US20010007586A1 - Method of driving X-ray imaging device - Google Patents
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- US20010007586A1 US20010007586A1 US09/748,866 US74886600A US2001007586A1 US 20010007586 A1 US20010007586 A1 US 20010007586A1 US 74886600 A US74886600 A US 74886600A US 2001007586 A1 US2001007586 A1 US 2001007586A1
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- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 37
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
- H04N25/70—SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
- H04N25/76—Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B6/00—Apparatus for radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy equipment
- A61B6/02—Devices for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis
- A61B6/03—Computerised tomographs
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/30—Transforming light or analogous information into electric information
- H04N5/32—Transforming X-rays
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/30—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof for generating image signals from X-rays
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
- H04N25/70—SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
- H04N25/76—Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
- H04N25/779—Circuitry for scanning or addressing the pixel array
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N3/00—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages
- H04N3/10—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical
- H04N3/14—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices
- H04N3/15—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices for picture signal generation
- H04N3/1506—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices for picture signal generation with addressing of the image-sensor elements
- H04N3/1512—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices for picture signal generation with addressing of the image-sensor elements for MOS image-sensors, e.g. MOS-CCD
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of driving an X-ray imaging device, and more particularly to a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is capable of improving a picture's contrast ratio and of shortening a driving time.
- Imaging systems that employ X-rays have been used in numerous medical, scientific and industrial applications.
- Such imaging systems include X-ray imaging devices.
- One type of X-ray imaging device uses an array of photosensitive cells on an array panel to sense the intensity of X-rays passing through an object. Those X-ray intensities are used to produce an image of the object.
- the photosensitive cells generate electric charges in proportion to the intensity of the X-rays.
- the electric charges from the photosensitive cells are applied to a signal converter that converts the charges into electrical signals, which are in turn sent to an image output device.
- the image output device processes the electrical signals so as to display the X-ray intensity pattern on a screen.
- FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B respectively illustrate a sectional schematic view and a planar schematic view of a photosensitive cell in a photosensitive cell array panel.
- the photo-sensitive cell includes a gate line 22 , a thin film transistor (TFT) 24 , a charging capacitor (Cst) layer that are formed on a glass substrate 20 , and a pixel electrode 32 that is connected to a drain electrode 26 of the TFT and to the charging capacitor Cst.
- the photo-sensitive cell further includes a gate electrode 30 , a source electrode 28 , a photo-sensing layer 34 on the pixel electrode 32 , an insulating layer 36 on the photo-sensing layer 34 , and an upper electrode 38 .
- the photo-sensing layer 34 is a photoconductive layer that is used for sensing X-rays and for converting those rays to electric charges.
- the photo-sensing layer 34 is beneficially formed from amorphous selenium having a thickness of hundreds of ⁇ m.
- the gate electrode 30 electrically connects to the gate line 22 .
- Control signals are applied to the TFT by the gate line and by the gate electrode.
- the source electrode 28 connects to a data line 40 (see FIG. 1B).
- the data line 40 is perpendicular to the gate line 22 .
- the drain electrode 26 of the TFT 24 connects to the pixel electrode 32 .
- the pixel electrode 32 has an area that is as large as possible. This aids the collection of electric charges from the photo-sensing layer 34 . The collected charges are then stored in the charging capacitor Cst.
- a high voltage generator 42 connects to the upper electrode 38 . That voltage generator supplies a voltage that generates an electric field through the photo-sensing layer 34 .
- the rays that pass through the object are incident on the photo-sensing layer 34 .
- Those incident X-rays produce electron-hole pairs in the photo-sensing layer 34 .
- a high voltage (several kilovolts) from the high voltage generator 42 is applied to the upper electrode 38 , the electron-hole pairs within the photo-sensing layer 34 are separated by the resulting electric field.
- the holes are collected by the pixel electrode 32 and are stored in the charging capacitor Cst.
- electrons can be collected and stored.
- the TFT 24 acts as a switch that controls the discharge of electric charges in the charging capacitor Cst.
- FIG. 2 illustrates an X-ray imaging system having a driving apparatus that converts electric charges stored in a photo sensitive cell array panel into electrical signals that can be output as an image.
- the X-ray imaging system includes a photo sensitive cell array panel 60 having a plurality of photo-sensing cells 62 that are arranged in a matrix.
- a gate driver 64 connects to gate lines, that gate lines GL 1 to GLm, that are provided on the photo sensitive cell array panel 60 .
- a data reader 66 connects to data lines, the data lines DL 1 to DLn, that are also provided on the photo sensitive cell array panel 60 .
- An output 68 displays the electrical signals from the data reader 66 as an image.
- each of the photo-sensing cells 62 consists of a photo sensor 70 , a charging capacitor Cst and a TFT 72 .
- a gate electrode 74 connects to the gate driver 64 by one of the gate lines GL 1 to GLm
- a source electrode 76 connects to the data reader 66 by one of the data lines DL 1 to DLn.
- a drain electrode 78 connects to a charging capacitor Cst.
- a gate control signal from the gate driver 64 is applied, via one of the gate lines GL 1 to GLm, to the gate electrode 74 of the TFT 72 of a photo-sensing cell 62 , a conductive channel is defined between the drain electrode 78 and the source electrode 76 of the TFT 72 . Electric charges stored in the charging capacitor Cst are then transferred to the data reader 66 , via one of the data lines DL 1 to DLn, by the source electrode 76 .
- the gate driver 64 sequentially applies pulse-shaped gate control signals to the gate lines GL 1 to GLm on the photo sensitive cell array panel 60 .
- a gate control signal is applied to one of the gate lines, the electric charges stored in the photo-sensing cells 62 connected to that gate line are applied to the data reader 66 , thereby forming a scan line.
- the data reader 66 typically includes n charge amplifiers (not shown) connected to the n data lines DL 1 to DLn. The charge amplifiers convert the flow of electric charges (current signals) from the data lines DL 1 to DLn into voltage signals. Thus, the data reader 66 generates electrical data signals that correspond to electric charges from the photo sensitive cell array panel 60 .
- the data reader 66 sequentially applies the n electrical data signals, each of which depends on the intensity of the X-ray energy irradiated onto a photo sensitive cell, and a reference signal to the output 68 .
- the output 68 includes a differential amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (which are not shown).
- the electrical data signals input to the output 68 is an analog signal that includes noise.
- the output 68 differentially amplifies each electrical data signal and the reference signal to remove that noise, and then converts the noise-removed analog signal into a digital signal that is suitable for display on a screen as part of an image.
- FIG. 3 helps explain a method of driving a conventional X-ray imaging device.
- FIG. 3 shows a data process from the application of the high voltage until the read-out of the stored electric charges in the charging capacitor Cst.
- a high voltage is applied by the high voltage generator 42 to the upper electrode 38 prior to irradiating an X-ray image onto the photosensitive cell array panel 60 .
- Pixel charges are then stored in the charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensing cell 62 as X-rays are irradiated.
- the high voltage is turned off.
- the electric charges stored in the charging capacitors Cst are sequentially read as scanning lines by the data reader 66 .
- charges are produced and stored both by X-ray irradiation and by dark charges that are produced by instantaneous currents created by turning-on the high.
- FIG. 4 shows characteristic graphs of a time-dependent current variation at the photo-sensing layer and of a time-dependent variation in the electric charge that is stored in the charging capacitor Cst.
- the high voltage applied to the upper electrode 38 prior to X-ray irradiation causes a current flow in the photo-sensing layer 34 . This is most pronounced at time T 0 , which is the time that the high voltage is first applied. This causes a considerable amount of dark charges to be stored in the charging capacitor.
- T 0 is the time that the high voltage is first applied.
- T 0 which is the time that the high voltage is first applied.
- T 0 is the time that the high voltage is first applied.
- This causes a considerable amount of dark charges to be stored in the charging capacitor.
- T 1 and T 2 a considerable amount of dark charge has been stored.
- the pixel charges produced by X-ray irradiation adds to the dark charges. Both charges are included in the total charges that are read from the charging capacitor Cs
- the dark charge included in the total charge must be removed.
- the conventional method turns the high voltage applied to the upper electrode 38 on and then off without performing X-ray irradiation.
- the data reader 66 determines the amount of dark charge that occurs.
- the determined amount of dark charge is then subtracted from the total charge obtained after X-ray irradiation.
- the result is the net pixel charge produced by X-ray irradiation. That amount is then processed by the data reader 66 .
- the present invention is directed to a method of driving X-ray imaging devices that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is capable of improving a contrast ratio of a picture as well as shortening imaging time.
- a method of driving an X-ray imaging device includes the step of applying a high voltage signal having the same level to the photo-sensing means of each photo-sensing cell during a charging interval of electric charges and during a discharging interval of the charged electric charges.
- a method of driving an X-ray imaging device includes the steps of applying a high voltage signal to the photo-sensing means of each photo-sensing cell; storing electric charges in a charging capacitor provided at each photo-sensing cell while maintaining the high voltage signal at a fixed level; and then discharging the charged electric charges using an auxiliary circuit connected to each photo-sensing cell while maintaining the high voltage signal at the fixed level.
- a method of driving an X-ray imaging device includes the steps of applying a high voltage for coupling an electric field to each photo-sensing cell such that electric charges produced at a photo-sensing layer can be stored in a charging capacitor; reading dark charges stored in the charging capacitor of each photo-sensing cell using a data reader at an application time of the high voltage to remove them; irradiating an X-ray onto the photo-sensing layer; and reading pixel charges stored in the charging capacitor of each photo-sensing cell during X-ray irradiation using the data reader.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively present a sectional schematic view and a planar schematic view of a photo-sensitive cell in a photo sensitive cell array panel of a conventional X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a configuration of a conventional X-ray imaging device
- FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional method of driving an X-ray imaging device
- FIG. 4 presents characteristic graphs that represent current variations in the photo-sensing layer and variations in electric charge stored in a charging capacitor Cst when using a conventional method of driving an X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to the principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 presents characteristic graphs that represent current variations in the photo-sensing layer and variations in electric charge stored in a charging capacitor Cst when using a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is in accord with the principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 helps explain a method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to the principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 shows a data gathering process from the application of a high voltage through a data read-out process.
- a high voltage is applied to an upper electrode of each photo-sensing cell, a reading of the dark current is performed just before X-ray irradiation unlike the conventional driving method, thereby removing dark charges charged in a charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensing cell.
- the data scanning work is carried out prior to turning off the high voltage applied to the upper electrode.
- the structure of each photo-sensing cell in the photo sensitive cell array panel to which the present driving method is applied will be described.
- the structure of the photo-sensing cell is identical to that shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. More specifically, the photo-sensing cell includes a gate line 22 , a thin film transistor (TFT) 24 , and a charging capacitor (Cst) layer that are formed on a glass substrate 20 .
- a pixel electrode 32 connects to a drain electrode 26 of the TFT and to the charging capacitor Cst.
- a photo-sensing layer 34 is formed on the pixel electrode 32 .
- the photo-sensing layer 34 is for converting X-rays to electric charges.
- An insulating layer 36 and an upper electrode 38 are formed on the photo-sensing layer 34 .
- the X-ray imaging system illustrated in FIG. 2 is also suitable for use with the principles of the present invention.
- the X-ray imaging system illustrated in FIG. 2 converts electric charges stored in each photo-sensing cell of the photo sensitive cell array panel into electrical signals that can be output as an image.
- a gate control signal from the gate driver 64 is applied, via one of the gate lines GL 1 to GLm, to the gate electrode 74 of a TFT 72 , a conductive channel is defined between the source electrode 78 and the drain electrode 76 of that TFT 72 .
- Electric charges stored in the charging capacitor Cst are then transferred to the data reader 66 via one of the data lines DL 1 to DLn through the source electrode 76 .
- the gate driver 64 sequentially applies a pulse-shaped gate control signal to each of the m gate lines GL 1 to GLm. This causes the electric charges stored in the photo-sensing cells 62 connected to the gate line that receives the gate control signal to be applied as a scan line to the data reader 66 .
- the data reader 66 typically includes n charge amplifiers (not shown) connected to the n data lines DL 1 to DLn. Such charge amplifiers converts received electric charges, that is current signals from the data lines DL 1 to DLn, into electrical data signals. Thus, the data reader 66 generates electrical data signals that correspond to the electric charges from the photo sensitive cell array panel 60 , which in turn correspond to the X-ray irradiated onto the photo sensitive cell array.
- the data reader 66 sequentially applies the n electrical data signals and a reference signal to the output 68 .
- the output 68 includes a differential amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (not shown).
- the electrical data signals input to the output 68 are analog signals that include noise.
- the output 68 differentially amplifies the electrical data signals and the reference signal to remove the noise, and converts the noise-removed analog signal into a digital signal that is suitable display on a screen as part of an image.
- FIG. 5 a high voltage for an electric field formation is applied to the upper electrode 38 (see FIG. 1A). At the turn-on of the high voltage an instantaneous current as shown at time T 0 in FIG. 6 flows in the photo-sensing layer 34 (see FIG. 1A). A considerable amount of dark charge caused by the instantaneous current that results when the high voltage is applied is stored in the charging capacitor Cst.
- the driving method removes the dark charge stored in each photo-sensing cell 62 by performing special dark scanning work using the data reader 66 prior to X-ray irradiation.
- the conventional driving method turns off the high voltage and then performs dark scanning work to obtain the dark charge caused by the high voltage.
- the present driving method performs dark scanning work without turning the high voltage off (by maintaining the high voltage at its normal magnitude).
- the data reader 66 obtains the dark charge stored in each charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensing cell 62 by a sequential scan of each scan line of the panel.
- the dark charge stored in each photo-sensing cell 62 is almost entirely removed. That is, after sending the dark charges to the data reader there is almost no dark charge remaining in the charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensing cell 62 , see time T 1 of FIG. 6. Significantly, the high voltage remains on during this process. Then, as shown in FIG.
- the present driving method is applied to situations where the maximum total charge applied to the data reader 66 during data scanning is limited. In that case, by reducing the dark charge included in the total charge can significantly enlarge the range of pixel charges. Accordingly, the picture contrast ratio related to the difference in the maximum and minimum pixel charges from each photo-sensing cell 62 can be improved.
- the high voltage applied to the upper electrode 38 is turned off. By maintaining the high voltage after X-ray irradiation one can prevent the signal variation that occurs in the conventional method when the high voltage is turned-off.
- the high-voltage is turned-on and turned-off only once. Once the high voltage has been turned-on, the dark scanning, the X-ray irradiation, and the data scanning work are sequentially carried out.
- the high voltage applied to the upper electrode 38 is not turned off until the data scanning work is complete. This reduces the total driving time in comparison to the conventional driving method in which the high voltage is turned-on and off at least twice.
- the present driving method is favorable to high-speed data treatments and to high-resolution displays.
- dark scanning, X-ray irradiation, and data scanning work are sequentially carried out after applying a high voltage to the photo-sensing cells.
- the dark charge stored in each photo-sensing cell after the application of the high voltage is removed by dark scanning work performed before X-ray irradiation.
- dark scanning work performed before X-ray irradiation.
- a contrast ratio deterioration caused by dark charges can be reduced or prevented.
- a signal variation phenomenon cause by said turn-off the high voltage also can be prevented.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-68051, filed on Dec. 31, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a method of driving an X-ray imaging device, and more particularly to a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is capable of improving a picture's contrast ratio and of shortening a driving time.
- 2. Discussion of the Related Art
- Imaging systems that employ X-rays have been used in numerous medical, scientific and industrial applications. Such imaging systems include X-ray imaging devices. One type of X-ray imaging device uses an array of photosensitive cells on an array panel to sense the intensity of X-rays passing through an object. Those X-ray intensities are used to produce an image of the object. In operation, the photosensitive cells generate electric charges in proportion to the intensity of the X-rays. The electric charges from the photosensitive cells are applied to a signal converter that converts the charges into electrical signals, which are in turn sent to an image output device. The image output device processes the electrical signals so as to display the X-ray intensity pattern on a screen.
- FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B respectively illustrate a sectional schematic view and a planar schematic view of a photosensitive cell in a photosensitive cell array panel. Referring to FIG. 1A, the photo-sensitive cell includes a
gate line 22, a thin film transistor (TFT) 24, a charging capacitor (Cst) layer that are formed on aglass substrate 20, and apixel electrode 32 that is connected to adrain electrode 26 of the TFT and to the charging capacitor Cst. The photo-sensitive cell further includes agate electrode 30, asource electrode 28, a photo-sensing layer 34 on thepixel electrode 32, aninsulating layer 36 on the photo-sensing layer 34, and anupper electrode 38. - The photo-
sensing layer 34 is a photoconductive layer that is used for sensing X-rays and for converting those rays to electric charges. The photo-sensing layer 34 is beneficially formed from amorphous selenium having a thickness of hundreds of μm. - As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the
gate electrode 30 electrically connects to thegate line 22. Control signals are applied to the TFT by the gate line and by the gate electrode. Thesource electrode 28 connects to a data line 40 (see FIG. 1B). Beneficially, thedata line 40 is perpendicular to thegate line 22. As previously indicated, thedrain electrode 26 of the TFT 24 connects to thepixel electrode 32. As indicated by FIG. 1B, thepixel electrode 32 has an area that is as large as possible. This aids the collection of electric charges from the photo-sensing layer 34. The collected charges are then stored in the charging capacitor Cst. Ahigh voltage generator 42 connects to theupper electrode 38. That voltage generator supplies a voltage that generates an electric field through the photo-sensing layer 34. - As X-rays irradiate an object, the rays that pass through the object are incident on the photo-
