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, and light emitted from the linear area of the sheet upon stimulation is photoelectrically converted by a line sensor. Outputs of several pixel regions of the line sensor, which are adjacent to one another along the length direction of the linear area of the sheet and have widths taken in the length direction of the linear area of the sheet such that a sum of the widths is equal to the width of one pixel in a final image, are added together in order to constitute an image signal component representing one pixel in the final image.

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: 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: 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 photo electrically 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: Disclosed herein is a method of obtaining an image signal, comprising the steps of preparing an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light in a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with stimulating light, scanning the image recording sheet in horizontal and vertical scanning directions with the stimulating light, and obtaining the image signal by detecting the photostimulated luminescent light emitted by the scanning, with a solid-state image detector having a photoconductor. The signal, output from the solid-state image detector when scanning a non-image region other than an image recording region on the image recording sheet with the stimulating light, is detected as a correction signal. A non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, is suppressed with the correction signal.

Abstract: In a two-side radiation image reading method wherein a stimulable phosphor sheet storing a radiation image is scanned by stimulating rays and light emitted from the front and back sides of the sheet is photoelectrically detected by photoelectric reading means separately located on the front and back sides of the sheet to obtain two image signals representing the radiation image to be subjected to addition processing or the like for obtaining a final image, shading correction data and/or fading correction data are obtained in advance and shading correction and/or fading correction is carried out on the image signals by using the correction data having been obtained. While an area equivalent to one side of the stimulable phosphor sheet (whose number of main scan lines is 4320) is being scanned, reading of the sheet is switched between the front and back sides and sensitivity of photoelectric reading means is also changed (to standard, semi-high, and high).

Abstract: A radiation image readout apparatus which provides the option of selecting whether or not radiation energy is to be erased after readout thereof has been performed, which is provided with a readout portion for reading out the image data of a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing means for erasing the radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after readout therefrom has been performed. The apparatus also has a mode input switch for selecting and inputting the desired readout mode from among the three choices of readout-and-erase mode, readout only mode, and erase only mode, and a control means for controlling the readout means and the erasing means according to the mode that has been selected and input.

Abstract: An image recording sheet and a solid-state image detector are used. The sheet has a stimulable phosphor layer laminated on a base, and the solid-state image detector includes a photoconductive layer containing amorphous selenium as its main component and electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the photoconductive layer. An electric field is applied across the photoconductive layer so that avalanche amplification is obtained within the photoconductive layer. The sheet is scanned under the electric field with stimulating light of wavelength of about 600 nm, and photostimulated luminescence light of wavelength of about 400 nm emitted from the fluorescent layer is incident on the photoconductive layer via an optical guide and a stimulating light cut filter. Electric charge generated within the photoconductive layer is detected by a current detecting circuit, whereby a radiation image signal is obtained.

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: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a stimulable phosphor sheet storing thereon a radiation image is exposed to stimulating light and stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation by the stimulating light is detected and an image signal representing the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is obtained by photoelectrically converting the stimulated emission. A read-out system includes an array of a plurality of read-out heads, each including a stimulating light source which projects the stimulating light onto the stimulable phosphor sheet and a photodetector which detects the stimulated emission. A conveyor system conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet and the read-out system relative to each other in a direction intersecting the direction of the array of the read-out heads.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser drive circuit for supplying an electric current to a semiconductor laser includes a laser power supply which supplies an electric current of a positive or negative voltage to the semiconductor laser, an operational amplifier which is driven by a positive amplifier power supply and a negative amplifier power supply, and a current control element which controls the amount of electric current flowing into the semiconductor laser according to the output of the operational amplifier. A sequence circuit causes one of the amplifier power supplies, which one is reverse in polarity as the laser power supply, to start first and then causes the other amplifier power supply to start after the former amplifier power supply achieves a steady voltage.

Abstract: To make it possible to verify the finished state of the entire head in advance to thereby freely select a hair style suitable to the taste of the person 4 receiving the hairdressing service by adjusting the hair style to the face of that person, the hairdo pattern selecting system is realized in a way to: accumulate a multiple number of hairdo patterns in computer 5, in the prescribed angle range .theta. and as continuous hairdo patterns of a prescribed speed, photograph and input in the computer 5 the head of the person 4 receiving the service, the prescribed angle range .theta. agreeing with the hairdo pattern images and as continuous head images of a prescribed speed; synthesize the head image and the hairdo pattern image selected from among a multiple number of hairdo pattern images and output the result as continuous synthesized images of a prescribed speed on display 6.

