JP2006153564A - Detector for light or radiation and its detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detector for light or radiation and its detection system capable of precisely detecting incident light or radiation. <P>SOLUTION: Since the flat-panel-type X-ray detector (FPD) 1 is provided with a wiring 23 for amplification factor alteration, it is possible to individually alter each amplification factor of a plurality of amplifiers 21. A control part 5 individually alters each amplification factor of the plurality of amplifiers. Each amplifier 21 amplifies electric charge information at an appropriate amplification factor even when electric charge information read from detection elements (d) is high and low among the amplifiers 21. It is thereby possible to perform precise detection even if the amount of X-ray incidence has a wide range of distribution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a light or radiation detector and its detection system used in the medical field, the industrial field, and the nuclear field.

  In recent years, a flat panel detector (or also referred to as a “two-dimensional sensor”, which will be described as “FPD” where appropriate) is used as a light or radiation detector. The detection elements arranged in a matrix on the detection surface of the FPD detect incident light or radiation (hereinafter, “light or radiation” is simply referred to as “radiation”) as charge information. The charge information read from each detection element through the signal line is converted into a voltage signal by an amplifier, and is converted at a predetermined amplification factor. The output signal of each amplifier is subjected to processing such as being converted to a digital value by an A / D converter and output from the radiation detector. The output signal is used for image data generation.

The dose of radiation applied varies greatly depending on the purpose of imaging. At this time, the charge information read from the detection element and the output signal output from the amplifier also vary greatly depending on the dose of radiation irradiated. However, the range of analog signals that can be given digital values by the A / D converter (hereinafter referred to as “bit range” as appropriate) is constant. Therefore, if the output signal is too small or too large compared to this range, the A / D converter cannot give a suitable digital value. Therefore, a method of changing the amplification factor of each amplifier based on the irradiation condition is adopted (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-94532

However, the conventional example having such a configuration has the following problems.
That is, the conventional apparatus sets the amplification factor of each amplifier uniformly. However, the radiation incident on the radiation detector is radiation that passes through the subject and is not the radiation that is irradiated from the radiation source. The amount of incident radiation is not constant across the detection surface. Actually, the width of the dose distribution of the radiation incident on the detection surface becomes wider, and the range in which the radiation can be detected by the amplifier via the charge information may be exceeded. In this case, detection of the incident amount of radiation becomes impossible. If A / D conversion is subsequently performed, the bit range is deviated, and so-called overflow or underflow is caused. Inconveniences such as normal image data cannot be obtained even if image processing is performed based on such digital values.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a light or radiation detector capable of accurately detecting incident light or radiation and a detection system thereof.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has the following configuration.
In other words, the invention described in claim 1 is arranged in a matrix and detects the incident light or radiation as the charge information, and the charge information read from each detection element is variable in amplification factor. A light or radiation detector comprising a plurality of amplifying means for amplifying, wherein the plurality of amplifying means comprises a gain changing wiring through a command for individually changing the gain. To do.

  [Operation / Effect] According to the first aspect of the present invention, by providing the amplification factor changing wiring, each amplification factor of the plurality of amplification means can be individually changed. Therefore, even if the charge information input to the amplification means is high or low between the amplification means, each amplification means can amplify the charge information with an appropriate amplification factor. Therefore, even if the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed over a wide range, it can be accurately detected.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is arranged in a matrix and detects the incident light or radiation as charge information, and the charge information read from each detection element is variable in amplification factor. A light or radiation detection system comprising a plurality of amplification means for amplifying, characterized in that it comprises control means for individually changing the amplification factors of the plurality of amplification means.

  [Operation / Effect] According to the invention described in claim 2, the control means individually changes the amplification factors of the plurality of amplification means. Therefore, even if the charge information input to each amplification unit is high or low between the amplification units, each amplification unit amplifies the charge information with an appropriate amplification factor. Therefore, even if the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed over a wide range, it can be accurately detected.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the light or radiation detection system according to claim 2, wherein the control means further changes each amplification factor of the plurality of amplification means for each detection element. It is characterized by.

  [Operation and Effect] According to the invention described in claim 3, the control means changes the amplification factor for each detection element. Therefore, even if the charge information is high or low for each detection element, the amplification means amplifies each charge information with an optimum amplification factor. Therefore, even if the incident amount of incident light or radiation is distributed over a wide range for each detection element, it can be accurately detected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the light or radiation detection system according to the second or third aspect, the detection elements are further selected in units of rows, and charge information is obtained from the selected detection elements. Read selection means is provided, and the amplification means is provided for each column of detection elements, amplifies the charge information read by the selection means, and the control means is synchronized with selection of the detection elements by the selection means. It is characterized by controlling.

  [Operation and Effect] According to the invention described in claim 4, the control means controls the amplification factor of each amplification means in synchronization with the selection means. Therefore, it is possible to suitably realize control for changing the amplification factor of each amplification means for each detection element.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the light or radiation detection system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising the plurality of light or radiation according to an incident amount of light or radiation transmitted through the subject. It comprises an acquisition means for acquiring a set value for each amplification factor of each amplification means for each detection element, and the control means controls based on the set value acquired by the acquisition means. is there.

  [Operation / Effect] According to the invention described in claim 5, the acquisition means acquires the set value of the amplification factor associated with each detection element in accordance with the amount of incident light or radiation transmitted through the subject. And a control means controls so that the gain of each amplification means becomes the acquired set value. Therefore, no matter how the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed according to the transmittance characteristics of the subject, the amplifying means can amplify at an accurate amplification factor.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the light or radiation detection system according to claim 5, further comprising storage means for storing the set value acquired by the acquisition means in association with each detection element, The control means performs control with reference to the storage means.

  [Operation / Effect] According to the invention described in claim 6, the control means performs the control while referring to the storage means for storing the set value. Therefore, once the acquisition unit acquires the set value, it is not necessary to acquire the set value every time shooting is performed. Therefore, continuous shooting can be suitably performed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the light or radiation detection system according to the fifth or sixth aspect, each output signal output from the plurality of amplification means is converted into a digital value. An analog-digital converter for conversion is provided, and the acquisition unit acquires the set value so that the digital value falls within a predetermined range.

  [Operation and Effect] According to the invention described in claim 7, the output signal from the amplifying means is information on the result of detecting light or radiation, and the detection accuracy is good. Therefore, digital values that are always obtained by the analog-digital converter can also be handled according to incident light or radiation.

  The present specification also discloses the invention relating to the following detection system, imaging apparatus, and detection method for light or radiation.

  (1) The detection system for light or radiation according to claim 7, further comprising image processing means for generating image data based on a digital value converted by the analog-digital converter, wherein the image processing means A detection system for light or radiation, comprising correction processing for correcting the digital value based on a set value acquired by the means.

  According to the invention described in (1), image data can be generated with high accuracy from incident light or radiation.

  (2) The light or radiation detection system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, and a light irradiation means for irradiating the subject with light, or a radiation irradiation means for irradiating the subject with radiation, The detection element is a light or radiation imaging apparatus that detects light or radiation transmitted through a subject.

  According to the invention described in (2) above, it is possible to perform photographing accurately regardless of the transmittance characteristics of the subject.

  (3) In a detection method for light or radiation in which incident light or radiation is detected as charge information by detection elements arranged in a matrix and the charge information read from each detection element is amplified by a plurality of amplification means. The light or radiation detection method is characterized in that each of the plurality of amplification means amplifies at an individual amplification factor.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, the plurality of amplifying means amplify the charge information at individual gains. Therefore, it is possible to detect with high accuracy no matter how the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed.

  (4) The light or radiation detection method according to (3), wherein the plurality of amplification means amplify by changing an amplification factor for each detection element.

  According to the invention described in (4) above, the amplification means amplifies by changing the amplification factor for each detection element. Therefore, even if the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed over a wide range for each detection element, it can be accurately detected.

  (5) In the detection method for light or radiation according to (3) or (4), a preset value for each amplification factor of the plurality of amplification means according to the amount of incident light or radiation that has passed through the subject in advance A detection method for light or radiation, comprising: an acquisition process for acquiring each of the detection elements, wherein the plurality of amplifying means amplify based on a set value acquired in the acquisition process.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, in the acquisition process, the set value of the amplification factor associated with each detection element is acquired according to the amount of incident light or radiation that has passed through the subject. Therefore, no matter how the incident amount of light or radiation is distributed depending on the transmittance characteristics of the subject, the light or radiation can be detected accurately.

  According to the light or radiation detection system according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the incident amount of light or radiation distributed over the detection surface.

