Radiation image detecting device and radiation imaging system

• US 9,579,076 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tajima, Takashi, Kuwabara, Takeshi, Kitagawa, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US14/511,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20150030129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/44 in which the switching instant is determined by measuring the amount of radiation directly dosimetry in general G01T1/02

Abstract

A detection panel has a plurality of pixels for accumulating electric charge by receiving X-rays, and a plurality of detection pixels for detecting an X-ray dose in an imaging surface. The detection pixels are disposed periodically with leaving space. A grid, which has X-ray absorbing portions and X-ray transmitting portions alternately and periodically arranged in a first direction, is disposed in a position opposed to the imaging surface. Since an arrangement period of the detection pixels in the first direction is different from an arrangement period of the X-ray absorbing portions, an output value of each detection pixel is distributed and hence the average of the output values has a reduced variation range.

Claims

1. A radiation image detecting device for carrying out imaging by using a scattered radiation removing grid having radiation absorbing portions for absorbing radiation and radiation transmitting portions for transmitting said radiation alternately and periodically arranged in a first direction, said radiation image detecting device comprising:

a detection panel having an imaging surface provided with a plurality of pixels for converting said radiation into an electric signal, for detecting a radiographic image of an object;

a plurality of dose detection sensors provided for performing exposure control of said radiographic image, said plurality of dose detection sensors being disposed in said imaging surface periodically with leaving space in said first direction, for detecting a dose of said radiation passed through said object and outputting a signal in accordance with said dose; and

an arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions being different from an arrangement period of said plurality of dose detection sensors in said first direction in said imaging surface,

wherein an arrangement period of said dose detection sensors in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction is also different from said arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions.

2. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement period of said dose detection sensors is not an integral multiple of said arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions.

3. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein each of said arrangement period of said dose detection sensors and said arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions has a length in unit of the number of said pixels, and said arrangement periods are co-prime numbers.

4. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement period of said dose detection sensors in said second direction is the same as said arrangement period of said dose detection sensors in said first direction.

5. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a minimum size of said dose detection sensor is the same as the size of said pixel in said imaging surface.

6. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said dose detection sensors are detection pixels of which some of said pixels are utilized.

7. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein

said radiation detection sensors are detection pixels as which some of said pixels are utilized;

and

in a case where a plurality of said detection pixels are disposed with being shifted by one or more rows and one or more columns in each of a row direction corresponding to said first direction and a column direction corresponding to said second direction, an arrangement period in said first direction is a length in said row direction, and an arrangement period in said second direction is a length in said column direction.

8. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 6, wherein said dose detection sensor is a detection pixel group composed of a plurality of said detection pixels adjoining each other.

9. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 8, wherein said arrangement period of said dose detection sensors corresponds to an arrangement period of a plurality of said detection pixel groups arranged periodically with leaving space.

10. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein

said dose detection sensor outputs said signal in accordance with said dose per unit of time;

and

said radiation image detecting device further includes an automatic exposure control section for integrating an output value of said dose detection sensor, and comparing an integral value with an emission stop threshold value set in advance, and stopping emission of said radiation from a radiation source upon said integral value reaching said emission stop threshold value.

11. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 10, wherein said automatic exposure control section calculates an average of said output values of a plurality of said dose detection sensors, and obtains said integral value by integrating said calculated average.

12. The radiation image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said scatter radiation removing grid is detachably attached.

13. A radiation imaging system for carrying out imaging by using a scattered radiation removing grid having radiation absorbing portions for absorbing radiation and radiation transmitting portions for transmitting said radiation alternately and periodically arranged in a first direction, said radiation imaging system comprising:

(A) a radiation generating device including a radiation source for emitting radiation; and

(B) a radiation image detecting device for detecting a radiographic image, including;

a detection panel having an imaging surface provided with a plurality of pixels for converting said radiation emitted from said radiation source into an electric signal, for detecting said radiographic image of an object;

a plurality of dose detection sensors provided for performing exposure control of said radiographic image, said plurality of dose detection sensors being disposed in said imaging surface periodically with leaving space in said first direction, for detecting a dose of said radiation passed through said object and outputting a signal in accordance with said dose; and

an arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions being different from an arrangement period of said plurality of dose detection sensors in said first direction in said imaging surface,

wherein an arrangement period of said dose detection sensors in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction is also different from said arrangement period of said radiation absorbing portions.