sensing layer 34. Those incident X-rays produce electron-hole pairs in the photo-sensing layer 34. When a high voltage (several kilovolts) from thehigh voltage generator 42 is applied to theupper electrode 38, the electron-hole pairs within the photo-sensing layer 34 are separated by the resulting electric field. As shown in FIG. 1A, the holes are collected by thepixel electrode 32 and are stored in the charging capacitor Cst. Alternatively, electrons can be collected and stored. The TFT 24 acts as a switch that controls the discharge of electric charges in the charging capacitor Cst. When a gate voltage is applied to thegate electrode 30 via thegate line 22, a channel is defined between thesource electrode 28 and thedrain electrode 26. At this time, the electric charge in the charging capacitor Cst is applied to thesource electrode 28 via thedrain electrode 26. The electric charges applied to thesource electrode 28 are then output over thedata line 40, which is connected to thesource electrode 28. - FIG. 2 illustrates an X-ray imaging system having a driving apparatus that converts electric charges stored in a photo sensitive cell array panel into electrical signals that can be output as an image. The X-ray imaging system includes a photo sensitive
cell array panel 60 having a plurality of photo-sensing cells 62 that are arranged in a matrix. Agate driver 64 connects to gate lines, that gate lines GL1 to GLm, that are provided on the photo sensitivecell array panel 60. Adata reader 66 connects to data lines, the data lines DL1 to DLn, that are also provided on the photo sensitivecell array panel 60. Anoutput 68 displays the electrical signals from thedata reader 66 as an image. - In the photo sensitive
cell array panel 60 the photo-sensing cells 62 are individually positioned at intersections between the gate lines GL1 to GLm and the data lines DL1 to DLn. In FIG. 2, each of the photo-sensing cells 62 consists of aphoto sensor 70, a charging capacitor Cst and aTFT 72. For each photo-sensing cell 62, agate electrode 74 connects to thegate driver 64 by one of the gate lines GL1 to GLm, and asource electrode 76 connects to thedata reader 66 by one of the data lines DL1 to DLn. Furthermore, adrain electrode 78 connects to a charging capacitor Cst. - When a gate control signal from the
gate driver 64 is applied, via one of the gate lines GL1 to GLm, to thegate electrode 74 of theTFT 72 of a photo-sensing cell 62, a conductive channel is defined between thedrain electrode 78 and thesource electrode 76 of theTFT 72. Electric charges stored in the charging capacitor Cst are then transferred to thedata reader 66, via one of the data lines DL1 to DLn, by thesource electrode 76. - The
gate driver 64 sequentially applies pulse-shaped gate control signals to the gate lines GL1 to GLm on the photo sensitivecell array panel 60. When a gate control signal is applied to one of the gate lines, the electric charges stored in the photo-sensing cells 62 connected to that gate line are applied to thedata reader 66, thereby forming a scan line. Thedata reader 66 typically includes n charge amplifiers (not shown) connected to the n data lines DL1 to DLn. The charge amplifiers convert the flow of electric charges (current signals) from the data lines DL1 to DLn into voltage signals. Thus, thedata reader 66 generates electrical data signals that correspond to electric charges from the photo sensitivecell array panel 60. - The
data reader 66 sequentially applies the n electrical data signals, each of which depends on the intensity of the X-ray energy irradiated onto a photo sensitive cell, and a reference signal to theoutput 68. Theoutput 68 includes a differential amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (which are not shown). The electrical data signals input to theoutput 68 is an analog signal that includes noise. Theoutput 68 differentially amplifies each electrical data signal and the reference signal to remove that noise, and then converts the noise-removed analog signal into a digital signal that is suitable for display on a screen as part of an image. - In an X-ray imaging device that operates as described above, the period of time that the high voltage is applied by the
high voltage generator 42 to theupper electrode 38, and the period of time that X-rays are irradiated have a significant impact on the quality of the output image. An instantaneous current is generated at the photo-sensing layer 34 when the high voltage is first applied to theupper electrode 38. This accumulates a dark charge in the charging capacitor Cst. When the high voltage is removed, a variation in the charge stored in the charging capacitor Cst occurs, and thus a signal variation caused by this variation is generated. The image distortion problems caused by the dark charges and signal variations are results of a problem with the method of driving conventional X-ray imaging devices That problem is described below in conjunction with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. - FIG. 3 helps explain a method of driving a conventional X-ray imaging device. FIG. 3 shows a data process from the application of the high voltage until the read-out of the stored electric charges in the charging capacitor Cst. In the conventional driving method, a high voltage is applied by the
high voltage generator 42 to theupper electrode 38 prior to irradiating an X-ray image onto the photosensitivecell array panel 60. Pixel charges are then stored in the charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensingcell 62 as X-rays are irradiated. Then, the high voltage is turned off. Next, the electric charges stored in the charging capacitors Cst are sequentially read as scanning lines by thedata reader 66. In such a driving method, charges are produced and stored both by X-ray irradiation and by dark charges that are produced by instantaneous currents created by turning-on the high. - FIG. 4 shows characteristic graphs of a time-dependent current variation at the photo-sensing layer and of a time-dependent variation in the electric charge that is stored in the charging capacitor Cst. As shown in FIG. 4, the high voltage applied to the
upper electrode 38 prior to X-ray irradiation causes a current flow in the photo-sensing layer 34. This is most pronounced at time T0, which is the time that the high voltage is first applied. This causes a considerable amount of dark charges to be stored in the charging capacitor. When X-ray irradiation is performed, between times T1 and T2, a considerable amount of dark charge has been stored. The pixel charges produced by X-ray irradiation adds to the dark charges. Both charges are included in the total charges that are read from the charging capacitor Cst by thedata reader 66 during data scanning, which occurs after the high voltage is turned-off. As a result, distortion problems and image quality deterioration can occur. - To solve such problems, the dark charge included in the total charge must be removed. To accomplish this, the conventional method turns the high voltage applied to the
upper electrode 38 on and then off without performing X-ray irradiation. Thedata reader 66 then determines the amount of dark charge that occurs. The determined amount of dark charge is then subtracted from the total charge obtained after X-ray irradiation. The result is the net pixel charge produced by X-ray irradiation. That amount is then processed by thedata reader 66. - In the conventional method described above a considerable amount of dark charge is included in the total charge obtained during data scanning. Since the maximum amount of total electric charge is limited, as the dark charge gets larger the range of treatable maximum pixel charge amount is reduced. Therefore, a picture contrast ratio that is related to the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel charges for each photo-sensing cell is reduced. Furthermore, in the conventional driving method a signal variation phenomenon is produced by the turn-off of the high voltage. The signal variation produces a distortion and an image quality deterioration. In addition, the conventional driving method has a significant drawback in that the turning-on and turning-off work of the high voltage must be performed at least twice. This extends the total data acquisition time required for imaging, something that is unfavorable when speed is important.
- Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of driving X-ray imaging devices that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is capable of improving a contrast ratio of a picture as well as shortening imaging time.
- Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
- To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to an embodiment that is in accord with the principles of the present invention includes the step of applying a high voltage signal having the same level to the photo-sensing means of each photo-sensing cell during a charging interval of electric charges and during a discharging interval of the charged electric charges.
- A method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of applying a high voltage signal to the photo-sensing means of each photo-sensing cell; storing electric charges in a charging capacitor provided at each photo-sensing cell while maintaining the high voltage signal at a fixed level; and then discharging the charged electric charges using an auxiliary circuit connected to each photo-sensing cell while maintaining the high voltage signal at the fixed level.
- A method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of applying a high voltage for coupling an electric field to each photo-sensing cell such that electric charges produced at a photo-sensing layer can be stored in a charging capacitor; reading dark charges stored in the charging capacitor of each photo-sensing cell using a data reader at an application time of the high voltage to remove them; irradiating an X-ray onto the photo-sensing layer; and reading pixel charges stored in the charging capacitor of each photo-sensing cell during X-ray irradiation using the data reader.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
- The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
- In the drawings:
- FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively present a sectional schematic view and a planar schematic view of a photo-sensitive cell in a photo sensitive cell array panel of a conventional X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a configuration of a conventional X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional method of driving an X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 4 presents characteristic graphs that represent current variations in the photo-sensing layer and variations in electric charge stored in a charging capacitor Cst when using a conventional method of driving an X-ray imaging device;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to the principles of the present invention; and
- FIG. 6 presents characteristic graphs that represent current variations in the photo-sensing layer and variations in electric charge stored in a charging capacitor Cst when using a method of driving an X-ray imaging device that is in accord with the principles of the present invention.
- Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the example of which is shown in the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 5 helps explain a method of driving an X-ray imaging device according to the principles of the present invention. In particularly, FIG. 5 shows a data gathering process from the application of a high voltage through a data read-out process. Referring to FIG. 5, a high voltage is applied to an upper electrode of each photo-sensing cell, a reading of the dark current is performed just before X-ray irradiation unlike the conventional driving method, thereby removing dark charges charged in a charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensing cell. After the X-ray irradiation was finished, the data scanning work is carried out prior to turning off the high voltage applied to the upper electrode.
- Prior to a detailed explanation of the illustrated embodiment, the structure of each photo-sensing cell in the photo sensitive cell array panel to which the present driving method is applied will be described. The structure of the photo-sensing cell is identical to that shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. More specifically, the photo-sensing cell includes a
gate line 22, a thin film transistor (TFT) 24, and a charging capacitor (Cst) layer that are formed on aglass substrate 20. Apixel electrode 32 connects to adrain electrode 26 of the TFT and to the charging capacitor Cst. A photo-sensing layer 34 is formed on thepixel electrode 32. The photo-sensing layer 34 is for converting X-rays to electric charges. An insulatinglayer 36 and anupper electrode 38 are formed on the photo-sensing layer 34. - With a high voltage (several kV) from the
high voltage generator 42 applied to theupper electrode 38, X-rays incident on the photo-sensing layer 34 produce electron-hole pairs within the photo-sensing layer 34. Those electron-hole pairs are separated by the electric field induced by the applied high voltage. The holes are subsequently stored in the charging capacitor Cst via thepixel electrode 32. - Furthermore, the X-ray imaging system illustrated in FIG. 2 is also suitable for use with the principles of the present invention. The X-ray imaging system illustrated in FIG. 2 converts electric charges stored in each photo-sensing cell of the photo sensitive cell array panel into electrical signals that can be output as an image. When a gate control signal from the
gate driver 64 is applied, via one of the gate lines GL1 to GLm, to thegate electrode 74 of aTFT 72, a conductive channel is defined between thesource electrode 78 and thedrain electrode 76 of thatTFT 72. Electric charges stored in the charging capacitor Cst are then transferred to thedata reader 66 via one of the data lines DL1 to DLn through thesource electrode 76. Thegate driver 64 sequentially applies a pulse-shaped gate control signal to each of the m gate lines GL1 to GLm. This causes the electric charges stored in the photo-sensing cells 62 connected to the gate line that receives the gate control signal to be applied as a scan line to thedata reader 66. Thedata reader 66 typically includes n charge amplifiers (not shown) connected to the n data lines DL1 to DLn. Such charge amplifiers converts received electric charges, that is current signals from the data lines DL1 to DLn, into electrical data signals. Thus, thedata reader 66 generates electrical data signals that correspond to the electric charges from the photo sensitivecell array panel 60, which in turn correspond to the X-ray irradiated onto the photo sensitive cell array. Thedata reader 66 sequentially applies the n electrical data signals and a reference signal to theoutput 68. Theoutput 68 includes a differential amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (not shown). The electrical data signals input to theoutput 68 are analog signals that include noise. Theoutput 68 differentially amplifies the electrical data signals and the reference signal to remove the noise, and converts the noise-removed analog signal into a digital signal that is suitable display on a screen as part of an image. - Hereinafter, a method of driving the X-ray imaging so as to reduce picture distortion and contrast deterioration will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 5, a high voltage for an electric field formation is applied to the upper electrode38 (see FIG. 1A). At the turn-on of the high voltage an instantaneous current as shown at time T0 in FIG. 6 flows in the photo-sensing layer 34 (see FIG. 1A). A considerable amount of dark charge caused by the instantaneous current that results when the high voltage is applied is stored in the charging capacitor Cst. Since such dark charge can bring about a deterioration of contrast ratio, the driving method according to the principles of the present invention removes the dark charge stored in each photo-sensing
cell 62 by performing special dark scanning work using thedata reader 66 prior to X-ray irradiation. The conventional driving method turns off the high voltage and then performs dark scanning work to obtain the dark charge caused by the high voltage. - However, the present driving method performs dark scanning work without turning the high voltage off (by maintaining the high voltage at its normal magnitude). During dark scanning, the
data reader 66 obtains the dark charge stored in each charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensingcell 62 by a sequential scan of each scan line of the panel. By virtue of such dark scanning work, the dark charge stored in each photo-sensingcell 62 is almost entirely removed. That is, after sending the dark charges to the data reader there is almost no dark charge remaining in the charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensingcell 62, see time T1 of FIG. 6. Significantly, the high voltage remains on during this process. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, between times T2 and T3 X-ray irradiation is performed. The pixel charges produced within the photo-sensing layer 34 by the X-ray irradiation are stored in the charging capacitor Cst of each photo-sensingcell 62. - After termination of the X-ray irradiation, data scanning work by the