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an X-ray detection system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 illustrates detection of a flat panel X-ray detector (hereinafter simply referred to as “FPD”) 1 used in the system. It is a vertical sectional view of a surface. In FIG. 1, the detection surface of the FPD 1 is disclosed in a plan view. The X-ray detection system corresponds to the light or radiation detection system in the present invention.

  The X-ray detection system of this embodiment includes an FPD 1 that detects incident X-rays, a gate driver 3, a control unit 5, a storage unit 7, and an input unit 9. The FPD 1 corresponds to the light or radiation detector in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an X-ray sensitive semiconductor film 11, a carrier collection electrode 13, and an active matrix substrate 15 are laminated on the detection surface of the FPD 1 in order from the X-ray incident side.

  Examples of the semiconductor film 11 include amorphous selenium that directly converts X-rays into charge information. The carrier collecting electrodes 13 are separately formed in a two-dimensional matrix in plan view. The active matrix substrate 15 is exemplified by glass having electrical insulation.

  The active matrix substrate 15 includes a capacitor Ca that accumulates charge information for each carrier collection electrode 13, and a thin film transistor (Thin Film) that is a switch element that connects the carrier collection electrode 13 and the capacitor Ca to the source S and extracts charge information. Transistors) Tr is formed separately. One set of the carrier collection electrode 13, the capacitor Ca, and the thin film transistor Tr constitute one detection element d. Therefore, when seen in a plan view, the detection elements d are arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. The carrier collection electrode 13 and the capacitor Ca are not shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the detection elements d are arranged in n columns in the horizontal direction and m rows in the vertical direction. The detection element d corresponds to the detection element in this invention.

  On the active matrix substrate 15, m gate bus lines 17 having the same number as the rows and n data bus lines 19 having the same number as the columns are formed. Each gate bus line 17 is commonly connected to the gates of the thin film transistors Tr in each row. The gate bus line 17 passes a gate pulse applied to each thin film transistor Tr. Each data bus line 19 is commonly connected to the drains of the thin film transistors Tr in each column. The data bus line 19 passes through charge information stored in each capacitor Ca.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the FPD 1 includes n amplifiers 21 of the same number as the number of columns and A / D converters 25.

  Each data bus line 19 drawn from the active matrix substrate 15 is connected to an amplifier 21. Each amplifier 21 converts input charge information into a voltage signal and variably amplifies the amplification factor. Further, an amplification factor changing wiring 23 is connected to each amplifier 21 through a command for changing the amplification factor individually. The amplifier 21 and the gain changing wiring 23 correspond to the amplifying means and the gain changing wiring in the present invention, respectively.

  An A / D converter 25 is connected to the output side of the amplifier 21. The A / D converter 25 converts the output signal of the amplifier 21 into a digital value. The A / D converter 25 corresponds to the analog-digital converter in the present invention.

  The gate driver 3 is connected to the other end side of each gate bus line 17 described above. Then, one of the gate bus lines 17 is selected and supplied to the thin film transistor Tr connected to the selected gate bus line 17 through a gate pulse. As a result, the detection elements d are selected in units of rows, and the charge information is read from the selected detection elements d. The gate driver 3 corresponds to the selection means in this invention.

  The control unit 5 is connected to the other end side of each amplification factor changing wiring 23 and passes a command to individually change the amplification factor. Thereby, the amplification factor of each amplifier 21 is changed individually. Further, in order to synchronize with the timing at which the gate driver 3 selects each gate bus line 17, the control unit 5 receives a timing signal (for example, a vertical synchronization signal) of the selection operation from the gate driver 3. The control unit 5 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that reads and executes a predetermined program, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) that stores various information, a storage medium such as a fixed disk, and the like. The control unit 5 corresponds to the control means in this invention.

  The storage unit 7 stores an amplification factor setting value in association with each detection element d. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 7 also stores an initial value of the amplification factor in advance. In this embodiment, the initial value is a uniform value for all detection elements d. However, an individual value may be appropriately changed from the initial value in association with each detection element. Then, a reference value or an initial value for changing the amplification factor is given to the control unit 5 by referring to the control unit 5 described above. The storage unit 7 includes a storage medium such as a fixed disk. The storage unit 7 corresponds to the storage means in this invention.

  An example of setting values (information) stored in the storage unit 7 is schematically shown in FIG. Each set value (for example, “x10” or the like meaning 10 times) is recorded in the memory address of each detection element d arranged in m rows × n columns. Accordingly, each set value can be an independent value for each detection element d.

