Abstract: An image recording apparatus has light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction and an imaging optical system which images light from the light emitting elements on a recording medium. An image is recorded on the recording medium by imaging light from the light emitting elements through the imaging optical system while moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The imaging optical system is formed of a first optical system consisting of biaxial optical elements, each having a refractive index profile in the main scanning direction and a refractive index in the sub-scanning direction, arranged in the main scanning direction, and a second optical system consisting of an optical element disposed on the light incident side of the first optical system and having a refractive power to light components propagated in the sub-scanning direction but no refractive power to light components propagated in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: Initial image data having a pixel size smaller than a pixel size of a final image are obtained by using line sensors arranged in a main scan direction and a vertical scan direction, and the final image becomes of high quality by processing the initial image data to prevent the image from becoming uneven. Integration processing means carries out a first conversion process to convert the initial image data comprising signals detected by the line sensors into data for pixels divided in the main scan direction. The integration processing means carries out a second conversion process in which, whenever the data are obtained for three consecutive pixels in the main scan direction, the data are added to become data for one pixel of the final image. The data for the final image are then subjected to an equalization process such as dark current correction carried out by a correction means.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes a plurality of radiation image convertor panels superposed one on another in a direction in which radiation passing through an object propagates. A separator separates the superposed radiation image convertor panels exposed to the radiation passing through the object from one another by moving in a parallel displacement and/or rotating about an axis on a plane parallel to the surfaces of the radiation image convertor panels one or more of the superposed radiation image convertor panels relatively to the others. A single detecting head detects stimulated emission emitted from each of the radiation image convertor panels separated by the separator.

Abstract: Radiation image information is read from a stimulable phosphor sheet by line sensors and corrected for shading by a shading corrector. Thereafter, the radiation image information is corrected for sharpness independently in main and auxiliary directions by a sharpness corrector using spatial filters which are selected from a spatial filter memory by a spatial filter selector according to recording or reading conditions.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes a condenser optical system which converges stimulated emission emitted from a radiation image convertor panel upon exposure to stimulating light. A photodetector receives the stimulated emission converged by the condenser optical system and has a sensitivity to light longer in wavelength than the stimulating light and a stimulating light cut filter is disposed in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel to transmit the stimulated emission and to cut the stimulating light. A longer wavelength light cut filter which transmits the stimulated emission and attenuates the intensity of light components longer in wavelength than the stimulating light is provided in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel.

Abstract: Two image signals representing radiation image information are acquired from opposite surfaces of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which the radiation image information has been stored. Operation processing is performed on the two image signals in accordance with predetermined operation processing parameters, and an operation-processed image signal representing the radiation image information is obtained. A ratio between read-out sensitivities with respect to the opposite surface sides of the sheet and/or the predetermined operation processing parameters with respect to at least either one surface side of the sheet are controlled in accordance with read-out conditions employed at the time of the image signal acquisition.

Abstract: An image signal is read out by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor which emits stimulated emission in proportion to the stored energy of radiation upon exposure to stimulating light and a solid image sensor having a photoconductive material layer which exhibits electric conductivity upon exposure to the stimulated emission from the stimulable phosphor sheet. Stimulating light is caused to scan a stimulable phosphor sheet which has been exposed to radiation and has stored an image, the photoconductive material layer is caused to be exposed to stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating light. Then electric charges generated in the photoconductive material layer upon exposure to the stimulated emission is detected by applying an electric field to the photoconductive material layer.

Abstract: A stimulating light cut filter is disposed between a radiation image convertor panel and a line sensor to transmit the stimulated emission and cut the stimulating light. The stimulating light cut filter includes an optical element which absorbs the stimulating light, and a reflecting layer which reflects the stimulating light.

Abstract: Provide is an input device that can be incorporated into a notebook computer that exhibits improved operability even in the case of including both a stick-type and a pad-type pointing devices. A Pad face of a pad-type pointing device is configured to incline against the horizon when a computer is used or against the operation face of a keyboard while lowering the keyboard side. A first button for stick-type pointing device, a guide member for fixing the pad face, and the pad face are configured to be adjacent to one another to make the height of the top surface of the guide member being almost as high as the top surface of the pressed first button. A button with a long stroke is used for a first button to improve usability.

