JP4330945B2 - Hall array and exposure apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hole array having a large number of through holes and an exposure apparatus including the hole array.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in medical X-ray photography, a photoconductor such as a selenium plate made of a-Se, which is sensitive to X-rays, is used for electrostatic recording in order to reduce the exposure dose received by the subject and improve diagnostic performance. The electrostatic recording body is irradiated with radiation such as X-rays carrying radiation image information, and latent image charges carrying radiation image information are accumulated in the electrostatic recording body. A system for reading an electrostatic latent image carried by a latent image charge, that is, radiation image information, by detecting current generated in the electrostatic recording body by scanning the plate electrode or stripe electrode on both sides of the electrostatic recording body Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
The system described in Patent Document 1 scans an electrostatic recording body with reading light emitted from a light source, and reads an electrostatic latent image recorded on the electrostatic recording body. As an exposure apparatus for reading, which is a light source that outputs reading light, an apparatus using a line light source in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged in a line is cited.
[0004]
As one of the line light sources, a method using a line light source in which LEDs are arranged in an array is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). LEDs have high light output efficiency with respect to input energy, and can reduce costs compared to lasers and the like. When such a line light source is used, the light emitted from each LED is orthogonal to the LED arrangement direction by optical means such as a cylindrical lens arranged in parallel with the LED arrangement direction. The light is condensed in a certain scanning direction, and irradiated as line-shaped reading light onto the electrostatic recording body. With this reading light, the electrostatic recording medium is scanned and exposed to read image information.
[0005]
However, in such a reading exposure apparatus, the spread angle of the light emitted from each LED is not limited with respect to the LED arrangement direction. Variations occur. Therefore, on the electrostatic recording medium, focused light and unfocused light are mixed, and as a result, the unfocused light increases flare and widens the line width.
[0006]
Further, there is a problem that the light intensity in the LED arrangement direction is not uniform in the reading light condensed in a line on the electrostatic recording body. That is, the central portion on the electrostatic recording body has a high light intensity because the light emitted from a large number of LEDs is collected. On the other hand, as it approaches the end of the electrostatic recording body, the light is emitted from a smaller number of LEDs. The collected light is collected and the light intensity is reduced. For this reason, the reliability of the read image information may be reduced.
[0007]
In order to solve these problems, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-260078 a line light source having a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a straight line, and reading light emitted from each of the light emitting elements. Optical means for focusing in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged, and the spread angle of the reading light emitted from each light emitting element is set in an arrangement of the light emitting elements with respect to the optical axis of the optical means. An exposure apparatus for reading an image recording medium having a hole array that limits the angle in the direction is proposed.
[0008]
An example of a reading exposure apparatus 200 using the hole array as described above is shown in FIG. FIG. 14A is a side view of the reading exposure apparatus 200 as seen from the scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as the Y direction). Hereinafter, the LED arrangement direction is defined as the Z direction, and the direction perpendicular to the YZ plane is defined as the X direction. FIG. 14B is an X-Y cross-sectional view of the exposure apparatus 200 for reading. The reading exposure apparatus 200 includes a line light source 101 in which a plurality of surface-emitting LED chips 101a, 101b, 101c,... Are linearly arranged, and a slit having an opening 102a extending in the longitudinal direction of the line light source 101. 102, a hole array 201 in which through holes are formed at equal intervals to the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., And cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 that focus the reading light L in the Y direction. is there.
[0009]
The slit 102 is a field stop for limiting the light emission image of the LED of the line light source 101. Further, the hole array 201 has square through holes formed at equal intervals with the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., Has a predetermined thickness, and extends from the LED chips 101a, 101b,. The spread angle of the emitted light is limited in the Y direction and the Z direction.
[0010]
The light emission image of each LED chip 101a, 101b,... Is restricted at the opening 102a of the slit 102, the spread angle is restricted by the through holes of the hole array 201, and the light is condensed in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 and electrostatically The recording material 10 is irradiated. That is, since the light distribution characteristic of the LED chip is very wide as shown in FIG. 15, when the hole array 201 does not limit the spread angle in the Z direction, the light emitted from one LED chip is in a very wide range. However, in the reading exposure apparatus 200, since the spread angle in the Z direction is narrowed, the irradiation range by the light emitted from one LED chip is one-several to several tens of minutes 1 range.