  The input unit 9 receives instructions such as setting of an amplification factor and setting of an initial value by an operator. This instruction is given to the control unit 5.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
When X-rays enter the detection element d of the FPD 1, charges are generated in the semiconductor film 11. This charge is stored as charge information in the capacitor Ca via each carrier collecting electrode 13.

  Further, when the control unit 5 receives the timing signal from the gate driver 3, the detection element d from which the charge information is read is specified. Then, with reference to the storage unit 7, a set value associated with the detection element d to be read is obtained. Based on the obtained set value, a command to individually change the amplification factor is output to each amplifier 21. Note that such an instruction may be output based on an instruction input to the input unit 9. The amplification factor changing wiring 23 passes the command output from the control unit 5 to each amplifier 21. Each amplifier 21 changes the amplification factor based on the command.

  The gate driver 3 outputs a gate pulse to the selected gate bus line 17. The gate bus line 17 passes a gate pulse to each connected thin film transistor Tr. Each thin film transistor Tr to which the gate pulse is applied to the gate shifts to the ON state. As a result, the charge information stored in the capacitor Ca is read out to the data bus line 19 via each thin film transistor Tr that has been turned on. Each data bus line 19 transmits the read charge information to the amplifier 21.

  Each amplifier 21 converts the transmitted charge information into a voltage signal and amplifies it with the changed amplification factor. An output signal output from the amplifier 21 is given to the A / D converter 25. The A / D converter 25 converts the output signal into a digital value.

  Thus, since the FPD 1 configuring the X-ray detection system according to the first embodiment includes the amplification factor changing wiring 23, the amplification factors of the n amplifiers 21 can be individually changed. Therefore, when the amount of incident X-rays is distributed over a wide range, the charge information has a wide range of values. However, each of the amplifiers 21 amplifies the charge information with an appropriate amplification factor. Therefore, the accuracy of the output signal from the amplifier does not decrease as information as a result of detecting the incidence of X-rays.

  Further, according to the X-ray detection system according to the first embodiment, since the control unit 5 is provided, the amplification factors of the n amplifiers 21 can be individually changed.

  Further, the control unit 5 changes the amplification factor of each amplifier 21 in synchronization with the selection operation of the gate driver 3. Therefore, it is possible to suitably realize changing the amplification factor for each of the detection elements d arranged in a matrix.

Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. In addition, about the same structure as Example 1, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  In the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment, the top plate 31 on which the subject M is placed, the X-ray tube 33 that irradiates the subject M with X-rays, and the X-ray tube 33 across the subject M are disposed. An X-ray detection system 35 including the arranged FPD 1 and an imaging control unit 37 that comprehensively controls the X-ray imaging apparatus are provided. The X-ray tube 33 irradiates the subject M with X-rays under the control of the imaging control unit 37. At this time, the light enters the detection element d that detects X-rays that pass through the subject M. The X-ray detection system 35 cooperates with the imaging control unit 35 to detect incident X-rays. The X-ray tube 33 corresponds to the radiation irradiation means in this invention.

  The X-ray detection system 35 according to the second embodiment includes an FPD 1, a gate driver 3, a control unit 5, a storage unit 7, an acquisition unit 41, and an image processing unit 43. The X-ray detection system 35 corresponds to the detection system for light or radiation in the present invention.

  The configuration of the FPD 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment. That is, the FPD 1 includes the detection element d, the amplifier 21, the A / D converter 25, and the like described in the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, these structures are illustrated in a simplified manner for convenience.

  The acquisition unit 41 is connected to the FPD 1 and receives a digital value converted by the A / D converter 25. Based on this digital value, the set value of the amplification factor of the amplifier 21 is acquired for each detection element d. The acquisition unit 41 corresponds to acquisition means in the present invention.

  The image processing unit 43 is also connected to the FPD 1 and receives a digital value converted by the A / D converter 25. Then, the digital value is corrected based on the set value obtained by referring to the storage unit 7. Image data is generated based on the corrected digital value. The image processing unit 43 corresponds to the image processing means in this invention.

  The acquisition unit 41 and the image processing unit 43 are a central processing unit (CPU) that reads and executes a predetermined program, a storage medium such as a RAM (Random-Access Memory) that stores various information, a fixed disk, and the like. Consists of.

  Next, each operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, although values, such as an amplification factor, are illustrated in each description of operation | movement, description is made more concrete and is not limited to these numerical values.

