US4743759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light collector for photo-stimulable phosphor imaging system
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1986-10-14
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Granted: 1988-05-10
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Expires: 2006-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet in a photo-stimulable phosphor imaging system includes a roof-mirror light collector having a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section. The roof-mirrors define slots along their peaks for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation through the light box to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and for admitting emitted light from the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet into the light box. Prestimulation in such a light collector is reduced by making the slot adjacent the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet equal to or narrower than the opposite slot. Predischarge in a light collector is reduced by providing a light trap adjacent the slot that is positioned near the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Boutet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/0281; G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/2012; G01T1/2014; G02; G02B; G02B19/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0019; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar wih the centerline of the slot in said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered so that the nearly square cross-section of the mirror box is largest at at least one end of the mirror box; c. photodetector means having a light receiving face located at the large end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a filter for absorbing reflected stimulating radiation, positioned over the light receiving face of the photodetector means, said filter defining a peak aligned with said top and bottom slots in said roof-mirrors, for deflecting reflected stimulating radiation away from said bottom slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar wih the centerline of the slot in said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered so that the nearly square cross-section of the mirror box is largest at at least one end of the mirror box; c. photodetector means having a light receiving face located at the large end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a filter for absorbing reflected stimulating radiation, positioned over the light receiving face of the photodetector means, said filter defining a peak aligned with said top and bottom slots in said roof-mirrors, for deflecting reflected stimulating radiation away from said bottom slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
256 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar with the centerlne of the slot in said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered from the middle toward both ends so that the nearly square cross-section at the middle of the light collector is smaller than the nearly square cross-section at either end; c. first and second photodetector means having light receiving faces located respectively at each end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a mask located on the top roof-mirror at the center of the collector, to eliminate a local maximum response of the light collector at the center of the collector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
256 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar with the centerlne of the slot in said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered from the middle toward both ends so that the nearly square cross-section at the middle of the light collector is smaller than the nearly square cross-section at either end; c. first and second photodetector means having light receiving faces located respectively at each end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a mask located on the top roof-mirror at the center of the collector, to eliminate a local maximum response of the light collector at the center of the collector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
248 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar with the centerline of the slot is said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered so that the nearly square cross-section of the mirror box is largest at at least one end of the mirror box; c. photodetector means having a light receiving face located at the large end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a light trap adjacent the slot in the bottom roof-mirror for preventing reflected stimulating radiation from being re-reflected onto the stimulable phosphor so as to reduce predischarge of the stimulable phosphor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
248 words
A mirror box light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, characterized by: a. a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and defining a slot along the peak of the roof-mirror for passing a scanning beam to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and for allowing light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet to enter the collector, b. a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section, said top roof-mirror defining a slot along its peak with its centerline coplanar with the centerline of the slot is said bottom roof-mirror, said slot defined by said top roof-mirror being as wide as or wider than said slot defined by said bottom roof-mirror, for passing a scanning beam through the mirror box to said slot in said bottom roof-mirror said top and bottom roof-mirrors being tapered so that the nearly square cross-section of the mirror box is largest at at least one end of the mirror box; c. photodetector means having a light receiving face located at the large end of the mirror box, for receiving light emitted by the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and d. a light trap adjacent the slot in the bottom roof-mirror for preventing reflected stimulating radiation from being re-reflected onto the stimulable phosphor so as to reduce predischarge of the stimulable phosphor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted by a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, said light collector having a light collecting enclosure defining a pair of coplanar slots for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation to the photo-stimulable phosphor, and one of said slots being positioned adjacent the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet for admitting light emitted by the photo-stimulable phospshor into the light collecting enclosure, characterized by: light trap means adjacent said one slot for reducing the predischarge of the phosphor sheet by stimulating radiation reflected from the light collector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted by a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, scanned by a beam of stimulating radiation, said light collector having a light collecting enclosure defining a pair of coplanar slots for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation to the photo-stimulable phosphor, and one of said slots being positioned adjacent the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet for admitting light emitted by the photo-stimulable phospshor into the light collecting enclosure, characterized by: light trap means adjacent said one slot for reducing the predischarge of the phosphor sheet by stimulating radiation reflected from the light collector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light collector claimed in claim 4, wherein said light trap means comprises a light trap slot coated with a light absorbing material.
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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) | 1991-05-10 | 1991-11-09 | 1992-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-10 | 1995-11-09 | 1996-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-10 | 1999-11-09 | 2000-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |