JP2003091049A - Device for reading x-ray image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for reading an X-ray image for obtaining highly reliable reading data by generating a normally stable sampling pulse without being affected by the mechanical error of a reading head. SOLUTION: The device is provided with the reading heads H1 and H2 for extracting data from an X-ray image holding body 17, scanning driving devices 37 and 38 for moving the reading heads H1 and H2 in order to scan the X-ray image holding body 17, a sensor 36 for generating a reference pulse with the positions of the reading heads H1 and H2 as reference, a sampling pulse generating circuit for generating the sampling pulse with the reference pulse as reference and a sampling circuit for sampling data which are extracted by the reading heads H1 and H2 in response to the sampling pulse. The sampling pulse generating circuit generates the sampling pulse independently of the scanning driving devices 37 and 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray image holding member, for example, an X-ray for reading an X-ray image held by an X-ray image holding member having an X-ray holding surface formed by a stimulable phosphor. The present invention relates to an image reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray image carrier formed by using a stimulable phosphor has been conventionally known. When X-ray measurement is performed using this X-ray image holder to know the crystal structure of the sample, the sample is irradiated with X-rays, and X-rays generated from the sample at this time, for example, diffraction X-rays. The above X-ray image carrier is exposed to light, scattered X-rays, or the like. As a result, an energy latent image is formed on the X-ray receiving surface of the X-ray holder at the coordinate position of the X-ray image holder corresponding to the diffraction angle at which the diffracted X-rays or the like are generated.

The stimulable phosphor has a property of holding an energy latent image at the place where it is exposed to X-rays, and when the place where the energy latent image is held is irradiated with stimulated excitation light, for example, laser light, It has a property that an energy latent image is converted into light and emitted to the outside. Therefore, when the light emitted from the storage phosphor when the storage phosphor holding the energy latent image is irradiated with the laser beam is detected, the intensity of the X-rays that contributed to the formation of the energy latent image is detected. I can know. Further, from the coordinate position of the stimulable phosphor that has emitted the light, it is possible to know the X-ray diffraction angle that has contributed to the formation of the energy latent image.

As an X-ray image reading apparatus utilizing this principle, the present applicant has proposed a double head type X-ray image reading apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. In this conventional apparatus, the first read head 101a and the second read head 101b are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other at an angular interval of 180 °, and the laser light from the emission optical system 102 having a built-in laser light source is distributed. 1 read head 101a and 2nd
The light is emitted from both of the read heads 101b to the outside.

The first read head 101a or the second read head 101a
The read head 101b can capture external light, and the captured light is received by a light receiving optical system 103 having a photoelectric converter built therein, and is further converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric converter.

An X-ray image reading apparatus 10 having this structure
When the X-ray latent image held by the X-ray image holding member 104 by 0 is read, the X-ray image holding member 104 is curved and arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape, and the first read head 101a and the second read head 101b are arranged. The rotation axis X0 of the X-ray image holding member 104
It is arranged at a substantially central position of the cylindrical shape. Then, while rotating the first read head 101a and the second read head 101b about the axis X0 as indicated by arrow A, at the same time, the entire X-ray image reading apparatus 100 is moved parallel to the axis X0 as indicated by arrow B. Let

By the rotation in the arrow A direction and the rectilinear movement in the arrow B direction as described above, the first read head 101a
And the second read head 101b includes an X-ray image holder 104.
Are alternately carried to a region facing each other, and as a result, a wide surface of the X-ray image holding member 104 is scanned. During this scan, the first
When the laser light emitted from the read head 101a or the second read head 101b scans the surface of the X-ray holder 104, and the laser light scans a portion where an energy latent image exists on the surface, light is generated from that portion. .

The light is taken into the light receiving optical system 103 through the first read head 101a or the second read head 101b, converted into an electric signal, and based on the electric signal, the light intensity from the X-ray image holder 104 is increased. Is calculated for each coordinate position. That is, it is sampled. This light intensity corresponds to the intensity of the X-rays that contributed to the formation of the energy latent image that is the basis of the emission, and therefore the X-ray intensity can be known by measuring the emission intensity.

[0009]

In the above-described sampling of light intensity data, conventionally, an arithmetic circuit is connected to the light intensity output terminal of the light receiving optical system 103, and a sampling pulse is supplied to the arithmetic circuit to perform the arithmetic operation. The circuit extracts the light intensity output of the light receiving optical system 103 for each pulse width period of the sampling pulse, and uses the extracted light intensity data as read data for one pixel. In the conventional X-ray image reading apparatus, encoders are provided on the rotary shafts of the first reading head 101a and the second reading head 101b, and the sampling pulses are generated using the pulses output from the encoders. It was

By the way, the frequency of the sampling pulse required in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention is 31.
Although it is about 2.5 KHz, an encoder capable of outputting such a high speed frequency is not commercially available at present, that is, it is not in a situation where it is freely available. Therefore, conventionally, considering that the required frequency is 312.5 KHz, the output pulse of this encoder is doubled, quadrupled, etc. by using an encoder with a low frequency, that is, a low resolution. A sampling pulse was generated by multiplying it.

However, strictly speaking, such a pseudo pulse is not a pulse which is turned ON / OFF at an accurate timing, so that the conventional data sampled based on this pulse can be said to be extremely highly accurate data. There was no side.

Further, like the conventional X-ray image reading apparatus described above, when the sampling pulse is generated based on the encoder attached to the rotary shaft of the reading head,
Due to dimensional error of parts and assembly error between parts,
In many cases, the rotary disc of the encoder does not rotate in a perfect circle, for example, eccentrically rotates.
In this case, it is considered difficult to obtain a pulse having a stable frequency as the output pulse of the encoder.

As described above, if the pulse obtained from the encoder is unstable, the sampling pulse is necessarily also unstable. In that case, the finally obtained sampling data also has low reproducibility, that is, The data had to be unreliable. In particular, in the case of a double head type device in which two read heads are arranged symmetrically at 180 ° like the conventional device shown in FIG. 10, the read data obtained by using those read heads is eccentric. There was a tendency for it to shift significantly due to the influence of.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to always generate a stable sampling pulse without being affected by a mechanical error of a read head, thereby improving reliability. The purpose is to be able to obtain high read data.

[0015]

(1) In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a read head for collecting data from an X-ray image carrier, and the read head as described above. Scan driving means for moving the X-ray image carrier for scanning, means for generating a reference pulse with the position of the read head as a reference, and sampling pulse generation for generating a sampling pulse with the reference pulse as a reference. And sampling means for sampling the data sampled by the read head according to the sampling pulse, wherein the sampling pulse generating means generates the sampling pulse independently of the scan driving means. And

According to the X-ray image reading apparatus having this structure,
Since the sampling pulse is not generated from the encoder provided on the rotary axis of the read head, but is obtained from an independent pulse source that is not affected by the rotation of the read head, a stable sampling pulse is always obtained. Therefore, highly reliable read data can be obtained.

Further, since the timing serving as the reference for generating the sampling pulse is provided by the reference pulse generated with reference to the position of the read head, the data sampling timing is rotated by the read head, that is, the X-ray image holding member. There is no concern about deviation from the scanning timing for.

(2) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of the reading heads can be provided, and in that case, the scanning driving means has the plurality of reading heads different from each other. The plurality of read heads can be moved so as to scan the X-ray image carrier at a timing.

This structure corresponds to a multi-head system having a structure using three or more read heads and a double-head system having a structure using two read heads. According to the X-ray image reading device having this configuration, it is possible to perform high-speed measurement as compared with the single head system having a structure in which only one reading head is used.

When high-speed measurement is performed as described above, if the sampling pulse is unstable as in the conventional case, a large error is likely to occur in the measurement result, but as in the present invention, it is independent of the scanning movement of the read head. If the sampling pulse is generated in this manner, stable read data can be obtained.

(3) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the two reading heads can be arranged at positions symmetrical to each other at an angular interval of 180 °. Further, the scanning driving means linearly moves the two reading heads in a direction perpendicular to the rotational driving means for driving the two reading heads and the rotation surface of the reading heads by the rotational driving means. It is possible to have a straight driving means.

According to the X-ray image reading apparatus having this structure,
The X-ray image carrier is main-scanned by rotating two read heads arranged at 180 ° symmetrical positions with respect to each other, and the X-ray image carrier is sub-scanned by moving them linearly. A large area of the X-ray image carrier can be scanned by the two reading heads by scanning and sub-scanning.

In the above-mentioned X-ray image reading apparatus having a structure using two symmetrically arranged read heads, when an encoder is attached to the rotary shafts of the read heads to generate sampling pulses, The misalignment of the two read heads from 180 ° is a major cause of instability in the sampling pulse. On the other hand, if the sampling pulse is generated independently of the rotation of the read head as in the present invention, a stable sampling pulse can be generated regardless of the operation of the read head.

(4) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the means for generating the reference pulse with the position of the reading head as a reference is attached to the rotary shaft of the rotationally driven reading head. It can be configured by a structure having a rotary disk and a photosensor that outputs a pulse signal in accordance with the rotation of the rotary disk. With this arrangement, the reference pulse can always be generated stably in relation to the rotation of the read head.

(5) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the means for generating the reference pulse with the position of the read head as a reference is the reference pulse generation at the beginning of every row of a plurality of scanning lines. can do. In this way, reading can be performed under the same conditions for each scanning line, and reading reliability is further improved.

(6) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the sampling pulse generating means is
It can be constituted by a structure having an original oscillating means for oscillating a frequency higher than the frequency of the sampling pulse, and a frequency dividing circuit for dividing the output pulse of the original oscillating means. With this configuration, the frequency of the sampling pulse can be made more accurate.

(7) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the original oscillating means can output oscillation having a frequency 10 times or more the frequency of the sampling pulse. With this configuration, the frequency of the sampling pulse can be made more accurate.

(8) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the original oscillation means may have a crystal oscillation source. Since the crystal source has a very stable oscillation characteristic, if a sampling pulse is generated using this, a very reproducible, that is, very reliable read data can be obtained.

(9) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the original oscillation means can oscillate 5 MHz and the sampling pulse can be 312.5 KHz. Setting the pulse of 5 MHz to 312.5 KHz can be performed by using, for example, a 1/16 frequency dividing circuit.

(10) Next, in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the X-ray image carrier can be composed of a phosphor having an X-ray holding surface formed of a stimulable phosphor. Then, in this case, the X-ray image reading device outputs the light emitted from the X-ray image holding member to the one or more reading heads and the emission optical system that supplies the stimulated excitation light to the one or more reading heads. A light receiving optical system that receives light through a read head and outputs an electric signal in response to the received light can be provided. Further, the output signal of the light receiving optical system can be sampled by the sampling means. According to the device using this stimulable phosphor, high-speed measurement can be performed.

Here, the "storable phosphor" is an energy storage type radiation detector which is sometimes called a stimulable phosphor, and is a stimulable fluorescent substance such as BaFBr: Er.
²⁺ microcrystals are formed on the surface of a flexible film, a flat film, or other member by coating or the like.
The stimulable phosphor is a substance that can store X-rays and the like in the form of energy and that can emit the energy as light to the outside by irradiating stimulated excitation light such as laser light.

That is, when the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with X-rays or the like, energy is accumulated as a latent image inside the stimulable phosphor corresponding to the irradiated portion, and the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with laser light or the like. When the above-described latent excitation energy is irradiated, the latent image energy becomes light and is emitted to the outside. By detecting the emitted light with a photoelectric tube or the like, it is possible to measure the diffraction angle and the intensity of the X-ray that contributed to the formation of the latent image. This stimulable phosphor has a sensitivity of 10 to 60 times that of a conventional X-ray film, and further 10 ⁶ to 10
^It has a wide dynamic range of up to ⁸ .

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A case where the present invention is applied to a double-head type X-ray image reading apparatus which is an example of a multi-head type X-ray image reading apparatus will be described below as an example. FIG. 1 shows a sectional structure of an X-ray image reading apparatus 1 according to the present invention of a double head type.

The X-ray image reading apparatus 1 includes a rotating body 4 rotatably supported by a machine frame 3 by bearings 2a and 2b.
Have. This rotating body 4 is rotatable about the axis X0. As shown in FIG. 2A, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, the X-ray image holder 17 to be read is arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape centered on the axis X0. To be done. The X-ray image carrier 17 has an X-ray receiving surface formed of a stimulable phosphor.

In FIG. 1, the rotating body 4 includes a cylindrical laser light introducing portion 6 supported by a bearing 2b, a head portion 7 provided at an upper end of the laser light introducing portion 6, and the head portion 7. It has a cylindrical light guiding portion 8 provided on the upper surface and supported by the bearing 2a. As is clear from FIG. 2, the head portion 7 is formed in a rectangular tube shape whose longitudinal direction is the lateral direction orthogonal to the axis X0. Further, in FIG. 1, the upper end 8a of the light guiding portion 8 is an opening.

A first read head H1 having a lens 23a and a lens 24a is provided at one end of the head portion 7. The lenses 23b and 2 are provided on the other end of the head portion 7.
A second read head H2 having 4b is provided. As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, these read heads H1 and H2 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to each other at an angular interval of 180 °. It is desirable that the angle of 180 ° be set as strict as possible, but when it deviates from 180 °, it is desirable to correct the measurement result in accordance with the amount of deviation.

In FIG. 1, a beam splitter 18 is provided inside the head section 7 and above the laser beam introducing section 6.
Are placed. The beam splitter 18 has a head portion 7.
Rotates integrally with the axis X0. In this beam splitter 18, as shown in FIG. 3, a prism 19 having a triangular cross section and a prism 21 having a trapezoidal cross section are bonded on a surface C, and these prisms are bonded to a base 22 by another method. It is formed by

When the light is introduced from the light introducing opening 22a provided in the base 22, a part of the light is transmitted through the boundary surface C and is reflected on the inner side surface of the triangular prism 19, so that the base 22 The light is emitted to the outside through the light lead-out opening 22b provided in. This light is directed to the first read head H1 in FIG. Further, in FIG. 3, the other part of the light passing through the light introducing opening 22a is reflected by the boundary surface C, propagates inside the trapezoidal prism 21, and then is opposite to the above-mentioned emitted light reflected by the triangular prism 19. Emit to the side. This light is directed to the second read head H2 in FIG.

Inside the head section 7, a dichroic mirror 26a is provided between the first read head H1 and the beam splitter 18. A dichroic mirror 26b is provided between the second read head H2 and the beam splitter 18. These dichroic mirrors 26a and 26b transmit the light traveling from the beam splitter 18 to the read head 24a or 24b, while reflecting the light captured from the read heads H1 and H2 and traveling toward the beam splitter 18 to detect light. Send to.

The X-ray image reading apparatus 1 further includes a photodetector 11 fixedly supported by the machine frame 3 by a bracket 9. The light detection device 11 has a frame 12 whose lower end is inserted into the light lead-out part 8 of the rotating body 4 and is supported by the machine frame 3, and a light collecting device provided at the lower end inside the frame 12. The lens 13, the optical filter 14 arranged on the downstream side of the condensing lens 13 in the traveling direction of the light (the upper side of the condensing lens 13 in the case of FIG. 1), and the light transmitting side of the optical filter 14. First phototube 16a
And a second photoelectric tube 16b provided on the light reflection side of the optical filter 14.

The lower end of the photodetector 11 is inserted into the light lead-out portion 8 of the rotator 4, but a gap is formed between the two so that the photodetector 11 can rotate even when the rotator 4 rotates.
Keeps still. The optical filter 14 can be composed of a general transparent member such as glass, and functionally, about 90% of the incident light is transmitted and guided to the first photoelectric tube 16a, and the rest of the incident light. About 10% of the reflected light is guided to the second photoelectric tube 16b. Photocells 16a and 1
Reference numeral 6b is a photoelectric conversion element having a well-known structure, which outputs a signal according to the intensity of incident light to an output terminal.

The X-ray image reading apparatus 1 further has a laser generator 27 having a laser light source F0 built therein. The laser generator 27 emits the laser light when the power is turned on (that is, turned on), and the power is shut off (that is, turned off).
The emission of laser light is stopped by. A prism 28 is provided below the laser beam introducing portion 6 of the rotating body 4.
The laser light emitted from the laser generator 27 is reflected by the prism 28 and taken into the laser light introducing section 6.

A rotary disk 29 for pulse generation is provided at an appropriate position on the outer peripheral surface of the laser beam introducing section 6. This turntable 29
As shown in FIG. 2B, is the large diameter portion 31a and the small diameter portion 3
1b and is formed into a substantially disc shape. Further, the first slit 32a is formed substantially in the center of the large diameter portion 31a, while the second slit 32b is formed in the substantially center of the small diameter portion 31b. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first slit 32a
Is provided at a position corresponding to the first read head H1, and the second slit 32b is provided at a position corresponding to the second read head H2.

Further, in FIG. 1, a photo sensor 36 including a light emitting element 33 and a light receiving element 34 is provided at an appropriate position around the turntable 29. This photo sensor 36
When the rotating body 4 rotates, that is, the first read head H
When the first and second read heads H2 rotate, the turntable 2
9 from the difference in diameter between the large diameter portion 31a and the small diameter portion 31b
The difference between the slit 32a and the second slit 32b is recognized, and the corresponding signals are output.

Specifically, the index signal and the EVEN signal in the timing chart shown in FIG. 5 are generated. Here, the index signal means a half rotation of the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 (that is, 1
This is a pulse signal generated every 80 ° rotation). Further, the EVEN signal is generated at the even numbered rotations such as the second time, the fourth time, the sixth time, ... When the rotation of the rotating body 4 is seen every half rotation (that is, 180 ° rotation). Pulse signal. In the present embodiment, the EVEN signal is a pulse signal generated when the first read head H1 scans the X-ray image holding body 17.

In this embodiment, the index signal and the EVEN signal function as reference pulses generated with reference to the positions of the read heads H1 and H2. The photo sensor 36 also functions as a means for generating the reference pulse.

In FIG. 1, a main scanning rotation driving device 37 is connected to the rotating body 4 including the first read head H1 and the second read head H2. This main scanning rotation drive device 37
Rotates the read heads H1 and H2 about the axis X0 to move the X-ray image carrier 17 in the lateral direction (that is, in FIG.
Is a device for performing scanning, that is, main scanning in a direction that forms a plane orthogonal to the axis X0 of.

The main scanning rotation drive device 37 can be constituted by a drive system having an arbitrary structure. For example, a motor capable of controlling the rotation speed such as a pulse motor or a servo motor is used as a drive source, and its rotation output is a belt. A structure for rotating the rotating body 4 by transmitting it to the rotating body 4 via a power transmission system such as a gear or a gear can be adopted.

A sub-scanning linear drive device 38 is connected to the machine frame 3 which supports the entire X-ray image reading device 1.
The sub-scanning linear drive device 38 linearly moves the read heads H1 and H2 in a direction parallel to the axis X0 to scan the X-ray image holder 17 in the vertical direction (that is, in the direction parallel to the axis X0 in FIG. 1). That is, it is a device for sub-scanning.

The sub-scanning linear drive device 38 can be constituted by a drive system having an arbitrary structure. For example, a motor capable of controlling the rotation speed, such as a pulse motor or a servo motor, is used as a drive source to rotate the rotary power. It is possible to employ a structure for obtaining a straight-moving power by using a power conversion means for converting the power into, for example, a feed screw mechanism using a screw shaft. Alternatively, it may be configured by a pulse-driven linear motor.

In this embodiment, the laser generator 27, the prism 28, the beam stopper 18, and the first read head H1 in FIG.
An emission optical system is configured by each of the read heads H2. Further, by the first read head H1, the dichroic mirror 26a, and the photodetector 11,
Further, the second read head H2, the dichroic mirror 26b, and the photodetector 11 form a light receiving optical system.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a control system for controlling the movement of the X-ray image reading apparatus 1 of FIG.
This control system includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 4
1, ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, RAM (Random
An access memory) 43, an information storage medium 44, and a computer system having a bus 46 connecting them are used.

The bus 46 is connected to the output terminal of the photosensor 36 attached to the turntable 29 of FIG. 1 for confirming the position of the read head, and the RE of the pulse generation circuit 47 is connected.
The SET terminal is connected, the output terminal of the intensity calculation circuit 48 is connected, the ON / OFF signal input terminal of the laser generator 27 of FIG. 1 is connected, and the control signal input terminal of the main scanning rotation drive device 37 of FIG. Further, the control signal input terminal of the sub-scanning linear drive device 38 of FIG. 1 is connected. Further, an output device such as the printer 53 and the display 54, and an operation input device 56 such as a keyboard and a mouse type input device are connected to the bus 46.

In this embodiment, the pulse generation circuit 47 functions as sampling pulse generation means for generating sampling pulses with the reference pulse as a reference.
Further, the intensity calculation circuit 48 functions as sampling means for sampling the data collected by the read head in accordance with the sampling pulse.

The pulse generation circuit 47 includes an oscillator 49 capable of generating a stable pulse signal, and the oscillator 49.
Frequency divider circuit 51 for dividing the output pulse of
And a logic circuit 5 for generating a pulse signal suitable for the control system according to the present embodiment from the output pulse of the frequency dividing circuit 51.
2 and. The oscillator 49 is a pulse signal which is remarkably stable as compared with an output pulse signal when a commercially available encoder is attached to the rotating body 4 shown in FIG. 1 and a pulse signal is output from the encoder according to the rotation of the rotating body 4. It is an oscillator that can generate a signal, and can be configured using, for example, a crystal oscillator, a CR oscillator, or the like.

The oscillator 49 outputs a pulse signal of 5 MHz, for example, and the frequency dividing circuit 51 divides the pulse signal of 5 MHz to generate a pulse signal of 312.5 KHz, for example. The frequency divider circuit 51 has its RESET terminal
A pulse signal is output based on when the signal is input.
The logic circuit 52 generates each pulse signal of the ENC (encode) -Z phase and the ENC-A phase shown in FIG. 5 based on the output pulse of the frequency dividing circuit 51, and outputs them to the intensity calculation circuit 48.

The ENC-A phase pulse input to the intensity calculation circuit 48 functions as a sampling pulse for determining the sampling period of the light intensity data performed by the intensity calculation circuit 48.

As for the ENC-Z phase pulse, when the reset signal is input to the RESET terminal of the frequency dividing circuit 51, a predetermined number of pulse signals of 312.5 KHz output from the frequency dividing circuit 51 after that, for example, 122 pulses are used. This is a pulse generated when counting. In the present embodiment, in FIG.
The generation time tz of the ENC-Z phase pulse is set to tz = 122 pulses = 400 μS. This 400 μS is set as a time sufficient for the laser output to stabilize after the laser generator 27 rises according to the ON signal when the laser generator 27 is repeatedly turned ON / OFF intermittently in the single head mode described later.

The ENC-A phase pulse is output at the same frequency as 312.5 KHz of the frequency dividing circuit 51 from the output of the ENC-Z phase pulse to the input of the RESET signal to the frequency dividing circuit 51. Is a pulse. In the present embodiment, when the index signal or the EVEN signal output from the photo sensor 36 is output, the RESET signal is sent to the frequency dividing circuit 51, and the ENC-A phase pulse for the index signal or the EVEN signal is sent. The output state of the ENC-Z phase pulse is as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the ENC-A phase pulse is set to output 3000 pulses at 312.5 KHz. The 3000 pulses correspond to a scanning area for one line of main scanning by the first read head H1 and the second read head H2.

In FIG. 4, the intensity calculation circuit 48 is shown in FIG.
By counting the output pulses from the first phototube 16a or the second phototube 16b shown in FIG. 1, the intensity of the light emitted from the X-ray image holder 17 in FIG.
The energy intensity of the energy latent image formed in the above, and thus the intensity of the X-rays that contributed to the formation of the energy latent image are calculated.

In the present embodiment, in FIG. 1, 90% of the light reaching the optical filter 14 is taken into the first phototube 16a, and the remaining 10% of the light is taken into the second phototube 16b. When the amount of light taken in by each phototube 16a and 16b is not excessive, processing is performed based on the signal photoelectrically converted by the first phototube 16a in which 90% of the light is taken in.

On the other hand, when the amount of light taken in by each of the phototubes 16a and 16b is excessive, processing is performed based on the signal photoelectrically converted by the second phototube 16b in which 10% of the light is taken in. This is because when the light amount is excessive, the output of the first phototube 16a may become too large, and the circuit associated with the first phototube 16a may not operate normally.

