High frame capture rate synchronization with streaming mode
A digital radiographic detector detects a first mode signal and dispositions a received digital image according to a procedure associated with the first mode signal. A second mode signal results in dispositioning a second received digital image according to a second image disposition procedure. The detector determines the first mode or second mode based on the signal's pulse width, a number and timing of rising edges (peaks), a digital code, a voltage level, or a combination thereof.
1. A method implemented by a digital radiographic detector in a digital radiographic imaging system, the method comprising:
receiving a first synchronization signal transmitted by a processor for controlling the digital radiographic imaging system, the first synchronization signal for controlling a transition between image integration performed by the detector and image readout performed by the detector;
detecting a first mode signal in the first synchronization signal, wherein the first mode signal indicates a first disposition procedure comprising accumulating a captured image corresponding to the first synchronization signal;
capturing a first image corresponding to the first synchronization signal;
dispositioning the captured first image according to the first image disposition procedure;
receiving a second synchronization signal transmitted by the processor;
detecting a second mode signal in the second synchronization signal, wherein the second mode signal indicates a second disposition procedure comprising correcting and storing a captured image corresponding to the second synchronization signal;
capturing a second image corresponding to the second synchronization signal; and
dispositioning the captured second image according to the second image disposition procedure.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
correcting the captured second image according to the accumulated captured first image.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third synchronization signal transmitted by the processor;
detecting a third mode signal in the third synchronization signal, wherein the third mode signal indicates a third disposition procedure comprising discarding a captured image corresponding to the third synchronization signal;
capturing a third image corresponding to the third synchronization signal; and
dispositioning the captured third image according to the third image disposition procedure.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving at the detector a dark image; and
dispositioning the dark image according to the first disposition procedure, including storing the dark image as a correction image.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising combining and storing as the correction image a plurality of received dark images.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising combining and storing received dark images as the correction image only if the dark images have been received within a preset time window.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising combining and storing as the correction image a plurality of received dark images as a weighted average of the received dark images, wherein a more recently received dark image is weighted higher than a less recently received dark image.
8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising combining and storing as the correction image a plurality of recently received dark images as a weighted average of received dark images and subtracting therefrom the most aged received dark image to maintain the weighted average as based on a preset number of most recently received dark images.
9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising storing an offset image map as the correction image.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mode signal and the second mode signal each comprise a different detectable pulse width, a different detectable number and timing of rising edges, a different detectable digital code, a different detectable voltage level, or a combination thereof, for use by the detector to distinguish the first mode signal from the second mode signal.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third synchronization signal transmitted by the processor;
detecting a third mode signal in the third synchronization signal, wherein the third mode signal indicates a third disposition procedure for a captured image corresponding thereto, and wherein the third disposition procedure is selected from the group consisting of: selecting a binning procedure for reading out the captured image; and selecting a gain level for reading out the captured image.
12. A method of controlling a digital radiographic detector in a digital radiographic imaging system, the method comprising:
transmitting a synchronization signal from a processor of the digital radiographic imaging system to the digital radiographic detector, the synchronization signal for controlling a transition between an image capture state of the detector and an image readout state of the detector; and
selectively modifying a pulse width of the synchronization signal into one of at least two different pulse widths that is detectable by the detector, wherein a first one of the modified pulse widths is configured to cause the detector to accumulate a radiographic image captured in the detector that corresponds to the first modified pulse width, and wherein a second one of the modified pulse widths is configured to cause the detector to correct and store a radiographic image captured in the detector that corresponds to the second modified pulse width.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second one of the modified pulse widths is further configured to cause the detector to correct the captured radiographic image using the accumulated radiographic image captured in the detector.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the synchronization signal from the processor of the digital radiographic imaging system over only one conductor.
15. A method implemented by a digital radiographic detector in a digital radiographic imaging system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal transmitted by a processor in the digital radiographic imaging system, the first signal for transitioning the detector from an integration phase to an image readout phase;
detecting a first characteristic of the first signal transmitted by the processor, wherein the detected first characteristic instructs the detector to accumulate a captured radiographic image corresponding to the first signal;
reading out a first digital image captured in the digital radiographic detector corresponding to the first signal and accumulating the read out first image;
receiving a second signal transmitted by the processor in the digital radiographic imaging system, the second signal for transitioning the detector from an integration phase to an image readout phase;
detecting a second characteristic of the second signal transmitted by the processor, wherein the detected second characteristic instructs the detector to correct and store a captured radiographic image corresponding to the second signal; and
reading out a second digital image captured in the digital radiographic detector corresponding to the second signal and correcting and storing the read out second image.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of detecting the first characteristic and the step of detecting the second characteristic each comprises detecting a different pulse width of the first and second signals transmitted by the processor or detecting a different number of pulses within a preset time window in the first and second signals transmitted by the processor.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving a third signal transmitted by the processor in the digital radiographic imaging system, the third signal for transitioning the detector from an integration phase to an image readout phase;
detecting a third characteristic of the third signal transmitted by the processor, wherein the detected third characteristic comprises one of a plurality of detectable characteristics each corresponding to one of a plurality of image disposition procedures; and
reading out a third digital image captured in the digital radiographic detector corresponding to the third signal and dispositioning the read out third image according to the corresponding one of the plurality of image disposition procedures.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a third one of the modified pulse widths is configured to cause the detector to discard a radiographic image captured in the detector that corresponds to the third modified pulse width.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising repeatedly transmitting the synchronization signal from the processor of the digital radiographic imaging system to the digital radiographic detector having the first one of the modified pulse widths for causing the detector to accumulate a plurality of dark images captured in the detector.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising correcting the read out second image using the accumulated read out first image.