US4857723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Segmented imaging plate structure
Assignee: Texas Medical Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-07
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Granted: 1989-08-15
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Expires: 2007-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An imaging plate comprising a first conductive layer having a plurality of conductive segments arranged thereabout, a photoconductive sandwich structure affixed to the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer integrally affixed to the side of the photoconductive sandwich structure opposite the first conductive layer. The conductive segments of the first conductive layer are electrically connected to a conductor such that each of the conductive segments are selectively addressable. Each of the conductive segments is a conductive strip separated from adjacent conductive strips by dielectric material. The conductor is an accumulator bar extending across the conductive layer transverse to the conductive strips. A photoconductive bridge conects each of the conductive strips with the accumulator bar. The photoconductive bridge is a photoconductive dot. Each of the photoconductive dots is addressable by a properly positioned photon beam.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Everett Modisette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G15/00; G03G15/054; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An imaging plate structure comprising: a first conductive layer having a plurality of conductive segments each being larger in length and width than the pixel size defining the resolution of said plate structure and said conductive segments arranged thereabout, said conductive segments electrically connected to a conductor such that each of said conductive segments are selectively addressable; a photoconductive sandwich structure means integrally affixed to said first conductive layer, said photoconductive sandwich structure means being responsive when said imaging plate structure is exposed to radiation of known energies; and a second conductive layer integrally affixed to the side of said photoconductive sandwich structure means opposite said first conductive layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An imaging plate structure comprising: a first conductive layer having a plurality of conductive segments each being larger in length and width than the pixel size defining the resolution of said plate structure and said conductive segments arranged thereabout, said conductive segments electrically connected to a conductor such that each of said conductive segments are selectively addressable; a photoconductive sandwich structure means integrally affixed to said first conductive layer, said photoconductive sandwich structure means being responsive when said imaging plate structure is exposed to radiation of known energies; and a second conductive layer integrally affixed to the side of said photoconductive sandwich structure means opposite said first conductive layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1, said plurality of conductive segments comprising linearly arranged conductive strips extending across said first conductive layer, each of said conductive strips being separated from adjacent conductive strips by a dielectric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 2, said conductive comprising an accumulator bar extending across said first conductive layer transverse to the longitudinal axis of said conductive strips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 3, a bridge means connecting each of said conductive strips with said accumulator bar, said bridge means for switchably electrically connecting each of said conductive strips with said accumulator bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 4, said bridge means comprising: a photoconductive dot interposed between each of said photoconductive strips and said accumulator bar; and light beam addressing means optically connected to said photoconductive dot, said light beam addressing means for causing said photoconductive dot to become selectively conductive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure of claim 5, said light beam addressing means comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged adjacent said first conductive layer and each of said light emitting diodes corresponding to the location of a photoconductive dot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 5, said photoconductive dot comprising selenium material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
The structure of claim 1, said photoconductive sandwich structure means comprising: a first insulative layer integrally affixed to said first conductive layer, said first insulative layer having a thickness suitable for preventing charge tunnelling therethrough, said first insulative layer being of a true insulator material; photoconductive layer means integrally affixed to the side of said first insulative layer opposite said first conductive layer, said photoconductive layer means being responsive when said imaging plate structure is exposed to radiation of known energies; a second insulative layer integrally affixed to the side said photoconductive layer means opposite said first insulative layer, said second insulative layer having a thickness suitable for preventing charge tunnelling therethrough, said second insulative layer being of a true insulator material, said second conductive layer being integrally affixed to the side of said second insulative layer opposite said photoconductive layer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure of claim 1, said second conductive layer having a plurality of conductive segments arranged thereabout, said conductive segments of said second conductive layer being electrically connected to a conductor such that each of said conductive segments of said second conductive layer are selectively addressable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 2, said second conductive layer having a plurality of linearly arranged conductive strips extending across said second conductive layer, said conductive strips of said second conductive layer having a longitudinal axis offset by ninety degrees from said conductive strips of said first conductive layer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of recording and reading out a latent image comprising: exposing a multilayered detector apparatus to a modulated radiation flux capable of producing electron hole pairs, said multilayered detector apparatus having a photoconductive layer biased by an electric field during said exposing whereby a modulated surface charge is placed on the photoconductive layer, said multilayered detector apparatus having an outer conductive layer comprised of a plurality of selectively addressable conductive segments; addressing each of said plurality of conductive segments such that each of said plurality of conductive segments becomes electrically transmissive to a conductor; scanning each of said plurality of conductive segments with a scanning beam that defines a pixel size smaller than the length and smaller than the width of the conductive segment being scanned.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of recording and reading out a latent image comprising: exposing a multilayered detector apparatus to a modulated radiation flux capable of producing electron hole pairs, said multilayered detector apparatus having a photoconductive layer biased by an electric field during said exposing whereby a modulated surface charge is placed on the photoconductive layer, said multilayered detector apparatus having an outer conductive layer comprised of a plurality of selectively addressable conductive segments; addressing each of said plurality of conductive segments such that each of said plurality of conductive segments becomes electrically transmissive to a conductor; scanning each of said plurality of conductive segments with a scanning beam that defines a pixel size smaller than the length and smaller than the width of the conductive segment being scanned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 11, each of said plurality of conductive segments being a linear strip extending across said outer conductive layer, said linear strip connected to said conductor by a photoconductive bridge, said step of addressing comprising the step of: directing a photon beam to said photoconductive bridge such that said linear strip becomes electrically conductive as to said conductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 12, said step of scanning comprising the steps of: scanning said linear strip during the time that said photon beam is directed to said photoconductive bridge; removing said photon beam from said photoconductive bridge such that said linear strip is nonconductive with respect to said conductor; and directing said photon beam to an adjacent photoconductive bridge such that an adjacent linear strip becomes electrically conductive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An improved conductive layer for a multilayered photon detector apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrically isolated conductive segments each being larger in length and in width than the pixel size defining the resolution of said photon detector arranged as a layer; an accumulator bar extending so as to be adjacent said plurality of electrically isolated conductive strips; and a photoconductor bridge interposed between each of said conductive segments and said accumulator bar so as to cause said conductive segments to be switchable electrically connected to said accumulator bar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
An improved conductive layer for a multilayered photon detector apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrically isolated conductive segments each being larger in length and in width than the pixel size defining the resolution of said photon detector arranged as a layer; an accumulator bar extending so as to be adjacent said plurality of electrically isolated conductive strips; and a photoconductor bridge interposed between each of said conductive segments and said accumulator bar so as to cause said conductive segments to be switchable electrically connected to said accumulator bar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The layer of claim 14, said conductive segments comprising a plurality of linearly arranged conductive strips extending uniformly throughout said layer, each of said conductive strips being separated from adjacent conductive strips by a dielectric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The layer of claim 15, said accumulator bar extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said conductive strip, said accumulator bar being adjacent an end of said conductive strips.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The layer of claim 14, said photoconductive bridge comprising: a dot of photoconductive material interposed between each of said conductive strips and said accumulator bar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The layer of claim 17, said improved conductive layer further comprising: light beam addressing means optically connected to said dot of photoconductive material said light beam addressing means for causing said dot of photoconductive material to become selectively conductive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The layer of claim 18, said light beam addressing means comprising: a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged adjacent said photoconductive bridge, each of said light-emitting diodes corresponding to a separate dot of photoconductive material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The layer of claim 17, said dot being comprised of selenium and said accumulator being comprised of gold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-14 | 1993-02-13 | 1993-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-14 | 1997-02-13 | 1997-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-14 | 2001-02-13 | 2001-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |