JP7457085B2 - reading device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a reading device.

Patent Document 1 describes a technique for reading image information from a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-267451

In a reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate, improved convenience is desired.

Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a technology that can improve the convenience of a reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate.

A reading device according to a first aspect is a reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate, and includes a first light source that irradiates the imaging plate with excitation light, and a first light source that emits photostimulated light from the imaging plate by the excitation light. The apparatus includes a first detector for detecting light, a second light source for irradiating light onto a target object, and a second detector for detecting reflected light of the light from the target object.

A second aspect is the reading device according to the first aspect, in which the first light source functions as the second light source and irradiates the object with the excitation light as the light.

A third aspect is the reading device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the object is the imaging plate, and the imaging plate emits light under the action of at least one of the excitation light and the light. When the light is IP applied light, the first detector detects the stimulated light from the imaging plate from the IP applied light, and the second detector detects the stimulated light from the imaging plate. Light is detected from the IP affected light, and the first detector and the second detector output an IP affected light image signal that is an image signal as a detection result of the IP affected light.

A fourth aspect is the reading device according to the third aspect, wherein the first detector functions as the second detector, and the first detector outputs the IP-affected optical image signal. .

The fifth aspect is a reading device according to the third or fourth aspect, further comprising a size determination unit that determines the size of the imaging plate based on the IP acted-on light image signal.

A sixth aspect is the reading device according to the fifth aspect, in which the size specifying section specifies the type of the size based on the specified size.

A seventh aspect is the reading device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the first detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from which the radiation image has been erased, and The size specifying unit outputs an erased IP image signal that is an image signal as a detection result, and specifies the size of the imaging plate based on the erased IP image signal.

An eighth aspect is the reading device according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, wherein the inclination angle of the imaging plate from a reference posture is specified based on the IP-affected optical image signal. A tilt angle identifying section is provided.

A ninth aspect is a reading device according to the eighth aspect, including a correction processing section that corrects the inclination of the image of the imaging plate based on the inclination angle.

A tenth aspect is the reading device according to any one of the third to ninth aspects, comprising an image processing section that performs image processing on detected image signals from the first detector and the second detector. The image processing unit detects the IP-affected light in a living body radiography image that is an image obtained by scanning the imaging plate, which is a photoreceptor for living body radiography, with the excitation light. Set the cutting range for cutting out the IP biological radiography image based on the image.

An eleventh aspect is a reading device according to any one of the third to tenth aspects, including a display section and a display control section that controls the display section, and the display control section is configured to An acquired image obtained from radiography and an imaging plate shape extraction image representing the shape of the imaging plate extracted by processing the IP-affected light image signal are simultaneously and separately displayed.

A twelfth aspect is the reading device according to the eleventh aspect, comprising an unexposed area image specifying unit that identifies an unexposed area image of a portion unexposed to radiation in an acquired image obtained from radiography of the living body. .

According to the first aspect, since it is possible to obtain a radiation image based on the detection of stimulated light from the imaging plate by the excitation light and a reflected light image based on the detection of reflected light from the object, the reading device convenience will be improved.

According to the second aspect, since the first light source functions as the second light source, the configuration of the reading device can be simplified.

According to the third aspect, since the second detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from the IP-affected light, a reflected light image of the imaging plate can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect, since the first detector functions as the second detector, the configuration of the reading device can be simplified.

According to the fifth aspect, the size of the imaging plate can be appropriately specified based on the IP applied light image signal as the detection result of the IP applied light from the imaging plate.

According to the sixth aspect, the type of size of the imaging plate can be appropriately specified.

According to the seventh aspect, since the size specifying unit specifies the size of the imaging plate based on the IP image signal at the time of erasure, the size of the imaging plate is determined based on the reflected light from the imaging plate that is not affected by the radiation image. size can be appropriately specified.

According to the eighth aspect, the inclination angle of the imaging plate from the reference posture can be appropriately specified based on the IP affected light image signal as the detection result of the IP affected light from the imaging plate.

According to the ninth aspect, the inclination of the image of the imaging plate is corrected based on the inclination angle specified based on the IP affected light image signal as a detection result of the IP affected light from the imaging plate. , it is possible to obtain an image of the imaging plate whose tilt has been appropriately corrected.

According to the tenth aspect, since the cropping range for cutting out the image based on the detection of the IP-affected light from the imaging plate in the living body radiographic image is set, it corresponds to the imaging plate in the living body radiographic image. A partial image can be cut out appropriately.

According to the eleventh aspect, an image obtained by radiography of a living body and an image representing the shape of the imaging plate can be easily compared.

According to the twelfth aspect, by specifying the unexposed region image of the unexposed portion, it becomes easy to specify how many biological image regions there are in an acquired image obtained from radiography of a living body.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP image area, an excitation light irradiation range, and a detection range. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP image area, an excitation light irradiation range, and a detection range. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP image area, an excitation light irradiation range, and a detection range. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation of a reading device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how an imaging plate is tilted. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an acquired overall image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of tilt angle specifying processing. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of tilt angle specifying processing. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of size identification processing. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of types of sizes of imaging plates. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation of a reading device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation of a reading device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of displaying an entire acquired image. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of displaying an entire acquired image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of tilt correction processing. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of cutting processing. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an extracted image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of cutting processing. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a cut-out image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of cutting processing. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the composition of a holding part. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of cutting processing. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of cutting processing. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall image of acquisition. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a cutout process. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cropped image. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of unexposed notification information. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a radiation image included in an acquired overall image. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP total reflected light image included in an acquired overall image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a cut-out image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a cut-out image. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP total reflected light image included in an acquired overall image. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging plate. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the member for evaluation. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the member for evaluation. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the member for evaluation. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the member for evaluation. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the external appearance of the reading device 1. As shown in FIG. The reading device 1 is a device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate 10 on which the radiation image is recorded. The reading device 1 can also be said to be a device that detects a radiation image recorded on the imaging plate 10.

The imaging plate 10 has a flat shape and has a radiation image forming layer 11, and is a recording medium for recording radiation images. The imaging plate 10 has, for example, a substantially rectangular flat shape with four rounded corners. The radiation image forming layer 11 is a layer that accumulates the energy of the irradiated radiation and emits photostimulated light according to the accumulated energy. For example, the radiation image forming layer 11 is formed by applying a stimulable phosphor to one main surface of a film made of resin. As the radiation irradiated to the radiation image forming layer 11, for example, X-rays are employed. When the X-rays from the X-ray generator pass through the object to be imaged and are irradiated onto the imaging plate 10, energy corresponding to the intensity of the X-rays is accumulated in the radiation image forming layer 11. Since the intensity of X-rays is based on the distribution of X-ray absorption regions in the object to be imaged, the distribution of energy accumulated in the radiation image forming layer 11 is a radiation image of the object to be imaged by X-rays. In this way, the imaging plate 10 records, for example, a radiation image of X-rays as a latent image. The reading device 1 reads a radiation image from the radiation image forming layer 11 and generates an image signal (also referred to as image data) representing the read radiation image.

In this example, the imaging plate 10 is irradiated with radiation while being placed in a person's mouth, for example. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is sized to fit inside a person's mouth. In the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10, for example, a radiation image of teeth is recorded. Note that the use of the imaging plate 10 is not limited to this.

Hereinafter, in the imaging plate 10, the main surface on the radiation image forming layer 11 side may be referred to as the front surface. Further, in the imaging plate 10, the main surface opposite to the front surface may be referred to as the back surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reading device 1 includes a housing 2, for example. Inside the housing 2, a configuration for reading a radiation image from the imaging plate 10 is housed. The configuration will be described later.

The housing 2 is provided with an insertion port 2a and an output port 2b. The insertion port 2a is provided, for example, on the top surface of the housing 2. A user of the reading device 1 can insert the imaging plate 10 into the housing 2 through the insertion port 2a. A radiation image of the imaging plate 10 is read within the housing 2 . The outlet 2b is provided, for example, in a lower portion of one side of the housing 2. The imaging plate 10 after the radiation image has been read (also referred to as the read imaging plate 10) is discharged to the outlet 2b. The user of the reading device 1 can collect the read imaging plate 10 through the ejection port 2b.

In this example, the reading device 1 can erase the radiation image from the imaging plate 10 after reading the radiation image from the imaging plate 10. For example, the imaging plate 10 from which the radiation image has been erased is discharged to the outlet 2b.

The housing 2 is provided with, for example, an operation unit 4 that accepts operations from a user. The operation unit 4 includes, for example, a plurality of operation buttons 4a. Each operation button 4a is, for example, a hardware button. The plurality of operation buttons 4a include, for example, a power button and a start button for instructing the start of reading. The operation unit 4 may include a touch sensor that detects a user's touch operation.

The housing 2 is provided with a display section 3, for example. The display unit 3 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL (electro-luminescence) display panel. The display unit 3 is capable of displaying various information such as, for example, characters, symbols, figures, and images. The display unit 3 may display a radiation image read from the imaging plate 10 (in other words, a detected radiation image).

When the operation unit 4 includes a touch sensor, the touch sensor and the display unit 3 may constitute a touch panel display having a display function and a touch detection function. In this case, at least one of the plurality of operation buttons 4a may be replaced with a software button displayed on the touch panel display, and the operation unit 4 does not need to include the plurality of operation buttons 4a. Furthermore, the reading device 1 does not need to include the display section 3.

The housing 2 is provided with plate housing cases 6 and 7 that can house the imaging plate 10, for example. The plate storage cases 6 and 7 are provided on the upper surface of the housing 2, for example. The plate storage case 6 is a case with a partition, and the plate storage case 7 is a case with a lid. The reading device 1 does not need to include at least one of the plate storage cases 6 and 7.

A cable 5a of an AC adapter 5 extends outward from the housing 2. Each component of the reading device 1 is supplied with power from an AC adapter 5. The reading device 1 may include not only the AC adapter 5 but also a battery that supplies power to each component of the reading device 1. Alternatively, the reading device 1 may include a battery instead of the AC adapter 5.

<An example of the mechanism inside the housing>
2 to 5 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the configuration inside the casing 2. FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional structure taken along arrow AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional structure taken along arrow BB in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram mainly showing an example of the configuration of the control section 80 included in the reading device 1. As shown in FIG. As will be described later, the holding section 20 that holds the imaging plate 10 can move within the housing 2 along a predetermined direction DR10. FIG. 4 shows how the imaging plate 10 and the holding part 20 have been moved from the state shown in FIG.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the reading device 1 includes, for example, a holding unit 20, a light source 30, a detector 40, a driving unit 50, a pair of guide units 60, an erasing light source 70, a control unit 80, and an interface unit 95. These components are provided inside the housing 2.

<About the control unit>
The control unit 80 can integrally manage the operations of the reading device 1, and can also be called a control circuit. The control section 80 can control, for example, the display section 3, the holding section 20, the light source 30, the detector 40, the driving section 50, the erasing light source 70, and the interface section 95. Further, the control unit 80 can perform processing according to user operations received by the operation unit 4.

The control unit 80 is configured by, for example, a computer device including at least one processor and a storage unit. At least one processor included in the control unit 80 may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or may include a processor other than the CPU. In the control unit 80, at least one processor executes a program in a storage unit (also referred to as a storage circuit), thereby realizing various functions described below.

In the control unit 80, at least one processor executes a program in the storage unit, so that functional blocks such as an image processing unit 81, a display control unit 82, a drive control unit 83, a holding control unit 84, and a detection control unit 85 are installed. , a light emission control section 86 and an erasure control section 87 are formed.

The image processing unit 81 can perform image processing on an image signal, which will be described later, output from the detector 40, for example. The display control unit 82 can control the display on the display unit 3. The drive control section 83 can control the drive section 50. The holding control unit 84 can control the holding unit 20. The detection control unit 85 can control the detector 40. The light emission control section 86 can control the light source 30. The erasing control section 87 can control the erasing light source 70.

Note that some of the functions of the control unit 80 or all of the functions of the control unit 80 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software (in other words, a program) to realize the functions. For example, some of the functions of the image processing section 81 or all of the functions of the image processing section 81 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The image processing section 81 may be an image processing circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some of the functions of the display control section 82 or all of the functions of the display control section 82 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The display control unit 82 may be a display control circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some of the functions of the drive control section 83 or all of the functions of the drive control section 83 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The drive control section 83 may be a drive control circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some of the functions of the holding control section 84 or all of the functions of the holding control section 84 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The holding control section 84 may be a holding control circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some of the functions of the detection control section 85 or all of the functions of the detection control section 85 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The detection control section 85 may be a detection control circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some of the functions of the light emission control section 86 or all of the functions of the light emission control section 86 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The light emission control section 86 may be a light emission control circuit independent from other components. Furthermore, some functions of the erasure control section 87 or all of the functions of the erasure control section 87 may be realized by a hardware circuit that does not require software to realize the functions. The erasure control section 88 may be an erasure control circuit independent from other components.

<About the interface section>
The interface section 95 is capable of communicating with a device outside the housing 2 (hereinafter also referred to as an external device), and can also be called an interface circuit, a communication circuit, or a communication section. The external device may include a personal computer, a mobile phone such as a smartphone, or another computer device. Further, the external device may include a data recording medium (for example, a flash memory) that is removably attachable to the reading device 1. The interface unit 95 can receive a signal from an external device and input the received signal to the control unit 80. Further, the interface section 95 can transmit a signal from the control section 80 to an external device. For example, the interface unit 95 can transmit an image signal subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 81 of the control unit 80 to an external device. The interface unit 95 may perform wired communication or wireless communication with an external device. Communication between the interface unit 95 and external devices may be based on Ethernet, USB (Universal Serial Bus), WiFi, or other standards. You may.

<About the holding part>
The holding section 20 holds the imaging plate 10 inserted through the insertion opening 2a of the housing 2. The holding part 20 includes, for example, a support plate 21 that supports the imaging plate 10 and a fixing part 22 that fixes the position of the imaging plate 10 supported by the support plate 21.

The support plate 21 includes a main surface 21a (also referred to as a support surface 21a) that supports the back surface of the imaging plate 10, and a main surface 21b (also referred to as a back surface 21b) on the opposite side to the main surface 21a. The fixing portion 22 includes, for example, a plurality of fixing portions 22a that are close to the peripheral edge portion of the imaging plate 10. The fixing portion 22 can also be called a fixing member. The plurality of fixed portions 22a approach the peripheral edge of the imaging plate 10 so as to surround the peripheral edge. Thereby, the position (that is, relative position) and attitude (that is, relative attitude) of imaging plate 10 with respect to support plate 21 is fixed. In this example, for example, two fixed portions 22a approach each of both long sides of the imaging plate 10, and one fixed portion 22a approaches each of both short sides of the imaging plate 10.

Each fixed portion 22a is controlled by the holding control unit 84 between an approach position where it approaches the imaging plate 10 supported by the support plate 21 and a separation position where it is separated from the imaging plate 10 supported by the support plate 21. It is possible to move. The imaging plate 10 is inserted into the housing 2 through the insertion port 2a and supported by the support plate 21, with the fixed portions 22a located at separate positions. Thereafter, the position and posture of the imaging plate 10 are fixed by the fixing portions 22 by moving each fixing portion 22a from the separated position to the approaching position. Each fixed portion 22a is in contact with a peripheral portion of the imaging plate 10, for example, when it is in the close position.

Note that at least one of the plurality of fixed portions 22a does not need to be in contact with the peripheral portion of the imaging plate 10 when it is present at the approach position. Further, the configuration of the fixing portion 22 is not limited to the above. Further, the configuration of the holding section 20 is not limited to the above.

<About the drive section and pair of guide sections>
The drive unit 50 can move the holding unit 20 along the predetermined direction DR10 under the control of the drive control unit 83. Thereby, the imaging plate 10 held by the holding part 20 can also move along the predetermined direction DR10. It can also be said that the driving section 50 is capable of moving the imaging plate 10 along the predetermined direction DR10 through the holding section 20.

The pair of guide parts 60 extend along the predetermined direction DR10 with the holding part 20 sandwiched between them. A groove extending along the predetermined direction DR10 is formed inside each guide portion 60. A pair of mutually opposing side edge portions of the support plate 21 fit into grooves inside the pair of guide portions 60, respectively. Thereby, the pair of guide parts 60 can guide the movement of the holding part 20 along the predetermined direction DR10. Note that the configuration of the guide section 60 is not limited to this.

The drive unit 50 is composed of, for example, a ball screw mechanism having a motor 51, a screw shaft portion 52, and a nut portion 53. The motor 51 is controlled by a drive control section 83. The screw shaft portion 52 is a rod-shaped member with a screw groove formed around the periphery. The screw shaft portion 52 extends along the predetermined direction DR10 and is rotated by the motor 51. The nut part 53 is fixed to the holding part 20. The nut part 53 is fixed to the back surface 21b of the support plate 21 of the holding part 20, for example. The screw shaft portion 52 is screwed into the nut portion 53. In accordance with the rotation of the motor 51 in the forward or reverse direction, the screw shaft portion 52 rotates in the forward or reverse direction. The holding part 20 moves to one side along the predetermined direction DR10 in accordance with the rotation of the screw shaft part 52 in the normal rotation direction. At this time, the pair of guide parts 60 guide the movement of the holding part 20 to one side. On the other hand, the holding part 20 moves to the other side along the predetermined direction DR10 in accordance with the rotation of the screw shaft part 52 in the reverse direction. At this time, the pair of guide parts 60 guide the movement of the holding part 20 to the other side. The configuration of the drive unit 50 is not limited to this.

The drive unit 50 can move the holding unit 20 holding the imaging plate 10 to a reading start position where reading of the radiation image from the imaging plate 10 starts. Furthermore, when the reading of the radiation image from the imaging plate 10 is completed, the drive unit 50 can move the holding unit 20 holding the imaging plate 10 to an erasing position where the radiation image of the imaging plate 10 is erased. . 2 and 3 show how a radiation image from the imaging plate 10 is read. 4 and 5 show how the radiation image is erased from the imaging plate 10.

<About the light source and detector>
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the light source 30, the light emission control section 86 that controls the light source, the detector 40, and the detection control section 85 that controls the radiation image from the front surface of the imaging plate 10. An optical measuring device 90 is configured to read the . The light source 30, the detector 40, the detection control section 85, and the light emission control section 86 that constitute the optical measurement device 90 may be housed in one case to form a unit, or may not be housed in one case. good.

The light source 30 can irradiate the imaging plate 10 held by the holding part 20 with excitation light L10 for exciting the radiation image forming layer 11. The object to be irradiated with the excitation light L10 is, for example, the imaging plate 10, which serves as a photoreceptor for radiography of a living body. The light source 30 emits excitation light L10 toward the support surface 21a of the holding section 20. The light source 30 can scan the excitation light L10 on the imaging plate 10 in one direction (also referred to as the main scanning direction DRm). The main scanning direction DRm is a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction DR10. That is, the main scanning direction DRm is a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the holding section 20. Further, the light source 30 can irradiate not only the imaging plate 10 but also the area around the imaging plate 10 with the excitation light L10.

In this disclosure, the light that acts on the object is referred to as acting light L1. The light generated by the action of the acting light L1 on the object is called the affected light L2. The excitation light L10 is an example of the action light L1. Another example of the action light L1 is light that does not have the excitation power that causes photostimulation but causes reflected light on an object. It can also be said that the action light L1 is light consisting of at least one of excitation light and action light that is not excitation light. The affected light L2 is light emitted from an object under the action of the acting light L1.

The excitation light L10 is, for example, a visible laser light. The excitation light L10 may be, for example, a red laser light or a laser light of another color. The detector 40 detects, for example, the acted light L2 from the imaging plate 10 generated by irradiation with the excitation light L10, which is the acted light L1, and outputs an electrical signal according to the intensity of the detected acted light L2. The detector 40 also detects the acted light L2 from outside the imaging plate 10 generated by irradiation with the excitation light L10, and outputs an electrical signal according to the intensity of the detected acted light L2.

The light source 30 includes, for example, a laser generating section that generates and outputs the excitation light L10, and a scanning section that scans the excitation light L10 on the imaging plate 10 in the main scanning direction DRm. The laser generator includes, for example, a semiconductor laser oscillator, and is controlled by a light emission controller 86. The laser generator may include a laser diode or another semiconductor laser. The scanning section includes, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror that reflects the excitation light L10 from the laser generating section toward the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10. The MEMS mirror changes the reflection angle of the excitation light L10 under the control of the light emission control unit 86 so that the irradiation point of the excitation light L10 on the radiation image forming layer 11 moves in the main scanning direction DRm. The scanning unit may include another mirror such as a galvano mirror instead of the MEMS mirror.

The detector 40 detects the affected light L2 from the position irradiated with the excitation light L10. The detector 40 includes, for example, an optical filter 42 into which the affected light L2 (see FIG. 3) from the irradiated position of the excitation light L10 is incident, and a sensor 41 that detects the affected light L2 emitted from the optical filter 42. Equipped with. The sensor 41 is controlled by a detection control section 85. The optical filter 42 is arranged to face the detection surface of the affected light L2 in the sensor 41 and to be located between the main surface 21a of the support plate 21 and the detection surface. That is, the optical filter 42 is arranged between the position to be irradiated with the excitation light L10 and the detection surface. The affected light L2 from the irradiated position of the excitation light L10 first enters the optical filter 42, and the filtered affected light L2 exits the optical filter 42 and enters the detection surface of the sensor 41.

A region of the radiation image forming layer 11 that is irradiated with radiation and in which radiation energy is accumulated is excited by the excitation light L10. Therefore, it can be said that a region of the radiation image forming layer 11 in which radiation energy is accumulated and is within the irradiation range of the excitation light L10 is an excited region excited by the excitation light L10. Since the radiation image is recorded as a latent image in the excited region, it can be said that the excited region is a radiation image region, a latent image region, or an image recording region.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of the photodetector 40 in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner. When the excited region of the radiation image forming layer 11 is irradiated with the excitation light L10, the excited region emits light according to the distribution of energy accumulated in the excited region, and the excited region emits photostimulated light L5. . The photostimulated light L5 is, for example, blue visible light. Further, when the excited region of the radiation image forming layer 11 is irradiated with the excitation light L10, reflected light (hereinafter also referred to as reflected light L4) of the excitation light L10 on the excited region is generated. The reflected light L4 may be called excited region reflected light L4. Emitted light L2, which will be described later as an example of the affected light L2, may be considered to be light whose emission origin is not caused by reflection but from the imaging plate 10. Stimulated light L5 is a specific example of luminescent light L2.

The light from the excited region (hereinafter also referred to as excited region light L20) includes stimulated light L5 emitted from the excited region and reflected light L4 from the excited region. The excited area light L20 can also be called radiation image area light, latent image area light, or image recording area light. The excited region light L20 is light containing at least the stimulated light L5. The latent image region in the irradiation range of the excitation light L10, which is excited when the excitation light L10 is irradiated, specifically, the region that is excited and emits the photostimulated light L5, is defined as the excited region. At this time, the excited region light L20 is light containing at least the stimulated light L5 from the excited region. In the above example, the excited region light L20 is light containing the stimulated light L5 and the reflected light L4, but as described later, the excited region light L20 may consist only of the stimulated light L5.

The excited light L2 incident on the optical filter 42 includes the excited region light L20. The excited region light L20 is filtered by the optical filter 42 and then enters the sensor 41. In this example, the transmittance of the optical filter 42 to the stimulated light L5 (also referred to as the stimulated light transmittance) is extremely high. Therefore, the optical filter 42 sufficiently transmits the stimulated light L5 from the excited region of the imaging plate 10 and emits it to the sensor 41. On the other hand, the transmittance of the optical filter 42 for the excitation light L10 (also referred to as excitation light transmittance) is lower than the stimulated light transmittance. For example, an optical filter 42 whose excitation light transmittance is about 10% of the stimulated light transmittance may be used. The optical filter 42 attenuates the reflected light L4 of the excitation light L10 from the excited region of the imaging plate 10 toward the sensor 41. Although the optical filter 42 attenuates the excitation light L10, it transmits the excitation light L10 to some extent. Therefore, in this example, the sensor 41 not only detects the stimulated light L5, but also detects a certain amount of reflected light L4 of the excitation light L10 in the excited region. Therefore, the excited region light L20 emitted from the optical filter 42 includes the stimulated light L5 and the reflected light L4.

The sensor 41 can detect the excited region light L20 that has passed through the optical filter 42 and output an electrical signal according to the intensity of the detected excited region light L20. The sensor 41 may be composed of, for example, a plurality of photodiodes or a photomultiplier tube. In this example, the affected light L2 detected by the sensor 41 (in other words, the affected light L2 detected by the detector 40) includes, for example, stimulated light L5 and reflected light L4.

When the reading device 1 performs a process of reading a radiation image from the imaging plate 10 (also referred to as a reading process), the holding unit 20 holding the imaging plate 10 is transported to a reading start position by the driving unit 50. The optical measuring device 90 then starts the reading process. In the reading process, the light source 30 repeatedly performs a process of scanning the excitation light L10 in the main scanning direction DRm on the imaging plate 10 (also referred to as main scanning direction scanning) under the control of the light emission control unit 86. On the other hand, in the reading process, the drive unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 holding the imaging plate 10 in one direction DRs (also referred to as sub-scanning direction DRs) along the predetermined direction DR10. The sub-scanning direction DRs is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction DRm. While the holding unit 20 is moving in the sub-scanning direction DRs, scanning in the main scanning direction is repeatedly executed, so that the excitation light L10 is irradiated with a two-dimensional spread onto the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10. The radiation image forming layer 11 is then raster scanned. Thereby, in the reading process, the entire area of the radiation image forming layer 11 is sequentially irradiated with the excitation light L10, and the entire area of the radiation image forming layer 11 is scanned with the excitation light L10. While the radiation image forming layer 11 is raster scanned by the excitation light L10, the sensor 41 of the detector 40 detects the excited area light L20 (that is, the brightness) that sequentially arrives from the radiation image forming layer 11 in accordance with the raster scan. A radiation image is read from the radiation image forming layer 11 by detecting the light (including the exhaust light L5). The sensor 41 outputs an image signal representing a read radiation image (in other words, a detected radiation image) to the detection control unit 85 as a detection result of the excited region light L20 during raster scanning of the excitation light L10. This image signal includes brightness values (in other words, pixel values) of a plurality of pixels representing the read radiation image. The sensor 41 outputs, for example, a grayscale image signal. Hereinafter, the radiation image read by the detector 40 may be referred to as a detected radiation image.

The scanning of the excitation light L10 may be performed two-dimensionally over the entire detection target range of the imaging plate 10 by determining the coordinates, and the main scanning direction DRm and the sub-scanning direction DRs may not be perpendicular to each other. good. For example, the main scanning direction DRm and the sub-scanning direction DRs may intersect at an angle other than perpendicular. Further, one or both of the main scanning direction DRm and the sub-scanning direction DRs may be set in a curved direction.

In this example, when the imaging plate 10 is properly held by the holding unit 20, the short direction of the imaging plate 10 is parallel to the main scanning direction DRm, as shown in FIGS. The longitudinal direction of the plate 10 is parallel to the sub-scanning direction DRs. Here, the posture of the imaging plate in a state where the imaging plate 10 is appropriately held by the holding unit 20 is called a reference posture. In this example, the reference posture is such that the width direction of the imaging plate 10 is the main scanning direction DRm. The posture of the imaging plate 10 is such that the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is parallel to the sub-scanning direction DRs. Note that the reference posture is not limited to this.

The imaging plate 10 is basically held in the holding part 20 in a reference position. However, if the holding part 20 does not hold the imaging plate 10 properly due to a malfunction of the fixing part 22, the imaging plate 10 may be held in the holding part 20 in a tilted state from the reference position.

In this example, the sensor 41 outputs a brightness value that increases as the intensity of the detected light increases, for example. In the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10, the greater the radiation irradiation intensity and the greater the stored energy, the greater the intensity of the stimulated light L5 from the region. On the other hand, the intensity of the reflected light L4 from the excited region is approximately constant regardless of the accumulated energy if the intensity of the excitation light L10 is constant. Therefore, the brightness value output by the sensor 41 for the image based on the detection of the excited region light L20 from the excited region of the radiation image forming layer 11 where the stored energy is large becomes large.

For example, consider a case where a radiographic image of a tooth is recorded on the radiographic image forming layer 11. In this case, the intensity of the excited region light L20 from the portion of the excited region of the radiation image forming layer 11 where the radiation image of the tooth is recorded, that is, the portion irradiated with the radiation that has passed through the tooth, is relatively low. Therefore, the brightness value from the sensor 41 for the portion of the detected radiation image in which the teeth appear is relatively small. On the other hand, the intensity of excited region light L20 from a portion directly irradiated with radiation (also referred to as a directly irradiated portion) in the excited region of the radiation image forming layer 11 is relatively high. Therefore, among the detected radiation images, the luminance value output from the sensor 41 for the image corresponding to the directly irradiated portion of the radiation image forming layer 11 is relatively large.

As described above, in this example, the sensor 41 detects not only the stimulated light L5 emitted by the excited region of the imaging plate 10, but also the reflected light L4 from the excited region of the imaging plate 10 to some extent. Therefore, the brightness value of the detected radiation image output from the sensor 41 includes a brightness value corresponding to the intensity of the detected photostimulated light L5 (also referred to as a brightness value corresponding to the stimulated light) and a brightness value corresponding to the detected reflected light L4. A corresponding brightness value (also referred to as a reflected light corresponding brightness value) is included.

The brightness value corresponding to stimulated light is, for example, 10 times or more the brightness value corresponding to reflected light under standard dose conditions and distance (SID: Source Image Distance) conditions. Therefore, the detected radiation image based on the image signal output from the detector 40 is not affected much by the reflected light L4, and the reflected light L4 is used for reading and subsequent processing of the radiation image recorded on the imaging plate 10. There is a small possibility that this will cause any problems. In the excited region light L20 detected by the sensor 41, the intensity ratio of the stimulated light L5 is higher than that of the reflected light L4, so the influence of the reflected light L4 is small. Therefore, by outputting an electric signal according to the intensity of the detected excited region light L20, the detector 40 also outputs an electric signal according to the intensity of the stimulated light L5.

Further, in this example, in the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10, there may be a partially unexposed portion in which energy corresponding to radiation irradiation is not accumulated. For example, when the imaging plate 10 is irradiated with radiation through the object to be imaged, due to positional shift of the light source that emits radiation, etc., the radiation is applied to the portion of the radiation image forming layer 11 that should originally be irradiated with the radiation. Unexposed areas may occur without being irradiated. This unexposed area is sometimes called a cone cut. In this example, the imaging plate 10 is placed in the mouth and receives radiation. Therefore, all or part of the imaging plate 10 is hidden in the mouth, so even if the operator intends to properly position the light source that emits radiation, the irradiation range of the radiation may deviate from all or part of the imaging plate 10. Sometimes it happens. In such cases, cone cuts occur. Furthermore, in the radiation image forming layer 11, the radiation image may unintentionally disappear from the portion irradiated with radiation, resulting in partial unexposed portions. For example, the imaging plate 10 that records radiation images is usually stored covered with a cover so that it is not exposed to ambient light. However, if the imaging plate 10 is not properly covered with a cover, ambient light may illuminate a portion of the radiation image forming layer 11 during storage of the imaging plate 10, and the radiation recorded on the portion may be removed. Images may be unintentionally erased. In this case as well, the radiation image forming layer 11 has a partially unexposed portion (here, a portion that was once exposed but returned to the unexposed state by erasing).

Since radiation energy is not accumulated in the unexposed portion of the imaging plate 10, even if the unexposed portion is irradiated with the excitation light L10, the unexposed portion is not excited. Therefore, the unexposed portion can be said to be a region that is not an excited region, that is, a non-excited region. Even if the excitation light L10 is irradiated onto the unexposed portion (in other words, the non-excited region) of the imaging plate 10, the stimulated light L5 is not emitted from the unexposed portion. Therefore, when the excitation light L10 is irradiated onto the unexposed part, as shown in FIG. Detect light. Therefore, the image signal output by the detector 40 may include the brightness values of a plurality of pixels representing an image of the unexposed portion, that is, an image based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L1 from the unexposed portion. be. Hereinafter, the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from a region of the imaging plate 10 in which no radiation energy is accumulated, such as an unexposed region, will be referred to as reflected light L40.

Reflected light L40 from the unexposed portion passes through the optical filter 42 and enters the sensor 41. The entire image based on the image signal output by the detector 40 as a result of detection of the excited region light L20 and the reflected light L40 includes not only a detected radiation image based on the detection of the excited region light L20 but also an image of an unexposed portion. (also referred to as an unexposed area image) may also be included. The brightness value of the detected radiation image output by the detector 40 is, for example, 10 times or more the brightness value of the unexposed area image output by the detector 40 under standard dose and distance (SID) conditions. The reflected light L40 from the unexposed portion, that is, the non-excited region, can also be called non-excited region light. Further, the reflected light L40 may be called non-excited region reflected light L40. The reflected light L40 is also included in the affected light L2 detected by the detector 40.