<Step S <b>1> Setting the gain to the initial value The control unit 5 reads the initial value (for example, 10 times) of the gain of each amplifier 21 with reference to the storage unit 7. Then, the amplification factor of each amplifier 21 is changed to an initial value.

<Step S <b>2> Irradiate the subject with X-rays Under the control of the imaging control unit 37, the subject M is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray tube 33. Some of the irradiated X-rays are absorbed by the subject M, and others pass through the subject M. X-rays that pass through the subject M enter each detection element d of the FPD 1.

  Each detection element d detects and accumulates incident X-rays as charge information. The gate driver 3 reads out this charge information from each detection element d. Each amplifier 21 amplifies the read charge information with an initial value (10 times). The A / D converter 25 converts the output signal output from the amplifier 21 into a digital value (for example, converts it into a digital value from 0 to 8191 as a 13-bit width).

<Step S3> Is the digital value larger than the upper limit value? Or is the digital value smaller than the lower limit?
The acquisition unit 41 receives a digital value from the A / D converter 25. Based on this digital value, the set value of the amplification factor of the amplifier 21 is acquired for each detection element d.

  In this embodiment, the following processing is performed. That is, the acquisition unit 41 includes a predetermined upper limit value (7000) and a lower limit value (1000) as threshold values that prescribe an appropriate range of digital values in the storage medium. Then, the digital value is compared with the upper limit value and the lower limit value. As a result, when the digital value is larger than the upper limit value or when the digital value is smaller than the lower limit value, the process proceeds to step S5. In other cases, that is, when the digital value is not more than the upper limit value and not less than the lower limit value, the process proceeds to step S4.

<Step S <b>4> The initial value is determined as the set value. The acquisition unit 41 determines the initial value as the set value of the amplification factor of the amplifier 21. Thus, the setting value acquired by the acquisition unit 41 is stored in the storage unit 7.

<Step S5> The correction value is determined as a set value. The acquisition unit 41 further includes a first correction value (for example, 1 time) as an amplification factor for correcting the digital value to be smaller, and an amplification factor for correcting the digital value to be larger. The second correction value (for example, 20 times) is provided in the storage medium. If the digital value is larger than the upper limit value, the first correction value is determined as the amplification factor setting value of the amplifier 21. Further, when the digital value is smaller than the lower limit value, the second correction value is determined as the set value of the amplification factor of the amplifier 21. When the set value is determined, it is stored in the storage unit 7.

  In step S4 or step S5, the set value is determined for each detection element d.

<Step S <b>6> Shooting the Subject When the acquisition of the setting values is completed for all the detection elements d, the subject M is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray tube 33 under the control of the imaging control unit 37. Due to the incidence of X-rays that pass through the subject M, charge information is accumulated in each detection element d. The control unit 5 refers to the storage unit 7 to obtain a set value. Then, while synchronizing with the selection operation of the gate driver 3, the amplification factor of each amplifier 21 is changed to a set value. Thereby, the charge information read from each detection element d is amplified by the set value in each amplifier 21. The output signal of the amplifier 21 is changed to a digital value by A / D and sent to the image processing unit 43. The image processing unit 43 corrects the digital value based on the set value, and generates image data based on the corrected digital value.

  As described above, according to the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment, by providing the acquisition unit 41, it is possible to acquire a set value according to the dose of X-rays that are actually incident. Therefore, regardless of the transmittance distribution characteristics of the subject M, each amplifier 21 can amplify at an appropriate amplification factor. Therefore, the digital value converted by the A / D converter 25 can always be handled as accurately corresponding to the amount of incident X-rays. In other words, there is no overflow or underflow.

  In addition, the setting value acquired by the acquisition unit 41 includes the storage unit 7 that stores the setting value, so that it is not necessary to acquire the setting value every time shooting is performed. That is, once the set value is obtained, continuous shooting and moving image shooting can be performed thereafter.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as follows.

  (1) In each of the above-described embodiments, the individual amplification factor changing wirings 23 are connected to each amplifier 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each amplifier 21 may be provided with a common serial line so that a command for changing the amplification factor is transmitted in a time-sharing manner. As a result, the number of gain changing wirings can be greatly reduced.

  (2) The FPD 1 of each embodiment described above may further include a multiplexer that time-division-multiplexes digital values converted by the A / D converter 25. Alternatively, a multiplexer may be provided between the amplifier 21 and the A / D converter 25 so that the output signal of each amplifier 21 is time-division multiplexed.

