Shimadzu Corporation

Nippon Hoso' Kyokai

Keiichi Hiragaki

Hiromichi Tonami

Shiro Oikawa

Kenkichi Tanioka

Takayuki Takemoto

Yutaro Kimura

Shirou Suzuki

Hidetoshi Kishimoto

Toshio Yamagishi

Tutomu Katou

Takahisa Nishikawa

Tatsuya Shimizu

An X-ray image pickup tube converts a transmitted X-ray image into electric signals. The pickup tube includes a target structure having a fluorescent element, and a translucent conductive film for receiving a high voltage, with a photoconductive film laminated thereupon. The fluorescent element receives transmitted X rays in a two-dimensional distribution, and converts them into visible rays in a two-dimensional distribution. The translucnet conductive film is optically coupled to a surface of the fluorescent element opposite from an X-ray incident surface thereof. The photoconductive film includes an amorphors semiconductor layer which converts the visible rays transmitted in a two-dimensional distribution through the translucent conductive film, into electric charges in a two-dimensional distribution, and which multiplies the electric charges in the two-dimensional distribution based on electric fields formed by the high voltage applied to the translucent conductive film. The pickup tube also has a signal reading device in the form of an electron gun or switching elements for scanning a surface of the photoconductive film, as electric signals, a two-dimensional electric potential distribution occurring on the photoconductive film.

X-ray image pickup tube

Growing community of inventors

Takatsuki, Japan

Keiichi Hiragaki