data reader 66 is carried out while maintaining the high voltage. With conventional methods the high voltage was removed. The pixel charges produced by X-ray irradiation occupy a major portion of the total charges received by thedata reader 66 from the charging capacitors Cst. Since the dark charge stored after the application of the high voltage are removed prior to X-ray irradiation by virtue of the dark scanning work, the amount of dark charge included in the total charge during data scanning is very small as shown in FIG. 6. By this method, a deterioration of a picture contrast ratio caused by dark charges can be effectively prevented. It is particularly beneficial if the present driving method is applied to situations where the maximum total charge applied to thedata reader 66 during data scanning is limited. In that case, by reducing the dark charge included in the total charge can significantly enlarge the range of pixel charges. Accordingly, the picture contrast ratio related to the difference in the maximum and minimum pixel charges from each photo-sensingcell 62 can be improved. After completion of the data scanning work, the high voltage applied to theupper electrode 38 is turned off. By maintaining the high voltage after X-ray irradiation one can prevent the signal variation that occurs in the conventional method when the high voltage is turned-off. - In the illustrated driving method the high-voltage is turned-on and turned-off only once. Once the high voltage has been turned-on, the dark scanning, the X-ray irradiation, and the data scanning work are sequentially carried out. The high voltage applied to the
upper electrode 38 is not turned off until the data scanning work is complete. This reduces the total driving time in comparison to the conventional driving method in which the high voltage is turned-on and off at least twice. As a result, the present driving method is favorable to high-speed data treatments and to high-resolution displays. - According to the illustrated embodiment dark scanning, X-ray irradiation, and data scanning work are sequentially carried out after applying a high voltage to the photo-sensing cells. The dark charge stored in each photo-sensing cell after the application of the high voltage is removed by dark scanning work performed before X-ray irradiation. Using this method a contrast ratio deterioration caused by dark charges can be reduced or prevented. Furthermore, as the high voltage is turned off only after termination of the data scanning work, a signal variation phenomenon cause by said turn-off the high voltage also can be prevented.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (14)
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KR99-68051 | 1999-12-31 | ||
KR1019990068051A KR100336616B1 (en) | 1999-12-31 | 1999-12-31 | Method of Driving Apparatus for Taking X-Ray Image |
KR1999-68051 | 1999-12-31 |
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US20010007586A1 true US20010007586A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
US6456689B2 US6456689B2 (en) | 2002-09-24 |
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US09/748,866 Expired - Lifetime US6456689B2 (en) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-12-28 | Method of driving X-ray imaging device |
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KR (1) | KR100336616B1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2009097104A2 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2009-08-06 | Yehuda Rosenstock | Process and apparatus for scanning imaged storage plates and having automatic gain adjustment |
EP3013035A1 (en) * | 2014-10-22 | 2016-04-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Radiation detection apparatus and method of driving the same |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP2002214040A (en) * | 2001-01-16 | 2002-07-31 | Inst Of Space & Astronautical Science | Reading method for simultaneous signals from a plurality of elements |
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US5818898A (en) * | 1995-11-07 | 1998-10-06 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | X-ray imaging apparatus using X-ray planar detector |
US6127684A (en) * | 1996-02-26 | 2000-10-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Photoelectric conversion apparatus and driving method of the apparatus |
-
1999
- 1999-12-31 KR KR1019990068051A patent/KR100336616B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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2000
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Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2009097104A2 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2009-08-06 | Yehuda Rosenstock | Process and apparatus for scanning imaged storage plates and having automatic gain adjustment |
WO2009097104A3 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2010-03-25 | Yehuda Rosenstock | Process and apparatus for scanning imaged storage plates and having automatic gain adjustment |
EP3013035A1 (en) * | 2014-10-22 | 2016-04-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Radiation detection apparatus and method of driving the same |
US20160116612A1 (en) * | 2014-10-22 | 2016-04-28 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Radiation detection apparatus and method of driving the same |
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KR100336616B1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
US6456689B2 (en) | 2002-09-24 |
KR20010060052A (en) | 2001-07-06 |
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