Method and apparatus for polarization filtered x-ray film scanning recording

• US 6,509,575 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Galaxy IP Source, LLC
• Original Assignee: Impact Imaging, Inc. (Vomela Specialty Company)
• Inventors: Nanni, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US09/565,499
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 250/559.02, 250/559.05, 250/559.06, 250/559.07, 250/559.09, 250/559.11, 250/559.16, 250/234, 250/225, 250/226, 356/443, 356/444, 348/99, 348/100, 348/108, 348/110
• US Class Current: 250/559.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/028 for picture information pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02493 Additional optical elements not otherwise provided for, e.g. filters, polarising plates, masks or apertures

Abstract

An imaging recording method and an apparatus for its implementation, including applying a light to an image to produce imaged light, passing the imaged light through a filter unit to provide filtered light, and recording the filtered light on an optical detector to produce a recorded image. The filter unit includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter is polarization selective and the second filter is wavelength selective.

Claims

1. A method for recording images comprising the steps of:

applying a light to an image to produce imaged light;

passing the imaged light through a filter unit to provide filtered light, said filter unit comprising a first filter and a second filter, wherein said first filter is polarization selective and said second filter is wavelength selective and wherein an optial axis of said first filter can be aligned in any direction to the image; and

recording the filtered light on an optical detector to produce a recorded image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter unit is an integral, multilayer unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter unit comprises as ordered layers a first linear polarizer, a quarterwave retarder, and a second linear polarizer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter unit filters stray light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter unit comprises a neutral density filter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first filter comprises a linear polarizer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first filter filters light scattered by the image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first filter filters light having polarization components rotated by interaction with the image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first filter filters polarization components of the light preferentially reflected from the image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first filter filters glare from the image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the light has a polarization axis, the first filter comprises a linear polarizer having an optical axis, and said optical axis is substantially aligned with said polarization axis.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second filter passes wavelengths of the light applied to the image.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second filter further comprises a linear polarizer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second filter comprises a quarterwave retarder and a linear polarizer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second filter is selected from the group consisting of a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, and a dichroic filter.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the image light is light passed through the image in a transmission mode.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the image light is light passed over the image in a reflection mode.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is laser generated light.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is incoherent light source generated light.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is broad band light source generated light.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is a film.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the film is an x-ray film.

23. An imaging recording system comprising:

a scanner to apply a light to an image to produce imaged light;

a filter unit to filter the imaged light to provide filtered light, said filter unit comprising a first filter and a second filter, wherein said first filter is polarization selective and said second filter is wavelength selective and wherein an optial axis of said first filter can be aligned in any direction to the image; and

an optical detector to record the filtered light to produce a recorded image.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the filter unit is an integral, multilayer unit.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the filter unit comprises as ordered layers a first linear polarizer, a quarterwave retarder, and a second linear polarizer.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the filter unit filters stray light.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the filter unit comprises a neutral density filter.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the first filter comprises a linear polarizer.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the first filter filters light scattered by the image.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the first filter filters light having polarization components rotated by interaction with the image.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the first filter filters polarization components of the light preferentially reflected from the image.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the first filter filters glare from the image.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the light has a polarization axis, the first filter comprises a linear polarizer having an optical axis, and said optical axis is substantially aligned with said polarization axis.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the second filter passes wavelengths of the light applied to the image.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the second filter further comprises a linear polarizer.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the second filter comprises a quarterwave retarder and a linear polarizer.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the second filter is selected from the group consisting of a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, and a dichroic filter.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the image light is light passed through the image in a transmission mode.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the image light is light passed over the image in a reflection mode.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the light is laser generated light.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the light is incoherent light source generated light.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the light is broad band light source generated light.

43. The system of claim 23, wherein the image is a film.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the film is an x-ray film.

45. A system for recording images comprising:

means for applying a light to an image to produce imaged light;

means for filtering the imaged light to obtain filtered light, said means for filtering comprising means for first filtering and means for second filtering, wherein said means for first filtering is polarization selective and said means for second filtering is wavelength selective and wherein an optial axis of said first filter can be aligned in any direction to the image; and

means for recording the filtered light to produce a recorded image.