US5166524A — Element, device and associated method for capturi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 96 words

An X-ray image capture element, comprising: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 96 words

An X-ray image capture element, comprising: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The element of claim 1, further comprising a charge barrier layer extending between the photoconductive layer and the backing layer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 11 words

The element of claim 1, wherein the photoconductive layer comprises selenium.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The element of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer comprises aluminum and the photoconductive layer is over an aluminum oxide layer which substantially covers a surface of the conductive layer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The element of claim 1, wherein the conductive, photoconductive, and dielectric layers are continuous layers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The element of claim 2, wherein the conductive, photoconductive, dielectric, and barrier layers are continuous layers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The element of claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is a blocking diode layer allowing charges to flow in one direction only.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 152 words

An X-ray image capture device, comprising: (a) an element having: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element; (b) conductive contacting means for simultaneously contacting said plurality of microplates movable between a first position in contact with said microplates to a second position away from contact with said microplates; and (c) electric power source means for applying an electric potential difference between said conductive contacting means and said backing layer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 152 words

An X-ray image capture device, comprising: (a) an element having: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element; (b) conductive contacting means for simultaneously contacting said plurality of microplates movable between a first position in contact with said microplates to a second position away from contact with said microplates; and (c) electric power source means for applying an electric potential difference between said conductive contacting means and said backing layer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 8, wherein the conductive contacting means is a resilient conductive layer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a charge barrier layer extending between the photoconductive layer and the backing layer in the element.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the photoconductive layer comprises selenium.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the photoconductive layer comprises selenium, the conductive backing layer comprises aluminum, and wherein the photoconductive layer is over an aluminum oxide layer which substantially covers a surface of the conductive layer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising means for preventing actinic radiation from impinging on said element.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising means for switchably applying said potential difference between said conductive contacting means and said backing layer when said contacting means contacts said microplates in said first position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising means for switchably applying said potential difference between said conductive contacting means and said backing layer when said contacting means contacts said microplates in said first position, and wherein the photoconductive layer comprises selenium.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 53 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising means for preventing actinic radiation from impinging on said element, means for switchably applying said potential difference between said conductive contacting means and said backing layer when said contacting means contacts said microplates in said first position, and wherein the photoconductive layer comprises selenium.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a charge barrier layer extending between the photoconductive layer and the backing layer in the element wherein the barrier layer is a blocking diode layer allowing charges to flow in one direction only.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the conductive, photoconductive, and dielectric layers are continuous layers.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a charge barrier layer extending between the photoconductive layer and the backing layer in the element wherein the conductive, photoconductive, dielectric, and barrier layers are continuous layers and the photoconductive layer is selenium.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for capturing a radiogram on an X-ray image capture element comprising: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element; the method comprising: (a) preventing actinic radiation from impinging on said element; (b) applying an electric potential difference between said plurality of discrete conductive microplates and said backing layer; (c) impinging imagewise modulated X-ray radiation for a first time period onto the element; and (d) after the first time period, stopping the applying step.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for capturing a radiogram on an X-ray image capture element comprising: a first, electrically conductive, backing layer; a second, photoconductive layer responsive to both actinic and X-ray radiation extending substantially over said backing layer; a third, dielectric layer substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, the dielectric layer having a back surface extending substantially over and in contact with said photoconductive layer and a front surface; and a plurality of discrete conductive microplates substantially transparent to both actinic and X-ray radiation, said microplates on said front surface, each of said microplates having dimensions coextensive with a minimum resolvable picture element; the method comprising: (a) preventing actinic radiation from impinging on said element; (b) applying an electric potential difference between said plurality of discrete conductive microplates and said backing layer; (c) impinging imagewise modulated X-ray radiation for a first time period onto the element; and (d) after the first time period, stopping the applying step.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 20, further comprising: (e) after step (d), exposing the element to uniform radiation for a second time period.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 20, further comprising: (e) after step (d), exposing the element to uniform actinic radiation for a second time period.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 20, wherein step (b) further comprises: (1) contacting said plurality of discrete conductive microplates with a resilient electrically conductive means; and (2) applying an electric potential difference between said resilient electrical conductive means and said backing layer.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 23, further comprising: (e) after step (d), moving the resilient electrical conductive means away from contacting said plurality of discrete microplates and exposing the element to radiation for a second time period.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 24, wherein the radiation is uniform actinic radiation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-11-24	1996-05-25	1996-11-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-11-24	2000-05-25	2000-11-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-11-24	2004-05-25	2004-11-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Element, device and associated method for capturing a latent radiographic image

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