Abstract: A plurality of image signals are obtained, which represent a radiation image of a single object or radiation images of the single object, and which have different frequency characteristics, each of the image signals being made up of a series of image signal components. The image signal components of the plurality of the image signals, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements, are weighted with predetermined weight factors. The weighted image signal components of the plurality of the image signals, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements, are added to one another, and an addition signal is thereby obtained. The value of the weight factor with respect to the frequency components, which have a low signal-to-noise ratio, is rendered smaller than the value of the weight factor with respect to the frequency components, which have a high signal-to-noise ratio, in accordance with the frequency characteristics of each of the image signals.

Abstract: A laser diode pumped solid state laser is provided with a first temperature control circuit which controls the temperature of the laser diode to a predetermined value and a second temperature control circuit which controls the temperature of the resonator of the solid state laser to a predetermined value. When the solid state laser is in a steady state, an automatic power control is carried out for keeping the light output of the solid state laser at a reference output value. When a predetermined command is issued, the automatic power control is switched to an automatic current control for keeping the electric current flowing through the laser diode at a reference current value. A temperature of the laser diode at which the light output of the solid state laser is maximized is detected while changing the temperature of the laser diode, and the first temperature control circuit controls the temperature of the laser diode to the detected temperature.

Abstract: A semi conductor device is provided having the following arrangement. A first electrode is formed on the major surface of a semiconductor substrate and comprises a first Al connection layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and a barrier metal layer provided on, and electrically connected to, the first Al connection layer and serving as a barrier against the Al. An insulating film is formed over the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the first electrode. An opening is formed in the insulating film so as to partially expose the first electrode. An antifuse film is formed in a manner to partially cover the insulating film and contact with the barrier metal layer of the first electrode with the opening therebetween. The antifuse film is formed of silicon nitride whose nitrogen/silicon atomic composition ratio ranges from 0.6 to 1.2. A second electrode is formed over the antifuse film and comprised of a barrier metal layer serving as a barrier against the Al.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image of an object has been stored, is scanned with a laser beam of a predetermined output power, which causes the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is photoelectrically detected with a predetermined sampling time. A response speed r ?sec! of the stimulable phosphor constituting the stimulable phosphor sheet, the laser beam output power p ?W!, a picture element size s ?m!, and the sampling time t ?sec! are set such that they may satisfy Formulas (1), (2), and (3):r/(s.multidot.t)<5,000 (1)t/s.sup.2 <80 (2)p.multidot.t/s.sup.2 >1 (3)The radiation image having been stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is thereby read out quickly and such that a reproduced image having good image quality may be obtained.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. The light, which is emitted from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the light, which is emitted from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are respectively detected. An image readout from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet and an image readout from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet are thus carried out independently of each other, two image signals being thereby obtained. An abnormal state in the image readout from each of the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet is detected.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. The light, which is emitted from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the light, which is emitted from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are detected respectively with two photoelectric read-out devices, and two image signals are thereby obtained. The two image signals are added to each other in a predetermined addition ratio.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier for preventing an abnormal output from occurring when receiving an excessive input. The logarithmic amplifier is provided with an operational amplifier for logarithmic conversion purposes and a feedback circuit for feeding back an output from the operational amplifier via a resistor connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier. An element (for example, an element consisting of a Zener diode and a diode connected in series with each other) having an effective resistance which becomes smaller when a voltage above a predetermined value is applied to the element is connected in parallel with a resistor connected to an output terminal of an operational amplifier for logarithmic conversion purposes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided having the following arrangement. A first electrode is formed on the major surface of a semiconductor substrate and comprises a first Al connection layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and a barrier metal layer provided on, and electrically connected to, the first Al connection layer and serving as a barrier against the Al. An insulating film is formed over the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the first electrode. An opening is formed in the insulating film so as to partially expose the first electrode. An antifuse film is formed in a manner to partially cover the insulating film and contact with the barrier metal layer of the first electrode with the opening therebetween. The antifuse film is formed of silicon nitride whose nitrogen/silicon atomic composition ratio ranges from 0.6 to 1.2. A second electrode is formed over the antifuse film and comprised of a barrier metal layer serving as a barrier against the Al.