoets Antonius Wilhelmus Luminescent screen
US3344276A (en) * 1964-03-30 1967-09-26 Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Radiographic screen having channels filled with a material which emits photons when energized by gamma or x-rays
DE2010780A1 (de) * 1969-03-07 1970-10-29 Fuji Shashin Film K.K., Kanagawa (Japan) Verstärkerschirm für die Röntgenographie
DE2347923A1 (de) * 1973-01-17 1974-07-18 Winnek Douglas Fredwill Hochaufloesender verstaerkungsfilm fuer strahlung
DE2638114A1 (de) * 1975-08-29 1977-03-10 Rca Corp Verfahren zum fuellen von oeffnungen mit kristallinem werkstoff
EP0126564A2 (de) * 1983-04-30 1984-11-28 Konica Corporation Verfahren zur Wiedergabe eines Strahlungsbildes
DE3325035A1 (de) * 1983-07-11 1985-01-24 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Roentgenleuchtschirm
EP0272581A2 (de) * 1986-12-18 1988-06-29 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Röntgenbildverstärker
DE3909450A1 (de) * 1989-03-22 1990-09-27 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Verfahren zur herstellung von leuchtschirmen, verstaerkungs- oder speicherfolien fuer die roentgendiagnostik
FR2644927A1 (fr) * 1989-03-22 1990-09-28 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Procede de realisation d'ecrans lumineux, de feuilles d'amplification ou d'enregistrement pour la radiographie aux rayons x
EP0426865A1 (de) * 1989-04-03 1991-05-15 Fujitsu Limited Phosphorplatte und methode zu deren herstellung
DE4114806A1 (de) * 1991-05-07 1992-11-12 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Roentgenverstaerkerfolie
EP0548484A2 (de) * 1989-05-26 1993-06-30 Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Röntgenverstärkerfolie
WO1993015509A1 (de) * 1992-01-31 1993-08-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zur herstellung eines leuchtstoffschirmes
DE4222946A1 (de) * 1992-07-11 1994-01-13 Schott Glaswerke Hochauflösende Bildplatte für Aufnahmen mit ionisierenden Strahlen
DE4406998A1 (de) * 1994-03-03 1995-09-07 Karlsruhe Forschzent Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Röntgenverstärkerfolie

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2882413A (en) * 1953-12-04 1959-04-14 Vingerhoets Antonius Wilhelmus Luminescent screen
FR1149833A (fr) * 1955-05-23 1958-01-02 Philips Nv écran renforçateur pour raidographies
US3344276A (en) * 1964-03-30 1967-09-26 Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Radiographic screen having channels filled with a material which emits photons when energized by gamma or x-rays
DE2010780A1 (de) * 1969-03-07 1970-10-29 Fuji Shashin Film K.K., Kanagawa (Japan) Verstärkerschirm für die Röntgenographie
DE2347923A1 (de) * 1973-01-17 1974-07-18 Winnek Douglas Fredwill Hochaufloesender verstaerkungsfilm fuer strahlung
DE2638114A1 (de) * 1975-08-29 1977-03-10 Rca Corp Verfahren zum fuellen von oeffnungen mit kristallinem werkstoff
EP0126564A2 (de) * 1983-04-30 1984-11-28 Konica Corporation Verfahren zur Wiedergabe eines Strahlungsbildes
DE3325035A1 (de) * 1983-07-11 1985-01-24 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Roentgenleuchtschirm
EP0272581A2 (de) * 1986-12-18 1988-06-29 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Röntgenbildverstärker
DE3909450A1 (de) * 1989-03-22 1990-09-27 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Verfahren zur herstellung von leuchtschirmen, verstaerkungs- oder speicherfolien fuer die roentgendiagnostik
FR2644927A1 (fr) * 1989-03-22 1990-09-28 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Procede de realisation d'ecrans lumineux, de feuilles d'amplification ou d'enregistrement pour la radiographie aux rayons x
EP0426865A1 (de) * 1989-04-03 1991-05-15 Fujitsu Limited Phosphorplatte und methode zu deren herstellung
EP0548484A2 (de) * 1989-05-26 1993-06-30 Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Röntgenverstärkerfolie
DE4114806A1 (de) * 1991-05-07 1992-11-12 Kernforschungsz Karlsruhe Roentgenverstaerkerfolie
WO1993015509A1 (de) * 1992-01-31 1993-08-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zur herstellung eines leuchtstoffschirmes
DE4222946A1 (de) * 1992-07-11 1994-01-13 Schott Glaswerke Hochauflösende Bildplatte für Aufnahmen mit ionisierenden Strahlen
DE4406998A1 (de) * 1994-03-03 1995-09-07 Karlsruhe Forschzent Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Röntgenverstärkerfolie

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