[0011]
For this reason, the number of LED chips corresponding to one irradiation point in the central portion of the electrostatic recording body 10 is reduced as compared with the conventional case. Therefore, the same light intensity as that of the central portion of the electrostatic recording body 10 can be obtained at the irradiation point near the end of the electrostatic recording body 10. That is, in the reading light L condensed in a straight line, the portion where the light intensity decreases decreases only in the vicinity of the end portion of the electrostatic recording body 10, so that the light intensity in the LED chip arrangement direction is uniform. Once improved, the reliability of the read image information is improved.
[0012]
Further, when the reading light L that is generally emitted from one point and spreads in the Z direction is condensed in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105, the condensing position varies depending on the emission angle. For example, if the electrostatic recording body 10 is disposed on the focal point, if the exit angle is 0 degree, the focus is on the electrostatic recording body 10, but if the exit angle is different, the in-focus position is also different. . For this reason, on the electrostatic recording body 10, light that is in focus and light that is not in focus are mixed, and flare of the read light L condensed linearly occurs. (Y direction) becomes wider. The larger the divergence angle of the reading light L in the Z direction, the larger the flare of the reading light L and the wider the line width. That is, in the reading exposure apparatus 200, by limiting the spread angle of the reading light L in the Z direction, the flare of the reading light L condensed linearly on the electrostatic recording medium 10 is reduced, and the line width is reduced. The reliability of the read image information can be improved.
[0013]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-105297
[0014]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-290228
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As the hole array as described above, a hole array having a thickness of 1 mm or more is often used. If it is a hole array with a thickness of several hundred μm, it can be created at low cost by existing chemical etching technology or ion etching technology, but a hole array with a thickness of 1 mm or more should be created by etching technology in this way. It is difficult. For this reason, such a hole array having a thickness of 1 mm or more is usually produced by a wire cut method using electric discharge or the like and is expensive. An exposure apparatus using such a hole array is also expensive.
[0016]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an inexpensive hole array. Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive exposure apparatus.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The hole array of the present invention has a plurality of through holes, and a plurality of hole array plates having openings at positions corresponding to the respective through holes are laminated.ComposedA hole array,Of the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, at least one hole array plate has an opening having a shape substantially the same as the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes, Among the plurality of hole array plates, at least one hole array plate has at least one opening having a shape including the plurality of through holes.
[0018]
At least one hole array plate among the plurality of hole array plates may have at least one opening having a shape larger than that of the through hole. The “shape of the through-hole” means a cross-sectional shape of a portion that linearly penetrates the hole array along the direction of use.
[0021]
Further, if the hole array is formed by stacking at least three hole array plates, the two outermost hole array plates are arranged at positions corresponding to the through holes. It may have an opening having a shape substantially the same as the shape.
[0022]
  The exposure apparatus of the present invention includes a line light source that emits light, an optical unit that focuses the light emitted from the line light source in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line light source, and the light emitted from the line light source. An exposure apparatus having a plurality of through-holes for limiting the divergence angle in the longitudinal direction of the line light source with respect to the optical axis of the optical means, wherein the hole array is the through-hole. A plurality of hole array plates having openings at positions corresponding to the respective layers are laminated and configured.Among the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, the hole array plate arranged far from the line light source is substantially the same as the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes. A hole having a shape, and at least one of the plurality of hole array plates has at least one hole having a shape including the plurality of through holes. It is characterized by.
[0023]
At least one hole array plate out of the plurality of hole array plates may have at least one opening having a shape larger than the shape of the through hole.
[0026]
If at least three of the hole array plates are stacked, the two outermost hole array plates are substantially the same as the shape of the through holes at positions corresponding to the through holes. It may have a hole having a shape.
[0027]
The “outermost hole array plate” means that, among the stacked hole array plates, another hole array plate is stacked on one surface, and the other hole array is mounted on the other surface. This means a hole array plate that is not stacked. Further, “two hole array plates arranged on the outermost side” means two hole array plates arranged on the outermost side.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
The hole array of the present invention is formed by laminating a plurality of hole array plates having openings at positions corresponding to the respective through holes provided in the hole array. It can be manufactured and is inexpensive. In addition, an exposure apparatus using such a hole array is inexpensive.