When no radiation image is recorded on the imaging plate 10, the sensor 41 does not detect the excited area light L20, but detects the reflected light L40 from the position irradiated by the excitation light L10. The reflected light of the excitation light L10 on the imaging plate 10, such as the reflected light L40 from the non-excited area and the reflected light L4 from the excited area, may be expressed as non-stimulated reflected light in contrast to the stimulated light L5. Furthermore, regardless of whether the excitation light L10 is reflected on the imaging plate 10 or outside the imaging plate 10, the reflected light of the excitation light L10 may be simply referred to as reflected light.

In the present disclosure, IP representing the imaging plate 10 may be added to the name of the light from the imaging plate 10 or the name of the light irradiated to the imaging plate 10. For example, the excited region light L20 may be called IP excited region light L20. Further, the non-excited region light may be referred to as IP non-excited region light. Further, the photostimulated light L5 may be referred to as the IP photostimulated light L5. Further, the reflected light L4 may be referred to as IP reflected light L4 (also referred to as IP excited region reflected light L4), and the reflected light L40 may be referred to as IP reflected light L40 (IP non-excited region reflected light L40). good. Further, the non-stimulable reflected light may also be referred to as IP non-stimulable reflected light. Furthermore, the acting light L1 may be referred to as IP acting light L1, and the acting light L2 may be referred to as IP acting light L2. Further, the IP-affected light L2 may be simply referred to as IP light L2. Further, the excitation light L10 may be referred to as IP excitation light L10. Hereinafter, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between the reflected lights L4 and L40, each of them or a combination of both will be referred to as IP reflected light.

The excitation light L10 has a component that generates photostimulated light L5. Moreover, the excitation light L10 has a component that generates IP reflected light. The light source 30 is also a photostimulant-generating light source that is a source of light having a component that generates photostimulant L5. Further, the light source 30 is also a reflected light generating light source that is a source of light having a component that generates IP reflected light. For example, the light source 30 as a stimulated light generating light source is a first light source, and the light source 30 as a reflected light generating light source is a second light source. The stimulated light generating light source and the reflected light generating light source do not need to be the same unit, and may be provided separately. The reflected light generating light source is not limited to the excitation light L10, and may be any light source that can emit light that causes reflected light to be generated from the object.

The sensor 41 is a photostimulated photodetector that detects photostimulated light L5, and is also a reflected light detector that detects IP reflected light. For example, the sensor 41 as a photostimulated photodetector that detects photostimulated light is a first detector, and the sensor 41 as a reflected light detector that detects reflected light is a second detector. The sensor 41 is a detector that detects the excited region light L20. Since the excited region light L20 is light containing at least the photostimulated light L5, by detecting the excited region light L20, at least the stimulated light L5 is detected. In this sense, the sensor 41 is a photostimulable photodetector. The sensor 41, which is the first detector, may be considered as an excited region photodetector. Since the excited region light is IP excited light, the first detector may be considered as an IP excited region photodetector that detects the IP excited region light L20. The second detector may be considered a non-excited region photodetector that detects non-excited region light. When the non-excited region light of the second detector is IP affected light, the second detector may be considered as an IP non-excited region photodetector that detects the IP non-excited region light. The stimulated photodetector and the reflected photodetector do not need to be the same unit, and may be provided separately.

Furthermore, in the present disclosure, an image formed by a certain light, that is, an image based on detection of a certain light, may be referred to by an image name given the name of the certain light. For example, the image formed by the excited region light L20, that is, the image based on the detection of the excited region light L20, may be called an excited region light image. The above-mentioned detected radiation image obtained by the detector 40 is an excited region optical image. Further, an image formed by reflected light, that is, an image based on detection of the reflected light may be referred to as a reflected light image. The reflected light image formed by the reflected light L40 from the unexposed area is the above-mentioned unexposed area image obtained by the detector 40. The image formed by the non-stimulable reflected light may be called a non-stimulable reflected light image, and the image formed by the actuated light L2 may be called an actuated light image. Therefore, there may be photostimulated light images, reflected light images, excited region reflected light images, non-excited region light images, non-excited region reflected light images, etc.

Further, in the present disclosure, IP representing the imaging plate 10 may be added to the name of the image related to the imaging plate 10. For example, the excited area optical image may be called an IP excited area optical image, or an image formed by IP reflected light (in other words, an image based on detection of IP reflected light or an image obtained by detection of IP reflected light) may be called an IP reflected light image, a non-stimulable reflected light image may be called an IP non-stimulable reflected light image, and an affected light image may be called an IP affected light image. Similarly, there may be an IP photostimulated light image, an IP excited region reflected light image, an IP non-excited region light image, an IP non-excited region reflected light image, etc. Further, the IP-affected optical image may simply be called an IP image. Further, an image obtained by adding processing to an IP-effected optical image may also be called an IP-effected optical image (in other words, an IP image).

Further, in the present disclosure, an image signal obtained as a result of detection of a certain light may be referred to as an image signal name given the name of the certain light. For example, the image signal obtained as a result of detection of the excited region light L20 may be called an excited region light image signal. Further, an image signal obtained as a result of detection of reflected light may be referred to as a reflected light image signal. Furthermore, an image signal obtained as a result of detection of a non-stimulable reflected light image may be referred to as a non-stimulable reflected light image signal. Further, the image signal obtained as a result of detection of the affected light L2 may be referred to as an affected light image signal. Similarly, there may be a photostimulated light image signal, an excited region reflected light image signal, a non-excited region light image signal, a non-excited region reflected light image signal, etc.

Further, in the present disclosure, IP representing the imaging plate 10 may be added to the name of the image signal regarding the imaging plate 10. For example, an excited region optical image signal may be read as an IP excited region optical image signal, an image signal obtained as a result of detection of reflected light may be called an IP reflected light image signal, or a non-stimulable reflected light image. The signal may be called an IP non-stimulable reflected light image signal, and the affected light image signal may be called an IP affected light image signal. Furthermore, the IP-applied optical image signal may simply be referred to as an IP image signal. Similarly, there may be an IP stimulated light image signal, an IP excited area reflected light image signal, an IP non-excited area optical image signal, an IP non-excited area reflected light image signal, etc.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 9, if the optical filter 42 completely blocks the reflected light L4 and transmits only the stimulated light L5, the affected light L2 is detected by the sensor 41, in other words, the sensor 41 detects it. The excited region light L20 becomes stimulated light L5. Therefore, the brightness value according to the intensity of the stimulated light L2 (in other words, the excited region light L20) output from the sensor 41 becomes the brightness value according to the intensity of the stimulated light L5. In the example of FIG. 9, the image based on the photostimulated light L5 detected by the detector 40 may be called a photostimulated light image or an IP stimulated light image. Further, the image signal outputted by the detector 40 as the detection result of the photostimulant L5 may be referred to as a photostimulant image signal or an IP photostimulant image signal.

In this example, in the reading process, the excitation light L10 is irradiated not only to the imaging plate 10 but also to a portion of the holding section 20 outside the imaging plate 10. Here, the object to which the excitation light L10 is irradiated in the reading device 1 is referred to as an irradiation object 1200. In this example, the irradiation target 1200 includes a holding section 20 and an imaging plate 10 held by the holding section 20. Further, the main surface 1200a of the irradiation target 1200 on the support surface 21a side is referred to as the support-side main surface 1200a. In this example, the supporting side main surface 1200a includes the surface of the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10, the surface of the fixing section 22 of the holding section 20, and the imaging surface of the supporting surface 21a of the supporting plate 21 of the holding section 20. The region not covered by the plate 10 and the fixing part 22 is included. Further, in the support-side main surface 1200a, an area where the image formed by the affected light L2 from there is an IP image is referred to as an IP image area R100. The IP image region R100 can also be said to be an IP presence region where the imaging plate 10 exists on the support side main surface 1200a. Note that the main surface of the irradiation target 1200 opposite to the support-side main surface 1200a coincides with the back surface 21b of the support plate 21.

The light from the IP image area R100 may be referred to as IP image area light. The image formed by the IP image area light may be called an IP image area light image. The image signal output as the detection result of the IP image area light may be referred to as an IP image area light image signal. The IP image area light may consist of only the excited area reflected light L4, only the non-excited area reflected light L40, or both the excited area reflected light L4 and the non-excited area reflected light L40. It's also possible.

In this example, an irradiation range R120 of the excitation light L10 (also referred to as an excitation light irradiation range) on the support-side main surface 1200a in the reading process includes the IP image region R100 but is larger than that. The excitation light irradiation range R120 can also be said to be the scanning range of the excitation light L10 in the reading process. In addition, the detection range R110 on the support-side main surface 1200a of the detector 40 during the reading process also includes the IP image region R100, but is larger than the IP image region R100.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the excitation light irradiation range R120, the detection range R110, and the IP image region R100. In FIG. 10 and FIGS. 12 and 13, which will be described later, illustration of the imaging plate 10 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 10, each of the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 includes the IP image area R100 and is larger than the IP image area R100. The excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 have, for example, the same size and are located at the same position. In addition, in FIG. 10, for convenience of explanation, the excitation light irradiation range R120 is shown to be slightly larger than the detection range R110.

In this way, the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 may be set to be the same range. A configuration in which only the acted light L2 from the excitation light irradiation range R120 is the detection target is an example of a configuration in which the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 are set to be the same range.

In the reading process, while the light source 30 repeatedly performs scanning in the main scanning direction, the holding unit 20 holding the imaging plate 10 moves in the sub-scanning direction DRs, so that the excitation light irradiation range R120 is scanned in a raster pattern by the excitation light L10. A scan is done. Then, the sensor 41 sequentially outputs brightness values according to the irradiation position of the excitation light L10 in the detection range R110 in accordance with the raster scan of the excitation light L10.

Here, in the support-side main surface 1200a, a region outside the IP image region R100 and inside the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 is referred to as an IP outer region R130. In this example, since the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 include the IP image region R100 and are larger than the IP image region R100, the sensor 41 receives the excitation light from the IP outer region R130. The reflected light L400 of L10 is detected. The IP outer region R130 includes, for example, at least a part of the surface of the fixing part 22 and at least a part of the area of the support surface 21a of the support plate 21 that is not covered by the imaging plate 10 and the fixing part 22. . The IP outer region R130 is included in the surface of the holding section 20, specifically, the main surface of the holding section 20 on the imaging plate 10 side. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the sensor 41 detects the reflected light L400. The reflected light L400 is also included in the affected light L2 detected by the sensor 41.

Even if the excitation light L10 is irradiated to the IP outer region R130, the stimulated light L5 is not emitted from the IP outer region R130. Therefore, when the excitation light L10 is irradiated onto the IP outer region R130, the detector 40 detects the reflected light L400 of the excitation light L10 from the IP outer region R130 without detecting the stimulated light L5. Therefore, in the reading process, the image signal output by the detector 40 as a detection result of the stimulated light L5 and the reflected light includes a reflected light image of the IP outer region R130, that is, the reflection of the excitation light L10 from the IP outer region R130. The luminance value of a plurality of pixels representing a reflected light image based on the detection of light L400 is included. In this example, the entire image based on the image signal output by the detector 40 (also referred to as the acquired overall image) includes not only the detected radiation image but also the reflected light image of the IP outer region R130. When the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the acquired overall image includes a detected radiation image, an unexposed region image, and a reflected light image of the IP outer region R130. Hereinafter, the reflected light image of the IP outer region R130 may be referred to as an IP outer region image.

In the detection range R110, an area other than the IP image area R100 may be referred to as an area outside the IP image area. The image of the area outside the IP image area may be referred to as an image of the area outside the IP image area. The detection range R110 is set to include at least the IP image region R100. When the detection range R110 is set to be wider than the IP image area R100 while including the IP image area R100, the detection range R110 is composed of the IP image area R100 and an area outside the IP image area. Since the IP image region R100 is a region of the imaging plate 10 that receives the excitation light L1, it may be called an IP light receiving region. Since the area excluding the IP light receiving area in the detection range R110 is the area outside the IP image area, the area outside the IP image area may be called the area outside the IP light receiving area.

In this example, processing is performed on the IP outer region R130 to make it difficult for the excitation light L10 to be reflected. For example, black alumite treatment is performed on the IP outer region R130. This makes it more difficult for the detector 40 to detect the reflected light L400 of the excitation light L10 at the IP outer region R130 than the reflected light L40 of the excitation light L10 at the unexposed portion of the imaging plate 10. In this example, due to the black alumite treatment, almost no excitation light L10 is reflected in the IP outer region R130. The brightness value of the unexposed area image output by the detector 40 is, for example, more than three times the brightness value of the IP outer area image output by the detector 40. Note that the black alumite treatment may also be performed on areas other than the IP outer area R130 on the surface of the holding part 20. For example, the black alumite treatment may be performed on the entire surface area of the holding part 20. Further, for example, a process is performed to make it difficult for the excitation light L10 to be reflected, at least in the area within the detection range R110 of the support surface 21a of the holding part 20 and the fixing part 22, which is irradiated with the excitation light L1. It's okay. If there is a range within the detection range R110 of the support surface 21a of the holding part 20 and the fixed part 22 that is not irradiated with the excitation light L10, processing may be performed to make it difficult for light to be reflected in this range as well. .

The relationship among the excitation light irradiation range R120, the detection range R110, and the IP image region R100 is not limited to the above example. 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams showing other examples of the excitation light irradiation range R120, the detection range R110, and the IP image region R100. In the example of FIG. 12, the excitation light irradiation range R120 includes the detection range R110 and the IP image area R100, and is larger than the detection range R110 and the IP image area R100. In the example of FIG. 12, the area outside the IP image area within the detection range R110 falls within the excitation light irradiation range R120. An area within the detection range R110, within the excitation light irradiation range R120, and outside the IP image area R100 may be referred to as an area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range. The area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range coincides with the above-mentioned IP outside area R130. In the example of FIG. 12, the area outside the IP image area is comprised of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range. Hereinafter, the IP outer region R130 may be referred to as the IP image region outside region R130 within the irradiation range.

In the example of FIG. 13, the detection range R110 includes the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the IP image region R100, and is larger than the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the IP image region R100.

As in the examples of FIGS. 10, 12, and 13, the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 may coincide with each other, or one of the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110 may be the excitation light irradiation range R120 and the detection range R110. It may be larger than the other range R110.

In the example of FIG. 13, the detection range R110 includes a region other than the excitation light irradiation range R120 (also referred to as a region outside the irradiation range) on the support-side main surface 1200a. In the example of FIG. 13, the area outside the IP image area within the detection range R110 includes an area in the excitation light irradiation range R120 excluding the IP image area R100, and an area in the detection range R110 excluding the excitation light irradiation range R120. . The area outside the excitation light irradiation range R120 in the detection range R110 may be referred to as an area outside the irradiation range IP image area. In the example of FIG. 13, the area outside the IP image area within the detection range R110 is composed of an area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range and an area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range.

Processing that makes it difficult for the excitation light L1 to be reflected may be performed on the excitation light irradiation range R120 of the support-side principal surface 1200a, and processing that makes it difficult for light to be reflected in areas outside the irradiation range and outside the IP image area may also be performed. May be done. The light situation in the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range may be referred to as the light situation in the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range.

In the reading process, out-of-irradiation detection processing is performed for a region outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range. As the out-of-irradiation detection process, the detector 40 may detect the brightness of the light situation outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range. It is known that the brightness of the light situation in the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range is low, so in order to improve efficiency, for example, the brightness value of the light situation in the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range can be set to a predetermined value all at once. The brightness of the area light situation outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range may be detected. The predetermined value is a brightness value lower than the brightness value of the IP image. The image signal output by the detector 40 also includes the brightness value of the light situation in the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range.

In this way, even if no light is emitted from the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range, an image of the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation area can be obtained in the reading process. Processing may be performed to make it difficult for the excitation light L1 to be reflected in the area outside the IP image area. In this case, processing may be performed to make it difficult for the excitation light L1 to be reflected at least in an area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range.

The image signal obtained as a result of detecting the affected light L2 from the detection range R110 may be referred to as a detection range image signal. An image based on the detection range image signal may be called a detection range image. The detection range image is the above-mentioned acquired overall image.

The image of the area outside the IP image area may be referred to as an image of the area outside the IP image area. The image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range may be referred to as the image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range. The image of the area outside the irradiation range IP image area may be referred to as an image of the area outside the irradiation area IP image area. In the case of FIG. 12, the image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range constitutes the image of the area outside the IP image area. In the case of FIG. 13, the image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range and the image of the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range constitute the image of the area outside the IP image area.

