Method of Impressing and Reading Out a Surface Charge on a Multi-Layered Detector Structure

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods used to obtain image information from modulation of a uniform flux. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus used to produce a radiograph by producing a latent image in a photoconductor sandwich structure and then optically reading out the latent image.

2. Background of the Prior Art

a. Facsimile and Vidicons

Facsimile systems modulate an electrical signal in response to light that is reflected from a small portion of an image. Facsimile requires production of a real image.

Vidicon tubes store a latent image as a charge distribution pattern in a semiconductor target. This latent image is scanned by an electron beam and the current variation induced by the different charges on separate portions of the target comprises a video signal. Vidicons require use of a high vacuum and precise focusing of an electron beam that must be shielded from external electric and magnetic fields.

b. Conventional Radiographic Methods

Latent images stored in silver halide film or selenium xeroradiographic plates must be chemically or powder cloud developed to produce real images. Use of calcium tungstate crystals or a high atomic weight gas for image intensification degrades image quality and still requires exposures of from 1 to 5 R per typical clinical mammogram. Powder cloud development of latent xeroradiographic images requires high differential charge densities on the xeroradiographic plate to attract and hold powder particles prior to fusing. This high charge differential is generated by x-rays, or ions, impinging on the surface of a charged selenium plate. The higher the differential charge needed to produce an image, the more X-ray exposure is required.

The reader is directed to the following publications for detailed discussion of this prior art.

XERORADIOGRAPHY, J. W. Boag, Phys. Med. Biol., 1973, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 3-37; Principals of Radiographic Exposure and Processing, Arthur W. Fuchs, 1958, Chapter 14, "X-Ray Intensifying Screens", pp. 158-164.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,817; Reducing Patent X-ray Dose During Fluoroscopy With an Image System.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,191, Gas Handling System for Electronradiography Imaging Chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,233, Xerographic Facsimile Printer Having Light Beam Scanning and Electrical Charging With Transparent Conductive Belt.

Recent research by the present inventors and others indicates that a detailed latent image can be created in a xeroradiographic plate by very low levels (under 10 mR) of X-ray exposure. At this exposure level latent image is present, but its associated electrostatic field is not of sufficient intensity to produce a real image by the powder cloud method of image development. For details of this research see, Grant Application, "Radiomammography With Less than 150 mR Per Exposure", available from the Department of Experimental Radiology, M. D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, Tex. 77025.

c. Semiconductor Art

The prior art of reading charge storage patterns out of multilayer semiconductor sandwich structures lies largely in the area of electronics, especially exotic computer memories.

Charge patterns on certain MOS structures can be "read out" using a photon beam. See, Imaging and Storage With a Uniform MOS Structure, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 11, Number 11, pp. 359-361. This technology functions by modifying a depletion layer and then charging the layer to saturation. The few microns thick depletion layer is the only active structure.

Electric fields can also be impressed across two separable photoconductive insulating films in pressure contact that are precharged to the same polarity. See, Increasing the Sensitivity of Xerographic Photoconductors, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 10, 1964, page 60.

IBM has also developed an exotic charge storage beam addressable memory comprising a semiconductor sandwich wherein the semiconductor is totally insulated from both electrodes in the sandwich. See, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 9, No. 5, 1966, pp. 555-556. This device allows data readout by shifting charge population to one side or the other of the insulated semiconductor.

Finally, some theoretical work has been done on the behavior of light sensitive capacitors, see, Analysis and Performance of a Light Sensitive Capacitor, Proceedings of the IEEE, April 1965, p. 378.

d. Objects of the Present Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus capable of replacing conventional photographic and radiographic films.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an X-ray sensing system capable of quickly producing radiographic images while exposing the sensed patient or object to lower radiation dosage than has been practical using prior art systems.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide an X-ray sensing system whose output is an analog or digital video signal that may be selectively displayed on a television monitor, recorded on film, or directly stored or processed in a computer for image enhancement or pattern recognition.

Yet a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for converting a charge distribution on a semi-conducting surface to a modulated electric signal.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that combines the edge enhancement effect of xeroradiography with a low patient dose level.

Yet still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel low noise method and apparatus for reading out a latent image stored as a pattern of electrical charges by selectively discharging said charges in the presence of a reverse biased electric field.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide an X-ray sensing system that is capable of directly timing X-ray exposure.

A final purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of converting a latent image to a modulated electric signal that is simple and inexpensive to build and operate.

The present invention is an X-ray film replacement comprising a sandwich detector structure; a method of converting the latent radiographic image stored by such a detector to an electric video signal; an apparatus capable of practicing the method and a diagnostic X-ray system using the apparatus.

The detector sandwich comprises a conductive back plate overlain by a photoconductive layer, for example, a layer of amorphous selenium having a high effective dark resistivity. This high effective dark resistivity may be accomplished by forming a blocking diode layer between the photoconductor and the conductive back plate. The photoconductor is, in turn, overlaid by an insulator which is covered by a transparent conductive film. The structure may be shielded to suppress external electrical noise.

The method of operating the detector structure requires that the detector be charged to a high potential, preferably while the photoconductive layer is flooded with light to decrease its resistance. After the light is extinguished, the conductive back plate and transparent film are shorted together, causing surface charge redistribution. The detector is then reverse biased by reversing the electric potential placed across it. A subsequent X-ray exposure forms a latent image by selectively discharging part of the detector's surface charge. This discharge current may be integrated to control the exposure.

The detector need not be flooded with light, but without the light the resistance of the photoconductor will be higher and the detector will take longer to charge. The latent image can, also, be formed by exposing the uncharged detector structure to an X-ray flux while its photoconductor layer is biased by an electric fluid.

The detector is read out by being raster scanned by a beam of photons. These photons create electron-hole pairs in the photoconductor, which allow a portion of the the photoconductor's surface charge to discharge through an external electric circuit. The signal amplitude in this external circuit at any given time is a function of the intensity of the latent image in the portion of the photoconductor being irradiated with photons at that time, i.e., it is a video signal.

The apparatus for practicing the method comprises means for charging the photoconductor, means for exposing it to X-rays to form a latent image and means for outputing this latent image as a video signal.

Since the present invention is essentially a replacement for X-ray film, it can be used with any conventional source of radiation. A typical diagnostic X-ray system using the present invention also includes means for storing, transferring and processing the video signal to produce clinical images useable by a radiologist.

FIG. 1 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of one embodiment of the multilayered photon detector apparatus taught by the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a schematic electrical diagram illustrating the electric circuit analog of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 being flooded with photons;

FIG. 2A is a schematic showing the electric circuit analog of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a view of the detector structure after it is charged, flooded with photons and the surface charge has been redistributed;

FIG. 3A is the electrical schematic analog of the detector as it is shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 illustrates the detector structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as it is used in an X-ray system;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4 illustrating the effect of a modulated X-ray flux on the detector;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the detector graphically illustrating the change in detector surface charge caused by X-ray exposure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the detector apparatus taught by the present invention being read out by a thin, scanning photon beam, an output wave form of the video electric signal is illustrated together with a schematic representation of the surface charge of the detector;

FIG. 8 is a highly enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a small portion of the detector structure shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the electron hole production mechanism in the photoconductor layer used by the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a partially cut-away view of an apparatus adapted to practice the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a simplified diagram showing the major parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a diagnostic X-ray system constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a clinical apparatus for conducting mass chest radiographic screening using the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a highly enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the theoretical maximum charge obtainable from an experimental detector structure per unit area of the detector as a function of the voltage applied across its photoconductive layer. FIG. 14 also shows a plot of specific points representing experimental results from tests run on this experimental detector structure for a given mylar thickness and selenium thickness.

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating the voltage across the selenium layer of a theoretical detector in kilovolts as a function of the value of C2, in farads, for that detector.

FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating the charge, in coulombs collected by the experimental detector structure per unit of exposure as a function of total exposure. The values plotted in FIG. 16 were obtained using a Bakalite shutter;

FIG. 17 illustrates the same information as FIG. 16, but the data was obtained using a PVC shutter;

FIG. 18 is a graph showing the efficiency of the present invention, as expressed in coulombs of charge obtained per roentgen of exposure, plotted against supply voltage for various levels of total exposure. This figure illustrates the increased efficiency of the present invention at low radiation levels;

FIG. 19 is a graph that plots the total charge collected by an experimental embodiment of the present invention as a function of applied voltage across its photoconductive layer. FIG. 19 illustrates increase in latitude of the present invention's detector that is observed as applied voltage across the photoconductor is increased;

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram of an experimental prototype system of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the detector structure used as a radiation exposure detector automatically timing the exposure.

FIG. 22 is an electrical schematic showing the reversed biased mode of detector operation.

FIG. 23 is an electrical schematic of the preamplifier used in experimental system 3.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the X-position interface module used in experimental system 3.

FIG. 25 is the characteristic curve of the detector structure.

In FIG. 1, multilayered photon detector apparatus 10 has first electrode 12 conductively connected to a first conductive layer 14. A photoconductive layer 16 is in physical and electrical contact with plate 14 which may be made of aluminum or any other conductor. An oxide layer 11 may act as a blocking contact between layer 16 and plate 14. Layers 14, 16, 11 may be provided by using a commercial xeroradiographic plate. Transparent insulating layer 18 overlays and may be integrally affixed to selenium photoconductor layer 16. A transparent conductive layer 20 may be integrally affixed to and overlies insulator 18. These layers may be made by vapor deposition or by adhesively bonding the individual components together. Layer 20 is electrically connected to lead 22.

The experimental plates used to test the present invention as early as March 1976 were made from conventional xeroradiographic plates. These plates are made for mamography by the Xerox Company. To make the present invention's detector, a plate is first cut to the correct size and then covered with mylar. The conductive coating, which is either Nesa glass or a few angstroms of gold, is placed on the mylar.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention discussed in this section of the specification, the aluminum backing plate 14 is approximately 1/10 of an inch thick and the layer of amorphous selenium 16 is approximately 150 microns thick. The physical properties of selenium are listed in Table I. The transparent insulator 18 is mylar. The transparent conductor 20 may be Nesa glass, a thin film of metal deposited directly on the transparent insulator 18, or a plastic film with a conductive coating, i.e., gold covered mylar. The entire structure 10 may be made by depositing successive layers of selenium, mylar and a thin film of metal onto an aluminum plate. Assembly may be accomplished by vapor deposition, sputtering, or any other technique useful to deposit even thickness films. This technology is well developed in the art of semiconductor electronics and glass manufacturing.

The thickness of the selenium layer must be selected to maximize quantum efficiency of the detector. This optimum thickness will be a function of the photoconductor's characteristics, the potential at which the detector is operated and the energy of the X-ray photons or other particles to which the detector is exposed that act to discharge it.

Basically, the thicker the selenium, the more it interacts with a given energy of exposing radiation and the more electron-hole pairs a given quantity of radiation produces. Conversely, as the selenium layer is made thinner the electric field acting on these electron-hole pairs becomes stronger (the same potential over less distance). Thus a very thin layer of selenium would not interact with the exposing radiation enough to produce electron-hole pairs while a very thick layer of selenium would result in the production of lots of electron-hole pairs, but they would all recombine when the exposure stopped.

The optimum thickness of the photoconductor layer of the detector will depend on the characteristics of the photoconductor and the energy of the X-ray photons it is designed to sense. In the experimental embodiments of the present invention applicants have found that from one hundred microns to four hundred microns thickness of amorphous selenium is optimum for the X-ray photon energies commonly used in diagnostic radiology.

There are several facts the inventors discovered experimentally that should be mentioned.

When several experimental prototype detector structures were built under laboratory "clean room" conditions they worked poorly. Regular aluminum backed selenium-xeroradiography plates covered with gold covered mylar plastic and assembled with optical cement under less than ideal conditions work very well.

It appears that a very thin aluminum oxide layer between the selenium and the aluminum acts as a blocking contact, i.e., a diode, to retain the positive charge on the surface of the selenium. This blocking layer has a blocking potential that must be overcome for current to flow through the contact.

Also, when the experimental detectors built by the inventors were scanned fast, a higher signal strength output was obtained than when they were scanned slowly. Since the light intensity was the same, the faster scan was predicted to result in lower signal strength. Applicants cannot yet explain this phenomena, but, by pulse modulating their light source for between 2 nanoseconds and 10 microseconds on and off, this effect can be used to increase signal strength from the present invention.

Finally, repeated use of the prototype plate resulted in the development of "artifacts", i.e., lines and trash on the image. Repeated use also caused an overall loss in detector sensitivity. It was accidentally discovered that heating the prototype plate for a short time with a heat gun used to shrink plastic tubing removed these artifacts and otherwise generally restored the detector's performance.

In FIG. 1, R1 represents the resistance of the photoconductive layer when it is flooded with light. R2 represents the resistance of the photoconductor layers when it is in the dark. C2 represents the electrical capacity manifested by the charge separation across the transparent insulator 18. One charge polarity resides on the transparent conductor 20 and the other on the surface of selenium, which is in immediate contact with insulator 18. C1 represents the electrical capacity of the detector measured between the aluminum conductor 14 and the selenium surface 16. The selenium is thus the dielectric material of C1.

FIG. 1A shows an electrical schematic illustrating an electronic analog of detector sandwich structure 10 shown in FIG. 1. R1, R2, C1 and C2 are shown schematically connected in FIG. 1A as electrical symbols. Switch 24, which is shown open, is used to represent the photoconductive nature of selenium layer 16 of FIG. 1. Selenium has a dark resistance of approximately 10.sup.16 ohm-centimeter. A portion of this resistance is caused by a blocking contact formed at the Se-Al interface. When photons strike the photoconductor its resistance is lowered because the photons create electron hole pairs that carry current. This lower resistance is illustrated schematically in the electrical analogs contained in this specification by a closure of switch 24 leaving only residual resistance R1, which represents the forward resistance of the blocking contact in series with the resistance of the selenium layer when it is flooded with photons. For a current to flow when the photoconductor is flooded with light the blocking potential of blocking contact 11 must be overcome.

FIG. 2 illustrates detector 10 being flooded with photons 26. Simultaneously a negative high voltage, i.e., 2,000 volts is applied to terminal 22 hence to transparent conductor 20.

FIG. 2A, the electrical schematic analog of FIG. 2, shows switch 24 closed by light 26. The -2,000 volt potential, Vs, is impressed across electrodes 12 and 22.

FIG. 3 shows the semiconductor detector sandwich 10 after light 26 has been extinguished and leads 12 and 22 shorted together. The resulting positive surface charge on the amorphous selenium layer is illustrated diagrammatically by dotted line 28. This surface charge is uniformly distributed over the entire surface of detector 10.

FIG. 3A is FIG. 3's electrical analog. The detector is in darkness, so switch 24 is illustrated as open. Diode 15 and battery 13 represent the blocking contact and potential, respectively, of blocking junction 11. The electric charge originally present on capacitor C2 has redistributed so that a portion of that charge is present on capacitor C1, the exact portion being dependent upon the ratio of C1 to (C1+C2).

