Radiation imaging monitor control improvement

• US 4,930,144 A
• Filed: 05/25/1988
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Picker International, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Picker International, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Nicolay, David, Plut, Leonard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US07/203,510
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 378/99, 358/111, 358/140, 358/168
• US Class Current: 378/98.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/27 Circuits special to multi-standard receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/60 Circuit arrangements for obtaining a series of X-ray photographs or for X-ray cinematography

Abstract

A radiographic imaging system and method is disclosed having improved monitor control for enhancing the flexibility of a monitor so that one monitor can perform optimally under several system operating modes. The monitor automically detects the line rate most suitable for producing an image in the selected mode. Brightness compensation is accomplished as a function of the scan line rate at which the monitor is operating. Aspect ratio of the monitor produced image is also adjusted automatically in accordance with the operating mode selected. The system incorporates monitor brightness adjustment as a function of aspect ratio as well. Where the system incorporates a video tape or disk recorder, a time constant of the monitor is adjusted to optimize the monitor'"'"'s compatibility with the video data output from the recorder in response to the selection of an operating mode wherein the recorder feeds the monitor with video information.

Claims

1. A radiation imaging system comprising:

(a) a source of penetrative radiation;

(b) acquisition means for detecting patterns of radiation from said source and for producing a video output representing said patterns in accordance with one of a set of selectable acquisition modes;

(c) control means for operating said acquisition means in accordance with a selected one among said set of operating modes;

(d) a monitor including input circuitry coupled to receive said video output and means including a cathode ray tube and an electron gun to produce in raster format a visual image corresponding to said radiation patterns represented by said video output, and means for adjusting the aspect ratio of said visual image;

(e) circuit means automatically operable on said monitor for adjusting the aspect ratio of said image acceptable by said monitor as a function of the format of said operating mode which is selected by said control means, and

(f) circuit means for adjusting the brightness of said image as a function of the aspect ratio of said image produced by said monitor.

2. A radiation imaging method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing penetrative radiation and passing said radiation through an object to be imaged;

(b) detecting patterns of radiation from said source and producing a video output representing said patterns by the use of acquisition means operable in accordance with one of a plurality of selectable acquisition modes;

(c) controlling said acquisition means for selecting said acquisition operating mode;

(d) producing in raster format a visual image corresponding to said radiation patterns represented by said video output in response to video signals received from said acquisition means by the use of a monitor having an adjustable aspect ratio acceptance capability;

(e) automatically adjusting the aspect ratio acceptable by said monitor as a function of which of said operating modes is selected for said acquisition means, and

(f) adjusting the brightness of said monitor produced image as a function of the aspect ratio of the image produced by said monitor.

3. A radiation system comprising:

(a) a source of penetrative radiation;

(b) radiation acquisition means for detecting patterns of radiation from said source and for producing a video output representing said patterns, said acquisition means being operable in a plurality of operating modes;

(c) a monitor including a brightness circuit and means comprising circuitry responsive to said video output to produce in raster format a visual image corresponding to said radiation patterns represented by said video output, including means for automatically adjusting the aspect ratio of said raster format image acceptable to said monitor;

(d) circuit means for automatically adjusting the brightness of said monitor produced image as a function of said aspect ratio, said adjusting circuitry comprising means for adjusting an analog reference voltage in a portion of said brightness circuit as a function of said aspect ratio.

4. A radiographic system comprising:

(a) a source of penetrative radiation;

(b) multi-mode means for detecting patterns of radiation from said source in accordance with a selected one of a set of operating modes and for producing video signals representing said patterns;

(c) means for selecting one of said predetermined set of operating modes for said multi-mode means for detecting;

(d) a monitor including input circuit means coupled for receiving said video signals and means including a cathode ray tube for producing a visual image of said radiation pattern represented by said video signals in a raster format said monitor comprising means for automatically determining the number of lines of said raster image as a function of which of said operating modes is selected;

(e) circuit means for automatically adjusting the brightness of said image produced by said monitor as a function substantially of the number of lines of said display image.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said monitor comprises a brightness control circuit, and

(b) said circuit means for adjusting said brightness comprises means for adjusting a clamp reference voltage in said monitor brightness circuit.

6. A radiographic imaging method comprising:

(a) producing penetrative radiation and passing said radiation through an object to be imaged;

(b) detecting patterns of radiation from said source and producing an analog video signal representing said patterns by use of a detecting means capable of operation in a plurality of operating modes;

(c) selecting one of said operating modes for said detection means operation;

(d) receiving said analog video signals and producing a visual image of said radiation pattern represented by said analog video signal in a raster format by the use of a monitor, the number of lines of said raster format being automatically set as a function of which of said operating modes is selected;

(e) automatically adjusting the brightness of said monitor image in analog form as a function of the number of lines of said display image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said brightness adjustment step comprises selectively adjusting a clamp reference voltage in a brightness circuit of said monitor.