Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus for taking X-ray images of an object includes a front panel and back panel. The panels have substrates, arrays of signal sensing elements and readout devices, and passivation layers. The front and back panels have scintillating phosphor layers responsive to X-rays passing through an object produce light which illuminates the signal sensing elements to provide signals representing X-ray images. The X-ray apparatus has means for combining the signals of the X-ray images to produce a composite X-ray image. Furthermore, the composition and thickness of the scintillating phosphor layers are selected, relative to each other, to improve the diagnostic efficacy of the composite X-ray image. Alternatively, a radiographic imaging apparatus has a single panel having arrays of signal sensing elements and readout devices and scintillating phosphor layers that are disposed on both sides of a single substrate.

Abstract: A radiographic imaging device has a first scintillating phosphor screen having a first thickness and a second scintillating phosphor screen having a second thickness. A transparent substrate is disposed between the first and second screens. An imaging array formed on a side of the substrate includes multiple photosensors and an array of readout elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing carrier from an article are provided. The apparatus includes a heater positioned to direct heat toward an article travel path. The heat has an emission spectrum with a peak emission wavelength and the carrier having an absorption spectrum with a peak absorption wavelength. The peak emission wavelength of the heat substantially corresponds to the peak absorption wavelength of the carrier.

Abstract: A radiographic imaging device has a first scintillating phosphor screen having a first thickness and a second scintillating phosphor screen having a second thickness. A transparent substrate is disposed between the first and second screens. An imaging array formed on a side of the substrate includes multiple photosensors and an array of readout elements.

Abstract: A digital radiography (20) detector has a first housing (18) having substantially the form factor of a film cassette and having a chest wall edge (C). The first housing (18) has an X-ray converter (70) with a detection array (26), each detector generating a signal according to an amount of radiation received. Readout electronics (74) are coupled with switching elements in the detection array for obtaining the signals therefrom. The readout electronics (74) include elements formed from crystalline silicon and are distributed toward outer edges of the first housing (18) and away from the chest wall edge (C). X-ray shielding selectively protects the readout electronics (74) and is located beneath a portion of the detection array. A second housing (40), electrically connected to the first housing (18) has a power source for the detector, readout and control electronics for obtaining signals provided from the detection array (26).

Abstract: A digital radiography (20) detector has a first housing (18) having substantially the form factor of a film cassette and having a chest wall edge (C). The first housing (18) has an X-ray converter (70) with a detection array (26), each detector generating a signal according to an amount of radiation received. Readout electronics (74) are coupled with switching elements in the detection array for obtaining the signals therefrom. The readout electronics (74) include elements formed from crystalline silicon and are distributed toward outer edges of the first housing (18) and away from the chest wall edge (C). X-ray shielding selectively protects the readout electronics (74) and is located beneath a portion of the detection array. A second housing (40), electrically connected to the first housing (18) has a power source for the detector, readout and control electronics for obtaining signals provided from the detection array (26).

Abstract: The present invention relates to radiographic imaging apparatus for taking X-ray images of an object. In various two-panel radiographic imaging apparatus configurations, a front panel and back panel have substrates, arrays of signal sensing elements and readout devices, and passivation layers. The front and back panels have scintillating phosphor layers responsive to X-rays passing through an object produce light which illuminates the signal sensing elements to provide signals representing X-ray images. The X-ray apparatus has means for combining the signals of the X-ray images to produce a composite X-ray image. Furthermore, the composition and thickness of the scintillating phosphor layers are selected, relative to each other, to improve the diagnostic efficacy of the composite X-ray image. Alternatively, a radiographic imaging apparatus has a single panel having arrays of signal sensing elements and readout devices and scintillating phosphor layers that are disposed on both sides of a single substrate.

Abstract: A method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot resulting from the application of an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of an ink jet recording medium having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, the image-receiving layer containing: a) from about 20 to about 65% by volume of particles; b) from about 25 to about 70% by volume of a polymeric binder; and c) up to about 10% by volume of a cross-linking agent; the method comprising applying the ink jet ink drop on the surface of the image-receiving layer whereby the diameter of the ink jet ink dot is increased relative to that which would have been obtained if the image-receiving layer had greater than about 65% by volume of particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing carrier from an article are provided. The apparatus includes a heater positioned to direct heat toward an article travel path. The heat has an emission spectrum with a peak emission wavelength and the carrier having an absorption spectrum with a peak absorption wavelength. The peak emission wavelength of the heat substantially corresponds to the peak absorption wavelength of the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of treating a recording element are provided. The apparatus includes a carrier removal station adapted to remove a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station is positioned downstream from the carrier removal station and is adapted to increase a durability characteristic of the recording element. A controller is electrically connected to at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station so that an operating parameter of at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station is individually adjustable.

Abstract: A recording element printing and treating system and method are provided. The system includes a printhead for dispensing a liquid comprising a carrier onto a recording element. A carrier removal station positioned downstream from the printhead removes a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station positioned downstream from the carrier removal station increases a durability characteristic of the recording element. In one embodiment, printing, carrier removal, and converting are accomplished in a single unit. In an alternative embodiment, printing is accomplished in a stand alone unit while carrier removal and converting are accomplished in a second stand alone unit. In this alternative embodiment, transfer of the recording element can be accomplished automatically using a mechanical device or manually by a system user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing carrier from an article are provided. The apparatus includes a heater positioned to direct heat toward an article travel path. The heat has an emission spectrum with a peak emission wavelength and the carrier having an absorption spectrum with a peak absorption wavelength. The peak emission wavelength of the heat substantially corresponds to the peak absorption wavelength of the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of treating a recording element are provided. The apparatus includes a carrier removal station adapted to remove a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station is positioned downstream from the carrier removal station and is adapted to increase a durability characteristic of the recording element. A controller is electrically connected to at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station so that an operating parameter of at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station is individually adjustable.

Abstract: A recording element printing and treating system and method are provided. The system includes a printhead for dispensing a liquid comprising a carrier onto a recording element. A carrier removal station positioned downstream from the printhead removes a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station positioned downstream from the carrier removal station increases a durability characteristic of the recording element. In one embodiment, printing, carrier removal, and converting are accomplished in a single unit. In an alternative embodiment, printing is accomplished in a stand alone unit while carrier removal and converting are accomplished in a second stand alone unit. In this alternative embodiment, transfer of the recording element can be accomplished automatically using a mechanical device or manually by a system user.

Abstract: A method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot resulting from the application of an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of an ink jet recording medium having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, the image-receiving layer containing: a) from about 20 to about 65% by volume of particles; b) from about 25 to about 70% by volume of a polymeric binder; and c) up to about 10% by volume of a cross-linking agent; the method comprising applying the ink jet ink drop on the surface of the image-receiving layer whereby the diameter of the ink jet ink dot is increased relative to that which would have been obtained if the image-receiving layer had greater than about 65% by volume of particles.

Abstract: A laser film printer system comprising:a source of a beam of light having a wavelength in the blue or ultraviolet region;a modulator for modulating the beam of light according to an input image signal;a monochrome film having a photosensitive layer which is sensitive to light in the blue or ultraviolet region; anda scanner for scanning the film with the beam of light to form an image therein representative of the input image signal;wherein the wavelength of the source of a beam of light and the grain size and coating density of the silver halide in the photosensitive layer of the monochrome film are chosen to eliminate interference fringes of said film image.

Abstract: A laser imaging apparatus comprising:a laser diode which is always operable in a linear lasing region;an amplitude modulator for amplitude modulating said laser diode for a digital image signal applied to said laser diode, when said digital image signal has a code value in a first range of code values in the mid to high range of signal code values; anda high speed pulse width modulator for pulse width modulating said laser diode when said digital signal, which is applied to said laser diode, has a code value in a second range of code values below said first range of code values, said laser diode being operated at a constant predetermined power level which is above the threshold power level of said laser diode.

Abstract: A technique for calibrating a cathode ray tube multiformat camera and a video monitor. A video image is corrected on a pixel-by-pixel basis and a gray scale is produced on a photosensitive medium, such as film, and on a monitor with uniform quantization in perceived lightness (i.e., perceived lightness or gray shade varies linearly with digital image code value). Consequently, there is no loss of small-signal and strong-signal structures (detail), and all the image information is recorded on film and clearly displayed on the monitor.

Abstract: The dynamic range of a continuous tone laser printer is extended by directly modulating a diode laser while simultaneously modulating the optical output of the diode laser with an acousto-optic modulator. The digital image value is input to two look-up tables (LUTs) that convert the image value to two digital words; one to set the power level of the diode laser, and the other to set the diffraction efficiency of the acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The first look-up table is constructed from the performance characteristics of the diode laser, and the second look-up table is constructed from the performance characteristics of the AOM. The look-up table digital outputs are applied to respective digital to analog converters whose analog outputs respectively drive a voltage to current driver for the diode laser and a radio frequency dirver for the AOM. The resulting power of the writing laser beam is a linear function of the input image value.

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.