  (3) Moreover, although the acquisition part 41 was the structure which acquires a setting value based on the digital value converted by the A / D converter 25, if it respond | corresponds to the incident amount of an X-ray, a digital value It is not limited to the structure based on. For example, the set value may be acquired based on the charge information read from each detection element d, the output signal output from the amplifier 21, or the output from the multiplexer described above.

  (4) Furthermore, the acquisition unit 41 is configured to acquire a set value according to the value of the digital value when the amplification factor of the amplifier 21 is an initial value, but the design is appropriately changed by a known technique. Is. For example, the acquisition unit 41 cooperates with the control unit 5 and the imaging control unit 37 to perform feedback control that corrects the amplification factor by a predetermined amount from the initial value so that the converted digital value falls within a predetermined range. May be.

  (5) Further, the FPD 1 of each embodiment described above is further configured to have a region of the detection element d on which the X-ray irradiated from the X-ray tube 33 is incident without being obstructed by the subject M. May be. Thereby, the incident light intensity by irradiation of the X-ray tube 33 can be measured.

  (6) In each of the above-described embodiments, the FPD 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to any X-ray detector having a plurality of detection elements on the detection surface.

  (7) Although the detecting element d of each of the above-described embodiments converts incident X-rays directly into charge information by the semiconductor thick film 11, it is not limited thereto. For example, an indirect detection element that converts incident X-rays into light by a scintillator and converts the light into charge information by a semiconductor layer formed of a photosensitive material may be used.

  (8) In each of the above-described embodiments, the FPD 1 that detects the incidence of X-rays or the detection system thereof is used. However, the incident light is not limited to X-rays. The present invention can also be applied when radiation other than X-rays or light is incident.

  (9) In each embodiment described above, the subject M is not specified. For example, the present invention may be applied to an X-ray imaging apparatus used in the medical field. Further, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus using radiation other than X-rays, and also to a radiography apparatus used in industrial fields such as non-destructive inspection, RI (Radio Isotope) inspection, and optical inspection, and in the nuclear field. Is also applicable.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an X-ray detection system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a detection surface of a flat panel X-ray detector used in an X-ray detection system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates typically the composition of the information about the set value which a storage part memorizes. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an imaging operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Flat panel X-ray detector (FPD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Gate driver 5 ... Control part 7 ... Memory | storage part 17 ... Gate bus line 21 ... Amplifier 23 ... Amplification rate change wiring 25 ... A / D converter 31 ... Top plate 33 ... X-ray tube 35 ... X-ray detection system 41 ... Acquisition part 43 ... Image processing part d ... Detection element M ... Subject

Claims (7)

  Detection elements arranged in a matrix and detecting incident light or radiation as charge information, and a plurality of amplifying means for variably amplifying charge information read from each detection element. An optical or radiation detector, comprising: an amplification factor changing wiring through a command for individually changing the amplification factor for the plurality of amplification means.   Detection elements arranged in a matrix and detecting incident light or radiation as charge information, and a plurality of amplifying means for variably amplifying charge information read from each detection element. In the light or radiation detection system, a light or radiation detection system comprising control means for individually changing the amplification factors of the plurality of amplification means.   3. The light or radiation detection system according to claim 2, wherein the control means further changes each amplification factor of the plurality of amplification means for each detection element.   The light or radiation detection system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising selection means for selecting the detection elements in units of rows and reading out charge information from the selected detection elements, wherein the amplification means includes: Light or radiation provided for each column of detection elements, amplifies the charge information read by the selection means, and the control means controls in synchronization with selection of the detection elements by the selection means Detection system.   5. The detection system for light or radiation according to claim 2, further comprising a set value for each amplification factor of the plurality of amplification means according to an incident amount of light or radiation transmitted through the subject. Is obtained for each detection element, and the control means controls the detection system for light or radiation based on the set value acquired by the acquisition means.   6. The light or radiation detection system according to claim 5, further comprising storage means for storing the setting value acquired by the acquisition means in association with each detection element, wherein the control means refers to the storage means. And a detection system for light or radiation. 7. The light or radiation detection system according to claim 5, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter that converts each output signal output from the plurality of amplifying means into a digital value. The means acquires the set value so that the digital value falls within a predetermined range, the light or radiation detection system.

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