Abstract: Apparatus for scanning an information medium, such as laser scanning apparatus, includes a light collector which has high light collection efficiency, which is easy and economical to manufacture, and which efficiently shades photodetectors from scattered transmitted light. The collector includes first and second members joined together to form a light collecting cavity, with diffusely reflecting surfaces facing the cavity. The members extend the length of the scanning region and are formed from longer lengths of extrudable material. The members have ends which form a slot adjacent to the light scanning region for receiving light transmitted through the information medium into the collection cavity and which have information medium guiding features.

Abstract: A pallet holds a cassette that has a projection and a recess for registering the cassette relative to the pallet. The pallet has a surface that supports the cassette with a recess in the surface for receiving the projection on the cassette and a projection on the surface for receiving the recess in the cassette. A pair of rails project upwardly above the surface by a distance sufficient to allow a similar pallet to be stacked on top of the rails without interfering with the movement of the cassette on the surface. Locating elements on the rails accurately position one pallet on top of another.

Abstract: A laser film scanner scans film as it is translated in a substantially horizonally plane past a diffuse light collector. The light collector includes an elongated housing enclosing a collection cavity having a slot at its top through which light enters. The cavity has diffuse reflective surfaces to diffusely reflect light to a photodetector communicating with the cavity. Positioned opposite the slot is a slanted face from which light entering the cavity is directly reflected. The slanted face avoids streak artifacts in a detected image by permitting dirt particles falling through the slot to roll down to a lower region in the cavity. The slaned face may be formed from a removable insert of low adhesion fluorocarbon material to permit cleaning without disassembling the collector.

Abstract: A light collector collects and detects light emitted from a photostimulable phosphor sheet in a photostimulable phosphor imaging system. The collector includes a vertical mirror extending the width of the phosphor sheet; and a V-roof mirror having upper and lower mirrors forming an apex facing the vertical mirror. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror form slots for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation through the collector to the surface of the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for admitting emitted light from the phosphor sheet into the collector. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror have a substantially triangular cross-section which diminishes in size from one edge of the phosphor sheet to the other edge thereof. A photodetector is positioned at the large end of the triangular collector for receiving light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted by, reflected from, or transmitted through a scanned information medium. The collector includes a planar mirror and side by side pyramidal mirrors which collect light and direct it to a photodetector located at a centrally located aperture in the planar mirror. The collector preferably collects light emitted by a storage phosphor which has been stimulated by stimulating light passed through aligned slots in the collector.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted by, reflected from, or transmitted through a scanned information medium. The collector includes a planar mirror and a facing pyramidal mirror which collect light and direct it to a photodetector located at a centrally located aperture in the apex region of the pyramidal mirror. The collector preferably collects light emitted by a storage phosphor which has been stimulated by stimulating light passed through aligned slots in the collector.

Abstract: A storage phosphor reader includes apparatus for loading into the reader a storage phosphor plate carried in a cassette. Orienting surfaces are provided on the cassette and on a reader loading shelf to effect correct orientation of the cassette on the shelf. Thus, a storage phosphor plate can be properly transferred between the cassette and the reader.

Abstract: A light collector collects and detects light emitted from a photostimulable phosphor sheet in a photostimulable phosphor imaging system. The collector includes a vertical mirror extending the width of the phosphor sheet; and a V-roof mirror having upper and lower mirrors forming an apex facing the vertical mirror. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror form slots for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation through the collector to the surface of the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for admitting emitted light from the phosphor sheet into the collector. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror form a substantially triangular cross-section which diminishes in size from one edge of the phosphor sheet to the other edge thereof. A photodetector is positioned at the large end of the triangular collector for receiving light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A light collector collects and detects light emitted from a photostimulable phosphor medium such as a phosphor sheet in a photostimulable phosphor imaging system. The collector includes a vertical mirror extending the width of the phosphor sheet; and a V-roof mirror having upper and lower mirrors forming an apex facing the vertical mirror. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror form slots for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation through the collector to the surface of the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for admitting emitted light from the phosphor sheet into the collector. The vertical mirror and V-roof mirror form a substantially triangular cross-section which diminishes in size from one edge of the phosphor sheet to the other edge thereof. A photodetector is positioned at the large end of the triangular collector for receiving light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor sheet and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A cassette for a photo-stimulable storage phosphor plate has a visual feedback feature for indicating whether the cassette is upside down or right side up. The cassette preferably has a cavity bounded by upper and lower walls, closed side walls a closed end wall and an open end wall. A storage phosphor plate is supported in the cavity and includes a raised rib which closes off the open end wall. A visual feedback feature is located on a closed side or end wall. The feature may include a horizontally corrugated edge texture with different color on the top versus the bottom corrugations. An alternate visual feedback feature may include an adhesive strip of grating or lenticular material showing different colors or differnet visual indicia or messages when viewed from the top and from the bottom.