[0029]
If at least one hole array plate of the plurality of hole array plates has at least one opening having a shape larger than the shape of the through hole, the hole array can be reduced in weight.
[0030]
Further, since the exposure apparatus is normally mechanically scanned, a non-scanning area for starting and stopping is required in addition to the actual scanning area. This non-scanning area is one of the causes that hinders downsizing of the exposure apparatus. By using the lightened hole array as described above, the exposure apparatus can be reduced in weight, the non-scanning area can be narrowed, and the exposure apparatus can be reduced in size.
[0031]
Further, at least one of the plurality of hole array plates may have at least one opening having a shape including the plurality of through holes at a position corresponding to the plurality of through holes. For example, the hole array can be reduced in weight and the numerical aperture can be reduced, which facilitates the manufacture of the hole array plate. An exposure apparatus using such a hole array is lightweight and easy to manufacture.
[0032]
Among the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, at least one hole array plate has an opening having a shape substantially the same as the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes. If it exists, it can be reduced in weight while fulfilling the function as a hole array.
[0033]
Further, in the exposure apparatus, among the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, the hole array plate arranged far from the line light source has the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes. If a hole array having apertures having substantially the same shape is used, it is possible to reduce the weight while limiting the spread angle of light.
[0034]
At least three hole array plates are stacked, and two hole array plates arranged on the outermost side are opened at substantially the same shape as the through holes at positions corresponding to the through holes. If it has a hole, it can reduce in weight, keeping the function as a hole array favorable.
[0035]
When the hole array as described above is used to limit the light spreading angle in the exposure apparatus, the exposure apparatus can be reduced in weight while maintaining a good angle limiting function.
[0036]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a radiation image reading system using a reading exposure apparatus 100 using a hole array 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is an XZ sectional view. As shown in FIG. 1, this system includes an electrostatic recording body 10 formed on a glass substrate 6, and an exposure apparatus 100 for reading that irradiates the electrostatic recording body 10 with reading light L during image reading. And current detection means 50 for detecting the current flowing out of the electrostatic recording body 10 by scanning with the reading light L.
[0037]
The electrostatic recording body 10 which is an image recording medium records radiation image information as an electrostatic latent image, and generates a current corresponding to the electrostatic latent image when scanned with reading light. Includes a first conductor layer 11 having transparency to recording radiation (for example, X-rays, etc., hereinafter referred to as “recording light”), and exhibits conductivity by being irradiated with recording light. The charge (latent image polar charge; for example, negative charge) charged in the recording photoconductive layer 12 and the first conductive layer 11 acts as an insulator and has a charge opposite to the charge ( For the transport polar charge (positive charge in the above example), the charge transport layer 13 acting as a conductor, the photoconductive layer 14 for reading that exhibits conductivity by receiving the reading light, and the reading light The second conductive layer 15 having transparency is laminated. The second conductor layer 15 is a stripe electrode in which a large number of elements (linear electrodes) 15a are arranged in stripes at a pixel pitch, as indicated by oblique lines in the figure.
[0038]
The current detection means 50 has a large number of current detection amplifiers 51 connected to each element 15a of the second conductor layer 15, and the current flowing through each element 15a by reading light exposure is parallel to each element 15a. It is to detect automatically. The first conductor layer 11 of the electrostatic recording body is connected to one input of the connection means 52 and the negative electrode of the power supply 53, and the positive electrode of the power supply 53 is connected to the other input of the connection means 52. Although not shown, the output of the connection means 52 is connected to each current detection amplifier 51. The details of the configuration of the current detection amplifier 51 are not related to the gist of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted here, but various known configurations can be applied. Of course, depending on the configuration of the current detection amplifier 51, the connection mode of the connection means 52 and the power source 53 is different from the above example.
[0039]
The operation of the radiation image reading system having the above-described configuration will be described below. When recording an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic recording body, first, the connection means 52 is switched to the power source 53, and a direct current is connected between each element 15a of the first conductor layer 11 and the second conductor layer 15. A voltage is applied to charge both conductor layers. As a result, a U-shaped electric field having the element 15a as a U-shaped recess is formed between the first conductor layer 11 and the element 15a in the electrostatic recording body.