In FIG. 4, the intensity calculation circuit 48 samples the output signal of the phototube 16a or 16b for each pulse of 3000 pulses sent from the logic circuit 52. That is, the phototube 16a during one pulse period
Alternatively, the output of 16b is read and output. This gives a 1 pixel reading. This 1 pixel reading is shown in Figure 4.
It is stored in a predetermined storage location in the RAM 43.

An AD conversion circuit is provided inside the intensity calculation circuit 48, and the output of the photoelectric tube 16a or 16b is sampled a plurality of times, for example, eight times within one pulse period, respectively, AD-converted, and further integrated. , The calculation result can be determined as the read value of one pixel.

In FIG. 4, an information storage medium 44 is a storage medium that can be used by a computer and is an element for storing information such as programs and data. Its function is CD (Compact Disc) or DVD. (Digi
optical discs such as tal video discs, and MO (Magnes
et Optical), a magnetic disk, a magnetic disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory such as a ROM, and the like. Incidentally, in a normal case, a part or all of the information stored in the information storage medium 44 is transferred to the RAM 43 when the system is powered on.

The ROM 42 stores, for example, a system program (that is, initialization information of the system body, etc.). Further, the RAM 43 is used as a work area of the CPU 41 or the like, and temporarily stores the contents of the information storage medium 44 or the ROM 42, the calculation result of the CPU 41, the information from the input / output device such as the intensity calculation circuit 48, and the like. .

The CPU 41 controls the operation of various input / output devices connected to the bus 46 according to the program stored in the information storage medium 44 and the information input from the operation input device 56, and the strength calculation circuit 48. Is performed to perform correction for the output signal of, and other various data processing is performed. When the system of FIG. 4 is used as one user who configures the network, a network driver and a communication unit are connected to the bus 46, and are connected to the host and other network users via the network driver and the like.

The program used in this embodiment has a routine for the CPU 41 to execute the double head mode and a routine for the CPU 41 to execute the single head mode.
The double head mode means the first read head H1 in FIG.
And the second read head H2 are used for processing, and the single head mode is a mode in which processing is performed using either the first read head H1 or the second read head H2. Hereinafter, each mode will be described individually.

When the reading process according to the present invention is carried out, a process for holding the energy latent image on the X-ray image holding body 17 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 prior to the reading process, for example, X-ray exposure. Processing is performed. There are various conceivable examples of such exposure processing, and an example thereof is an X-ray measurement system as shown in FIG.

In this X-ray measurement system, the sample S whose internal crystal structure or the like is to be measured is supported by the gonio head 61, and the X-rays emitted from the X-ray source F1 are directed to the sample S by the pinhole collimator 62. Thus sample S
When X is irradiated with X-rays, diffracted X-rays, scattered X-rays, etc. are generated from the sample S corresponding to the crystal structure of the sample S. These X-rays reach the stimulable phosphor surface of the X-ray image holding body 17, that is, the X-ray receiving surface while being restricted by the divergence restricting slit 63, and expose this surface.

By this X-ray exposure, the light receiving surface of the X-ray image carrier 17, that is, the surface of the stimulable phosphor, has a coordinate position corresponding to the diffraction angle of the diffracted X-rays, in other words, an internal crystal structure of the sample S or the like. An energy latent image is formed at the corresponding coordinate position.
For example, if the sample S is a powder sample, the Debye ring 64
Are stored in the form of an energy latent image. As for the X-ray image holding member 17 which has thus held the energy latent image, FIG.
The latent image reading process is performed in the double head mode or the single head mode by the X-ray image reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

(Double Head Mode) For example, an X-ray image holding body which holds an energy latent image at a diffraction angle position, that is, a coordinate position according to the crystal structure of the sample S by measurement using a measurement system shown in FIG. With respect to 17, if the measurement accuracy does not have to be high but a quick measurement result is desired, the operator chooses to perform the double head mode measurement by the X-ray image reading apparatus 1 of FIG.

Specifically, the operator instructs the CPU 41 to measure the double head mode through the operation input device 56 in FIG. When the double head mode is selected and the operator gives an instruction to start reading at timing T1 in the timing chart of FIG. 5, the CPU 41 sets the operation mode of the computer to M.
Set to the double head mode as shown in d.

Then, the CPU 41 responds to the reading start at the timing T1 and the main scanning rotation drive device 37 of FIG.
Is started to start the rotation of the rotator 4, and the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 are rotated about the axis X0. The rotation speed at this time is previously determined to be a predetermined speed, and the CPU 41 controls the operation of the main scanning rotation drive device 37 so that the rotation speed maintains a constant speed.

In this way, the first read head H1 and the second read head H1
When the read head H2 rotates, the photo sensor 36 shown in FIG.
EN signal is output. The index signal is a signal output for each half rotation of the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 2, that is, for each rotation angle of 180 °. The EVEN signal is the first
This is a signal output every one rotation of the read head H1 in the direction of the arrow F, that is, every rotation angle of 360 °.

Then, in FIG. 5, when timing T2 arrives, a light emission command is sent to the laser generator 27 of FIG. 1 to start the laser emission, and further the output of the Z-axis motor drive pulse is started. Sub-scanning linear drive device 1
8 starts to operate, and the entire X-ray image reading apparatus 1
Therefore, the first read head H1 and the second read head H2
Both start straight movement in a direction parallel to the axis X0 as indicated by an arrow G. The linear movement speed of the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 at this time is controlled to a constant speed V determined by the pulse width of the Z-axis motor drive pulse.

As described above, when the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 carry out the main scanning rotation as shown by the arrow F in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the X-ray image carrier 17 is spiraled as indicated by the symbol P by the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 that alternately and repeatedly arrive at the X-ray image carrier 17. To be scanned.

The number of scans at this time, that is, the number of scan lines is set to be, for example, 3000 lines. In the case of the double head mode that we are thinking about now,
Since one rotation of the rotator 4 forms one scanning line by each of the first reading head H1 and the second reading head H2, a total of two scanning lines are formed. Therefore, in order to form 3000 scanning lines, Rotating body 4 1500
Just rotate it.

While the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 scan the X-ray image carrier 17 as described above,
In FIG. 1, the laser light emitted from the laser generator 27 is reflected by the prism 28 and is taken into the laser light introducing portion 6 of the rotating body 4, and is further transmitted to the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 by the beam splitter 18. Is distributed.

When either the first read head H1 or the second read head H2 scans the surface of the X-ray image holding member 17, the laser beam supplied to the read head passes through the read head and the figure X along the 7 scan lines P
The line image carrier 17 is exposed. When the energy latent image is held in the exposed portion of the X-ray image carrier 17 exposed by the laser light in this way, the energy is excited by the laser light and emitted as light to the outside, and the emitted light is the laser light. The emitted light is received by the first read head H1 or the second read head H2.

The received light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 26a or 26b in the head portion 7 of the rotator 4 and sent to the photodetector 11, and is received by the first phototube 16a and the second phototube 16b. A signal corresponding to light is output to the output terminal of the phototube.

While the X-ray image holder 17 is being irradiated with the laser light as described above, the index signal output every half rotation of the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 in FIG. Corresponding to the above, in FIG. 4, the RESET signal is transmitted to the RESET terminal of the frequency dividing circuit 51 of the pulse generation circuit 47, which causes the output terminal of the logic circuit 52 to output a single ENC-Z phase as shown in FIG. A pulse and a continuous ENC-A phase pulse are output.

The ENC-Z phase pulse is a pulse signal generated after time tz from the index signal. In addition, the ENC-A phase pulse is generated from the generation of the ENC-Z phase pulse until the generation of the next index signal, in other words, the first read head H1.
Alternatively, the second read head H2 is rotated one half turn (ie 180
This is a pulse signal that is continuously generated during the rotation.
The ENC-A phase pulse is a pulse signal having a frequency of 312.5 KHz as shown in FIG. 6 according to the output pulse of the frequency dividing circuit 51 shown in FIG. 3000 pulses are generated in the line.

The intensity calculation circuit 48 of FIG. 4 reads the output of the photocell 16a or 16b for each pulse of the ENC-A phase pulse output from the logic circuit 52, and the read value is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 43. . In this way, ENC-A
Data for one pixel corresponding to one pulse of the phase pulse is sampled. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the width of one pixel corresponds to 0.1 mm. Here, since 3000 pulses of one ENC-A phase pulse are output for one scanning line, the intensity calculation circuit 48 samples data for 3000 pixels obtained by dividing one scanning line into 3000 pieces.

Looking at the sampling situation for each scanning line, the index signal of FIG. 5 becomes a reference pulse and is supplied to the pulse generating circuit 47 as a RESET signal at the head of every line of one scanning line. Based on, the ENC-A phase pulse as a sampling pulse is output for one line, that is, 3000 pulses are output. Thus, since the reference pulse is given for each scanning line, each scanning line is accurately synchronized with the rotational movement of the read heads H1 and H2.

ENC- as a sampling pulse
The A-phase pulse is not generated by the encoder according to the rotation of the read heads H1 and H2, but is generated by the crystal oscillator 49 having an extremely stable oscillation characteristic. Therefore, the ENC-A phase pulse functions as a very stable sampling pulse that is not affected by the rotation of the read heads H1 and H2.

From the above, 300 for one scanning line
When the next read head H1 or H2 arrives at a position facing the X-ray image carrier 17 after the data for 0 pixels is sampled, the read head H1 or H2 causes the next scan line 300 in the sub-scanning direction to be detected.
Data of 0 pixels is sampled. Then, after that, the first read head H1 and the second read head H2
Data sampling for each scanning line is alternately repeated by and, and as a result, 3000 lines of data are sampled in the sub-scanning direction.

As described above, in FIG. 7, the light intensity data on the entire surface of the measurement region of the X-ray image holding body 17 is read, and these are converted into R values corresponding to the coordinate values of the X-ray image holding body 17.
It is stored in a predetermined area of the AM 43 as a data table. This data table is the read result of the latent image accumulated in the X-ray image holding body 17 without exception. CPU4
1 displays the result as an image on the screen of the display 54 as necessary, or displays it as a print image on a printing material such as paper by the printer 53.

In the double head mode, as described above, the first read head H1 and the second read head H1.
The reading process is performed by alternately using the two reading heads of 2. In this case, the read characteristics of the first read head H1 and the read characteristics of the second read head H2 do not necessarily match.

For example, when the same object is read by the first read head H
The output level of the phototube 16a or 16b when read using 1 does not necessarily match the output level of the phototube 16a or 16b when read using the second read head H2. Further, in FIG. 2, the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 are originally exactly 18
Although they must be placed at symmetrical positions with respect to each other at an angular interval of 0 °, it may actually deviate from 180 ° due to an error in processing accuracy or assembly accuracy.

Therefore, if no correction is made between the read data obtained by using the first read head H1 and the read data obtained by using the second read head H2, highly accurate read data can be obtained. Can't get Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CPU 41 of FIG.
Using the first read head H1 and the second read head, a read process is performed on the same object, the difference in read characteristics between the two is collected as data, and the data is stored in the RAM 43 as correction data. Remember as.

Then, after the measurement is performed by using both the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 to collect the read data, the read data is based on the correction data stored in advance. A process for connecting the read data obtained by using the first read head H1 and the read data obtained by using the second read head H2 is performed by the software correction. This can increase the reliability of read data obtained using different read heads. That is, the CPU 41
It functions as a head-to-head strength correction means for compensating for an error in strength between read heads, and a head-to-head position deviation correction means for compensating for angular position deviation between read heads.

(Single-head mode) For example, an X-ray image holding body which holds an energy latent image at a diffraction angle position, that is, a coordinate position according to the crystal structure of the sample S by measurement using a measurement system shown in FIG. With respect to 17, if it is desired to obtain a highly accurate measurement result although it may take a long time, the operator may use the X-ray image reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Choose to perform single head mode measurements.

Specifically, the operator instructs the CPU 41 to measure the single head mode through the operation input device 56 in FIG. When the single head mode is selected and the operator gives an instruction to start reading at timing T1 in the timing chart of FIG. 5, the CPU 41 sets the operation mode of the computer to the single head mode like Ms.

Then, the CPU 41 responds to the reading start at the timing T1 and the main scanning rotation driving device 37 of FIG.
Is started to start the rotation of the rotator 4, and the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 are rotated about the axis X0. The rotation speed at this time is the same as that in the double head mode.

As described above, the first read head H1 and the second read head H1
When the read head H2 rotates, the index signal and the EVEN signal as shown in FIG. 5 are output from the sensor 36 shown in FIG. 1 as in the double head mode.