As a result of irradiating the excitation light L1 to the area R130 outside the IP image area within the irradiation range (that is, the IP outer area R130), reflected light L400 is generated although the brightness is low, and when this reflected light L400 is detected by the detector 40, The IP image within the irradiation range and the outside area image (that is, the IP outside area image) are reflected light images. The IP image outside the irradiation range The outside area image is a dark image from the dark current of the pixels on the detection surface of the sensor 41, or a dark image generated by giving an artificially low value. The image of the area outside the IP image area is composed of a reflected light image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range, or a reflected light image of the area outside the IP image area within the irradiation range and a dark image of the area outside the IP image area outside the irradiation range. It is an image.

<About the erasing light source>
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the erasing light source 70 and the erasing control section 87 that controls it constitute an erasing section 91 that performs erasing processing to erase the radiation image from the imaging plate 10. . The erasing light source 70 and erasing control section 87 that constitute the erasing section 91 may be housed in one case to form a unit, or may not be housed in one case. The erasing light source 70 can irradiate the imaging plate 10 with erasing light L3 for erasing the radiation image from the imaging plate 10. The erasing light L3 is, for example, visible light. The erasing light L3 may be white light, red visible light, or visible light of another color. The erasing light source 70 may be an LED (Light Emission Diode), a halogen lamp, or another light source.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the erasing light source 70 can irradiate the entire area of the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10 with the erasing light L3, for example, in one irradiation. In the erasing process, the radiation image forming layer 11 is irradiated with the erasing light L3, thereby erasing the radiation image from the radiation image forming layer 11.

When the reading process is completed, the drive unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 that holds the imaging plate 10 to the erase position. When the holding section 20 moves to the erasing position, the erasing section 91 performs erasing processing. In the erasing process, the erasing light source 70 irradiates the entire region of the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10 with erasing light L3 under the control of the erasing control section 87. As a result, the radiation image is erased from the imaging plate 10.

When the radiation image is erased from the imaging plate 10, the drive unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 to the ejection position. When the holding part 20 moves to the ejection position, each fixed part 22a of the holding part 20 moves from the approach position to the separation position. Thereafter, the imaging plate 10 from which the radiation image has been erased is discharged to the outlet 2b. Hereinafter, the erased imaging plate 10 means the imaging plate 10 from which the radiation image has been erased.

<About the image processing section>
The image processing unit 81 of the control unit 80 associates the brightness value included in the image signal from the sensor 41 with each pixel position in the acquired entire image.

Here, in the reading process, the drive unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 in the sub-scanning direction DRs in accordance with the repetition of scanning in the main-scanning direction. Specifically, while scanning in the main scanning direction is executed a predetermined number of times, the driving unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 in the sub-scanning direction DRs so that the entire area of the excitation light irradiation range R120 is irradiated with the excitation light L10. Moving. Then, the sensor 41 sequentially outputs brightness values according to the irradiation position of the excitation light L10 in the detection range R110 in accordance with the raster scan of the excitation light L10. In the reading process, since the reading device 1 operates in this way, the excitation light irradiation range R120, the detection range R110, the time required for one scan in the main scanning direction, the repetition period of the scan in the main scanning direction, and the reading If the number of times the scan in the main scanning direction is executed in the process is known, it can be known which position of the pixel in the acquired overall image the brightness value output by the sensor 41 at a certain timing is the brightness value. The image processing unit 81 calculates the excitation light irradiation range R120, the detection range R110, the time required for one main scanning direction scan, the repetition period of the main scanning direction scan, and the number of executions of the main scanning direction scan in the reading process. Based on this, a plurality of brightness values included in the image signal from the sensor 41 are respectively associated with a plurality of pixel positions. Note that the detection control unit 85 may associate a plurality of brightness values included in the image signal from the sensor 41 with a plurality of pixel positions, respectively.

Further, the image processing unit 81 performs image processing on the image signal from the sensor 41. The image processing unit 81 performs image processing on image signals (detection image signals) from the sensor 41, which is the first detector and the second detector. For example, the image processing unit 81 outputs to the display control unit 82 image information in which a plurality of brightness values of the image signal after image processing are respectively associated with a plurality of pixel positions in the acquired overall image. The display control unit 82 causes the display unit 3 to display the entire acquired image including the detected radiation image, for example, based on the image information.

The image processing performed by the image processing unit 81 may include brightness inversion processing. The brightness inversion process is a process in which each brightness value of an image signal before the brightness inversion process is converted so that the larger the brightness value, the smaller the brightness value. Here, the maximum value of the range that the brightness value can take is called the maximum brightness value. For example, a value obtained by subtracting a certain brightness value included in the image signal before the brightness inversion process is performed from the maximum brightness value becomes the certain brightness value after conversion. By performing brightness inversion processing on the image signal, in the image signal after image processing, unlike the image signal before image processing, excited area light L20 is detected from a portion of the imaging plate 10 where accumulated energy is small. The brightness value of the radiation image based on the imaging plate 10 becomes large, and the brightness value of the radiation image based on the detection of the excited region light L20 from the portion of the imaging plate 10 where the accumulated energy is large becomes small. Furthermore, in the image signal after image processing, the brightness value of the unexposed area image and the brightness value of the IP outer area image are larger than the brightness value of the detected radiation image.

Note that the image processing performed by the image processing unit 81 may not include brightness inversion processing, or may include processing other than brightness inversion processing. Image processing may include, for example, offset correction and logarithmic conversion as processing other than brightness inversion processing.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams showing an example of an acquired overall image (also referred to as a pre-inversion overall image) 100a based on an image signal before the brightness inversion process is performed. FIGS. 16 and 17 are schematic diagrams showing an example of an obtained overall image (also referred to as an inverted overall image) 100b based on the image signal after the luminance inversion process has been performed. In FIGS. 14 to 17, the entire image 100a before inversion and the entire image 100b after inversion are shown in gray scale. In FIGS. 14 to 17, the larger the brightness value of an image, the brighter the image (in other words, whiter), and the smaller the brightness value of the image, the darker (in other words, black) the image is shown. Note that the same applies to later-described figures showing images obtained by the reading device 1.

As shown in the obtained overall image 100a in FIG. 14, an image obtained by scanning the imaging plate 10, which is used as a photoreceptor for radiography of a living body, with the action light L1 for the purpose of reading a radiographic image of a living tissue. The image will be referred to as a biological radiography image. Scanning may be performed using the excitation light L10 as the action light L1. In a living body radiographic image, such as the radiographic image 101a in FIG. 14, an image formed by the IP affected light L2 (in other words, an image based on the detection of the IP affected light L2) is called an IP living body radiographic image. That's it. Both the living body radiography image and the IP living body radiography image are images obtained by radiography of a living body, and are acquired images obtained from living body radiography.

FIG. 14 shows an overall image 100a before inversion including a radiation image (in other words, a detected radiation image or an IP excited region optical image) 101a based on the detection of the excited region light L20 and an IP image region outside region image 102a. ing. In the example of FIG. 14, the radiation image 101a constitutes an IP image. FIG. 15 shows a radiation image (in other words, an IP excited area optical image) 101a, an IP image area outside area image 102a, and an unexposed area image (in other words, an IP reflected light image or an IP non-stimulable reflected light image). ) 103a is shown. In the example of FIG. 15, the radiation image 101a and the unexposed area image 103a constitute an IP image. FIG. 16 shows an inverted overall image 100b including a radiation image (in other words, an IP excited region optical image) 101b and an IP image region outside region image 102b. In the example of FIG. 16, the radiation image 101b constitutes the IP image. FIG. 17 shows a radiation image (in other words, an IP excited area optical image) 101b, an IP image area outside area image 102b, and an unexposed area image (in other words, an IP reflected light image or an IP non-stimulable reflected light image). ) 103b is shown. In the example of FIG. 17, the radiation image 101b and the unexposed area image 103b constitute an IP image. In this example, since the detection range R110 of the sensor 41 is rectangular, the shape of the obtained entire image is rectangular, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 17.

When displaying the inverted overall image 100b on the display unit 3 based on the image signal after image processing, the display control unit 82 displays the inverted overall image 100b in grayscale as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, for example. Display it on Section 3. It can be said that FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing display examples of the entire image 100b after inversion. In addition, when displaying the entire image 100a before inversion on the display unit 3 based on the image signal before the brightness inversion process, the display control unit 82 inverts the entire image 100a in a gray scale as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, for example. The entire front image 100a is displayed on the display unit 3. It can be said that FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams showing display examples of the entire image 100a before inversion.

<An example of the operation of the reading device>
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the reading device 1. When the imaging plate 10 inserted through the insertion port 2a of the housing 2 is held by the holding section 20 and the start button included in the operation section 4 is operated, step s1 in FIG. 14 is executed. The operation of the start button can also be said to be an operation for instructing the start of the series of processes shown in FIG.

In step s1, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 to the reading start position under the control of the drive control section 83. Next, in step s2, a reading process is performed in which a radiation image is read from the imaging plate 10. Next, in step s3, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 to the erase position under the control of the drive control section 83. Next, in step s4, the erasing light source 70 irradiates the imaging plate 10 with the erasing light L3 under the control of the erasing control unit 87, thereby performing an erasing process in which the irradiated image is erased from the imaging plate 10. Next, in step s5, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 to the ejection position under the control of the drive control section 83. Next, in step s6, the imaging plate 10 is discharged to the outlet 2b of the housing 2. Then, in step s7, the display section 3 displays the acquired entire image under the control of the display control section 82. In step s7, the display unit 3 displays the entire image after inversion in gray scale, for example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Note that step s7 may be executed at any time after step s2. For example, step s7 may be performed between step s3 and step s4.

<About identifying the tilt angle of the imaging plate>
The image processing unit 81 may perform, for example, a tilt angle specifying process to specify the tilt angle (also referred to as IP tilt angle) of the imaging plate 10 from the reference posture. In the tilt angle identifying process, the image processing unit 81 identifies the IP tilt angle based on, for example, the image signal output by the detector 40, specifically, the IP affected light image signal. The image processing section 81 functions as a specifying section (also referred to as a tilt angle specifying section) that specifies the IP tilt angle. In this example, the rotation angle from the reference orientation can be detected by performing principal component analysis while regarding the region where the imaging plate 10 exists as a two-dimensional feature vector set. A specific example of the tilt angle specifying process will be described below, but the tilt angle specifying process is not limited to the following example.

As described above, the reference posture in this example is a posture of the imaging plate 10 such that the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 are parallel to the main scanning direction DRm and the sub-scanning direction DRs, respectively. In other words, the reference posture is, for example, a posture of the imaging plate 10 such that the lateral direction of the imaging plate 10 is parallel to the main scanning direction DRm, and the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is parallel to the sub-scanning direction DRs. When the holding part 20 does not hold the imaging plate 10 properly, when the imaging plate 10 held by the holding part 20 is viewed from the front side, as shown in FIG. (also referred to as the longitudinal direction) may be tilted with respect to the sub-scanning direction DRs, and the imaging plate 10 may be tilted with respect to the reference posture. In other words, the lateral direction (also referred to as the IP lateral direction) of the imaging plate 10 may be tilted with respect to the main scanning direction DRm, and the imaging plate 10 may be tilted with respect to the reference posture. In FIG. 19, the imaging plate 10 in the standard attitude is shown by a broken line.

In this example, the IP tilt angle, that is, the tilt angle of the imaging plate 10 from the reference posture, matches the tilt angle of the IP longitudinal direction with respect to the sub-scanning direction DRs. In other words, the IP inclination angle matches the inclination angle in the IP transverse direction with respect to the main scanning direction DRm.

On the other hand, the longitudinal direction of the detection range R110 of the sensor 41 (see FIG. 10, etc.) corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the entire image obtained based on the image signal from the sensor 41. In this example, since the longitudinal direction of the detection range R110 is parallel to the sub-scanning direction DRs, it can be said that the longitudinal direction of the obtained entire image corresponds to the sub-scanning direction DRs. Therefore, when the posture of the imaging plate 10 is the reference posture, the longitudinal direction of the acquired entire image and the longitudinal direction of the portion of the acquired entire image that corresponds to the imaging plate 10 (also referred to as the IP equivalent portion) are coincident with each other. do. On the other hand, when the imaging plate 10 is tilted with respect to the reference posture, the longitudinal direction of the IP-corresponding portion of the obtained entire image is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the obtained entire image. In other words, when the imaging plate 10 is tilted with respect to the reference posture, the lateral direction of the portion corresponding to the IP included in the acquired overall image is tilted with respect to the lateral direction of the acquired entire image.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of an overall image 100a before inversion obtained when the imaging plate 10 is tilted with respect to the reference posture. The entire image 100a before inversion shown in FIG. 20 includes a tilted IP equivalent portion 105a.

In this example, the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction of the IP equivalent portion (in other words, the IP image) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the entire acquired image matches the IP inclination angle. Therefore, based on the image signal from the sensor 41, the image processing unit 81 determines the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction of the portion corresponding to the IP with respect to the longitudinal direction of the obtained entire image. Then, the image processing unit 81 sets the obtained tilt angle as the IP tilt angle. The operation of this image processing section 81 will be explained in detail below.

In the tilt angle specifying process, the image processing unit 81 generates a binarized image by binarizing the entire image before inversion based on the image signal before the brightness inversion process (also referred to as the image signal before inversion). The image processing unit 81 first compares each luminance value of the entire image before inversion, which is included in the image signal before inversion, with a preset threshold value. Then, the image processing unit 81 replaces each brightness value of the entire image before inversion with "1" if the brightness value is equal to or more than the threshold value, and replaces the brightness value less than the threshold value with "0". As a result, the entire image before inversion is binarized and a binarized image is obtained.

The threshold value used in the binarization is, for example, larger than the brightness value of the IP image area outside area image included in the image signal before inversion, and the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the image signal before inversion. Set to a value smaller than the value. For example, consider a case where the brightness value of the IP image outside area image included in the image signal before inversion is IL1, and the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the image signal before inversion is IL2. IL1<IL2. In this case, the threshold value is set to IL3, which satisfies the relationship IL1<IL3<IL2, for example. The threshold value is set, for example, based on a pre-inversion image signal obtained by the reading device 1 before actual operation, and is stored in advance in the image processing unit 81 of the reading device 1. Note that since the brightness value of the detected radiation image included in the image signal before inversion is larger than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the image signal before inversion (see FIG. 15), the threshold value is The brightness value is smaller than the brightness value of the detected radiation image included in the image signal before inversion.

By setting the threshold as described above, in the binarized image, each luminance value of the portion corresponding to the area outside the IP image area becomes "0". Furthermore, regardless of whether or not the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, in the binarized image, each luminance value of the portion corresponding to the imaging plate 10 is “1”.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a binarized image 500. FIG. 21 shows a binarized image 500 obtained by binarizing the entire image 100a before inversion shown in FIG. 20. In FIG. 21, in a binarized image 500, an area 501 with a brightness value of "1" (also referred to as a high brightness area) is shown in white, and an area 502 with a brightness value of "0" (also referred to as a low brightness area) is shown in white. Shown in black. As can be understood from FIG. 21, in the binarized image 500, a high brightness area 501 corresponds to the imaging plate 10, and a low brightness area 502 corresponds to an area outside the IP image area. The outer shape of the high brightness region 501 corresponds to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10. The image of the high brightness area 501 (also referred to as a high brightness area image) is also an IP image, and the image of the low brightness area 502 (also referred to as a low brightness area image) is also an area image outside the IP image area.

The shape of the imaging plate 10 will be referred to as an imaging plate shape, and data regarding the imaging plate shape (in other words, data representing the imaging plate shape) will be referred to as imaging plate shape data. The imaging plate shape data may include at least one of the size, shape, and inclination of the imaging plate 10. Further, the process of extracting the shape of the imaging plate may be referred to as the process of extracting the shape of the imaging plate. Imaging plate shape data can be obtained from the imaging plate shape extraction process. Furthermore, an image obtained by photographing the imaging plate 10, such as the entire image 100a before inversion in FIG. 20, will be referred to as an imaging plate photographed image.

An image representing the imaging plate shape obtained by processing an image obtained as a result of detecting the acted light generated by irradiating the imaging plate 10 with light, such as the binary image 500 in FIG. 21, is referred to as an imaging plate shape image. An image formed by processing the IP acted light and extracting the imaging plate shape, such as the image of the high-brightness area 501 in FIG. 21, is referred to as an IP imaging plate shape image. Both the imaging plate shape image and the IP imaging plate shape image are composed of images representing the imaging plate shape extracted by processing the IP acted light image signal, and therefore may be referred to as imaging plate shape extraction images.

Here, the high brightness region 501 included in the binarized image 500 corresponds to the IP equivalent portion 105a included in the entire image 100a before inversion. In the tilt angle identification process, the image processing unit 81 performs principal component analysis using the positions of a plurality of pixels constituting the high-intensity region 501 included in the generated binarized image 500 as data to be analyzed, and determines the data to be analyzed. Find the first principal component axis of .