FIG. 4 shows the charged detector illustrated in FIG. 3 used as an image receptor structure for an X-ray image. Uniform X-ray flux 30 is generated by a convenient source of radiation, such as an X-ray tube, not shown. The detector will work with any radiation source capable of generating electron-hole pairs in the photoconductor. This uniform photon flux encounters and interacts with object 32, which may be any object of interest. Object 32 is placed directly over detector 10. For simplicity, object 32 is represented as an oblate spheroid of uniform density.

FIG. 5 shows a greatly enlarged schematic view of a portion of detector structure 10 of FIG. 4. Modulated X-ray flux 34 from the radiation that has passed through object 32, creates electron-hole pairs 36 in selenium layer 16.

FIG. 6 shows detector 10 of FIG. 4 after the X-ray exposure has been completed. The detector is now storing a latent image. The modulated surface charge comprising the image is schematically illustrated by a humped dotted line 38. This dotted line represents the change in potential created by the electron-hole pairs generated by the X-ray exposure.

FIG. 7 shows detector 10 having a latent image stored as a modulated surface charge 38. A thin beam of light 40 is shown scanning the surface of detector 10 photodetector conductive layer 16 in a regular raster pattern. In the experimental system number 1 embodiment of the present invention, this thin scanning light beam is produced by a He-Cd laser.

It should be understood that the photon beam need not be coherent. It may be of any frequency capable of creating electron-hole pairs in photoconductive layer 16 of detector 10.

Electrode 41 is connected to electrical ground and electrode 43 carries a video electric signal whose wave form is a function of modulated surface charge 38 in detector 10 scanned by light beam 40.

Arrow 42 indicates the direction of movement of scanning light beam 40. Output wave form 44 indicates the voltage variation of the output video signal obtained by said beam's scanning the latent image.

FIG. 8 is a schematic, highly enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the detector structure being scanned by light beam 40 of FIG. 7. Light beam 40 penetrates the transparent conductor and transparent insulator to generate electron-hole pairs 36 in that portion of selenium layer 16 irradiated by the beam.

Functionally, detector 10 operates by placing a uniform surface charge on selenium layer 16 and then selectively discharging part of this surface charge by X-ray exposure to form a latent image.

As shown in FIG. 2, when light photons flood detector 10, selenium photoconductor layer 16 becomes conductive. If, as shown, a -2,000 volt potential is applied between the aluminum backplate (at ground) and the transparent conductor 20 (at -2,000 volts potential), then the detector will charge as a capacitor. FIG. 2A illustrates how this charge is applied to the system. Light flood 26 increases conductivity in the selenium layer 16. The applied voltage V.sub.s is -2,000 volts. This causes a charge to build up across capacitor C2, which represents the capacity between the surface of the selenium in contact with the transparent insulator and the transparent conductor of detector 10. Capacitor C2 thus charges to potential V.sub.s of 2,000 volts.

After capacitor C2 has charged to potential V.sub.s, the light flood is removed and detector 10 is stored in darkness. In the absence of photons, amorphous selenium layer 16 becomes nonconductive and its dark resistivity in synergistic combination with blocking contact 11 prevents the surface charge on the selenium from leaking off. This condition is illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 3A. After detector 10 is in darkness, terminals 22 and 12 are shorted together. This causes the electric charge on capacitor C2 to redistribute between capacitor C2 and C1, each of which is then charged to a potential of one-half V.sub.s, i.e., 1,000 volts, if C1=C2. Capacitor C1 represents capacitance between the surface of the photoconductive layer 16 and the aluminum backing 14. This 1,000 volt surface charge is distributed uniformly over the selenium layer's surface. This surface charge is maintained across the selenium layer by the high dark resistivity of the selenium in conjunction with the now reverse biased blocking junction at the Al-Se interface. The effective blocking potential of this junction has been experimentally determined to be about 150 to 300 volts in the experimental systems discussed below.

Resistance R1, representing resistance of the selenium layer when it is exposed to light, is relatively low compared to its dark resistance R2.

Each photon striking the photoconductor, depending on its energy, generates a specific number of electron-hole pairs within photoconductive layer 16 (see Table II). Each electron-hole pair discharges a portion of the surface charge at the spot it is generated.

FIG. 4 illustrates how this effect is used to impress a latent image on the detector.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section schematic view of the photon detector structure taught by the present invention being used as the image receptor in an X-ray system.

A uniform flux of X-ray photons 30 is modulated, i.e., partially absorbed, by its passage through an object being X-rayed 32. The modulated X-ray flux then strikes detector 10.

Detector 10 has a 1,000 volt surface charge, as was illustrated by charge 28 in FIG. 3, impressed on selenium layer 16. As the X-ray photons strike the selenium layer, they generate electron-hole pairs. For monochromatic X-rays the number of electron-hole pairs generated is a direct function of the number of X-ray photons striking the selenium detector layer.

Some of the X-ray photons in uniform flux 30 are absorbed by object 32. Thus the modulated flux striking photoconductive layer 16 contains information about the internal structure of the object being x-rayed. This information is contained in the number of photons striking each portion of the detector.

FIG. 5 illustrates how this modulated X-ray flux creates a modulated surface charge on the surface of the detector. Modulated X-ray flux 34 generates electron-hole pairs 36 in selenium layer 16 of detector 10. The number of electron-hole pairs generated at each point on the surface of the detector is a function of the number of X-ray photons impinging on the photoconductive layer. Each electron-hole pair 36 discharges a portion of the surface charge impressed on the photoconductive layer at the point where it is generated. The greatest number of electron-hole pairs will be generated where the X-ray photons from uniform flux 30 strike the detector without any absorption from the object being x-rayed. A lesser number of X-ray photons will strike the photoconductive layer under the object being X-rayed. The radioopacity of the object being X-rayed is thus reproduced in the surface charge of the detector structure after X-ray exposure.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the detector structure's modulated surface charge after the X-ray exposure described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

The surface charge is lower where no object absorbed X-ray photons. The object being X-rayed, which is assumed to be uniformly opaque to X-rays, absorbs a portion of the uniform X-ray flux. This results in the generation of fewer electron hole pairs under the object and a higher surface charge on the detector under the object being X-rayed. This is represented by modulated surface charge dotted line 38.

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the readout method used to extract an electric video signal from the modulated surface charge which forms the latent image on a detector structure taught by the present invention.

The detector structure is kept in darkness and a thin beam of light, preferably generated by a helium-cadmium laser, is scanned in a regular raster pattern across the surface of photoconductor 16.

As the scanning light beam 40 moves in direction illustrated by arrow 42, it produces a small moving spot on the surface of photoconductive layer 16. The size of this spot determines the resolution of the final image. It is therefore desirable that this spot size be kept small.

As laser beam 40 scans the surface of photoconductive layer 16, it generates electron-hole pairs as is illustrated in detail by FIG. 8. These electron-hole pairs are mobile within the photoconductive layer and discharge a portion of the surface charge. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the electrons move toward the positively charged selenium surface of the detector sandwich structure 10. The voltage drop produced across the resistor connected between ground connection 41, which is attached to transparent conductor 20 and video output electrode 43, which is attached to aluminum conductive backplate 14, will be a function of the intensity of the surface charge at the point where the laser beam generates the electron-hole pair.

Scanning laser beam 40 thus produces a modulated electric signal 44 at output electrode 43. The voltage of this output electric signal will be a function of the surface charge present at the spot where the laser beam strikes the photoconductive layer of the detector. The current present in the output circuit is a function of the frequency and intensity of the scanning light beam and is a further function of the speed with which the light beam scans the surface of the photoconductor. Video signal 44 can be electronically processed to produce an image that reproduces the latent image found in the surface charge of the photoconductive layer of the detector.

Depending on the intensity of the surface charge, the beam scanning speed, and the frequency and intensity of the light beam used, the surface charge may be repetitively scanned several times by the beam of light.

Table II lists the values for the thickness of the selenium layer, the X-ray photon energy, the fraction of this energy absorbed by the selenium layer, quantum conversion between X-ray photons and electron-hole pairs, dark resistance of the selenium and the total receptor area of detector 10 used in calculating the operating parameters of a sample detector constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Table III lists the calculated capacity of the detector sandwich structure, the charge density present in this structure when the surface potential is 1,000 volts, the number of elementary charges present per square centimeter in the structure and the dark resistance and dark current of the detector at a thousand volts charge.

Using the values from these tables it is possible to calculate operating parameters for a typical detector system constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

If detector 10 has an area of 560 square centimeters and is exposed to uniform flux of 21 keV X-rays resulting in an exposure of Np X-ray photons per unit area, then the total number of electron hole pairs generated will be 3,000 times N.sub.p. Information theory requires that three times as many electron hole pairs be generated as are present at the statistical noise level of the system for the latent image to be detectable.

There are approximately 5 times 10.sup.9 photons per square centimeter per roentgen of X-ray exposure at 21 Kev. Thus the minimum detectable radiation exposure that will produce a detectable latent image in the selenium sandwich structure taught by the preferred embodiment of the present invention (for a 560 square centimeter detector) is approximately 23 micro-roentgens per exposure. This may be thought of as the theoretical lower limit of exposure to generate a 10 line pair per millimeter image with the present invention.

Turning now to a practical example, if the X-ray exposure of a patient scan is 100 mR and at the thinnest section of the X-rayed object 50% of this radiation is absorbed by the sample, then exposure at the detector at the brightest portion of the image amounts to 50 mR while the lowest theoretical detectable dose, as was discussed above, amounts to 23 .mu.R. This theoretically yields a latent image represented by modulation of the surface charge present on the detector at a ratio between the brightest and the darkest areas of the image of approximately 2,000.

The example discussed above shows that the detector structure taught by the present invention is theoretically capable of recording an image using a selenium photoconductive layer with a resolution of 10 line pairs per millimeter and a brightness range of over 2,000 after a total X-ray exposure of only 100 mR. An example of how this latent image can be read out of the detector follows.

FIG. 9 shows a partially cut-away view of an apparatus capable of reading out the image whose generation was discussed above.

Light-tight housing 46 contains a light source 48 aligned so as to project a light beam 50 onto the front of a scanning means 52 which may be a rotating multi-sided mirror. Mirror 52 is mounted on an axis 54 which is operably attached to a scanning motor 56. The mirror axis and scanning motor are affixed to a platform 58. This platform is mounted on an axis 60 which is orthogonal to axis 54. Axis 60 is mounted at one end to first upright support 62 and its other end to second upright support 64. The end of axis 60 is swingably mounted in second upright 64 and is operably attached to stepping motor 66.

The entire scanning means comprising the mirror and associated positioning components is available from Texas Medical Instruments, Inc., 12108 Radium, San Antonio, Tex. 78216.

Mirror 52 and its associated scanning mechanism is located at one end of housing 46. A multilayered photon detector apparatus 10 is removably inserted through a light-tight opening 68 into a holder at the other end of housing 46 such that deposited transparent conductive layer 20 faces toward mirror 52.

Light source 48 is preferably a Helium-Cadmium laser such as a Liconix model #402 laser with an optical modulator. This laser produces a beam of intense light at approximately 4,400 angstroms.

Scanning motor 56 rotates multi-sided mirror 52 on axis 54 to cause light beam 50 to scan horizontally across the surface of detector 10. This causes spot 70 to intersect the selenium photoconductive layer as was discussed in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8 above. Each time spot 70 moves from the left to the right side of detector 10, stepping motor 66 moves platform 58 through sufficient arc to deflect spot 70 vertically 1/20th of a millimeter. This stepping-scanning function may be controlled mechanically or electrically. By convention, spot 70 begins scanning the surface of detector 10 at its upper left hand corner. After raster scanning the entire surface of the detector, the scanning mechanism may be programmed either to turn off or to rescan the plate.

FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic view of the scanning readout mechanism shown in FIG. 9. Light beam 50 from laser 48 reflects off of the polygonal surface of multi-sided mirror 52 as that mirror rotates on axis 54. This causes light beam 50 to generate flying spot 70 which moves across the surface of detector structure 10. As was discussed in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8, above, this causes a video signal to be generated across the detector structure.

Theoretically, photons from light source 48 have a wave length of approximately 4,400 angstroms. The quantum yield of these photons and selenium approaches unity when field strength nears 10.sup.5 volts per centimeter. In a 150 micron selenium plate, such as is used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this corresponds to a thousand volts surface potential.

It is possible to pulse the laser to decrease the scanning time required to obtain an image from the detector structure. In the present example, the laser beam may be pulsed for a 100 nanoseconds period with 3 to 4 microsecond spacing between pulses. This illuminates each image element sufficiently to read out a latent image stored in the detector. The practical advantage of such a regime is to permit much shorter sampling times. It may also result in higher signal strengths.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a radiographic X-ray system taught by the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Laser 72 produces a small intense beam of light 74 which is expanded by optical objective 76 and lenses 78 and 80 into a reasonably wide parallel beam 82. Focusing mirror 84 reflects beam 82 on the reflective surface 86 of scanning mechanism 88. Scanning mechanism 88 is substantially the same as the scanning mechanism discussed in connection with FIG. 9 above. This scanning mechanism may be any apparatus capable of moving the laser beam over the detector and film. For example it may be a set of computer controlled mirrors or holographic optics.

Beam 82 projects a small flying spot 90 onto the surface of detector structure 10. Detector structure 10 was discussed in detail in connection with FIGS. 1 through 8, above.

Detector structure 10 is electrically connected by lines 92 and 94 to cooled amplifier 96. Amplifier 96 may be a low noise amplifier. Amplifier 96 is connected by line 98 to lines 100 and 102 which electrically connect the output of cooled amplifier 96 to signal processor 104 via, computer 134 and second signal processor 106, respectively. Processor 106 is a combination device which (1) converts the analog output from amplifier 96 of detector 10 into digital form for input into computer 134 via line 132; (2) converts the analog output from amplifier 96 of detector 10 into an analog form suitable for input into display tube 140 of mass storage system 138 via line 136; and (3) transmits the digital output from computer 134 via line 132 to line 100 via line 102. Processor 104 is a d/c convertor which reconverts said digital data stored in computer 134 from amplifier 96 of detector 10. Signal processor 104 is connected by line 108 to beam modulator 110. Laser 112 produces an intense beam of coherent light 114 which is modulated by beam modulator 110 and spread by objective 116 in lenses 118 and 120 to coherent modulated beam 122. Modulated beam 122 is focused by focusing mirror 124 onto a second mirror 126 of optical scanner 88. This surface may be another surface of the same scanner or may be a separate optical scanning system.

Mechanical movement of scanning system 88 causes beam 122 to form flying spot 128 which scans the surface of recording medium 130. This process allows the very low intensity latent image on detector structure 10 to be electrically amplified by cooled amplifier 96 and signal processor 104 and then to be rewritten as an intensified image on a photographic or xeroradiographic plate 130.

