Patent US4661704A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4661704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image recording and readout device based on light-stimulable phosphors
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1985-07-12
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2005-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An image recording and readout device has a light-stimulable phosphor layer for storing a radiation image. The image is read out of the phosphor layer by scanning the layer with a laser beam. A filter is provided between the phosphor layer and the laser to increase the coupling of the laser light into the phosphor layer. The filter passes stimulating laser radiation within an angular acceptance range and reflects stimulating radiation outside the acceptance range.
Inventors
- 👤 Dagobert M. de Leeuw
- 👤 Jacob Khurgin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:41
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/2012; G01T1/2014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An image recording and readout device comprising: an image-storage layer capable of absorbing incident radiation in an incident radiation image; means for scanning the image-storage layer with stimulating radiation to cause the image-storage layer to emit luminescent radiation, said stimulating radiation being incident on the image-storage layer over an angular scanning range; and filter means arranged between the image-storage layer and the scanning means so that the stimulating radiation which is incident on the image-storage layer passes through the filter means, said filter means passing stimulating radiation incident on the filter means within an angular acceptance range, said filter means reflecting stimulating radiation incident thereon within an angular reflectance range outside of the angular acceptance range, said angular scanning range being within the angular acceptance range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image recording and readout device comprising: an image-storage layer capable of absorbing incident radiation in an incident radiation image; means for scanning the image-storage layer with stimulating radiation to cause the image-storage layer to emit luminescent radiation, said stimulating radiation being incident on the image-storage layer over an angular scanning range; and filter means arranged between the image-storage layer and the scanning means so that the stimulating radiation which is incident on the image-storage layer passes through the filter means, said filter means passing stimulating radiation incident on the filter means within an angular acceptance range, said filter means reflecting stimulating radiation incident thereon within an angular reflectance range outside of the angular acceptance range, said angular scanning range being within the angular acceptance range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filter means is arranged parallel to the image-storage layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the filter means is spaced from the image-storage layer by a distance of at most a few microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: the filter means is substantially planar and has a normal thereto; and the filter means passes stimulating radiation incident thereon at an angle within the range of 0° to 25° with respect to the normal to the plane of the filter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: the incident radiation is substantially a first wavelength; the luminescent radiation is substantially a second wavelength; the stimulating radiation is substantially a third wavelength; and the first, second, and third wavelengths are all substantially different from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the image-storage layer emits luminescent radiation to form a luminescent radiation image corresponding to the incident image when the image-storage layer is scanned with stimulating radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the filter means passes luminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the filter is a multilayer interference filter having alternating layers of higher and lower indices of refraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object and forming an X-ray image of the object on the image-storage layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for detecting the luminescent radiation emitted by the image-storage layer and for generating an electrical signal representing the luminescent radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the scanning means comprises a helium-neon laser emitting a radiation beam having a wavelength of 633 nanometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the scanning means further comprises means for deflecting the radiation beam emitted by the laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the filter means reflects luminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image-storage layer emits luminescent radiation to form a luminescent radiation image corresponding to the incident image when the image-storage layer is scanned with stimulating radiation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the filter means passes luminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object and forming an X-ray image of the object on the image-storage layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for detecting the luminescent radiation emitted by the image-storage layer and for generating an electrical signal representing the luminescent radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filter means passes luminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, further comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object and forming an X-ray image of the object on the image-storage layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising means for detecting the luminescent radiation emitted by the image-storage layer and for generating an electrical signal representing the luminescent radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image recording and readout medium comprising: an image-storage layer capable of absorbing incident radiation in an incident radiation image, said image-storage layer emitting luminescent radiation when scanned with stimulating radiation; and filter means arranged adjacent the image-storage layer, said filter means passing stimulating radiation incident on the filter means within an angular acceptance range, said filter means reflecting stimulating radiation incident thereon within an angular reflectance range outside of the angular acceptance range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image recording and readout medium comprising: an image-storage layer capable of absorbing incident radiation in an incident radiation image, said image-storage layer emitting luminescent radiation when scanned with stimulating radiation; and filter means arranged adjacent the image-storage layer, said filter means passing stimulating radiation incident on the filter means within an angular acceptance range, said filter means reflecting stimulating radiation incident thereon within an angular reflectance range outside of the angular acceptance range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording and readout medium as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the filter means is arranged parallel to the image-storage layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image recording and readout medium as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the filter means is spaced from the image-storage layer by a distance of at most a few microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image recording and readout medium as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that: the filter means is substantially planar and has a normal thereto; and the filter means passes stimulating radiation incident thereon at an angle within the range of 0° to 25° with respect to the normal to the plane of the filter means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image recording and readout medium as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that: the incident radiation is substantially a first wavelength; the luminescent radiation is substantially a second wavelength; the stimulating radiation is substantially a third wavelength; and the first, second, and third wavelengths are substantially different from each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the image-storage layer emits luminescent radiation to form a luminescent radiation image corresponding to the incident image when the image-storage layer is scanned with stimulating radiation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording and readout device as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the filter means passes liminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording and readout medium as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the filter is a multilayer interference filter having alternating layers of higher and lower indices of refraction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording and readout device as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the filter means reflects luminescent radiation incident on the filter means over substantially all angles of incidence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |