Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and storage medium

• US 20020001366A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Tatsuya, Hirai, Akira, Tamura, Toshikazu
• Granted Patent: US 6,510,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4216 using storage phosphor screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4225 using image intensifiers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4488 Means for cooling A61B6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/585 Calibration of detector units
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20184 Detector read-out circuitry, e.g. for clearing of traps, compensating for traps or compensating for direct hits
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/025 using multiple collimators, e.g. Bucky screens; other devices for eliminating undesired or dispersed radiation

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of providing a high-quality image optimum for medical diagnosis or the like by an arrangement for preventing any degradation in image quality due to the influence of electromagnetic noise and vibration caused by grid movement. In order to achieve this object, as operation control in receiving radiation transmitted through an object by an image sensing element through a movable grid and reading the accumulated signal from the image sensing element, a control device stops moving drive of the grid after the end of radiation irradiation for the object, and after the stop of moving drive, starts reading the accumulated signal from the image sensing element.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus which has a movable element related to imaging and an image sensing element, and has a function of sensing an image of an object with the image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

control means for stopping moving the element related to imaging, and after the stop of movement, starting reading the signal generated by the image sensing element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element related to imaging is a grid arranged between the object and the image sensing element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said apparatus further comprises irradiation detection means for detecting irradiation for the object, and

said control means controls the stop of movement of the element related to imaging on the basis of a detection result from said irradiation detection means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the stop of moving drive of the grid, said control means starts reading the signal from the image sensing element after an elapse of a predetermined time.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means determines in advance the predetermined time on the basis of at least one of an irradiation time for the object and a moving speed of the element related to imaging.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said apparatus further comprises vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state of the image sensing element due to movement of the element related to imaging, and

said control means controls a start of a read of accumulated signal from the image sensing element on the basis of a detection result from said vibration detection means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

8. An imaging apparatus which has a movable element related to imaging and an image sensing element, and has a function of sensing an image of an object with the image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the element related to imaging by the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to cause said drive means to operate the element related to imaging at a predetermined speed without any acceleration during an operation period related to a read from the image sensing element.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the element related to imaging is a grid inserted between the object and the image sensing element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

12. An imaging apparatus which has a movable element related to imaging and an image sensing element, and has a function of sensing an image of an object with the image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the element related to imaging by the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to cause said drive means to operate the element related to imaging at a uniform acceleration during an operation period related to a read from the image sensing element.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the element related to imaging is a grid inserted between the object and the image sensing element.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

16. An imaging apparatus which has a movable element related to imaging and an image sensing element, and has a function of sensing an image of an object with the image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the element related to imaging by the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to execute drive related to image acquisition upon determining that a value of a vibration is not more than a predetermined value during an operation period related to an image read from the image sensing element.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the element related to imaging is a grid inserted between the object and the image sensing element.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

20. An imaging apparatus having a function of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the image sensing element; and

control means for stopping moving the image sensing element by said drive means, and after the stop of movement, starting reading an accumulated signal from the image sensing element.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein after the stop of moving drive of the image sensing element, said control means starts reading the signal from the image sensing element after an elapse of a predetermined time.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

said apparatus further comprises vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state of the image sensing element, and

said control means controls a start of a read of the signal from the image sensing element on the basis of a detection result from said vibration detection means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

24. An imaging apparatus having a function of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to cause said drive means to operate the image sensing element at a predetermined speed without any acceleration during an operation period related to a read from the image sensing element.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

27. An imaging apparatus having a function of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to cause said drive means to operate the image sensing element at a uniform acceleration during an operation period related to a read from the image sensing element.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

30. An imaging apparatus having a function of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading as an image signal a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising:

drive means for moving the image sensing element; and

control means for controlling to execute drive related to image acquisition upon determining that a value of a vibration is not more than a predetermined value during an operation period related to an image read from the image sensing element.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein irradiation for the object includes radiation irradiation.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the radiation comprises X-rays.

33. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element while moving a movable element related to imaging, comprising the step of:

stopping moving the element related to imaging, and after the stop of movement, starting reading the signal from the image sensing element.

41. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 33.

34. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element while moving a movable element related to imaging, comprising the step of:

in moving the element related to imaging at the time of image sensing by the image sensing element, controlling to operate the element related to imaging at a predetermined speed without any acceleration during an operation period related to a read of the signal from the image sensing element.

42. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 34.

35. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element while moving a movable element related to imaging, comprising the step of:

in moving the element related to imaging at the time of image sensing by the image sensing element, controlling to operate the element related to imaging at a uniform acceleration during an operation period related to a read of the signal from the image sensing element.

43. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 35.

36. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with an image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element while moving a movable element related to imaging, comprising the step of:

in moving the element related to imaging at the time of image sensing by the image sensing element, controlling to execute drive related to image acquisition upon determining that a value of a vibration of the image sensing element is not more than a predetermined value during an operation period related to an image read from the image sensing element.

44. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 36.

37. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with a movable image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising the step of:

stopping moving the image sensing element, and after the stop of movement, starting reading the signal from the image sensing element.

45. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 37.

38. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with a movable image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising the step of:

controlling to operate the image sensing element at a predetermined speed without any acceleration during an operation period related to a read of the signal from the image sensing element.

46. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 38.

39. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with a movable image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising the step of:

controlling to operate the image sensing element at a uniform acceleration during an operation period related to a read of the signal from the image sensing element.

47. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 39.

40. An imaging method of sensing an image of an object with a movable image sensing element and reading a signal generated by the image sensing element, comprising the step of:

controlling to execute drive related to image acquisition upon determining that a value of a vibration of the image sensing element is not more than a predetermined value during an operation period related to an image read from the image sensing element.

48. A computer-readable storage medium wherein said storage medium stores a processing program for executing said imaging method of claim 40.