The electrical output of cooled amplifier 96 also is fed to signal processor 106 by lines 98 and 102. The output of signal processor 106 is connected by line 132 to a digital computer 134. Computer 134 is used to store data supplied to it from amp 96 of detector 10 via line 132 in digital form as described below, computer 134 may also be programmed using algorithms well known to those skilled in the art for image enhancement, to screen the stored data for radiographic anomalies, to display the stored data in various formats, to store the data in a magnetic tape or disc file mass storage system, or to provide other data manipulations well known to those skilled in the art.

The output of signal processor 106 also goes by line 136 to mass storage system 138.

Mass storage system 138 contains a high resolution display tube 140 which produces an analog image 421 which is focused by focusing optics 144 onto film plane 146 of a mass film storage system 148. This mass film storage system may be a 35 or 70 mm cassette system.

The type of radiographic image processing and storage system described in connection with FIG. 11 is especially useful for interfacing mass radiographic data acquisition equipment with the central computing facilities of a large hospital complex. Digital storage of the radiographic images converted from analog signals by a/d convertors well known to those skilled in the art allow the data to be accessed by a remote radiologist with speed and precision. Computer-based pattern recognition algorithms well known to those skilled in the art allows inexpensive gross screening of large patient popluations for radiographic anomalies. The system's ability to rewrite information obtained at very low radiation dosages onto conventional xeroradiographic plates or films permits the system to protect the patient while interfacing with presently existing radiographic data storage formats.

As will be discussed further below, the radiographic data comprising the latent image on detector structure 10 may be read out in real time to produce a video image which may be studied by the radiologist.

FIG. 12 shows a mass screening system constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 could be used for real time read out of chest films in a mass screening program. X-ray source 150 produces a uniform flux of X-rays 152. Uniform flux 152 passes through and is modulated by patient 154. The modulated X-ray flux impinges onto multi-layered photon detector apparatus 156.

FIG. 13 shows a highly enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of detector sandwich structure 156 used in FIG. 12.

Detector structure 156 is like detector structure 10 described in FIGS. 1 through 8, above, except that it is positioned so the modulated X-ray flux impinges on the selenium photoconductive layer after it passes through the aluminum backplate. Additionally, a thin insulating layer 158 has been added to the outer surface of the aluminum support structure to electrically insulate the aluminum layer from patient 154.

Detector sandwich structure 156 is mounted within light-tight housing 160. Housing 160 also contains a means for scanning the detector structure with a thin beam of light, i.e., laser scanning system 162 which projects light beam 164 in a raster pattern onto the back side, i.e., the conductive transparent coating side, of detector 156. Base 166 of housing 160 contains control electronics 168 and signal electronics 170. The entire housing and base may be mounted on legs 172 to raise detector structure 156 to chest height of patient 154.

Control means 168 comprises electronics necessary to control the scanning pattern of laser scanner 162 so as to cause light beam 164 to scan the photoconductive side of detector 156 in a regular raster pattern. The control electronics also controls X-ray source 150 and synchronizes exposure and readout operations.

Signal acquisition means 170 comprises electric amplifiers connected to the video output of detector 156. Signal electronics 170 amplifies the detector output and provides a video output capable of operating video display means 174, which may be a high resolution video display monitor.

As described above, control electronics 168 and signal electronics 170 are electronic devices well known to those skilled in the art.

Operationally, the mass screening system shown in FIG. 12 is a small portable unit. Patient 154 steps up to the unit and presses his chest against thin insulating layer 158 over the aluminum back plate of detector structure 156. X-ray source 150 is then turned on by the control means and irradiates the patient with under 100 mR of X-ray radiation. As is shown in FIG. 13, this modulated X-ray flux penetrates thin insulating layer 158 and the aluminum backplate of detector 156. The X-ray flux then generates electron hole pairs in the selenium detector structure as was discussed in connection with FIGS. 2 through 6, above. The effect of X-rays being absorbed in the selenium with consequent neutralization of surface changes is a displacement current that flows as C2 redistributes its charge over C1. When this current is integrated over time it will reach a preset value. Control circuitry will then terminate the X-ray exposure. Use of such circuitry insures images of equivalent quality regardless of the thickness of the patient. The above device or operation is called "automatic photo-timing" or "automatic exposure control".

Referring again to FIG. 12, as soon as the exposure is completed, control electronics 168 causes laser scanner 162 to scan light beam 164 across the surface of the selenium photoconductive layer in a regular raster pattern as was described in connection with FIGS. 7 through 10, above. This causes detector 156 to produce a video signal containing image information. This video signal is fed to signal electronics 170 where it is amplified to provide a video output to TV monitor 174.

Such a system may be used to make a clinical radiograph of any body part, including breast, chest, head, etc.

The detector itself, being a replacement for film in a radiographic system, can be used with intensifying screens. One embodiment of the detector structure would use a phosphor, preferably a high Z rare earth phosphor, in place of insulating layer 18 in FIG. 1. The X-rays striking the phosphor would generate light which would create ion-hole pairs in photoconductive layer 16.

This section refers to the derivation of the curve shown in FIG. 25.

When the experimental system is exposed to light, a total charge of Q.sub.L coulombs will flow in the external circuit where ##EQU1## Exposure to X-radiation prior to such a light exposure would simply reduce Q.sub.L proportional to the X-ray exposure dose.

One may compute the charges placed in motion due to absorption of X-ray photons by first defining the photogeneration efficiency .eta. after Fender ##EQU2## where .epsilon. is the energy deposited within the selenium in ev due to absorbed photons, n is the number of ions which neutralize the charge on the surface of the absorber, and E is the average electric field across the absorber. Also we note,

where Q.sub.x is the surface charge neutralizer in coulombs per square centimeter, A the area of the absorber in square centimeters and e the electronic charge in coulombs/ion-pair. The energy absorbed may be calculated as

where f is the fraction of X-ray photons absorbed in the selenium, k is the energy fluence in air per roentgen exposure and X is the exposure in roentgens. Also, since the electric field is that which exists within the selenium,

where Q*.sub.1 is the instantaneous charge existing across the selenium, C1 the capacitance of the selenium layer, and d.sub.1 the thickness of the selenium. Substituting (3) (4) and (5) into (2) we have ##EQU3## From (1) we may express Q*.sub.2 as ##EQU4## substituting in (6), we have the differential equation, ##EQU5## the solution of which is ##EQU6## Then the total charges placed in motion when illuminating a pixel which has absorbed X roentgens of X-ray is,

from (1) and (10), ##EQU7## Equation (12) is of the form described by Boag in which he states that the radiographic discharge of electrostatic plates is exponential.

FIG. 19 is a plot of Q.sub.R versus V.sub.s for various doses of X-radiation. From such data we may solve equation (8) for .eta., the photogeneration efficiency. From FIG. 19 we also note the emperical data predicts a loss of charge which may be due to recombination; however, it may also be indicative of deep hole traps within the selenium that establish a residual potential below which the system cannot be discharged.

Charging Method #1

To review briefly, the semiconductor sandwichlike structure, illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 1A above, appears as a pair of capacitors in series. C2 is the capacitor formed in the experimental system by Nesa conductive glass and the surface of the selenium proximate the Nesa. A mylar insulating layer acts as a dielectric. C1 is the capacitor formed by the surface of the selenium and the aluminum substrate, the selenium photoconductor acting as the dielectric. Because photoconductors are not dielectrics when they are illuminated, C1 will exist only when it is in the dark. This ignores such things as deep hole traps, dark currents, etc., but they will be discussed in turn.

Referring to FIG. 1, when a voltage is applied between terminals 22 and 12, a current will flow charging capacitors C1 and C2 to voltages V1 and V2 respectively, where:

in which case: ##EQU8##

Where V.sub.s is the supply voltage.

and ##EQU9##

If the selenium layer is illuminated while there is a potential between terminals 22 and 12, capacitor C1 becomes a conductor and allows additional current to flow to C2. This additional charge Q.sub.1 is the charge initially residing on C.sub.1. That is, since

substituting (3) into (4), ##EQU10##

The initial voltage across C2 is determined as in (2). The increase in voltage across C2 due to C1 becoming conductive is: ##EQU11## thus the total voltage across C.sub.2 is now (2) plus (6) or ##EQU12##

Because of (1), V.sub.1 is now found to be equal to zero. The charge across C.sub.2 is now the total Q or

If the illumination is removed, this voltage distribution will persist until the potential is removed and terminals 22 and 12 are connected together. C.sub.2 will now partially discharge into C.sub.1 resulting in an equal voltage appearing across C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 since they are now essentially in parallel. This voltage will be ##EQU13##

Note that V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 are equal, however, of opposite polarity.

It will also be noted that no supply voltage V.sub.s is in the circuit during this redistribution of charge. The above operation has resulted in placing a charge on the surface of the selenium much as is accomplished in the Xeroradiographic procedure. In the present invention, however, the charge has been applied to a selenium surface.

The system is now ready for exposure to X-rays. An integrating ammeter or a coulomb meter is placed in the circuit between C.sub.1 and R.sub.2 such that the current, or net charge movement due to radiation exposure may be measured. This flow of current is proportional to exposure and thus can be used to control the exposure. This is advantageous because it allows the exposure time to be controlled by the amount of radiation actually reaching the detector.

Alternatively, the surface of capacitor C2, which is a thin conductive film, may be etched to form a small island as shown in FIG. 21. In FIG. 21 coulomb meter 2101 may be connected between island electrode 2103 and the aluminum substrate 2105. During X-radiation exposure meter 2101 will accumulate a charge which may be used to photo-time the exposure. This is advantageous because regardless of the thickness of the patient, the X-ray machine will stay turned on until the correct amount of charge is collected by the detector, thus insuring a properly exposed image. Several of these isolated islands may be etched in the plate and used as exposure meters.

When the detector is exposed to radiation, electronhole pairs are created within the selenium which neutralize the charge across C.sub.1. As these charges are neutralized, the charge on C.sub.2 redistributes. This redistribution maintains the two capacitors at the same potential. Thus the total charge flowing through the external circuit, i.e., through load resistor R.sub.2, is the initial charge placed on C.sub.2 alone. From (9) we can obtain the voltage across C.sub.2, i.e., the total charge on C.sub.2 prior to X-ray exposure: ##EQU14##

Equation (10) is the total charge that will move if the system is not exposed to radiation. Should X-ray exposure occur to create a latent image, a portion; Qx of the charges on C.sub.1 will be neutralized. The charge remaining on C.sub.2 will be: ##EQU15## Where Q.sub.T =C.sub.2 V.sub.s as in (8). If Q.sub.X =0, then Equation (11) becomes (10).

This charge can be accumulated by a coulomb meter and would be a function of the number of electron-hole pairs generated by the X-rays absorbed in the selenium. When the detector is scanned by the laser beam, each pixel, i.e. the area illuminated by the laser beam at rest, is sequentially discharged. Functionally, C.sub.1 is made conductive where the light shines. When C.sub.1 becomes conductive, the charge on C.sub.2 can flow through the external circuit. The current which flows through the external circuit is a function of the latent image stored in the photoconductor.

As the laser beam scans across C.sub.1, the IR drop appearing across resistor R.sub.2 is a video signal.

Charging Method #2

Consider the same sandwich-like detector structure in a circuit configuration analogous to the one shown in FIG. 22.

Structurally, three-position switch 2201 is connected to one side of the plate structure 2203 illustrated as capacitor C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 in series. One side of coulomb meter 2205 is connected to the other side of plate structure 2203. The other side of coulomb meter 2205 is connected to one side of resistor 2207. The other side of resistor 2207 is connected to the positive side of battery 2209; directly to terminal 2211 and to the negative side of battery 2213. The positive side of battery 2213 is connected to terminal 1 of three-position switch 2201. Terminal 2211 is connected to terminal 2 of switch 2201. The negative side of battery 2209 is connected to terminal 3 of three-position switch 2201.

Three position switch 2201 is first placed in the position 1. The voltages across C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 are the same as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. If the selenium is now illuminated, C.sub.1 becomes conductive as before and V.sub.2 =V.sub.s as in (7). If the illumination is now removed this voltage distribution again persists. Moving switch 2201 to position 2 results in the charge on C.sub.2 being distributed over both C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 as before with V.sub.1 =-V.sub.2 as given in (9).

If switch 2201 is moved to position 3, a voltage will exist across C.sub.2 which will be that ratio of V.sub.s due to capacitance C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 less the voltage due to trapped charges (9), i.e., ##EQU16## that is, the voltage across the selenium is now twice that obtained in the other charging method #1.

Now the total charge on C.sub.2 is from (13) ##EQU17##

Under these conditions if the ratio of C.sub.2 /(C.sub.1 +C.sub.2) is near unity, then V.sub.2 will be opposite in polarity to V.sub.1 as well as at a lesser potential.

If we assume C.sub.2 =10 C.sub.1, the ratio C.sub.2 /(C.sub.1 +C.sub.2)=10/11, also assuming V.sub.s =100 V, from (14) ##EQU18##

Thus the Q.sub.2 as shown in Equation (15) represents a charge opposite to that on C.sub.1 and that of the voltage supply V.sub.s.

Upon exposure to radiation and/or subsequent read-out by the laser, the total Q.sub.Sig moving through the external circuit will be that residing on C.sub.2 initially, plus that required to charge C.sub.2 to a voltage of V.sub.s in the opposite polarity. Thus ##EQU19##

If the detector has been exposed to X-rays then, ##EQU20## here, as before, Q.sub.X are those charges neutralized by the electron-hole created in the selenium by absorbed X-ray photons.

In summary, use of charge method #2 results in doubling the voltage across the selenium without doubling the voltage applied across mylar capacitor C.sub.2. This allows capacitor C.sub.2 to have a thinner dielectric and thus a higher capacitance. Increasing the value of C.sub.2 relative to the value of C.sub.1 brings the fraction C.sub.2 /(C.sub.1 +C.sub.2) nearer to unity, which further increases the detector's signal output. A further advantage of doubling the voltage across the selenium is that the increased electric field strength decreases electron-hole pair recombination in the selenium and increases the efficiency of ion-pair collection. This increases the efficiency of the detector.

Increasing C.sub.2, or rather making C.sub.1 as small as possible, has two beneficial results:

A. Reducing the capacity of C.sub.1 is accomplished by increasing the thickness of the selenium layer in the detector, which increases the detector's X-ray absorption efficiency.

B. Reducing C.sub.1 while using the highest possible value of C.sub.2 reduces the total capacitance of the detector, since C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 are in series. This lower total capacitance increases the scan speed that the invention can achieve. This is important because the prior art only teaches the segmenting of a plate into small sections to avoid this large capacitance.