In the principal component analysis, the image processing unit 81 determines the center of gravity 501a (see FIG. 21) of the high brightness region 501 included in the binarized image 500. The image processing unit 81 then sets an XY coordinate system with the center of gravity 501a as the origin for the binarized image 500, as shown in FIG. At this time, the X axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the entire image 100a before inversion, and the Y axis is parallel to the lateral direction of the entire image 100a before inversion. As will be described later, the image processing unit 81 rotates the XY coordinate system around the center of gravity 501a. In this example, the clockwise rotation angle of the XY coordinate system is set as a plus, and the counterclockwise rotation angle of the XY coordinate system is set as a minus. The posture of the XY coordinate system in which the X axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pre-reversal overall image 100a and the Y axis is parallel to the lateral direction of the pre-inversion overall image 100a is called an initial posture.

When the image processing unit 81 sets the XY coordinate system of the initial posture for the binarized image 500, the image processing unit 81 calculates a perpendicular line drawn from the position 510 of the pixel to the Y axis for each of the plurality of pixels constituting the high brightness area 501. Find the length L. Next, the image processing unit 81 calculates the variance of the plurality of lengths L obtained for each of the plurality of pixels constituting the high brightness area 501. This dispersion is called the dispersion at the initial posture.

The image processing unit 81 rotates the XY coordinate system from the initial posture to the clockwise 520R about the center of gravity 501a, for example, by 0.1 degrees, and performs clockwise processing to obtain the variance of multiple lengths L in the same manner every time the XY coordinate system is rotated by 0.1 degrees. In the clockwise processing, the image processing unit 81 finally rotates the XY coordinate system to the clockwise 520R, for example, by 90 degrees. The image processing unit 81 also rotates the XY coordinate system from the initial posture to the counterclockwise 520L about the center of gravity 501a, for example, by 0.1 degrees, and performs counterclockwise processing to obtain the variance of multiple lengths L in the same manner every time the XY coordinate system is rotated by 0.1 degrees. In the counterclockwise processing, the image processing unit 81 finally rotates the XY coordinate system to the counterclockwise 520L, for example, by 90 degrees.

When the image processing unit 81 executes the clockwise processing and the counterclockwise processing, the image processing unit 81 specifies the minimum value among the plurality of variances obtained in the clockwise processing and the counterclockwise processing and the variance at the initial posture. Then, the image processing unit 81 sets the Y axis of the XY coordinate system when the specified minimum value is obtained as the first principal component axis. The first principal component axis can be said to be an axis that minimizes the dispersion of the lengths of perpendicular lines drawn from the positions of the plurality of pixels constituting the high-luminance region 501. Hereinafter, the axis that is perpendicular to the first principal component axis and passes through the center of gravity 501a may be referred to as the second principal component axis. In addition, the XY coordinate system when the minimum value of the multiple variances obtained in clockwise processing and counterclockwise processing and the variance at the initial posture is obtained is sometimes called the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance posture. .

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the first principal component axis 551 obtained from the binarized image 500 shown in FIG. 21. In FIG. 22, the Y axis of the XY coordinate system in the initial posture is shown by a broken line. As shown in FIG. 22, the first principal component axis 551 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the high brightness region 501. When the image processing unit 81 calculates the first principal component axis 551, the image processing unit 81 calculates the rotation angle α from the initial posture for the XY coordinate system having the Y axis that coincides with the first principal component axis 551, that is, the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance posture. seek. Then, the image processing unit 81 sets the obtained rotation angle α as the inclination angle α of the portion corresponding to the IP in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the obtained entire image. The Y-axis of the XY coordinate system of the initial posture corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the acquired entire image, and the first principal component axis 551 (in other words, the Y-axis of the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance posture) corresponds to the IP included in the acquired entire image. Corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the part. Therefore, it can be said that the rotation angle α is the inclination angle of the portion corresponding to the IP in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the obtained entire image. If the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance orientation is obtained in clockwise processing, the rotation angle α shows a positive value, and if the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance orientation is obtained in counterclockwise processing, the rotation angle α is Indicates a negative value. When the XY coordinate system of the minimum variance orientation matches the XY coordinate system of the initial orientation, the rotation angle α becomes zero.

As described above, the image processing unit 81 calculates the tilt angle α in the longitudinal direction of the portion corresponding to the IP with respect to the longitudinal direction of the acquired whole image from the binarized image 500 of the acquired whole image, and then converts the obtained tilt angle α into the IP Let the inclination angle be α. When the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front side, when the IP tilt angle α is positive, the imaging plate 10 is tilted clockwise with respect to the reference posture, and when the IP tilt angle α is negative, the imaging plate 10 is tilted clockwise. is tilted counterclockwise with respect to the reference attitude. Hereinafter, regarding the inclination of the imaging plate 10, a simple clockwise rotation means a clockwise rotation when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front side, and a simple counterclockwise rotation means a clockwise rotation when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front side. It means turning counterclockwise when

The above-described tilt angle specifying process may be executed in the series of processes shown in FIG. 18 described above, or may be executed at a timing different from the process shown in FIG. 18. Further, the IP tilt angle obtained by the image processing section 81 may be displayed on the display section 3. At this time, the display unit 3 may display the IP tilt angle at the same time as the acquired overall image, for example in step s7 described above, or may display it when not displaying the acquired overall image.

Note that instead of performing the above-described variance calculation each time, in addition to the variances σX2 and σY2 in the initial posture, a covariance σXY may be obtained and used to calculate the variance after rotation.

As described above, in this example, the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP tilt angle based on the image signal as the detection result of the emitted light L2 and the reflected light from the imaging plate 10. Can be appropriately identified.

For example, consider a case where the sensor 41 cannot detect reflected light and the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion. In this case, each brightness value of the unexposed area image and the IP image area outside area image included in the entire image before inversion based on the image signal from the sensor 41 becomes zero. Therefore, in the binarized image 500 obtained by binarizing the entire image before inversion, the brightness values of the portions corresponding to the unexposed area image and the IP image area outside area image are all "0", and the unexposed area image and The entire portion corresponding to the image of the area outside the IP image area becomes a low-luminance area 502. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed part, the high brightness area 501 of the binarized image 500 no longer includes the part corresponding to the unexposed part, and the high brightness area 501 is not included in the entire image before inversion. It no longer corresponds to the included IP equivalent part. That is, when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the outer shape of the high-brightness region 501 does not correspond to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10. For this reason, when the image processing unit 81 performs principal component analysis on the high brightness region 501, it is not possible to determine the first principal component axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10, and There is a possibility that the inclination angle in the longitudinal direction of the IP equivalent portion cannot be appropriately determined.

In contrast, in this example, the sensor 41 can detect the reflected light to some extent, and the image processing unit 81 performs inversion based on the image signal as a detection result of the photostimulated light L5 and the reflected light from the imaging plate 10. The previous entire image is binarized to generate a binarized image 500. Therefore, in the binarized image 500, even if the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the high brightness region 501 is included in the entire image before inversion, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. It comes to correspond to the IP equivalent portion (in other words, the IP image). In other words, the outer shape of the high-intensity region 501 corresponds to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10. For example, even from the entire image 100a before inversion including the unexposed area image 103a as shown in FIG. 15, the unexposed area is included in the IP image area by binarization processing as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. You can get the image. Thereby, when the image processing unit 81 performs principal component analysis on the high brightness region 501, it is possible to obtain the first principal component axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10, and the IP The inclination angle of the corresponding portion in the longitudinal direction can be appropriately determined. Therefore, the image processing unit 81 can appropriately specify the IP tilt angle. Note that an image obtained by binarizing an IP image such as the image of the high brightness area 501 may be referred to as an IP binarized image.

<About identifying the size of the imaging plate>
For example, the image processing unit 81 may perform size identification processing to identify the size of the imaging plate 10 (also referred to as IP size). In the size identification process, the image processing unit 81 identifies the IP size based on the image signal output by the detector 40, for example. The image processing section 81 functions as a specifying section (also referred to as a size specifying section) that specifies the IP size. A specific example of the size specifying process will be described below, but the size specifying process is not limited to the following example.

The image processing unit 81 generates the binarized image 500 by binarizing the entire image before inversion based on the image signal before inversion, for example, in the same manner as described above. Then, the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP size based on the generated binarized image 500. For example, the image processing unit 81 numerically specifies the size of the imaging plate 10 in the longitudinal direction (also referred to as longitudinal size) and the size of the imaging plate 10 in the lateral direction (also referred to as lateral size).

When identifying the IP size, the image processing unit 81 performs principal component analysis using the positions of multiple pixels that make up the high-luminance region 501 contained in the binarized image 500 as the data to be analyzed in the same manner as described above, and determines a first principal component axis 551 for the data to be analyzed. Then, the image processing unit 81 determines a second principal component axis 552 that is perpendicular to the first principal component axis 551 and passes through the center of gravity 501a.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the first principal component axis 551 and the second principal component axis 552. FIG. 23 shows a binarized image 500 obtained by binarizing the entire image 100a before inversion shown in FIG. and a second principal component axis 552. The first principal component axis 551 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the high brightness region 501 corresponding to the imaging plate 10. Further, the second principal component axis 552 is parallel to the lateral direction of the high brightness region 501.

As shown in FIG. 23, the image processing unit 81 calculates the number of pixels N1 along the first principal component axis 551 (also referred to as the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction) of the high brightness region 501. The image processing unit 81 also calculates the number of pixels N2 along the second principal component axis 552 (also referred to as the number of pixels in the lateral direction) of the high brightness region 501. Then, the image processing unit 81 determines the longitudinal size of the imaging plate 10 based on the number N1 of pixels in the longitudinal direction, and determines the lateral size of the imaging plate 10 based on the number N2 of pixels in the lateral direction.

Here, in this example, a square area with one side of Mmm in the detection range R110 of the sensor 41 corresponds to one pixel of the obtained entire image and the binarized image 500. Mmm is, for example, about 0.03 mm. The image processing unit 81 determines the length obtained by multiplying Mmm by the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction N1 as the longitudinal size of the imaging plate 10. Further, the image processing unit 81 sets the length obtained by multiplying Mmm by the number of pixels in the transverse direction N2 as the transverse size of the imaging plate 10. Hereinafter, the longitudinal size and transverse size determined by the image processing unit 81 for the imaging plate 10 may be referred to as a specific longitudinal size and a specific transverse size, respectively.

In the size identification process, the image processing unit 81 may numerically specify the area of the main surface (also referred to as main surface area) of the imaging plate 10. In this case, the image processing unit 81 may set the main surface area of the imaging plate 10 to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of pixels constituting the high brightness region 501 by the square of Mmm. The main surface area can be said to be the area of the front surface of the imaging plate 10, or it can be said to be the area of the back surface of the imaging plate 10. Hereinafter, the main surface area of the imaging plate 10 determined by the image processing unit 81 may be referred to as a specific main surface area or a specific area.

The image processing unit 81 may specify the type of size of the imaging plate 10 in the size specification process. In this example, a plurality of sizes of the imaging plate 10 are prepared. In the reading device 1, the holding unit 20 can hold each of the imaging plates 10 of a plurality of sizes. The reading device 1 can read radiation images from each of the imaging plates 10 of a plurality of sizes.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the size types (also referred to as IP size types) of the imaging plate 10. For example, four types of IP sizes are prepared: size 0, size 1, size 2, and size 3. Here, the short side size and long side size of the imaging plate 10 in each type of size are called the nominal short side size and the nominal long side size, respectively. A size commonly adopted by many manufacturing entities and/or a size determined by official standards may be adopted as the nominal short side size and the nominal long side size.

For example, according to the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the nominal short side size and nominal long side size of size 0 are 22 mm and 31 mm, respectively. The nominal short side size and nominal long side size of size 0 are 21 mm and 35 mm, respectively. The nominal short side size and nominal long side size of size 1 are 24 mm and 40 mm, respectively. The nominal short side size and nominal long side size of size 2 are 31 mm and 41 mm, respectively. The nominal hand size and nominal longitudinal size of size 3 are 27 mm and 54 mm, respectively. Note that the value obtained by multiplying the nominal short side size and the nominal long side size is called the nominal main surface area or the nominal area.

The image processing unit 81 specifies the type of size of the imaging plate 10 based on, for example, the specific transverse size, specific longitudinal size, and specific principal surface area of the imaging plate 10 . For example, if the specific short side size is close to the nominal short side size of size 0, the specific long side size is close to the nominal long side size of size 0, and the specific area is close to the nominal area of size 0, the image processing unit 81 It is determined that the type is size 0.

The image processing unit 81 uses, for example, a first threshold value that is slightly smaller than the nominal width size of size 0, and a second threshold value that is slightly larger than the nominal width size of size 0, to determine the specific width size. It is determined whether the size is close to the nominal width size of size 0. For example, if the specific transverse size is larger than the first threshold and smaller than the second threshold, the image processing unit 81 determines that the specific transverse size is close to the nominal transverse size of size 0. .

The image processing unit 81 also uses, for example, a third threshold value that is slightly smaller than the nominal longitudinal size of size 0, and a fourth threshold value that is slightly larger than the nominal longitudinal size of size 0, to determine the specific longitudinal size. It is determined whether or not the size is close to the nominal longitudinal size of size 0. For example, if the specific longitudinal size is larger than the third threshold and smaller than the fourth threshold, the image processing unit 81 determines that the specific longitudinal size is close to the nominal longitudinal size of size 0.

Further, the image processing unit 81 uses, for example, a fifth threshold value that is slightly smaller than the nominal area of size 0, and a sixth threshold value that is slightly larger than the nominal area of size 0, so that the specific area is of size 0. Determine whether the area is close to the nominal area. For example, if the specific area is larger than the fifth threshold and smaller than the sixth threshold, the image processing unit 81 determines that the specific area is close to the nominal area of size 0.

Similarly, the image processing unit 81 determines, for example, that the specific transverse size is close to the nominal transverse size of size 1, the specific longitudinal size is close to the nominal longitudinal size of size 1, and the specific principal surface area is the nominal principal surface of size 1. If it is close to the area, it is determined that the IP size type is size 1.

Similarly, the image processing unit 81 determines that the IP size type is size 2, for example, if the specific short side size is close to the nominal short side size of size 2, the specific long side size is close to the nominal long side size of size 2, and the specific main surface area is close to the nominal main surface area of size 2.

Similarly, the image processing unit 81 may be configured such that, for example, the specific transverse size is close to the nominal transverse size of size 3, the specific longitudinal size is close to the nominal longitudinal size of size 3, and the specific principal surface area is the nominal principal surface of size 3. If it is close to the area, it is determined that the IP size type is size 3.

The size specification process as described above may be executed in the series of processes shown in FIG. 18, or may be executed at a different timing from the process shown in FIG. 18. The display unit 3 may display, for example, at least one of the types of short side size, long side size, main surface area, and IP size specified by the image processing unit 81. In this case, the display unit 3 may display at least one of the types of short side size, long side size, main surface area, and IP size simultaneously with the overall image acquired in step s7, or when the overall image acquired is not displayed. The display unit 3 may display at least one of the types of short side size, long side size, main surface area, and IP size simultaneously with the IP inclination angle, or when the IP inclination angle is not displayed. The display unit 3 may display at least two of the types of short side size, long side size, main surface area, and IP size simultaneously.

In this way, in this example, the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP size based on the image signal as the detection result of the emitted light L2 and reflected light from the imaging plate 10, and therefore specifies the IP tilt angle. The IP size can be appropriately specified in the same way as in the case of As described above, even if the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the high brightness region 501 of the binarized image 500 corresponds to the IP equivalent portion of the entire image before inversion, so the image processing unit 81 can appropriately specify the short side size, long side size, main surface area, and type of IP size of the imaging plate 10.

An example of setting the excitation light irradiation range R120 will be described in connection with the description of the nominal transverse size and the nominal longitudinal size. FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically showing each imaging plate 10 of sizes 0 to 3. Here, the positions of the four sides of the imaging plate 10 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from above are expressed as top, bottom, left and right. For example, the holding section 20 is commonly used for imaging plates 10 of a plurality of sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the holding part 20 is such that one of the two left and right sides of the imaging plate 10 is located on the same line among the plural sizes, and one of the two upper and lower sides of the imaging plate 10 is located on the same line between the plural sizes. Hold the imaging plate 10 so that it is located on the same line between the sizes.

The longitudinal size of the size 3 imaging plate 10 is larger than the longitudinal size of the size 2 imaging plate 10, but the lateral size of the size 3 imaging plate 10 is smaller than the lateral size of the size 2 imaging plate 10. be. In order to be compatible with any of the plurality of sizes of imaging plates 10, for example, the longitudinal size of the excitation light irradiation range R120 is greater than or equal to the maximum of the longitudinal sizes of the plurality of IP sizes, and the short side of the excitation light irradiation range R120 is The excitation light irradiation range R120 is set so that the size is greater than or equal to the maximum of the widthwise sizes of the plurality of IP sizes. The excitation light irradiation range R120 set in this manner may be used for any size imaging plate 10 among a plurality of IP sizes, regardless of the IP size of the imaging plate 10.

Further, the excitation light irradiation range R120 may be changed for each imaging plate 10. In this case, at least the longitudinal size of the excitation light irradiation range R120 is greater than or equal to the maximum of the longitudinal sizes of the plurality of IP sizes, and the transverse size of the excitation light irradiation range R120 is the largest of the transverse sizes of the plurality of IP sizes. The excitation light irradiation range R120 may be set as described above.

Figure 26 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of operations of the image processing unit 81 when the image processing unit 81 identifies the IP tilt angle and IP size. The series of processes shown in Figure 26 may be executed as part of the series of processes shown in Figure 18 described above, or may be executed at a different timing from the processes shown in Figure 18.

As shown in FIG. 26, in step s11, the image processing unit 81 generates a binarized image 500 by binarizing the entire image before inversion based on the image signal before inversion. Next, in step s12, the image processing unit 81 specifies the main surface area of the imaging plate 10 based on the binarized image 500, as described above. Next, in step s13, the image processing unit 81 performs principal component analysis using the positions of the plurality of pixels constituting the high-intensity region 501 included in the binarized image 500 as data to be analyzed. Find the first principal component axis and the second principal component axis.

Next, in step s14, the image processing unit 81 determines the IP tilt angle and the short-side size and long-side size of the imaging plate 10 based on the binarized image 500, the first principal component axis, and the second principal component axis, as described above. Next, in step s15, the image processing unit 81 determines whether the IP size type is size 3 or not based on the specific short-side size, specific long-side size, and specific area. In step s15, the image processing unit 81 determines that the IP size type is size 3, for example, as described above, if the specific short-side size is close to the nominal short-side size of size 3, the specific long-side size is close to the nominal long-side size of size 3, and the specific area is close to the nominal area of size 3.

If the determination in step s15 is YES, the process shown in FIG. 26 ends. On the other hand, if the determination in step s15 is NO, step s16 is executed. In step s16, the image processing unit 81 determines whether the IP size type is size 2 based on the specific transverse size, the specific longitudinal size, and the specific area. In step s16, the image processing unit 81 determines, for example, that the specific short side size is close to the nominal short side size of size 2, the specific long side size is close to the nominal long side size of size 2, and the specific area is close to the nominal long side size of size 2, as described above. If the area is close to the nominal area of , it is determined that the IP size type is size 2.

If YES is determined in step s16, the process shown in FIG. 26 ends. On the other hand, if the determination in step s16 is NO, step s17 is executed. In step s17, the image processing unit 81 determines whether the IP size type is size 1 based on the specific transverse size, the specific longitudinal size, and the specific area. In step s17, the image processing unit 81 determines, for example, that the specific short side size is close to the nominal short side size of size 1, the specific long side size is close to the nominal long side size of size 1, and the specific area is close to the nominal long side size of size 1, as described above. If the size is close to the nominal area of , it is determined that the IP size type is size 1.

If the determination in step s17 is YES, the process shown in FIG. 26 ends. On the other hand, if the determination in step s17 is NO, step s18 is executed. In step s18, the image processing unit 81 determines that the IP size type is size 0. After executing step s18, the process shown in FIG. 26 ends. Note that in step s18, the image processing unit 81 determines whether the type of IP size is size 0 based on the specific transverse size, specific longitudinal size, and specific area, as in steps s15 to s17. It's okay.

In the above example, the image processing unit 81 specifies the type of IP size based on the specific short side size, specific long side size, and specific area. It is also possible to specify the type of IP size based on one. As shown in FIG. 24, in this example, among the plurality of sizes, the nominal transverse sizes are different from each other, and the nominal longitudinal sizes are also different from each other. Moreover, the nominal area also differs among the plurality of sizes. The image processing unit 81 may select the size type of the imaging plate 10 from sizes 0 to 3, which has the nominal transverse size closest to the specific transverse size. Further, the image processing unit 81 may set the type having the nominal longitudinal size closest to the specific longitudinal size among the sizes 0 to 3 as the size type of the imaging plate 10. Further, the image processing unit 81 may select the size type of the imaging plate 10 from among sizes 0 to 3, which has a nominal area closest to the specific area.

Further, the image processing unit 81 may specify the type of IP size based on any two of a specific transverse size, a specific longitudinal size, and a specific area. For example, if the specific transverse size is close to the nominal transverse size of size 1 and the specific longitudinal size is close to the nominal longitudinal size of size 1, the image processing unit 81 determines that the IP size type is size 1. Good too.

In addition, in the size identification process, the longitudinal size of the imaging plate 10 does not need to be specified, the short side size of the imaging plate 10 does not need to be specified, and the main surface area of the imaging plate 10 does not need to be specified. Good too. Further, in the size specifying process, the type of size of the imaging plate 10 does not need to be specified.

In addition to or instead of the configuration in which the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP size, the reading device 1 may include a configuration in which the user can select and specify the IP size. Further, the reading device 1 may be configured to be able to switch between a configuration in which the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP size and a configuration in which the user selects and specifies the IP size. In this case, for example, there is a branch between steps s13 and s14 to determine whether or not to accept the user's selection, and if YES, the user's selection is accepted, and then the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP tilt angle. IP size is not specified.

<Irradiation of excitation light onto the erased imaging plate>
In the reading device 1, the light source 30 irradiates the erased imaging plate 10 with excitation light L10, the detector 40 detects the reflected light L40 from the erased imaging plate 10, and the reflected light in which the imaging plate 10 is captured is detected. You may also obtain an image. In this case, in this example, the detector 40 also detects the reflected light L400 from the area R130 outside the IP image area within the irradiation range. In this example, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the erased imaging plate 10 and the region R130 outside the IP image area within the irradiation range, and outputs an image signal as the detection result. An example of the operation of the reading device 1 that irradiates the erased imaging plate 10 with the excitation light L10 will be described below.

Hereinafter, like the image signals described so far, the detection results of the stimulated light L5 or the stimulated light L5 and reflected light (excited region light L20) when the imaging plate 10 for recording a radiation image is held. The image signal as shown in FIG. Furthermore, like the acquired overall image described above, the entire image including the radiation image, that is, the entire image based on the image signal at the time of light emission, is referred to as the entire image at the time of light emission. The overall image at the time of light emission is an example of a biological radiographic image. Further, the above-mentioned whole image before inversion and whole image after inversion are respectively referred to as the whole image at the time of light emission before inversion and the whole image at the time of light emission after inversion.

In addition, in the image signal at the time of light emission, the entire image at the time of light emission, the whole image at the time of light emission before reversal, and the whole image at the time of light emission after reversal, the part showing the image of the imaging plate 10, that is, the IP image, is referred to as the IP image signal at the time of light emission, the IP image at the time of light emission. , may be respectively referred to as an IP image at the time of light emission before inversion and an IP image at the time of light emission after inversion. The IP image at the time of light emission is an example of an IP biological radiography image. When the imaging plate 10 includes a cone cut, the IP image at the time of light emission is composed of an IP excited region light image and an IP reflected light image (in other words, an IP non-stimulable reflected light image). When the excitation light L1 is irradiated to the imaging plate 10 held for the purpose of reading a radiation image, as in the case of executing step s2, that is, the detection result in the reading mode for reading a radiation image (a biological radiographic image An image signal at the time of light emission may be defined as an image signal obtained as an image signal (obtained). In this case, when the cone cut extends over the entire area of the imaging plate 10, the IP image at the time of emission (IP biological radiography image) is composed only of the IP reflected light image (in other words, the IP non-stimulable reflected light image).

Further, an image signal as a result of detection of reflected light when the erased imaging plate 10 is held is called an erased image signal. Further, the entire image based on the image signal at the time of erasure is referred to as the entire image at the time of erasure. In this example, the entire image at the time of erasing includes not only the reflected light image of the imaging plate 10, that is, the reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light L40 of the excitation light L10 on the imaging plate 10, but also the area image outside the IP image area. radiological images are not included. It can be said that the entire image at the time of erasing is a reflected light image of the detection range R110 of the sensor 41. The reflected light image of the erased imaging plate 10, that is, the IP reflected light image showing the image of the entire imaging plate 10, is sometimes particularly referred to as the entire IP reflected light image. Further, hereinafter, the reading device 1 will be described assuming that the entire image based on the image signal outputted by the detector 40 as a light detection result is an acquired overall image. In the following description, the acquired overall image is a concept that includes the entire image during emission and the entire image during erasure.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the reading device 1 of this example. When the start button included in the operation unit 4 is operated, the reading device 1 executes steps s1 to s4 described above, as shown in FIG. 27. In the reading process of step s2, the detector 40 outputs a light emission image signal as a detection result of the light emission light L2 and the reflected light.

After the erasing process in step s4, in step s21, the drive unit 50 moves the holding unit 20 that holds the erased imaging plate 10 to the reading start position. Next, step s22 is executed. In step s22, the light source 30 irradiates the front surface of the erased imaging plate 10 and the area outside the IP image area with excitation light L10. Then, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the front surface of the erased imaging plate 10 and the area outside the IP image area, and outputs an image signal at the time of erasure as the detection result. The image signal at the time of erasure is, for example, a gray scale image signal like the image signal at the time of light emission.

After step s22, steps s5 and s6 described above are executed, and the erased imaging plate 10 is ejected to the outlet 2b of the housing 2. Next, in step s27, the display control unit 82 displays the entire image at the time of light emission based on the image signal at the time of light emission obtained at step s2 and the entire image at the time of erasure based on the image signal at the time of erasure obtained at step s22. 3 simultaneously and separately. In step s27, the image processing unit 81 displays the entire image when emitting light and the entire image when erasing, for example, in gray scale.

Note that step s27 may be executed at any time after step s22. For example, step s27 may be executed between step s22 and step s5. Furthermore, the entire image when emitting light and the entire image when erasing do not need to be displayed at the same time. Further, in step s27, the entire image may not be displayed at the time of light emission. At least one of the size specifying process and the tilt angle specifying process described above may be executed in the series of processes in FIG. 27, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. 27.

The erasing image signal output by the detector 40 includes the brightness values of a plurality of pixels constituting the entire IP reflected light image (in other words, an IP image) and the brightness values of a plurality of pixels constituting an image of an area outside the IP image area. and is included. The brightness value included in the erasing image signal increases as the intensity of the reflected light detected by the detector 40 increases. Therefore, for example, when the intensity of the reflected light in a certain area of the erased imaging plate 10 is high, the brightness of the reflected light image of the certain area included in the erasing image signal becomes high.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing. As shown in FIG. 28, the entire erase image 200 includes an IP overall reflected light image 201 and an image 202 of an area outside the IP image area. In the example of FIG. 28, the front surface of the imaging plate 10 is reflected in the IP total reflected light image 201. Since the entire IP reflected light image 201 is a portion corresponding to the imaging plate 10 in the entire image 200 at the time of erasing, the entire IP reflected light image is also referred to as the IP equivalent portion. The IP total reflection light image 201 is both an IP image and an IP non-stimulable reflection light image.

The image processing unit 81 performs image processing on the erasing image signal. In this example, the image processing for the image signal at the time of erasure is different from the image processing for the image signal at the time of light emission, for example, brightness inversion processing is not performed. Therefore, in the erasing image signal after image processing, similarly to the erasing image signal before image processing, when the intensity of reflected light in a certain area of the imaging plate 10 is large, the brightness value of the reflected light image of the certain area becomes larger. On the other hand, when the intensity of the reflected light in a certain area of the imaging plate 10 is low, the brightness value of the reflected light image in the certain area becomes small. Hereinafter, the entire image at the time of erasure 200 based on the image signal at the time of erasure that has been subjected to image processing that does not include brightness inversion processing may be referred to as the entire image at the time of erasure before inversion 200.

Note that brightness inversion processing may be performed in the image processing for the erased image signal. In this case, the entire image at the time of erasure based on the image signal at the time of erasure that has been subjected to image processing including brightness inversion processing may be referred to as the entire image at the time of erasure after inversion. The entire image at the time of erasure may include both the entire image at the time of erasure before inversion and the entire image at the time of erasure after inversion. Instead of the entire image 200 before erasing and inversion, the entire image after erasing after inversion may be used.

The part showing the image of the imaging plate 10 in the image signal at the time of erasure, the whole image at the time of erasure, the whole image at the time of erasure before inversion, and the whole image at the time of erasure after inversion is expressed as the IP image signal at the time of erasure, the IP image at the time of erasure, and the IP at the time of erasure before inversion. They may also be called an image and an IP image at the time of erasure after inversion, respectively.

In step s27, the display control unit 82 may, for example, cause the display unit 3 to display the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion and the entire image 200 at the time of erasure before inversion on the display unit 3. In this case, the display section 3 displays the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion in a gray scale as shown in FIGS. Image 200 may also be displayed.

29 and 30 are schematic diagrams showing an example of how a post-reversal light emission overall image 100b and a pre-reversal erasure overall image 200 are displayed on the display surface 3a of the display unit 3. FIG. 29 shows an overall image 100b during light emission after inversion and an overall image 200 during erasure before inversion when the imaging plate 10 does not include an unexposed portion. FIG. 30 shows an overall image 100b during light emission after inversion and an overall image 200 during erasure before inversion when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the display unit 3 may display the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion and the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion, for example, in the same size or side by side. Good too. In this example, the display section 3 displays the image brighter as the luminance value of the image is larger, so that in the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion, for example, a portion where teeth appear (that is, an IP excited region optical image) And the unexposed area image (in other words, the IP reflected light image or the IP non-stimulable reflected light image) 103b is displayed brightly. Furthermore, in the entire image 200 at the time of erasure before inversion, the portion where the imaging plate 10 is reflected is displayed brightly.

Preferably, in the display, the outer edge of the radiation image 101b occupies the outer edge of the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion, and the outer edge of the entire IP reflected light image 201 occupies the outer edge of the entire image 200 during erasure before inversion. Make sure the positions correspond. In this way, the position occupied by the outer edge of the living body radiographic image with respect to the outer edge of the living body radiographic image may correspond to the position occupied by the outer edge of the IP imaging plate shape image with respect to the outer edge of the imaging plate shape image. . By matching the photographing position of the biological radiographic image and the photographing position of the imaging plate shape image, corresponding arrangement in image processing becomes easy. Furthermore, even if there is a difference between the two photographing positions, it is possible to arrange them in a corresponding manner in image processing by understanding and calculating the difference.

In addition, instead of the entire image 200 before erasing before inversion that is displayed side by side with the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion, an image formed by extracting only the entire IP reflected light image 201, that is, an image of the shape of the IP imaging plate, is displayed side by side. You can also do this.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed part, and the erasure before inversion when the imaging plate 10 does not include an unexposed part. The overall image 200 is the same. The user can check the external appearance of the imaging plate 10 from the entire image 200 at the time of erasure before inversion (in other words, the whole image at the time of erasure) displayed on the display unit 3 . Note that the method of displaying the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion and the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.

In the example of FIG. 27 described above, the detector 40 detects the excited region light L20 from the imaging plate 10 excited by the excitation light L10 from the light source 30, and outputs an image signal at the time of light emission as the detection result. . After that, after the radiation image is erased from the imaging plate 10, the excitation light L10 is irradiated from the light source 30 to the erased imaging plate 10, and the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the imaging plate 10. do. Thereby, the reading device 1 can easily obtain both the radiation image recorded on the imaging plate 10 and the reflected light image of the imaging plate 10 using the same light source 30 and the same detector 40.

Furthermore, as in the examples of FIGS. 29 and 30, when the entire image when emitting light and the entire image when erasing are displayed simultaneously and separately, the user can easily compare the entire image when emitting light and the entire image when erasing. Become. That is, the user can easily compare the radiation image read from the imaging plate 10 and the appearance of the imaging plate 10. Thereby, for example, the user can easily specify that the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion. This point will be explained below.

When the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, no radiation image exists in a region corresponding to the unexposed portion in the entire image at the time of light emission. However, the user may wonder whether a radiographic image originally exists in the region, and no radiation image exists in the region due to a malfunction in the reading device 1, or because the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion. It is difficult to determine whether a radiation image does not exist in a region just by displaying the entire image during light emission. On the other hand, when the entire image during emission and the entire image during erasure are displayed simultaneously and separately as in the example of FIG. It is possible to easily identify that the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion by checking the radiation image obtained, checking the appearance of the imaging plate 10 from the display of the entire image at the time of erasing, and comparing the two. can. Furthermore, the user can easily specify the range of the unexposed portion of the imaging plate 10.

In the above example, the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP inclination angle based on the entire image at the time of light emission, but the image processing unit 81 specifies the IP inclination angle based on the entire image at the time of erasure (in other words, the reflected light image based on the image signal at the time of erasure). The tilt angle may also be specified. Similarly, the image processing unit 81 may specify the IP size based on the entire image at the time of deletion.

In addition, by modifying the configuration example in which the entire image during emission and the entire image during erasure are displayed simultaneously and separately, such as the examples in FIGS. Instead of such an image, a configuration may be adopted in which an entire image during light emission and an image obtained by binarizing the entire image during light emission are displayed simultaneously and separately.

The image processing unit 81 can specify the IP inclination angle and IP size based on the entire image at the time of erasing, in the same manner as when specifying the IP tilt angle and IP size based on the entire image at the time of emission. Specifically, the image processing unit 81 generates a binarized image by, for example, binarizing the entire image 200 before inversion and erasure. This binarized image may be referred to as a second binarized image. A binarized image obtained by binarizing the entire image 200 at the time of erasure before inversion is also an example of an imaging plate shape radiation image. The threshold value when binarizing the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion is, for example, larger than the luminance value of the area image 202 outside the IP image area included in the whole image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion, and when erasing before inversion The brightness value is set smaller than the brightness value of the IP total reflected light image 201 which is an IP image included in the total image 200 . As a result, the second binarized image is similar to the binarized image of the entire image at the time of light emission before inversion, and in the second binarized image, the area corresponding to the area outside the IP image area becomes a low brightness area. , the area corresponding to the imaging plate 10 becomes a high brightness area. The outer shape of the high-brightness region of the second binarized image has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10, regardless of whether the imaging plate 10 is exposed or unexposed before erasing. Based on the second binarized image, the image processing unit 81 calculates the IP inclination angle, the short side size, long side size and main surface area of the imaging plate 10, and the type of the IP size in the same manner as described above. can be specified. The IP tilt angle and IP size are specified by the image processing section 81 as a specifying section. As for the processing, the same processing as steps S11 to S18 may be performed after step S27.

In this way, even when the erase image signal representing the reflected light image of the imaging plate 10 is used to specify the IP tilt angle, the IP tilt angle can be appropriately identified. Further, even when the image signal at the time of erasure is used to specify the IP size, the IP size can be appropriately specified as in the case where the image signal at the time of light emission is used.

<About correction of the tilt of the IP equivalent part>
When the imaging plate 10 is tilted from the reference posture, the portion corresponding to the IP (in other words, the IP image) will be tilted in the entire acquired image, as shown in FIG. 20 and the like. In detail, when the imaging plate 10 is tilted clockwise from the reference posture, the longitudinal direction of the portion corresponding to the IP is the direction corresponding to the sub-scanning direction DRs in the acquired overall image (in FIG. 20, the longitudinal direction of the entire image 100a before inversion is direction), it will tilt clockwise. On the other hand, when the imaging plate 10 is tilted counterclockwise from the reference posture, the longitudinal direction of the IP equivalent portion is tilted counterclockwise with respect to the direction corresponding to the sub-scanning direction DRs in the entire acquired image. If the entire acquired image is displayed with the IP-corresponding portion tilted, the user may find it difficult to see the tilted IP-corresponding portion.

Therefore, the image processing unit 81 performs a tilt correction process to correct the tilt of the portion corresponding to the IP on the obtained entire image based on the IP tilt angle α specified based on the entire image during emission or the entire image during erasure. It's okay. When the obtained overall image to be corrected is the entire image during light emission based on the detection of the emitted light L2, in the tilt correction process, the tilt of the IP equivalent portion is corrected, so that the radiation image included in the IP equivalent portion is corrected. The tilt is corrected. On the other hand, when the acquired overall image to be corrected is an erased overall image based on detection of reflected light, in the tilt correction process, the tilt of the entire IP reflected light image in which the imaging plate 10 is reflected is corrected. The image processing unit 81 may perform tilt correction processing on the obtained entire image based on the image signal before the luminance inversion processing is performed, or may perform tilt correction processing on the obtained entire image based on the image signal after the luminance inversion processing is performed. A tilt correction process may be performed on the image. The display unit 3 may display the entire acquired image after the tilt correction process. The tilt correction process may be executed in the series of processes in FIG. 18, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. Further, the tilt correction process may be executed in the series of processes in FIG. 27, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. 27. The tilt correction process can be said to be a process for correcting the tilt of the IP-corresponding portion (in other words, the IP image) in the acquired overall image, in accordance with the tilt of the imaging plate 10 from the reference posture.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of tilt correction processing. In FIG. 29, the acquired overall image 250 before the tilt correction process is performed is shown on the upper side, and the acquired overall image 250 after the tilt correction process is performed on the lower side. The acquired overall image 250 to be corrected includes an IP equivalent portion (in other words, an IP image) 251 and an image 252 of an area outside the IP image area. In FIG. 31, the longitudinal direction DR1 of the IP equivalent portion 251 is shown by a broken line, and the direction DR2 corresponding to the sub-scanning direction DRs in the acquired overall image 250 is shown by a dashed-dotted line.

In the tilt correction process, the image processing unit 81 determines the center of gravity 251a of the IP equivalent portion 251 included in the acquired overall image 250 to be corrected. Here, the center of gravity 251a of the IP equivalent portion 251 coincides with the center of gravity of the high brightness area of the binarized image of the acquired overall image 250. The image processing unit 81 generates a binarized image of the acquired overall image 250, and determines the centroid 251a of the IP equivalent portion 251 of the acquired overall image 250 by determining the centroid of the high brightness region of the generated binarized image. be able to. Next, the image processing unit 81 rotates the obtained overall image 250 by the IP tilt angle α around the obtained center of gravity 251a. At this time, if the IP tilt angle α is positive, the image processing unit 81 rotates the obtained entire image 250 counterclockwise 255L by the IP tilt angle α, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the IP tilt angle α is negative, the image processing unit 81 rotates the acquired overall image 250 clockwise by the IP tilt angle α. As a result, the inclination of the IP equivalent portion 251 is corrected, and the longitudinal direction DR1 of the IP equivalent portion 251 becomes parallel to the direction DR2 corresponding to the sub-scanning direction DRs in the acquired overall image 250.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the tilt correction process is performed on the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion shown in FIG. 20 described above. As can be understood by comparing FIG. 20 and FIG. 32, by performing the tilt correction process on the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion, the tilt of the radiation image 101a included in the IP equivalent portion (in other words, IP image) 105a is appropriately corrected. has been done. The posture of the IP equivalent portion 105a in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion where the tilt correction process has been performed is the same as the portion corresponding to IP in the whole image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion obtained when the posture of the imaging plate 10 is the reference posture. The attitude is the same as that of 105a. The display unit 3 may display the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion after the tilt correction process in a gray scale as shown in FIG. 32, for example. Hereinafter, displaying the entire acquired image includes displaying the entire acquired image after the tilt correction process.

In this manner, the image processing unit 81 corrects the inclination of the IP-equivalent portion of the obtained entire image based on the IP inclination angle, thereby obtaining an IP-equivalent portion whose inclination has been appropriately corrected. In this case, the image processing section 81 functions as a correction processing section that corrects the inclination of the image of the imaging plate 10 (IP-effected light image). For example, when tilt correction processing is performed on the entire image during light emission, a radiation image whose tilt has been appropriately corrected can be obtained. Furthermore, when tilt correction processing is performed on the entire image during erasing, it is possible to obtain an IP entire reflected light image whose tilt has been appropriately corrected.

<About extraction processing for the acquired whole image>
The image processing unit 81 determines a cropped image of a target to be cropped in the entire image during light emission including a radiation image based on the IP tilt angle and the IP size, and performs cropping to cut out the determined cropped image from the entire image during light emission. Processing may be performed. Through this cutting process, a desired cutout image according to the IP inclination angle and IP size can be obtained from the entire image during light emission. The image processing section 81 functions as a cutting section that performs cutting processing. The cutting process may be executed during the series of processes in FIG. 18, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. Further, the cutout process may be executed during the series of processes in FIG. 27, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG.

In the cropping process, for example, an IP equivalent portion of the entire image at the time of light emission (in other words, an IP image) may be determined as the cropped image. In this case, the image processing unit 81 converts a portion corresponding to the IP of the entire image during emission into a cut-out image based on the type of IP size and IP tilt angle specified based on the entire image during emission or the entire image during erasure. Determine as. An example of the operation of the image processing section 81 when the image processing section 81 determines the IP-corresponding portion of the entire image at the time of light emission as the cropped image will be described below. Hereinafter, the type of IP size specified by the image processing unit 81 may be referred to as a specific size Z. In this example, Z has a value of 0, 1, 2, or 3.

In the cropping process, the image processing unit 81 sets a cropping frame for the entire image during light emission based on, for example, the type of IP size and the IP tilt angle. Then, the image processing unit 81 determines the portion within the cutout frame in the entire image at the time of light emission as the cutout image.

The shape of the cutting frame is similar to the nominal outer shape of the imaging plate 10 of the specific size Z. In this example, since the outer shape of the imaging plate 10 is a rectangle with rounded corners, the shape of the cutting frame is also a rectangle with rounded corners. The size of the cutting frame in the width direction is a value corresponding to the nominal width size of the imaging plate 10 of the specific size Z (also referred to as the nominal width size of the specific size Z), and the length of the cutting frame in the longitudinal direction is The size is a value corresponding to the nominal longitudinal size of the imaging plate 10 of the specific size Z (also referred to as the nominal longitudinal size of the specific size Z).

Here, the image processing unit 81 knows in advance how many pixels in the captured overall image each of the nominal short size and nominal long size corresponds to for each type of IP size. When P1 pixels corresponds to the nominal short size of a specific size Z and P2 pixels corresponds to the nominal long size of a specific size Z, the image processing unit 81 sets the short size of the cropping frame to the length of P1 pixels and sets the long size of the cropping frame to the length of P2 pixels. For example, if P1 = 800 and P2 = 1100, the short size of the cropping frame is set to the length of 800 pixels and the long size of the cropping frame is set to the length of 1100 pixels.

When the image processing unit 81 determines the outer shape and size of the cropping frame, the center of the cropping frame coincides with the center of gravity of the IP-corresponding portion of the entire image when light is emitted, and the longitudinal and lateral directions of the cropping frame are arranged so that the light is emitted. The cutting frame is arranged on the entire image at the time of light emission so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the entire image at the time. Note that, as described above, the center of gravity of the IP-corresponding portion of the entire image during light emission coincides with the center of gravity of the high-intensity region of the binarized image of the entire image during light emission.

Next, the image processing unit 81 rotates the cutout frame placed on the entire image during light emission by the IP inclination angle around the center of gravity of the portion corresponding to the IP. At this time, the image processing unit 81 rotates the cropping frame clockwise when the IP tilt angle is positive, and rotates the cropping frame counterclockwise when the IP tilt angle is negative. As a result, the portion within the cutout frame of the entire image at the time of light emission coincides with the IP equivalent portion. The image processing unit 81 determines, as a cutout image, a portion within the cutout frame rotated by the IP tilt angle of the entire image at the time of light emission. Thereafter, the image processing unit 81 cuts out the determined cutout image from the entire light emission image. Thereby, the portion corresponding to the IP is cut out from the entire image during light emission, and an image of only the portion corresponding to the imaging plate 10 can be obtained. The cutting process may be performed on the entire image during light emission before inversion, or may be performed on the entire image during light emission after inversion. Furthermore, for the purpose of determining the cutting range, the imaging plate range obtained as a result of binarization may be applied to the cutting frame without necessarily applying the nominal size.

FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how a cutting frame 150 is set for the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion shown in FIG. 16 described above. The biological radiography image, such as the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion, which is a target for cutting out, includes an IP image region and an image of a region outside the IP image region. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cropped image 151 within the cropping frame 150 in the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal is cut out from the whole image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal in the example of FIG. be. As shown in FIG. 34, an IP equivalent portion 105b is appropriately cut out from the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion. The cropped image 151 includes a radiation image 151a that is the same as the radiation image 101b (in other words, an excited region optical image) included in the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion.

The application of imaging plate shape data to a biological radiation image so as to cut out IP-equivalent portion 105b from overall image 100b at the time of post-inversion emission is referred to as imaging plate shape application processing. The imaging plate shape application processing includes positioning the imaging plate shape for cutting out the biological radiation image, setting a cutting frame, and extracting the biological radiation image as a cut-out image from the biological radiation image as a result of the cutting out.

FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how a cutting frame 150 is set for the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion shown in FIG. 17 described above. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cropped image 151 within the cropping frame 150 in the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal is cut out from the whole image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal in the example of FIG. . As shown in FIG. 36, even if the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal includes the unexposed area image 103b, the portion corresponding to IP 105b is appropriately cut out from the whole image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal. The cropped image 151 includes a radiation image 151a that is the same as the radiation image 101b included in the entire image 100b during light emission after reversal, and an unexposed area image (in other words, an image of an unexposed area included in the entire image 100b during light emission after reversal). The same unexposed area image 151b as the optical image (or IP non-stimulable reflection optical image) 103b is included.

When the cropping process is performed, the display section 3 may display the cropped image 151 cropped from the entire image during light emission under the control of the display control section 82. In this case, the display unit 3 may display the cropped image 151 in gray scale as shown in FIGS. 34 and 36. It can be said that FIGS. 34 and 36 are schematic diagrams showing display examples of the cutout image 151. When the cropped image 151 is displayed, the user can check only the necessary image out of the entire image at the time of light emission. As in this example, when the IP equivalent portion is cut out and displayed as the cropped image 151 from the entire image when the light is emitted, the user can confirm only the necessary IP equivalent portion of the entire image when the light is emitted. . Thereby, the user can easily identify that the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion by checking the display of the cutout image 151 as shown in FIG. 36, for example. Furthermore, the user can easily specify the range of the unexposed portion of the imaging plate 10.

Under the control of the display control unit 82, the display unit 3 may simultaneously and separately display the cropped image 151 cut out from the entire image at the time of light emission and the entire image at the time of erasure 200. FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cropped image 151 and the erased entire image 200 are displayed in gray scale on the display surface 3a of the display unit 3. FIG. 37 shows a cutout image 151 including an unexposed area image 151b. As shown in FIG. 37, the display unit 3 displays the cropped image 151 and the whole image 200 when erased, for example, the entire IP reflected light image (in other words, the IP equivalent portion) of the cropped image 151 and the whole image 200 when erased. Alternatively, it may be displayed so that the IP image) 201 has the same size. Further, the display unit 3 may display the cropped image 151 and the entire image at the time of erasure 200, for example, side by side. By displaying the cropped image 151 and the whole image 200 at the time of erasure simultaneously and separately on the display unit 3, the user can easily compare the cropped image 151 and the whole image 200 at the time of erasure. As a result, the user can check whether the IP-corresponding portion has been appropriately cut out from the entire image when emitting light by, for example, comparing the entire IP reflected light image 201 included in the entire image during erasing 200 and the cut-out image 151. can be easily identified.

The cropping frame 150, that is, the cropping range may be determined based on the entire image 200 at the time of erasure. In this case, for example, the range of the IP non-stimulable reflected light image (in other words, the entire IP reflected light image) in the entire image 200 at the time of erasure is specified by image processing of boundary processing, etc., and the cutout range is determined. The cropped image 151 may be generated by setting the cropping range to the entire image during light emission. At this time, acquisition of an IP binarized image may be used in the image processing for boundary processing. Positional application is possible by holding the imaging plate 10 in the same posture by the holding unit 20 during emission and erasing.

By modifying the configuration example in which the cropped image and the entire image during erasing are displayed simultaneously and separately, such as the example in FIG. 37, the entire image during erasing is replaced with an image such as the binarized image 500 in FIG. 21. , the cutout image and the binarized image of the entire image at the time of light emission may be displayed simultaneously and separately.

Similar to the above-described tilt correction process, the image processing unit 81 determines the tilt of the cropped image 151 cut out from the entire image during light emission based on the IP tilt angle specified based on the entire image during light emission or the entire image during erasure. It may be corrected. Thereby, for example, when the cropped image 151 after correction is displayed, the user can easily see the cropped image 151. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the tilt correction process also includes correcting the tilt of the cropped image 151.

