Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a DC/DC power supply which supplies power to at least part of the apparatus, a photodetector array including two-dimensionally arranged photoelectric conversion elements, and a line selector and reading circuit which read signals from the photoelectric conversion elements for each row in the photodetector array as a unit. A line driving signal in the line selector is set to be synchronized with a reference clock for defining the oscillation frequency of the DC/DC power supply and have a period of an integer multiple of the reference clock. A sample/hold signal for determining the timing at which a signal read from the photodetector array is sampled/held is output at a predetermined phase timing of each period of the line driving signal.

Abstract: A method and a device are proposed for determining the type of fluid in a fluid mass in an object. X-ray attenuation data is supplied from one or a plurality of X-ray recordings of an object area including the fluid mass in the object, which were acquired with at least two different X-ray spectra or detector weightings. The X-ray attenuation data is used to determine values for effective atomic number and density for the fluid mass and average these to obtain a mean value for effective atomic number and density for the fluid mass. Comparison data is also supplied, which indicates fluctuation ranges for combinations of effective atomic number and density for different types of fluid. The mean values for effective atomic number and density of the fluid mass are compared with the comparison data to determine the fluctuation range and thereby the type of fluid, into which the two mean values fall.

Abstract: A collimator comprises a pair of first plate members having X-ray absorbability and a pair of second plate members having X-ray absorbability. The pair of first plate members are movable in a direction parallel to surfaces thereof, and have respective end faces opposed to each other with an X-ray passing aperture being defined by a spacing between the opposed end faces of the first plate members. The pair of second plate members are capable of being folded in a zigzag fashion through hinges, and in order to intercept other X-rays than the X-ray passing through the aperture, each of the second plate members is connected at one end thereof to each end of the first plate members on the side opposite to the opposed end faces of the first plate members and is connected at the other end thereof to each of fixing portions.