To evaluate the operational characteristics of the detector and readout means of the present invention, a model detector as in FIG. 1 was built and mounted on an optical bench which contained a He-Cd laser, collimating lens and field stop. The C.sub.2 was formed of approximately 5 mil mylar plastic coated with a few angstrom of gold, i.e., to where the surface resistance of the mylar is equal to 20 ohms per square (layer 20, FIG. 1). The mylar was bonded to the selenium layer with optical cement. The laser was pulsed via a pulse generator. Charge method #2 was used as described above. The detector was loaded with various values of resistance in accordance with the applied voltage. An amplifier with a gain of 1000 was used to condition the detector's output signal prior to display on a storage oscilloscope. A schematic of the amplifier is given in FIG. 23. From photographs taken of the signal on the oscilloscope's screen the total area under the discharge curve was determined via planimeter to estimate the charge set in motion by the laser. This procedure was repeated after exposure to measure exposure to X-ray radiation to determine the number of coulombs of charge discharged by the X-ray exposure.

Experiments were designed to determine if detector and readout means of the present invention performed as predicted. Using Equation (17), the total possible signal, in coulombs per square centimeter, was calculated assuming Q.sub.x =0, C.sub.1 =3.69.times.10.sup.-11 and C.sub.2 =2.93.times.10.sup.-11 farads/cm.sup.2. FIG. 14 is a graph of the number of coulombs theoretically predicted by such a model as a function of supply voltage applied across the detector. Also shown on FIG. 14 are several experimentally measured values of charges collected from experimental system #2, which was constructed and tested in the experimental radiology laboratory of M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Tex.

In experimental system #2 the selenium thickness was measured as 150 microns. Five mil mylar was employed as the second dielectric. All charges calculated in FIG. 14 assumed an active area or pixel size of 0.3 cm.sup.2 and represent total discharge of the pixel.

As can be seen from FIG. 14, the correlation of calculated and measured charge collected is very good if one assumes a loss of 3.93.times.10.sup.-9 coulombs. This departure from the theoretically obtained value may be due to incomplete discharge caused by the existence of a blocking contact at the selenium/aluminum interface. The fact that the emperical experimental data does not extrapolate to zero may also imply that as the plate nears total discharge, fewer charges are collected because more recombination takes place at lower field strength.

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating the electric field strength across the selenium layer of the detector as a function of mylar thickness, i.e. C.sub.2, for a given selenium thickness and various supply voltages applied by charge method #2. This graph is useful in predicting the dynamic range of the system in coulombs for various combinations of C.sub.2 and V.sub.s. In experimental system #2, C.sub.1 is fixed at 3.69.times.10.sup.-11 farads/cm.sup.2 by the 150 micron thickness of selenium. Referring again to FIG. 15, if C.sub.2 is 8.times.10.sup.-11 farads/cm.sup.2 and V.sub.s at 2000 V, we find the voltage applied to the selenium will be 2500 V, using charge method #2, and the dynamic range of the detector will be 1.times.10.sup.-7 coul/cm.sup.2. This means that for each square centimeter of plate illuminated, a total of 1.times.10.sup.-7 coulombs will flow in the external circuit. X-ray exposure to produce a latent image would decrease this total.

The detector's sensitivity to X-ray exposure is of great importance. That is, how many coulombs of charge will be set in motion and collected per absorption of an X-ray photon. FIG. 16 is a graph showing the coulombs of charge collected per roentgen exposure as a function of total exposure (measured in MAS (Milliamperes X seconds) applied to an X-ray tube).

The X-ray system employed with experimental system #2 was a Siemens Mammomat designed for operation with a xeroradiographic system. The X-ray unit was operated at 44 kVp and had a half-value-layer (HVL) of approximately 1.5 mm. of aluminum. The receptor was housed in a cassette made of 1/16th inch PVC and had a Bakelite shutter.

FIG. 16 shows that the sensitivity (Q/roent.) of the present invention is higher for higher applied voltages and that the invention is unexpectedly sensitive to low exposure levels. The present invention's efficiency of collection, expressed in coulombs per roentgen, is much higher at low X-ray exposure levels than at high exposure levels.

FIG. 17 describes the same data as FIG. 16; however, the X-ray detector cassette is equipped with a 1/16" thick PVC shutter. The high attenuation of PVC to the X-rays employed in these experiments was not appreciated at the time this data was collected.

FIG. 18 illustrates the efficiency of the present invention in coulombs/roentgen, as a function of supply voltage. Again the system is clearly more efficient at lower radiation levels. Table IV simply presents the same data in tabular form.

When a Bakelite shutter is used at 320 MAS and 2700 V supply voltage, 93.2% of all available charges transfer. This represents near total discharge. Further, in view of the variance shown in Table IV in total charges available, the above example does indeed represent total discharges within experimental error.

FIG. 19 illustrates total charge collected as a function of voltage applied across the detector. The curves diverge for the various exposures as the applied voltage is increased. This can be interpreted as meaning that the latitude of the detector, i.e. its ability to differentiate exposures of various levels, increases as applied voltage increases. Optimum latitude can be determined as a trade off between the dynamic range of the system and the signal to noise (S/N) ratio of the detector output signal.

Estimates of the values of C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 have been made based on calculations of capacitance assuming selenium thickness to 150 microns and a dielectric constant of 6.3; mylar thickness of 4.3 mils and dielectric constant of 3.5. The experimental results allow certain conclusions to be drawn about the present invention.

(1) Use of charge method #2 has allowed use of increased voltage across the selenium while maintaining a lower voltage across the mylar.

(2) For a given thickness of selenium, the dynamic range of the system may be varied by varying the mylar thickness and applied voltage.

(3) The system's dynamic range must necessarily be greater than the range in charges neutralized by radiation absorption, i.e. the x-rays cannot be allowed to completely discharge any part of the detector. This is necessary so as to maintain a field across the selenium even in areas of greatest radiation exposure. Doing so will maintain a good collection efficiency.

It is empirically estimated that any one pixel should not be discharged beyond 50% of its initial charge. This, however, is only an estimate and has yet to be derived theoretically or by optimization procedures.

(4) Using the data collected, an example of the operational characteristics of the system can be computed as follows. Assuming 44 kVp, 320 MAS x-ray source and a 6 cm. lucite phantom, the maximum exposure to the receptor is 370 mR. When operating the invention at 2700 V applied, 6.0.times.10.sup.-9 coulombs are placed in motion due to irradiating an area of 0.3 cm.sup.2. Given a load resistance of 1000.OMEGA. and a readout time of 4.times.10.sup.-6 sec. (corresponds to 125,000 hz band width), an amplifier gain of 1000, and a pixel size of 50 micron, the output signal is: ##EQU21##

System noise may be evaluated as amplifier noise plus Nyquist noise of the input resistance ##EQU22##

Using an amplifier with noise figure of 0.8 nano volt/.sqroot.hz and 1.5.times.10.sup.5 hz, ##EQU23##

Hence, the amplifier noise is much less than the Nyquist noise of the input resistor. Therefore, signal to noise ratio is:

S/N=48./1.57=30.5:1

this dynamic range will produce an image with approximately 9-10 shades of gray. Here a shade of gray is defined as .sqroot.2 increase in signal. That is,

Shades of Gray=(2 log S/N)/(log 2)

FIG. 20 is a block diagram that illustrates the major components of the third experimental system built at the experimental radiology department of M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Tex. This experimental system was built to test the entire integrated system of the present invention and to provide a breadboard system for initial clinical evaluation. This system is fully computerized.

