Granted Patent B2

US 7,057,200 · App. 10/625,923 · Granted Jun 6, 2006

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A method for erasing noise and a residual image in a storage phosphor, comprising:

reading out an exposed storage phosphor which is transported in a first direction by scanning said storage phosphor in a line scan direction perpendicular to said first direction, with a stimulating beam of light which causes said storage phosphor to emit light which causes said storage phosphor to emit light in a first frequency range, said beam of light being suppressed during retrace; and

erasing said storage phosphor after said reading out with light of a second frequency range and additionally with light of said first frequency range during retrace of said stimulating light beam.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first frequency range includes essentially blue light and wherein said second frequency range includes essentially infrared and/or red/orange light.

3. The method of claim 1 including continuing erasing said storage phosphor with light of said first and second frequency ranges after said read out is completed if latent image still exists in the storage phosphor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said continuing erasing is carried out as said storage phosphor is transported in a reverse direction to said first direction.

5. Apparatus for erasing noise and a residual image in a storage phosphor comprising:

a storage phosphor transport for transporting an exposed storage phosphor in a first direction;

a storage phosphor image read-out assembly including a source of a stimulating light scanning said light beam across said storage phosphor to cause said storage phosphor to emit light in a first frequency range, said light beam being suppressed during retrace; and

a storage phosphor erase assembly including a first source of light spanning the width of said storage phosphor for emitting erase light in a second frequency range outside of said first frequency range;

a second source of light spanning said width of said storage phosphor for emitting erase light in said first frequency range;

such that said first source of light is on all the time but said second source of light is only on during said retrace.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first frequency range includes essentially blue light and said second frequency range includes essentially infrared and/or red/orange light.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first and second sources of light respectively include arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spanning the width of said storage phosphor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said storage phosphor erase assembly further includes highly reflective light deflectors for deflecting light emitted by said LEDs to said storage phosphor.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first source of light includes an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spanning at least a portion of the width of said storage phosphor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said storage phosphor erase assembly further includes highly reflective light deflectors for deflecting light emitted by said LEDs to said storage phosphor.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second sources of light respectively include arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spanning at least a portion of the width of said storage phosphor.

12. A method for erasing noise and a residual image in a storage phosphor, comprising the steps of:

providing a stimulating beam of light adapted to cause the storage phosphor to emit light in a first frequency range;

providing a first erasing source of light emitting the first frequency range, the first erasing source including an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spanning at least a portion of the width of the storage phosphor;

providing a second erasing source of light spanning at least a portion of the width of the storage phosphor, the second erasing source emitting a second frequency range different than the first frequency range;

reading out an exposed storage phosphor by scanning the storage phosphor with the stimulating beam of light to cause the storage phosphor to emit light in the first frequency range;

suppressing the stimulating beam of light from causing the storage phosphor to emit light during retrace; and

erasing the storage phosphor after the reading out with light of the second frequency range, and additionally with light of the first frequency range during retrace of the stimulating light beam.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing a highly reflective light deflector for deflecting light emitted by the LEDs to the storage phosphor.

Assignments (15)