After that, when timing T2 arrives in FIG. 5, a light emission command is sent to the laser generator 27 of FIG. 1 to start the laser emission, and further the output of the Z-axis motor drive pulse is started. Sub-scanning linear drive device 1
8 starts to operate, and the entire X-ray image reading apparatus 1
Therefore, the first read head H1 and the second read head H2
Both start straight movement in a direction parallel to the axis X0 as indicated by an arrow G. The linear movement speed of the first read head H1 and the second read head H2 at this time is the pulse width of the Z-axis motor drive pulse 1 /
By setting to 2, it is controlled to 1/2 of the constant speed V in the double head mode.

Further, in the double head mode, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5, the signal to the laser generator 27 is kept ON and the laser beam is constantly generated during the reading process. . On the other hand, in the single head mode, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
Only after the EVEN signal is generated until the next index signal is generated, that is, while the first read head H1 scans the X-ray image holding body 17, the ON signal is sent to the laser generator 27 to emit the laser beam. Has been generated. The laser beam is not generated while the second read head H2 scans the X-ray image holding body 17. As a result, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the reading process is performed by irradiating the X-ray image holding body 17 with the laser beam only while the first read head H1 scans the X-ray image holding body 17. 2 The reading process is not performed while the reading head H2 scans the X-ray image carrier 17.

The moving speed of the X-ray image reading apparatus 1 in the sub-scanning direction (that is, the direction of arrow G in FIG. 1) in the single head mode is 1/2 of the moving speed in the double head mode. Nevertheless, since the rotation speed of the rotating body 4 in the main scanning direction is set to be the same between the single head mode and the double head mode, the inclination angle of one scanning line in the single head mode is the double head. It is 1/2 of the inclination angle θ (see FIG. 7) of one scanning line in the mode.

Further, since the moving speed in the sub-scanning direction in the single head mode is set to 1/2 of the sub-scanning moving speed in the double head mode, X of the same size is used.
The reading time for reading the line image holder 17 is twice as long in the single head mode as in the double head mode.

Even in the single head mode, the required number of scans, that is, the number of scanning lines is set to the same number of lines as in the double head mode, for example, 3000 lines. In the case of the single head mode which is being considered now, one scan line is formed only by the first read head H1 by one rotation of the rotating body 4 of FIG. 1, and therefore, in order to form 3000 scan lines. Rotates the rotator 4 3000 times, that is, twice as much as in the double head mode.

While the first read head H1 scans the X-ray image carrier 17 as described above, the laser light emitted from the laser generator 27 in FIG. 1 passes through the first read head H1 and the laser beam shown in FIG. The X-ray image holder 17 is arranged along the scanning line P.
To expose. When the energy latent image is held in the exposed portion of the X-ray image carrier 17 exposed by the laser light in this way, the energy is excited by the laser light and emitted as light to the outside, and the emitted light is the laser light. The emitted light is received by the first read head H1.

The received light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 26a in the head portion 7 of the rotating body 4 and is reflected by the photodetector 11
Sent to the first phototube 16a and the second phototube 16b, and a signal corresponding to light is output to the output terminals of those phototubes.

As described above, while the X-ray image carrier 17 is being irradiated with the laser light, in FIG. 5, the EVEN signal corresponding to each rotation of the first read head H1 is output as shown in FIG. RE of the frequency dividing circuit 51 of the pulse generating circuit 47
The RESET signal is transmitted to the SET terminal, which causes the output terminal of the logic circuit 52 to output a single ENC- signal as shown in FIG.
Z-phase pulse and continuous ENC-A phase pulse are output corresponding to each EVEN signal.

The ENC-Z phase pulse is a pulse signal generated after time tz from the EVEN signal. Further, the ENC-A phase pulse continues after the generation of the ENC-Z phase pulse until the generation of the next index signal, in other words, while the first read head H1 makes a half rotation (that is, 180 ° rotation). It is a pulse signal that is generated. This ENC-A phase pulse is a pulse signal having a frequency of 312.5 KHz as shown in FIG. 6 according to the output pulse of the frequency dividing circuit 51 shown in FIG. 3000 pulses are generated within one scan line.

The intensity calculation circuit 48 shown in FIG. 4 reads the output of the photocell 16a or 16b for each pulse of the ENC-A phase pulse output from the logic circuit 52 in the same manner as in the double head mode, and reads it. The value is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 43. Thus, one of the ENC-A phase pulses
Data for one pixel corresponding to a pulse is sampled. Here, since 3000 pulses of ENC-A phase pulses are output for one scanning line, the intensity calculation circuit 48 obtains 3000 by dividing one scanning line into 3000.
Sample pixel data.

Looking at the sampling situation for each one scanning line, the EVEN signal of FIG. 5 becomes a reference pulse and is supplied to the pulse generation circuit 47 as a RESET signal at the head of every line of one scanning line. Based on, the ENC-A phase pulse as a sampling pulse is output for one line, that is, 3000 pulses are output. In this way, since the reference pulse is given for each scanning line, each scanning line is accurately synchronized with the rotating operation of the first read head H1.

Also, ENC- as a sampling pulse
The A-phase pulse is not generated by the encoder according to the rotation of the first read head H1, but is generated based on the crystal oscillator 49 having an extremely stable oscillation characteristic. Therefore, the ENC-A phase pulse functions as a very stable sampling pulse that is not affected by the rotation of the first read head H1.

As described above, when the second reading head H2 arrives at the position facing the X-ray image holding body 17 after the data of 3000 pixels for one scanning line by the first reading head H1 is sampled, FIG. As the timing chart shown in, the ENC-Z phase pulse and ENC-A phase pulse are not output. At this time, the laser signal is also O
Since it is FF, laser light is not emitted from the second read head H2. Therefore, the second read head H2
No data will be collected for.

After that, data of 3000 pixels over one scanning line is repeatedly sampled for each rotation of the first read head H1, and as a result, data for 3000 lines in the sub-scanning direction is sampled. As described above, in FIG. 8, the light intensity data on the entire surface of the measurement region of the X-ray image holding body 17 is read, and these are associated with the coordinate values of the X-ray image holding body 17 and stored in the RAM4.
3 is stored as a data table in a predetermined area.