Abstract: A storage phosphor cassette assembly includes a rectangular cassette and a photo-stimulable storage phosphor mounted on a rigid plate removably positioned within the cassette. The rectangular cassette is closed on five sides and has a side opening which is closed off by a rib on the end of the storage phosphor plate. The cassette and rib are configured to provide a light lock to prevent undesirable exposure of the storage phosphor.

Abstract: For use in an image scanner, a highly efficient multistage fluorescent radiation collector collects radiation emitted, reflected, or transmitted from an image storage medium. A first elongated light pipe member has a first fluorescent dye which absorbs radiation from the storage medium and emits radiation of another wavelength. A second elongated light pipe member located adjacent to but optically isolated from the first member has a second fluorescent dye which absorbs emitted radiation escaping from the first member and which emits radiation of a third wavelength. Preferably, a third elongated light pipe member located adjacent to but optically isolated from the second member has a third fluorescent dye which absorbs emitted radiation escaping from the second member and which emits radiation of a fourth wavelength.

Abstract: Light collectors formed by rolling one edge of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic material into an annular configuration, while keeping an opposite edge flat suffer from light collection inefficiency caused by local stretching and thus thinning of the sheet near the annular end, thereby increasing the number of internal reflections experienced by a light ray. This problem is solved by making a light collector that is uniform in thickness, or thicker toward the annular end.

Abstract: To minimize the adverse effects of "flare" in reading-out stimulable phosphor recording elements, the light-collecting face of a photodetector is provided with a multiplicity of sharp, light-transparent, optical projections. By a combination of reflections and refractions, such optical projections serve to absorb substantially all incident photons thereby preventing phosphor-stimulating photons from being reflected by the photodetector's light-collecting face and exciting non-addressed regions of the recording element. Preferably, the optical projections take the form of a sawtooth array of optical wedges; however, pyramid-shaped and cone-shaped projections are also disclosed.

Abstract: A linear light source for a film scanner includes means for generating an intense beam of light and an elongated cylindrical integrating cavity having diffusely reflective walls, and defining an input port through which the intense beam is introduced into the cavity and an output slit parallel to the long axis of the cylindrical integrating cavity to emit a uniform line of light.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting emitted light from a raster scanned photostimulable phosphor sheet in a photostimulable phosphor imaging apparatus includes a generally rectangular slab of transparent material having a thickness greater than 20 mm, a first face of said slab being arranged along the scan line of the photostimulable phosphor, said first face making an angle .theta. of between 10.degree. and 15.degree. with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a plurality of photomultiplier tubes being arranged at an opposite face of the slab. An elongated mirror is arranged opposite first face for directing light emitted from the phosphor onto said first face of said slab of transparent material.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting emitted light from a raster scanned photo-stimulable phosphor sheet in photo-stimulable phosphor imaging apparatus includes a generally rectangular mirror box having two opposite open ends, one of the open ends being arranged along the scan line of the photo-stimulable phosphor, and a plurality of photomultiplier tubes being arranged at the other open end of the mirror box. An elongated mirror is arranged opposite the one open end of the mirror box for directing light emitted from the phosphor sheet into the mirror box.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting light emitted from a photo-stimulable phosphor sheet in a photo-stimulable phosphor imaging system includes a roof-mirror light collector having a bottom roof-mirror extending the width of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and a top roof-mirror positioned over the bottom roof-mirror to define a mirror box having a nearly square cross-section. The roof-mirrors define slots along their peaks for passing a scanning beam of stimulating radiation through the light box to the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet, and for admitting emitted light from the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet into the light box. Prestimulation in such a light collector is reduced by making the slot adjacent the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet equal to or narrower than the opposite slot. Predischarge in a light collector is reduced by providing a light trap adjacent the slot that is positioned near the surface of the photo-stimulable phosphor sheet.