As is shown in FIG. 20, microcomputer 2007, which is a Southwest Technical Products 6800, is connected by means well known to those skilled in the art to laser blanker and laser 2015; 12-bit d/a convertor 2009 via x-position interface module 2017; 16-bit d/a convertor 2011; and teletype 2005. Teletype 2005 is a model 33ASR. Sixteen-bit d/a converter 2011 is an Analog Devices 1136 and 12-bit d/a converter 2009 is an Analog Devices 1132. Laser blanking unit and laser 2015 are a Liconix model 4110 helium/cadmium laser. CRT display 2001 is a Conreck high resolution T.V. tube and scan ray convertor 2003 is from Princeton Electronic Products, Model 400. Read laser x-position scanner controller 2013, read laser y-position scanner controller 2029, write laser x-position scanner controller 2027, and write laser y-position scanner controller 2031 are from General Scanning, Inc., Model CCX101. Read laser x position mirror transducer 2013, read laser y-position mirror transducer 2029, write laser x-position mirror transducer 2027, and write laser y-position mirror transducer 2031 are from General Scanning, Inc., Model G100PD.

Laser 2015 is in a light-tight housing, not shown, such as the one functionally illustrated in FIG. 9, above.

The photon beam from laser 2015 scans detector 2019. The output of detector 2019 is connected to the input of preamp 2021. The output of preamp 2021 is connected to scan rate converter 2003; d/a converter 2023 which converts the scan ray for suitable input to CRT 2001; and write laser modulator and laser 2025.

The output of d/a converter 2023 is an input to microcomputer 2007. Teletype 2005 is in two way communication with microcomputer 2007.

It would be appreciated by looking at FIG. 20 that laser 2015 is a read laser adapted to scan detector 2019 and laser 2025 is a write laser adapted to write information out on a film or xerographic plate. This type of system is generally described in connection with FIG. 11, above.

Both the read and write laser beams are controlled by the microcomputer. The output of 12-bit d/a converter 2009 provides analog input which determines the x-position of read laser 2015 via scanner controller and mirror transducer 2013 which controls said x-position of read laser 2015 and of write laser 2025 via scanner controller and mirror transducer 2027 which controls said x-position of write laser 2025. Similarly, 16-bit d/a convertor 2011 provides analog input which determines the y-position of read laser 2015 via scanner controller and mirror transducer 2029 which controls said y-position of read laser 2015 and of write laser 2025 via scanner controller and mirror transducer 2031 which controls said y-position of write laser 2025. It will easily be appreciated that the beams from both the read laser and the write laser scan in synchronization, although both of them need not be turned on at the same time or modulated by the same signal.

Functionally, the microprocessor accepts instructions from the teletype. These instructions operate as described below.

When the microprocessor addresses the 16-bit d/a converter and increments the number stored in it, the y-position mirrors of both lasers are deflected to a certain angle. In experimental system #3 this angle is sufficient to move the spot that is illuminated on detector 2019 50 microns. Thus the y-positioning of the laser beam on the detector occurs in 50 micron increments. The program included with this application allows specification of line sizing on the y-axis to 50, 100, 200, or 400 microns. This translates to a resolution in the image produced by the system of 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 line pairs per millimeter.

The 12-bit d/a converter is not directly addressed by the computer. The computer addresses a special interface that controls the 12-bit d/a converter. This interface allows the computer to specify the starting and ending positions of the laser beam on the detector surface and along the x-axis. A schematic of x-position interface module 2017 is included as FIG. 24. The computer then issues a start command to the interface which enables a switch selectable clock to start incrementing the d/a to a specific start address. The clock continues to increment the d/a until the stop address is encountered, then the clock is disabled by the interface. This x-position interface accomplishes two objectives. First, the data readout range can be varied. Secondly, different size detector plates can be read out without overscanning them. This is especially valuable on an experimental system.

As described above, computer 2007 is connected to laser blanker and laser 2015. Said connection carries the signal from computer 2007 which turns on the beam of laser 2015 prior to scanning a line of detector 2019, moves said beam of laser 2015 across said line of detector 2019, turns off said beam of laser 2015 after said scanning of said line of detector 2019 is complete, and re-positions said beam of laser 2015 for scanning the next line of detector 2019.

To read out a plate using experimental system #3 a computer program in microcomputer 2007 does the following:

(1) teletype 2005, which is connected to computer 2007 as described above, is used by computer 2007 by methods well-known to those skilled in the art to ask the user for the size of the plate to be scanned and the desired x-axis spacing. The user provides numerical values of said plate size and x-axis spacing to computer 2007 via teletype 2005 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(2) Laser 2015 receives appropriate x-axis start and stop impulses from computer 2007 via the x-axis interface elements comprising x-position interface module 2017, 12-bit d/a convertor 2009 and x-position scanner controller and mirror transducer 2013, described above.

(3) Computer 2007 calculates the total number of steps required to cross detector 2019 by methods well known to those skilled in the art consisting of dividing the plate width, entered into computer 2007 as described in Step 1, above, by the x-axis spacing, also entered into computer 2007 as described in Step 1, above.

(4) Scan rate convertor 2003, which is connected to computer 2007 as described above, is switched into the "write" mode by computer 2007 by means well known to those skilled in the art. CRT 2001, which is connected to scan rate convertor 2003 as described above, is blanked by computer 2007, via said connection through scan rate convertor 2003 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(5) Laser 2015, which is connected to computer 2007 as described above, is switched to the "on" position by computer 2007 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(6) A timing mechanism, well-known to those skilled in the art, is activated by computer 2007 by means also well known to those skilled in the art.

(7) As described above, x-axis position scanner controller and mirror transducer 2013 receives input from computer 2007 via x-position interface module 2017 and 12-bit d/a convertor 2009, thereby causing the beam of laser 2015 to sweep across the plate of detector 2019 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(8) Laser 2015, which is connected to computer 2007 as described above, is switched to the "off" position by computer 2007 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(9) As described above, read laser y-position scanner controller and mirror transducer 2029 receives input from computer 2007 via 16-bit d/a convertor 2011, thereby permitting the computer to signal the reflected beam of laser 2015 to move to the next line for scanning by means well known to those skilled in the art.

(10) Using standard iterative procedures well known to those skilled in the art, the computer causes Steps 5-9 to be repeated until the entire plate, as defined by the user in Step 1, has been scanned by the laser beam.

(11) As described above, CRT 2001 is connected to computer 2007 via scan rate convertor 2003, thereby permitting the computer to signal scan rate convertor 2003 to switch to the "read" mode, and the image data stored in computer 2007 to be displayed on CRT 2001 by means well known to those skilled in the art.

Read laser x-position scanner controller and mirror transducer 2013 and read laser y-position scanner controller and mirror transducer 2029 are both connected to scan rate convertor 2003. Scan rate convertor 2003 permits a relatively slow video image formed by a relatively slow time sweep across the x-axis, such as that formed by experimental system #3, to be interfaced with a CRT display, which has a relatively fast time sweep across said x-axis. Scan rate converter 2003 outputs a normal video signal to CRT display 2001, where the image may be viewed, moved about on the screen, or expanded to examine detail.

The example and suggested systems illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use their invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. Many changes could be made by those skilled in the art to produce equivalent systems without departing from the invention. For example, it is possible to use a photoconductor other than selenium as part of the detector sandwich. Holographic optics could be used in the scanning system in place of the mechanical systems used in the example. It may be desirable to alter the relative thicknesses of the various layers making up the sandwich structure or to provide for different frequency of light beams to read out the radiographic image or to sense different x-ray potentials. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their equivalents.