According to the single head mode measurement described above, the measurement is performed only by the first read head H1 and no data is collected from the second read head H2. Therefore, the situation in which a measurement error occurs due to the difference between the read characteristic when the first read head H1 is used and the read characteristic when the second read head H2 is used does not occur. Very accurate measurements can be made.

In the single head mode,
As shown in FIG. 5, ON / OFF of the laser generator 27 is
It is repeated every time the EVEN signal and the index signal are generated. At this time, even if the ON signal is sent to the laser generator 27 and the operation of the laser generator 27 is started, the laser beam having the rated intensity is not immediately generated and the output of the laser beam is stabilized at the rated level. Requires some time to pass. As shown in Fig. 5, when the EVEN signal is generated, the ENC-
Instead of issuing the A-phase pulse, a grace period of tz, for example, a time of 400 μS for 122 pulses is provided in order to secure the time until the rising laser light stabilizes at the rated level.

As described above, according to the X-ray image reading apparatus of this embodiment, the ENC-A phase pulse which is the sampling pulse is read in both the double head mode and the single head mode. Heads H1, H
Since it is not generated by the encoder provided on the second rotation axis but is obtained from the oscillator 49 which is an independent pulse generation source not affected by the rotation of the read heads H1 and H2, a stable sampling pulse is always obtained. Therefore, it is possible to obtain highly reliable read data.

Further, since the timing T2 which is the reference of the generation of the sampling pulse is brought by the reference pulse which is generated with the position of the read heads H1 and H2 as the reference, that is, the index signal or the EVEN signal, the data sampling timing is Read heads H1, H
There is no fear of deviation from the timing of rotation of 2, that is, the scanning timing with respect to the X-ray image holding body 17.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Can be modified to

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second read head H of the two read heads H1 and H2.
The single head mode is realized by not using 2, and therefore, when the second read head H2, which is not used, scans the X-ray image holding body 17, the generation of laser light from the laser generator 27 is prevented. I decided to cancel.

However, the measure for not using the second read head H2 is not limited to such interruption of the laser light, and, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 read head H2
A beam stopper or shutter 59 is provided on the optical path between the beam stopper and the shutter 59.
It can also be realized by a measure of blocking the progress of the laser beam to the read head H2.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a double-head type X-ray image reading apparatus having a structure using two read heads. However, the present invention has three or more read heads. The present invention can also be applied to a multi-head type X-ray image reading device having a structure using.

[0119]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the X-ray image reading apparatus of the present invention, the sampling pulse is not generated from the encoder provided on the rotary shaft of the reading head. Since it is obtained from an independent pulse generation source which is not affected by the rotation of the read head, it is possible to always obtain a stable sampling pulse, and thus to obtain highly reliable read data.

Further, since the timing serving as the reference for generating the sampling pulse is brought about by the reference pulse generated with reference to the position of the read head, the data sampling timing is rotated by the read head, that is, the X-ray image holding member. There is no concern about deviation from the scanning timing for.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of an X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

2A is a plan sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a plan sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a beam splitter used in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electric control system used in the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram showing a timing chart of control executed by the electric control system of FIG.

6 is a timing chart showing a main part of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a read scanning state in a double head mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a read scanning state in a single head mode.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment of the X-ray image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional X-ray image reading apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of an X-ray measuring apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray image reading device 4 Rotating body 6 Laser light introduction part 7 Head part 8 Light derivation part 11 Photodetection device 14 Optical filters 16a, 16b Phototube 17 X-ray image holder 18 Beam splitters 26a, 26b Dichroic mirror 27 Laser generator 29 rotary disk (means for generating reference pulse) 36 photosensor (means for generating reference pulse) 47 pulse generation circuit (sampling pulse generation means) 48 intensity calculation circuit (sampling means) 59 beam stopper or shutter H1 first reading Head H2 Second read head

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2G083 AA03 BB04 CC10 DD20                 2H013 AC03 AC06                 5B047 AA05 BA02 BB02 CA06 CA12                       CB09 CB17                 5C072 AA01 BA13 BA20 UA09 UA14                       VA01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A read head for collecting data from an X-ray image carrier, a scanning drive means for moving the read head to scan the X-ray image carrier, and a reference based on the position of the read head. A means for generating a pulse, a sampling pulse generation means for generating a sampling pulse with the reference pulse as a reference, and a sampling means for sampling the data collected by the read head according to the sampling pulse, The X-ray image reading device, wherein the sampling pulse generating means generates a sampling pulse independently of the scan driving means. 2. The read heads according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the read heads are provided, and the scan driving unit causes the plurality of read heads to scan the X-ray image holding body at different timings. An X-ray image reading device, characterized in that the X-ray image reading device is moved. 3. The read head according to claim 2, wherein the two read heads are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to each other at an angular interval of 180 °, and the scan driving means rotates the two read heads. An X-ray image reading apparatus comprising: a driving unit; and a linear driving unit that linearly moves the two reading heads in a direction perpendicular to a rotation surface of the reading head by the rotary driving unit. 4. The means for generating a reference pulse with reference to the position of the read head according to claim 3, wherein the rotary disk is attached to a rotary shaft of the read head that is rotationally driven, and the rotary disk is rotated. An X-ray image reading device having a photosensor that outputs a pulse signal in response to the X-ray image reading device. 5. The means for generating a reference pulse with reference to the position of the read head according to claim 1, wherein the reference pulse is generated at the beginning of every row of a plurality of scan lines. X-ray image reading device. 6. The original oscillating means for oscillating a frequency higher than the frequency of the sampling pulse, according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, And a frequency dividing circuit for frequency-dividing the output pulse of 1. 7. The X-ray image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the original oscillating means outputs an oscillation having a frequency 10 times or more the frequency of the sampling pulse. 8. The X-ray image reading apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the original oscillation means has a crystal oscillation source. 9. The X according to claim 6, wherein the original oscillating means oscillates 5 MHz, and the sampling pulse has a frequency of 312.5 KHz.
Line image reader. 10. The X-ray image carrier according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray image carrier is made of a stimulable phosphor.
An emission optical system which has a line holding surface and supplies stimulated excitation light to the one or more read heads, and light emitted from the X-ray image carrier through the one or more read heads. An X-ray image reading apparatus comprising: a light receiving optical system that receives light and outputs an electric signal in response to the received light, wherein the output signal of the light receiving optical system is sampled by the sampling means.