IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE AND IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD

• US 20170038314A1
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: ONISHI, Tatsuya, SUYAMA, Toshiyasu
• Granted Patent: US 10,267,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• 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: G01T 1/208 Circuits specially adapted for scintillation detectors, e.g. for the photo-multiplier section

Abstract

An image acquisition device is an image acquisition device that acquires an X-ray transmission image of an object conveyed in a conveyance direction, and the image acquisition device includes an X-ray irradiator that outputs an X-ray, a belt conveyor that conveys the object in the conveyance direction, an X-ray detection camera having a scintillator that converts an X-ray penetrating the object into scintillation light, a line scan camera that detects the scintillation light and outputs a detection signal, and an amplifier that amplifies the detection signal at a predetermined set amplification factor and outputs a amplified signal, a controller that generates an X-ray transmission image based on the amplified signal, and an amplifier controller that sets one of a first amplification factor or a second amplification factor corresponding to an amplification factor lower than the first amplification factor as the set amplification factor based on a predetermined imaging condition.

Claims

1. :

A device for capturing a radiation image of an object conveyed in a conveyance direction, the device comprising;

a radiation source configured to output radiation;

a carrier device configured to convey the object in the conveyance direction;

a detector including a scintillator configured to convert radiation penetrating the object into scintillation light, a line scan camera configured to detect the scintillation light and output a detection signal, and an amplifier configured to amplify the detection signal at a predetermined set amplification factor and output an amplified signal;

an image generator configured to generate a radiation image based on the amplified signal; and

a controller configured to set one of a first amplification factor or a second amplification factor corresponding to an amplification factor lower than the first amplification factor as the set amplification factor based on a predetermined imaging condition parameter.

2. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the line scan camera has a plurality of line sensors arranged in a line in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction.

3. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition parameter corresponds to a parameter pertaining to luminance values of a plurality of pixels of the radiation image.

4. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition parameter is set based on the radiation image generated by the image generator.

5. :

The device according to claim 4, wherein the imaging condition parameter is set based on the radiation image generated by the image generator under an environment in which the set amplification factor is set to the first amplification factor.

6. :

The device according to claim 3, wherein the parameter pertaining to the luminance values is a statistical value of the luminance values of the plurality of pixels of the radiation image.

7. :

The device according to claim 6, wherein the statistical value is a variation degree of the luminance values of the plurality of pixels.

8. :

The device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of pixels of the radiation image is a plurality of pixels pertaining to different spaces of the radiation image.

9. :

The device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of pixels of the radiation image is a plurality of pixels pertaining to different times of the radiation image.

10. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition parameter is an output parameter of the radiation source.

11. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the set amplification factor using a table corresponding to the parameter which is the imaging condition parameter.

12. :

The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the set amplification factor using a threshold value corresponding to the parameter which is the imaging condition parameter.

22. :

The method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition parameter is an output parameter of a radiation source.

13. :

A method for capturing a radiation image of an object conveyed in a conveyance direction, the method comprising;

converting radiation penetrating the object into scintillation light;

detecting the scintillation light by a line scan camera;

outputting a detection signal corresponding to detected scintillation light;

setting one of a first amplification factor or a second amplification factor corresponding to an amplification factor lower than the first amplification factor as a set amplification factor based on a predetermined imaging condition parameter;

amplifying the detection signal at the set amplification factor and outputting an amplified signal; and

generating a radiation image based on the amplified signal.

14. :

The method according to claim 13, wherein the line scan camera has a plurality of line sensors arranged in a line in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction.

15. :

The method according to claim 13, wherein the imaging condition parameter corresponds to a parameter pertaining to luminance values of a plurality of pixels of the radiation image.

16. :

The method according to claim 13, wherein the imaging condition parameter is set based on the radiation image generated by the image generator.

17. :

The method according to claim 16 wherein the imaging condition parameter is set based on the radiation image generated by the image generator under an environment in which the set amplification factor is set to the first amplification factor.

18. :

The method according to claim 15, wherein the parameter pertaining to the luminance values is a statistical value of the luminance values of the plurality of pixels of the radiation image.

19. :

The method according to claim 18, wherein the statistical value is a variation degree of the luminance values of the plurality of pixels.

20. :

The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pixels of the radiation image is a plurality of pixels pertaining to different spaces of the radiation image.

21. :

The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pixels of the radiation image is a plurality of pixels pertaining to different times of the radiation image.

23. :

The method according to claim 13, wherein the setting sets the set amplification factor using a table corresponding to the parameter which is the imaging condition parameter.

24. :

The method according to claim 13, wherein setting sets the set amplification factor using a threshold value corresponding to the parameter which is the imaging condition parameter.