Abstract: Stimulating rays produced by a line light source are linearly irradiated onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored. Light, which is emitted from the linear area of the sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, is received and photoelectrically converted by a line sensor. Outputs of the line sensor are corrected in accordance with variation in sensitivity among a plurality of pixel regions of the line sensor, which pixel regions are arrayed along the length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: An image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet is read out by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface. A variable transmittance medium whose transmittance to the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is variable continuously or stepwise is inserted into the optical path of the light between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric surface of the photodetector The transmittance of the variable transmittance medium is changed according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.

Abstract: Radiation image information is read from a stimulable phosphor sheet by line sensors and corrected for shading by a shading corrector. Thereafter, the radiation image information is corrected for sharpness independently in main and auxiliary directions by a sharpness corrector using spatial filters which are selected from a spatial filter memory by a spatial filter selector according to recording or reading conditions.

Abstract: Upon transferring two image signals to an output apparatus in an image transfer system, the amount of data to be transferred can be reduced. In an image signal output apparatus, subtraction signal generating means generates a subtraction signal from a front-side image signal and rearside image signal, and the subtraction signal as well as either the front-side image signal or the rearside image signal are transferred to an operation and display terminal. When the front-side image signal and the subtraction signal are transferred, the operation and display terminal restores the rearside image signal by carrying out an operation using the subtraction signal and the front-side image signal having been transferred thereto. The front-side image signal and the rearside image signal are similar, and the amount of the subtraction signal is smaller than the amount of the rearside image signal, which results in reduction in the amount of data to be transferred.

Abstract: Stimulating rays containing red light and infrared rays are reflected from a reference plate, which has reflection characteristics to the infrared rays approximately identical with those of a stimulable phosphor sheet, and which is free from characteristics of emitting light when being exposed to the stimulating rays. The stimulating rays reflected from the reference plate are received with a light receiving device via a cut-off filter for transmitting light emitted by the sheet and blocking the red light, and an infrared ray image signal representing the infrared ray components of the stimulating rays is acquired. The infrared ray image signal is subtracted from a radiation image signal representing a radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: Corrective image data obtained by reading a stimulable phosphor sheet which is uniformly irradiated with a radiation are masked, and added and averaged into reference data. The ratio between the reference data and the corrective image data is generated as sensitivity correcting data. Desired radiation image information is then read from the stimulable phosphor sheet, corrected by the sensitivity correcting data, and outputted to an external image processing apparatus.

Abstract: Stimulating rays produced by a line light source are linearly irradiated onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored. Light, which is emitted from the linear area of the sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, is received and photoelectrically converted by a line sensor. The line sensor comprises a pair of one-dimensional CCD image sensors. Light receiving regions of the one-dimensional CCD image sensors are located close to each other with respect to a direction normal to the length direction of the linear area of the sheet and with a fine gap intervening between the light receiving regions.

Abstract: When an output voltage from an acceleration sensor is judged as being larger than a reference voltage of a reference voltage setting unit, a comparator outputs a pulse signal to a holding circuit. The holding circuit holds a high-level energization signal, and an LED is energized by the energization signal supplied from the holding circuit, informing the operator that an excessively large external force has been applied to the cassette.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction and an imaging optical system which images light from the light emitting elements on a recording medium. An image is recorded on the recording medium by imaging light from the light emitting elements through the imaging optical system while moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The imaging optical system is formed of a first optical system consisting of biaxial optical elements, each having a refractive index profile in the main scanning direction and a refractive index in the sub-scanning direction, arranged in the main scanning direction, and a second optical system consisting of an optical element disposed on the light incident side of the first optical system and having a refractive power to light components propagated in the sub-scanning direction but no refractive power to light components propagated in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A radiation image data readout apparatus in which read out is performed so that a detected light quantity for each CCD element of each CCD sensor is set at a quantity below the saturation charge quantity of each CCD element, and the level of noise is reduced. The radiation energy stored on a readout-line of a stimulable phosphor sheet is estimated, and based on the estimated quantity of radiation energy, a controller sets the readout conditions, which are formed of the charge accumulation time of the readout line and the binning conditions, and readout is performed by a line sensor according to these conditions.

Abstract: An image signal is read out by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor which emits stimulated emission in proportion to the stored energy of radiation upon exposure to stimulating light and a solid image sensor having a photoconductive material layer which exhibits electric conductivity upon exposure to the stimulated emission from the stimulable phosphor sheet. Stimulating light is caused to scan a stimulable phosphor sheet which has been exposed to radiation and has stored an image, the photoconductive material layer is caused to be exposed to stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating light. Then electric charges generated in the photoconductive material layer upon exposure to the stimulated emission is detected by applying an electric field to the photoconductive material layer.