Scanning apparatus
View Patent ↗A scanning apparatus including a cylindrical member and an optical system. The cylindrical member rotates about a rotational axis and has an outer surface to support a storage phosphor sample thereon. The optical system moves in translation parallel to the rotational axis to scan the sample. The optical system comprises an opening, an excitation beam, an integrating member, and a single detector. The excitation beam is directed through the opening to impinge on a sample and cause light to be emitted from the sample. The integrating member reflects the emitted light using an interior three-dimensional polynomial surface providing diffuse reflection. The single detector is disposed adjacent the integrating member for collecting the reflected emitted light.
1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
a cylindrical member rotatable about a rotational axis and having an outer surface adapted to support a storage phosphor sample thereon; and
an optical system disposed proximate the outer surface and translatable in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the cylindrical member to scan the sample, the optical system comprising:
(a) an opening;
(b) an excitation beam is directed along a first axis through the opening to impinge on a sample and cause light to be emitted from the sample, the first axis being orthogonal to the rotational axis;
(c) an integrating member reflecting the emitted light, the integrating member having an interior three-dimensional polynomial surface providing diffuse reflection, the excitation beam being directed through the integrating member along the first axis through the opening to impinge the sample; and
(d) a single detector disposed adjacent the integrating member for collecting the reflected emitted light, the single detector disposed along an axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis.
2. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is spaced from the storage phosphor sample by no more than 7 mm when the storage phosphor sample is disposed on the outer surface.
3. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is spaced from the storage phosphor sample by about 3 mm when the storage phosphor sample is disposed on the outer surface.