Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

Owen L Nelson

John E Potts

Joseph Andrew Hoffman

James E Steffen

Kenneth J Krepel

Jathan D Edwards

Henry V Holec

Eric Julius Donaldson

Valdis Mikelsons

Robert J Mattila

Anthony B Ferguson

Keith K Mclaughlin

Jay Arthur Esch

Wayne M Wirth

Timothy S Vraa

Charles L Rennolet

Padmanabham A Arimilli

Earl L Cook

Frederick R Kroeger, Jr

Naoum Araj

Walter S Federation

Daniel J Severson

Donald M Korn

A B Mahmoodi

A cassette for use in an electronic radiographic imaging system having electronic components. The cassette includes a positioned photoreceptive medium, a light-tight frame, at least one power storage device, and an electronic interface structure for connection to electronic components within the radiographic imaging system. The cassette can also include an electrical interface structure for connection to a power source within the radiographic imaging system.

Cassette for use in an electronic radiographic imaging system

A system and method for conditioning a photoconductive radiation detector achieve charge redistribution within a photoconductive layer without the need for charge removal or charge injection techniques. A first conditioning voltage is applied across the detector to establish a first electric field. The first electric field is reversed relative to fields applied to the detector during image exposure and image read-out operations. While the first conditioning voltage is maintained, the photoconductive layer is exposed for a period of time to first conditioning radiation having one or more wavelengths selected to penetrate at least a portion of the photoconductive layer. A second conditioning voltage, less than the first conditioning voltage, then can be optionally applied across the detector to establish a forward bias electric field. While the second conditioning voltage is maintained, the photoconductive layer is exposed for a period of time to second, broad spectrum conditioning radiation. The detector can then be placed in a dark environment for a period of time, in a shorted condition, to dark-adapt the photoconductive layer.

System and method for conditioning a radiation detector

An imaging system employs a photoconductive material capable of bearing a latent photostatic image, a plurality of elongated parallel electrodes adjacent the photoconductive material, selective scanning of the individual electrodes to produce charge carriers within the photoconductive material, and time-ordered detection of the current created by the charge carriers in the plurality of elongated parallel electrodes. Dynamic rearrangement of the detection pattern for individual electrodes allows for detection from effective electrodes wider than the individual electrodes. Appropriate addressing of the effective electrodes during the scan produces a pixellated representation of the latent image having selectable resolution and reduction of edge-effect artifacts of known systems.

Imaging system employing effective electrode geometry and processing

A radiographic image reader acquires electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette. The radiographic image reader comprises a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting and removing the cassette. A scanner subsystem is mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image. A cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure comprises an electronic interface structure for electronically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain the electronic signals corresponding to the latent image.

Radiographic image reader

An imaging system employs a photoconductive material capable of bearing a latent photostatic image, a plurality of elongated parallel stripes adjacent the photoconductive material, selective scanning of the stripes to produce charge carriers within the photoconductive material, and time-ordered detection of the current created by the charge carriers with the plurality of elongated parallel stripes. Appropriate addressing of the stripes as they are scanned produces a pixellated representation of the latent image. The system has improved output signal strength and higher resolution than known systems.

Imaging system having optimized electrode geometry and processing

A simplified layered imaging stack capable of bearing a latent photostatic image comprising only a single segmented electrode on one side of the stack, rather than plate electrodes on each side of the stack. Appropriate sizing of the segmented electrodes enables individual electrodes to serve at different times as either the ground reference formerly provided by the electrode on the other side of the stack, or the collector of charge carriers representing the latent photostatic image. The imaging stack may be used with a variety of types of imaging systems, and in flat or cylindrical configurations.

Imaging system and device having a simplified electrode design

A communication system for the transfer of small digital message blocks and large digital message blocks. A plurality of nodes are coupled to a common wideband communication channel capable of facilitating the transfer of small digital message blocks and large digital message blocks. One of the nodes is a master node controlling the communication of the communication channel by selectively polling the other of the plurality of nodes. The communication system has a first protocol for the transmission of small digital message blocks and a second protocol for the transmission of large digital message blocks. The master node establishes a polling priority for each of the plurality of nodes and polls those with a higher polling priority more frequently than those with a lower polling priority. The master node allows the one node being polled to communicate over the channel of either a small digital message block or a large digital message block. Further the master node adapts the polling priority for each of the nodes based upon a predetermined algorithm.

Communication system for the transfer of small digital message blocks

A method of enhancing images comprises making a point-by-point record of an image with successive pixels in a logical array, determining the standard deviation of the pixels, determining an effective central pixel value, and then displaying or recording the image using the determined central pixel values.

Method of image enhancement by raster scanning

A system and method using an integral sandwich structure including an insulative layer-photoconductive layer-conductive layer. A removable electrode member is positioned above and connected to the insulative layer by a thin liquid layer having a dipole moment greater than zero, a conductivity sufficient to maintain the electric potential of the surface of the insulative layer at the potential of the electrode member, a surface tension equal to or smaller than the critical surface tension of the insulative layer. Upon removal of the electrode member the liquid evaporates in a time period less than the dark dielectric time constant of the photoconductive insulative layer. A d.c. voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the removable electrode during which time a radiation image is applied to the photoconductive layer to cause an electrical charge image to be produced at the outer surface of the insulative layer. The method then requires removal of the electrode member and after evaporation of the liquid, the photoconductive layer of the structure is subjected to overall radiation.

Method for providing an electrical charge pattern on the insulative

An imaging system and method in which a multi-layered device having a photoconductive insulative layer is utilized to provide an electrostatic charge image at a layer of the device in response to imaging radiation directed to the device. A scanner for scanning the device with readout radiation is used with readout electronics for converting the electrostatic charge image to electrical signals. A D.C. voltage source is used during the imaging step to impress an electric field across the device and is also used to provide an electric field across the device and support charge flow initiated by the readout radiation during the readout step. Devices using a fluid layer that absorbs x-rays to produce electrons and ions are used in the system with x-ray imaging radiation with a conductive layer that is associated with the fluid layer re-positioned closer to the photoconductive insulative layer after the electrostatic charge image has been formed.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Owen L Nelson