Image input apparatus

• US 6,559,452 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tashiro, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAGLIARDI, ALBERT J
• Application Number:
  US09/631,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 250/370.09, 250/370.08, 250/366, 250/367
• US Class Current: 250/370.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2928 using solid state detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14663 Indirect radiation imagers, e.g. using luminescent members

Abstract

An image input apparatus having a plurality of sensors each including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, is provided. The image input apparatus includes: a first group including one or a plurality of pixel areas; and a second group including a plurality of pixel areas arranged adjacently to each other surrounding one or the plurality of pixel areas of the first group, as viewed along an image input direction, wherein the plurality of pixel areas of the second group are arranged nearer to an image input surface than one or the plurality of pixel areas of the first group.

Claims

1. An image input apparatus having a plurality of sensors each including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, said image input apparatus comprising:

a first group including one or a plurality of pixel areas; and

a second group including a plurality of pixel areas arranged adjacently to each other surrounding said one or said plurality of pixel areas of said first group, as viewed along an image input direction,

wherein said plurality of pixel areas of said second group are arranged so as to be nearer to an image input surface symmetrically with respect to said first group, than said one or said plurality of pixel areas of said first group.

2. An image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each sensor is contained in a sensor module including a mount area.

3. An image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each sensor is contained in a sensor module including a light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area.

4. An image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the pixel areas contained in modules of said second group adjacent to two sides is arranged on a two-dimensional plane different from that of the pixel area of said second group adjacent to one side.

5. An image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each pixel area has a plurality of pixels arranged in vertical and horizontal directions and each sensor includes a horizontal scan circuit for scanning pixels in the horizontal direction and a vertical scan circuit for scanning pixels in the vertical direction.

17. An image processing system comprising:

an X-ray generating unit for radiating X-rays;

an image input apparatus defined in claim 1 or 9 for receiving an X-ray image transmitted through an object; and

a processing apparatus for processing a signal

6. An image input apparatus having a plurality of sensors each including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each sensor being contained in a sensor module including a light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area, said image input apparatus comprising:

a first group including one or a plurality of pixel areas; and

a second group including a plurality of pixel areas arranged adjacently to each other surrounding said one or said plurality of pixel areas of said first group, as viewed along an image input direction,

wherein said plurality of pixel areas of said second group are arranged so as to be nearer to an image input surface, than said one or said plurality of pixel areas of said first group, and

wherein a light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group and a light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group are arranged on a same two-dimensional plane.

7. An image input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group is arranged nearer to the image input surface than the light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group.

8. An image input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group is equal to a thickness of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group.

9. An image input apparatus having a plurality of sensors each including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a square shape or a rectangle shape, said image input apparatus comprising:

a first group including one or a plurality of pixel areas; and

a second group including a plurality of pixel areas arranged adjacent to said one or said plurality of pixel areas of said first group along four sides of said first group and along four diagonal directions, as viewed along an image input direction,

wherein said plurality of pixel areas of said second group are arranged so as to be nearer to an image input surface symmetrically with respect to said first group, than said first group.

10. An image input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the pixel areas of said second group adjacent to two sides is arranged on a two-dimensional plane different from that of the pixel area of said second group adjacent to one side.

11. An image input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each sensor is contained in a sensor module including a mount area.

12. An image input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each sensor is contained in a sensor module including a light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area.

13. An image input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group is arranged nearer to the image input surface than the light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group.

14. An image input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group is arranged nearer to the image input surface than the light incidence surface of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group.

15. An image input apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a thickness of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said first group is equal to a thickness of the light guide portion for guiding light to the pixel area of said second group.

16. An image input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each pixel area has a plurality of pixels arranged in vertical and horizontal directions and each sensor includes a horizontal scan circuit for scanning pixels in the horizontal direction and a vertical scan circuit for scanning pixels in the vertical direction.