[0040]
Next, the recording light is blown onto a subject (not shown), and the recording light transmitted through the subject, that is, radiation carrying the radiographic image information of the subject is irradiated onto the electrostatic recording body. Then, positive and negative charge pairs are generated in the recording photoconductive layer 12 of the electrostatic recording body, and the negative charges are concentrated on the element 15a along the electric field distribution described above, and the recording photoconductive layer 12 and Negative charges are accumulated at the interface with the charge transport layer 13. Since the amount of the negative charge (latent image charge) accumulated is substantially proportional to the irradiation radiation dose, the latent image charge carries the electrostatic latent image. In this way, the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the electrostatic recording body. On the other hand, the positive charges generated in the recording photoconductive layer 12 are attracted to the first conductor layer 11 and recombine with the negative charges injected from the power source 53 to disappear.
[0041]
When reading the electrostatic latent image from the electrostatic recording body, the connecting means 52 is first connected to the first conductor layer 11 side of the electrostatic recording body.
[0042]
The line-shaped reading light L output from the reading exposure apparatus 100 passes through each element 15a of the glass substrate 6 and the conductor layer 15 of the electrostatic recording body. Then, positive and negative charge pairs are generated in the photoconductive layer 14, and the positive charge in the pair is attracted to the negative charge (latent image charge) accumulated at the interface between the recording photoconductive layer 12 and the charge transport layer 13. Thus, the charge transport layer 13 moves rapidly and recombines with the latent image charge at the interface between the recording photoconductive layer 12 and the charge transport layer 13 and disappears. On the other hand, the negative charge generated in the reading photoconductive layer 14 is recombined with the positive charge injected from the power source 53 into the conductor layer 15 and disappears. In this way, the negative charges accumulated in the electrostatic recording body disappear due to charge recombination, and a current is generated in the electrostatic recording body due to the movement of the charge during the charge recombination. The current detection amplifier 51 connected to each element 15a detects this current in parallel for each element 15a. Since the current flowing in the electrostatic recording body during reading corresponds to the latent image charge, that is, the electrostatic latent image, the electrostatic latent image can be read by detecting this current. Note that the reading exposure apparatus 100 performs scanning exposure in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and thereby the entire surface of the electrostatic recording body 10 is exposed.
[0043]
Next, the reading exposure apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention applied to the radiation image reading system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a side view showing the detailed configuration of the reading exposure apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the LED chip arrangement direction). These are XY sectional views of the exposure apparatus 100 for reading. Note that the X direction is the traveling direction of the reading light L, and the Z direction is the LED chip arrangement direction.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure apparatus for reading 100 includes a line light source 101 composed of a plurality of LED chips 101a, 101b,... Arranged in a line at 1 mm intervals in the Z direction, and an opening 102a extending in the Z direction. , A hole array 110 in which through holes are formed at equal intervals with the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., And a cylindrical lens that functions as optical means for focusing the reading light L in the Y direction. 104 and 105.
[0045]
The slit 102 is a field stop for limiting the light emission image of the LED of the line light source 101. The slit 102 only needs to limit the light emitting area of each LED chip 101a, 101b,..., And not only a mechanical slit having an opening as in the present embodiment, but also an optical element such as a density distribution filter. It may be a gap.
[0046]
FIG. 3 is a partial external view of the hole array 110 and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view thereof. The hole array 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a length of about 1.5 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a height of about 1 mm. Holes 110a, 110b,... Are arranged in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the hole array 110 limits the spread angle of the light emitted from the LED chips 101a, 101b,.
[0047]
In addition, the hole array 110 has a length of about 1.5 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a height of about 250 μm shown in FIG. 5 and square openings 111a, 111b,... It is formed by laminating and bonding four arrayed hole array plates 111. The hole array plate 111 is formed by forming a hole in a plate made of SUS or aluminum by chemical etching, and subjected to an antireflection treatment.
[0048]
The light emission image of each LED chip 101a, 101b,... Is restricted at the opening 102a of the slit 102, and the reading light L emitted from each LED chip 101a, 101b,. Therefore, the divergence angle is limited by the cylindrical lens 104, and the light is condensed in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 and irradiated onto the electrostatic recording body 10.
[0049]
As apparent from the above description, the hole array 110 is inexpensive because it is formed by laminating and bonding four hole array plates 111 prepared by chemical etching.
[0050]
Instead of the hole array 110, a hole array 120 whose partial cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. The appearance of the hole array 120 is almost the same as that of the hole array 110. On the hole array plate 111 shown in FIG. 5, a plate having a length of about 1.5 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a height of about 250 μm shown in FIG. .. Are formed by laminating and bonding three hole array plates 121 arranged in the longitudinal direction at intervals of 1 mm. The square openings 121a, 1211b,. Similarly to the hole array plate 111, the hole array plate 121 is also formed by forming holes in a plate made of SUS or aluminum by chemical etching and subjected to antireflection treatment.
[0051]
The hole array 120 is arranged such that the side on which the hole array plate 121 is laminated faces the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., And spreads the light emitted from the LED chips 101a, 101b,. The angle is limited. The hole array 120 is inexpensive as the hole array 110 because the hole array plate 111 and the hole array plate 121 are formed by chemical etching. Further, since the area occupied by the hole area in the hole array plate 121 is larger than the area occupied by the hole area in the hole array plate 111, the hole array 120 is lighter than the hole array 110. Since the reading exposure apparatus 100 is usually mechanically scanned, a non-scanning area for starting and stopping is required in addition to the actual scanning area. This non-scanning area is one of the causes that hinder the miniaturization of the radiation image reading system. By reducing the weight of the hole array, the exposure apparatus for reading 100 can be reduced in weight, the non-scanning area can be narrowed, and the radiation image reading system can be reduced in size.
[0052]
Instead of the hole array 110, a hole array 130 whose partial cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 8 can be used. The appearance of the hole array 130 is almost the same as that of the hole array 110. The hole array 130 has a thickness of about 1 mm, and a hole array plate 131 shown in FIG. 9 (a) and a hole array plate 132 shown in FIG. 9 (b) are laminated on the hole array plate 111. The hole array plate 131 is formed by laminating and adhering.
[0053]
The hole array plate 131 is arranged in the longitudinal direction at intervals of 2 mm with rectangular openings 131a, 131b,... Having a length of about 1.5 mm, a width of 200 mm and a height of about 250 μm, and a length of 500 μm and a width of 1.5 mm. Has been. The hole array plate 132 is provided with rectangular openings 131a having a length of 500 μm and a width of 1.0 mm at the end of a plate having a length of about 1.5 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a height of about 250 μm. .. 5 mm rectangular holes 131b, 131c,... Are arranged in the longitudinal direction every 2 mm. Similar to the hole array plate 111, the hole array plate 131 and the hole array plate 132 are formed by forming holes in a plate made of SUS or aluminum by chemical etching and subjected to antireflection treatment.
[0054]
The hole array 130 is arranged so that the side on which the hole array plate 131 is laminated faces the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., And spreads the light emitted from the LED chips 101a, 101b,. The angle is limited. The hole array 130 is inexpensive as the hole array 110 because the hole array plate 111, the hole array plate 131, and the hole array plate 132 are formed by chemical etching. In addition, since the area occupied by the hole region in the hole array plate 131 and the hole array plate 132 is larger than the area occupied by the hole region in the hole array plate 111, the hole array 130 is lighter than the hole array 110. The hole array plate 131 and the hole array plate 132 can be easily manufactured because the number of holes provided is smaller than the number of holes provided in the hole array plate 111.
[0055]
Since each hole array plate has been subjected to antireflection treatment, it is generally sufficient to consider the spread angle of non-reflected light indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, but the radiation dose is low. In the case of a quantity or when more precise reading accuracy is required, it is desirable to consider the spread angle of the once reflected light indicated by the dotted line. In the hole array 120, the spread angle of the once reflected light is wider than that in the hole array 110. For this reason, when considering the spread angle of the reflected light once as described above, it is desirable to use the hole array 140 shown in FIG.
[0056]
The hole array 140 has a thickness of about 1 mm, and is formed by laminating two hole array plates 121 on the hole array plate 111 and further laminating and bonding the hole array plates 111. By using the hole array plate 111 having openings having substantially the same shape as the through holes at positions corresponding to the through holes as the two outermost hole array plates arranged in this way. The spread angle of the reflected light can be reduced, and the exposure apparatus 100 can be reduced in weight while maintaining a good angle limiting function.
[0057]
Similarly, the hole array 150 shown in FIG. 11 can be used in place of the hole array 130. The hole array 150 is formed by laminating the hole array plate 131 and the hole array plate 132 on the hole array plate 111, and further laminating and bonding the hole array plate 111. As with the hole array 140, the hole array plate 111 is used as the two outermost hole array plates, thereby reducing the spread angle of the reflected light once and maintaining a good angle limiting function. The exposure apparatus 100 can be reduced in weight.
[0058]
In order to simplify the explanation, the light emission from the LED chip is described as a point light emission. However, in actuality, the LED chip emits a surface light or an edge light, and considering these light emission characteristics, a hole array is used. It is desirable to create. When a surface emitting LED is used as the LED chip, the minimum line width of the reading light L collected linearly on the electrostatic recording body 10 is the width of the opening 102a of the slit 102. It is prescribed by. In addition, when an edge-emitting LED is used as the LED chip, the line width in the Y direction of the light emitting region is narrowed by arranging the LEDs so that the longitudinal direction of the light emitting region is the Z direction. Therefore, the line width of the collected reading light L can be made sufficiently narrow without using the slit 102.
[0059]
In the reading exposure apparatus of the present invention, an electrostatic recording body using stripe electrodes is used as an image recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be applied to any image recording medium as long as it scans with a reading electromagnetic wave and generates a current corresponding to an electrostatic charge carrying radiation image information.
[0060]
Next, another embodiment to which the reading exposure apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the reading exposure apparatus 100 of the present invention is applied to an image reading system for reading an image from a stimulable phosphor sheet. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the detailed configuration of the exposure apparatus of FIG. 12 and the detection portion of the stimulated emission light M.
[0061]
The present image reading system includes an exposure apparatus 100 for reading according to the present invention that irradiates the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 on which radiation image information is accumulated and recorded in advance, and the irradiation with the excitation light L. That detects and emits the stimulated emission light M emitted from the fluorescent phosphor sheet 210 and that extends in the direction of the arrow X, and that the reading light L, which is excitation light, does not enter the photodetector 220. A reading light cut filter 221 disposed on the incident end face side of the detector 220 and an arrow X direction provided on the surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 to efficiently guide the stimulated emission light M to the incident end face of the photodetector 220 It comprises an extended condenser mirror 230, sheet conveying means 240, which is a belt conveyor for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 in the direction of arrow Y, and a signal processing unit (not shown) connected to the photodetector 220. The photodetector 220 includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 222 arranged in the length direction (arrow X direction), and each photoelectric conversion element 222 corresponds to a corresponding portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210. Detect the stimulated emission light (for each pixel). Specifically, an amorphous silicon sensor, a CCD sensor, a MOS sensor, or the like is applied as the photoelectric conversion element 222.
[0062]
Next, the operation of the image reading system of this embodiment will be described. The line-shaped reading light L output from the reading exposure apparatus 100 is irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 210. The stimulable phosphor sheet 210 is moved in the direction of arrow Y by the sheet conveying means 240, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 is moved. The reading light L is irradiated over the entire surface of the phosphor sheet 210.
[0063]
From the portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 irradiated with the reading light L, the amount of stimulated emission light M corresponding to the radiation image information stored and recorded therein is emitted. The emitted stimulated emission light M diffuses in all directions, part of which is incident on the incident end face of the photodetector 220, and part of it is reflected by the condenser mirror 230 and incident on the incident end face of the photodetector 220. The At this time, the reading light L reflected on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 slightly mixed in the stimulated emission light M is cut by the reading light cut filter 221. The stimulated emission light M condensed on the photodetector 220 is amplified and photoelectrically converted in each photoelectric conversion element 222, and is output to an external signal processing device as an image signal S of a pixel corresponding to each photoelectric conversion element 222. The
[0064]
Note that the reading exposure apparatus 100 includes an LED chip that outputs light having an appropriate wavelength for causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit stimulated emission light.
[0065]
In each of the above embodiments, the thickness of each hole array plate is 250 μm. However, the thickness is not limited to this, as long as the holes can be processed at low cost by an existing etching technique or the like. Good. The thicknesses of the plurality of hole array plates constituting one hole array may be different from each other.
Further, the shape of the through holes provided in the hole array is not limited to a square, and may be a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, or the like.
[0066]
Further, in each embodiment, as the hole array 110, a hole array 110 in which elliptical through-holes 110a, 110b,... Are formed at equal intervals with the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,. However, the formation pitch of the through holes is not necessarily equal to the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,... As long as the spread angle in the Z direction of the reading light L can be limited to a desired angle. Good. For example, it is also possible to use a hole array in which through holes having a shape twice the size of the through holes 110a, 110b,... Are formed at intervals of twice the arrangement pitch of the LED chips 101a, 101b,.
[0067]
Further, in each embodiment, the line light source 101 in which the LED chips are arranged in a straight line is used as the line light source, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one linear inorganic EL or organic EL is used. It is also possible to use a line light source made of In such a case, through holes can be formed in the hole array at a desired pitch.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image reading system equipped with an electrostatic recording body using a hole array of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a reading exposure apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a hole array.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a hole array.
FIG. 5 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a hole array plate.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a hole array.
FIG. 7 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a hole array plate.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of a hole array.
FIG. 9 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a hole array plate.
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of a hole array.
FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of a hole array.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an image reading system from a stimulable phosphor sheet using the hole array of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a reading exposure apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a conventional reading exposure apparatus.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing light distribution characteristics of an LED chip.
[Explanation of symbols]
6 Glass substrate
10 Electrostatic recording medium
11 First conductor layer
12 Photoconductive layer for recording
13 Charge transport layer
14 Photoconductive layer for reading
15 Second conductor layer
15a element
50 Current detection means
51 Current sense amplifier
52 Connection method
53 Power supply
100, 200 exposure equipment for reading
101 line light source
101a, 101b, ... LED chip
102 slit
110a, 110b,… Through hole
104,105 Cylindrical lens
110,120,130,140,150,201 hole array
111,121,131,132 Hall array plate
111a, 111b,… opening
121a, 121b,… opening
131a, 131b,… opening
132a, 132b,… opening
210 Storage phosphor sheet
220 photodetector
221 Reading light cut filter
222 Photoelectric conversion element
230 Condenser mirror
240 Sheet conveying means

Claims (4)

Has a large number of through holes, a hole array in which a plurality of hole array plate is formed by laminating with an opening at a position corresponding to each of the through holes,
Of the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, at least one hole array plate has an opening having a shape substantially the same as the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes,
Of the plurality of hole array plates, at least one hole array plate has at least one aperture having a shape including the plurality of through holes. At least three of the hole array plates are laminated, and the two outermost hole array plates arranged at the outermost positions have openings substantially the same as the shape of the through holes at positions corresponding to the respective through holes. The hole array according to claim 1 , wherein the hole array has holes. A line light source for emitting light, and optical means for focusing the light emitted from the line light source in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line light source;
An exposure apparatus having a hole array having a plurality of through holes for limiting the spread angle of light emitted from the line light source in the longitudinal direction of the line light source with respect to the optical axis of the optical means,
The hole array is configured by laminating a plurality of hole array plates having openings at positions corresponding to the through holes ,
Of the hole array plates arranged on the outermost side, the hole array plate arranged far from the line light source has a shape substantially the same as the shape of the through hole at a position corresponding to each of the through holes. Has an aperture,
Of the plurality of hole array plates, at least one hole array plate has at least one aperture having a shape including the plurality of through holes . At least three of the hole array plates are laminated, and the two outermost hole array plates arranged at the outermost positions have openings substantially the same as the shape of the through holes at positions corresponding to the respective through holes. 4. The exposure apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the exposure apparatus has holes.

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