The image processing unit 81 corrects the inclination of the cropped image 151, for example, in the same way as the above-described inclination correction process for the entire image during light emission. The image processing unit 81 also functions as a correction processing unit that corrects the inclination of the image of the imaging plate 10 (IP-effected optical image). Specifically, the image processing unit 81 first obtains the center of gravity of the cropped image 151. The center of gravity of the cropped image 151 coincides with the center of gravity of the high brightness region of the binarized image of the entire image during light emission. Therefore, the image processing unit 81 can find the center of gravity of the cropped image 151 by finding the center of gravity of the high-brightness region of the binarized image of the entire image during light emission. Next, the image processing unit 81 rotates the cropped image 151 by the IP tilt angle around the obtained center of gravity. At this time, if the IP tilt angle is positive, the image processing unit 81 rotates the cropped image 151 counterclockwise by the IP tilt angle. On the other hand, if the IP tilt angle is negative, the image processing unit 81 rotates the cropped image 151 clockwise by the IP tilt angle. As a result, the inclination of the cropped image 151 is corrected. Therefore, the inclination of the radiation image included in the cropped image 151 and based on the image signal at the time of light emission is corrected.

38 to 40 are schematic diagrams showing an example of how the cropping process is performed on the entire image during light emission, and then the tilt correction process is performed on the cropped image 151. In the examples shown in FIGS. 38 to 40, the cutting process is performed on the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion shown in FIG. 20 described above. As shown in FIG. 38, the image processing unit 81 sets the cutting frame 150 to the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion as described above. Next, the image processing unit 81 cuts out a cutout image 151 within the cutout frame 150 in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion, as shown in FIG. 39, from the whole image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 40, the image processing unit 81 corrects the tilt of the cut out image 151 based on the IP tilt angle. Thereby, the inclination of the cropped image 151 according to the inclination of the imaging plate 10 from the reference posture is appropriately corrected. The orientation of the cropped image 151 whose tilt has been corrected is the same as the orientation of the cropped image 151 obtained when the orientation of the imaging plate 10 is the reference orientation.

In the above example, the image processing unit 81 uses the IP-corresponding portion of the entire image during light emission as the cut-out image 151, but it may also use a part of the IP-corresponding portion as the cut-out image 151. An example of the operation of the image processing section 81 in this case will be described below.

Figure 41 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a holding unit 20 that holds an imaging plate 10. Figure 41 shows the state in which each fixed portion 22a of the fixed portion 22 of the holding unit 20 is in the close position. In the holding unit 20 (also called holding unit 20A) shown in Figure 41, when each fixed portion 22a is in the close position, the fixed portion 22 has an overlapping portion 220 that covers the peripheral portion 10a of the imaging plate 10. When each fixed portion 22a is in the close position, it has an overlapping portion 220a that covers the peripheral portion 10a of the imaging plate 10. The overlapping portion 220 of the fixed unit 22 is composed of overlapping portions 220a of multiple fixed portions 22a.

When the imaging plate 10 is held by the holding part 20A, the peripheral edge 10a of the imaging plate 10 is covered by the overlapping part 220 of the fixing part 22. Therefore, in the reading device 1, the entire image at the time of light emission in which the overlapping part 220 is captured is not visible. can get. The overlapping portion 220 of the imaging plate 10 may be considered as a gripped portion from the imaging plate 10.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before reversal, which is obtained when the imaging plate 10 is held by the holding section 20A. The entire image 100a at the time of light emission before reversal shown in FIG. 42 includes an image 120 (also referred to as an overlapping partial image 120) of an overlapping portion 220 of the fixed portion 22. The overlapping partial image 120 is an image based on detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the overlapping portion 220. The overlapping partial image 120 is composed of an image 120a (also referred to as an overlapping partial image 120a) of an overlapping portion 220a of a plurality of fixed portions (also referred to as gripping portions) 22a. In this example, the surface of each fixed portion 220a is subjected to, for example, black alumite treatment. Therefore, the luminance value of the overlapping partial image 120 included in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion becomes small. The overlapping partial image 120a is included in the IP image area outside area image 102a and is not included in the radiation image 101a constituting the IP image (IP image area optical image).

When the overlapping partial image 120 is included in the entire image at the time of light emission, the image processing unit 81 prevents the cropped image 151 from including the overlapping partial image 120 (in other words, the plurality of overlapping partial images 120a) in the entire image at the time of light emission. , a part of the IP equivalent portion may be determined as the cropped image 151. In this case, the image processing unit 81 sets the cropping frame 150 to the entire image during light emission based on the type of IP size and the IP tilt angle, for example, in the same manner as described above. The outer shape of the cutting frame 150 set as described above has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10 (in other words, the outline of the imaging plate 10), so at this point, there is no overlap in the cutting frame 150. A partial image 120 is included. FIG. 43 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cutting frame 150 is set as described above for the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion shown in FIG. 42. A plurality of overlapping partial images 120a constituting the overlapping partial image 120 are included in the cutout frame 150 set in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion.

Note that the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before reversal shown in FIG. 42 includes an IP image in a state where the fixed portion 22a overlaps the imaging plate 10 (that is, an IP image with a portion missing compared to FIG. 32). However, the cutting frame 150 according to the outer shape of the imaging plate 10 can be set, for example, as follows. For example, the first principal component axis and the second principal component axis are determined using a method similar to the method described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23. Although there is a reflection of the overlapping partial image 120a on the IP image, the amount of this reflection is not large enough to interfere with the calculation, so the first principal component axis and the second principal component axis are set in the same manner as above. can be determined. The maximum value of the width in the longitudinal direction of the high brightness region 501 and the maximum value of the width in the short direction of the high brightness region 501 in the direction along the first principal component axis and the direction along the second principal component axis, respectively. demand. Then, the maximum value of the width in the longitudinal direction of the high-intensity area 501 is set as the width in the longitudinal direction of the cutting frame 150, and the maximum value of the width in the lateral direction of the high-intensity area 501 is set as the width in the lateral direction of the cutting frame 150. . Alternatively, as described above, when storing the short side size and long side size of the imaging plate 10 of multiple types of sizes as the nominal short side size and the nominal long side size, respectively, the shape of the imaging plate 10 for each size is also stored. , it is also possible to check which size each of the obtained maximum values corresponds to and set the cutting frame according to the shape of the imaging plate 10 in each size.

After setting the cropping frame 150 to the entire image at the time of light emission as described above, the image processing unit 81 sets the cropping frame 150 to a similar shape, for example, so that the overlapping partial image 120 is not included in the cropping frame 150. to reduce the size. At this time, the image processing unit 81 reduces the cropping frame 150 in a similar shape so that the overlapping partial image 120 is not included in the cropping frame 150 and so that the cropping frame 150 after reduction is as large as possible. do. For example, the image processing unit 81 can specify the position and range of each overlapping partial image 120a in the entire image at the time of light emission, based on the binarized image of the entire image at the time of light emission. Then, based on the position and range specified for each overlapping partial image 120a, the image processing unit 81 prevents the overlapping partial image 120 from being included in the cropping frame 150 and makes the cropping frame 150 after reduction as large as possible. The cutting frame 150 is reduced in a similar shape so that it becomes larger. Then, the image processing unit 81 determines the portion within the cutout frame 150 after reduction in the entire image at the time of light emission as the cutout image 151. As a result, a cutout image 151 that does not include the overlapping partial image 120 and includes most of the IP equivalent portion 105a is obtained. FIG. 44 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cutting frame 150 shown in FIG. 43 is reduced. As shown in FIG. 44, the image processing unit 81 determines the portion within the cutout frame 150 after reduction in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion as the cutout image 151.

After determining the cutout image 151, the image processing unit 81 cuts out the cutout image 151 from the entire image at the time of light emission. FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the cropped image 151 shown in FIG. 44 is cropped from the entire image 100a before inversion.

In this way, when the image processing unit 81 determines a part of the IP equivalent portion as the cutout image 151 so that the cutout image 151 does not include the overlapped partial image 120, the overlapped portion 220 of the fixed unit 22 is A cutout image 151 that is not visible can be obtained. As a result, for example, when the cropped image 151 is displayed, the user is not distracted by the image of the overlapping portion 220, and can check only the portion that leaves as much of the image useful for diagnosis as possible. can.

Note that when the surface of the imaging plate 10 on the radiation image forming layer 11 side is viewed in plan, the end portion may be regarded as an ineffective area, and most of the area in the center of the surface may be regarded as an effective area. For example, in FIG. 44, the area inside the boundary indicated by the cutout frame 150 is regarded as the valid area, and the area outside the boundary is regarded as the ineffective area. This is because pressure may be applied to the edges (non-effective areas) of the imaging plate 10 during the manufacturing process, and in this case, it may not be possible to ensure that a good radiation image is accumulated in the non-effective areas. By displaying the cropped image 151 that does not include the overlapping portion 220 of the fixed portion 22, it is also possible to confirm only the image of the effective area.

Even if the image processing unit 81 cuts out the cropped image 151 that does not include the overlapping portion 220 from the entire image during light emission, the image processing unit 81 calculates the tilt of the cropped image 151 based on the IP tilt angle as described above. It may be corrected. In this case, the display control section 82 may cause the display section 3 to display the cropped image 151 whose tilt has been corrected.

FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion obtained when the imaging plate 10 is held by the holding section 20A. 47 to 49 are schematic diagrams showing an example of how the cropping process is performed on the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion shown in FIG. 46, and then the tilt correction process is performed on the cropped image 151. It is. The image processing unit 81 sets the cropping frame 150 on the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion as described above, and then, as shown in FIG. The cutting frame 150 is reduced in a similar shape so that the cutting frame 150 after reduction is as large as possible so that the cutting frame 150 does not become large and is as large as possible. Next, the image processing unit 81 cuts out a cutout image 151 within the cutout frame 150 in the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion, as shown in FIG. 48, from the whole image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 49, the image processing unit 81 corrects the tilt of the cut out image 151 based on the IP tilt angle. Thereby, the inclination of the cropped image 151 according to the inclination of the imaging plate 10 from the reference posture is appropriately corrected.

In this way, the image processing unit 81 determines at least a part of the IP-corresponding part of the entire image at the time of light emission as a cut-out image based on the IP size and IP inclination angle. When the light is emitted, it is possible to cut out the entire image appropriately. Note that since the fixed portion 22a is a portion that touches the end of the imaging plate 10 in order to fix the imaging plate 10, the overlapping partial image 120 normally exists only at the end of the entire image. Therefore, the cropped image may be determined to be an image of the central region with the edges including the overlapping partial image 120 removed.

Even if the overlapping partial image 120 is not included in the entire image when emitting light, the image processing unit 81 reduces the cropping frame 150 set for the entire image when emitting light to a similar shape, and reduces the size of the entire image when emitting light. A portion within the later cutting frame 150 may be determined as the cutting image 151. Even in this case, a part of the IP equivalent portion (in other words, IP image) in the entire image at the time of light emission is determined as the cropped image 151. Further, the image processing unit 81 enlarges the cropping frame 150 set in the entire image at the time of light emission to a similar shape, for example, and determines the portion within the enlarged cropping frame 150 in the whole image at the time of light emission as the cropped image 151. It's okay. In this case, in the entire image at the time of light emission, the portion corresponding to the IP and the surrounding portion (for example, a part of the image outside the IP image area or at least a part of the overlapping partial image 120) are determined as the cropped image 151.

In the cropping process, the image processing unit 81 determines a cropped image (also referred to as a second cropped image) to be cropped in the entire erased image including the entire IP reflected light image based on the IP tilt angle and the IP size. , the determined second cropped image may be cropped from the entire image during erasing. In this case, the image processing unit 81 may determine at least a part of the IP equivalent portion of the entire image at the time of erasure (in other words, the entire IP reflected light image) as the second cut-out image. Furthermore, if the entire image at the time of erasing includes an image of the overlapping portion 220, the image processing unit 81 determines the second cropped image so that the second cropped image does not include the image of the overlapping portion 220. Good too. Further, the display control unit 82 may cause the display unit 3 to display a second cutout image cut out from the entire image at the time of erasing. In this case, the display unit 3 may simultaneously and separately display the second cropped image and a cropped image (also referred to as a first cropped image) 151 cropped from the entire image at the time of light emission. The image processing unit 81 may also correct the tilt of the second cropped image based on the IP tilt angle. Further, the display control unit 82 may cause the display unit 3 to display the second cropped image whose tilt has been corrected. In this case, the display unit 3 may simultaneously and separately display the second cropped image whose tilt has been corrected and the first cropped image whose tilt has been corrected.

Note that when the imaging plate 10 is hardly tilted from the reference posture, the image processing unit 81 determines the first cropped image and the second cropped image based on the IP size without using the IP tilt angle. You may. In this case, the cutting process does not require a process of rotating the cutting frame according to the IP inclination angle. Hereinafter, displaying the cropped image includes displaying the cropped image whose tilt has been corrected.

As described above, the image processing unit 81 sets the cropping range for cutting out the IP living body radiographic image, which is an image based on the detection of IP-affected light, out of the living body radiographic image. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately cut out the image of the portion corresponding to the imaging plate in the biological radiographic image.

<About identifying unexposed area images>
The image processing unit 81 may perform unexposed identification processing to identify an unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 or an unexposed area image in the entire image at the time of light emission. The unexposed identification process may be executed during the series of processes in FIG. 18, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. Further, the unexposed identification process may be executed during the series of processes in FIG. 27, or may be executed at a timing different from the process in FIG. The image processing unit 81 functions as a specifying unit (also referred to as an unexposed area image specifying unit) that specifies an unexposed area image. By specifying the unexposed area image, it becomes easy to specify how many living body image areas there are in the acquired image obtained from radiography of the living body.

When at least a part of the IP equivalent portion is set as the first cutout image 151 as in the examples shown in FIGS. 39 and 45, the image processing unit 81, for example, A binarized image is generated by binarizing the image. Here, as shown in FIGS. 34 and 36 above, the first cut-out image 151 cut out from the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion is referred to as the first cut-out image 151 after inversion. Further, as shown in FIGS. 45 and 48 described above, the first cut-out image 151 cut out from the entire image 100a at the time of light emission before inversion is referred to as the first cut-out image 151 before inversion.

The threshold value used in the binarization of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion is, for example, smaller than the minimum brightness value of the radiation image included in the first cut-out image 151 before inversion, and The brightness value is set to be larger than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the image 151. For example, consider a case where the minimum brightness value of the radiation image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion is IL4, and the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion is IL2. IL2<IL4. In this case, the threshold value is set to IL50, which satisfies the relationship IL2<IL5<IL4, for example. As a result, in the binarized image of the first cutout image 151 before inversion, which is at least a part of the IP equivalent part, the part corresponding to the unexposed area image becomes a low brightness area, and the part corresponding to the radiation image becomes a high brightness area. It becomes an area. The image processing unit 81 appropriately identifies the unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 before inversion by specifying the low-luminance area in the binarized image of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion. Can be done. Note that if the imaging plate 10 does not include an unexposed portion, the binarized image of the first cutout image 151 before inversion does not include a low brightness area.

Further, the threshold value used in the binarization of the first cut-out image 151 after inversion is, for example, larger than the maximum luminance value of the radiation image included in the first cut-out image 151 after inversion, and The brightness value is set to a value smaller than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the cutout image 151. As a result, in the binarized image of the first cutout image 151 after inversion, which is at least a part of the IP equivalent part, the part corresponding to the unexposed area image becomes a high brightness area, and the part corresponding to the radiation image becomes a low brightness area. It becomes an area. The image processing unit 81 appropriately identifies the unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 after inversion by specifying the high-brightness area in the binarized image of the first cut-out image 151 after inversion. Can be done.

In this way, when the image processing unit 81 cuts out at least a portion of the IP-equivalent portion from the overall image at the time of light emission as the first cut-out image 151, it can appropriately identify the unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151.

In the unexposed area identification process, the image processing unit 81 may identify an unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 including an image of an area outside the IP image area. In this case, the image processing unit 81 may identify an unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 including the first cut-out image 151 included in the image of an area outside the IP image area. When identifying an unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 including an image of an area outside the IP image area, the image processing unit 81 ternarizes the first cut-out image 151 to generate a ternarized image.

The image processing unit 81 first compares the brightness values of each of the plurality of pixels constituting the first cutout image 151 with a preset lower threshold and an upper threshold. The upper threshold is a larger value than the lower threshold. The image processing unit 81 replaces the luminance values of each of the plurality of pixels constituting the first cropped image 151 with a first value that is less than the lower threshold value, and replaces the luminance value that is above the lower threshold value. Brightness values below the threshold are replaced with a second value, and brightness values above the upper threshold are replaced with a third value. Here, the third value is greater than the second value, and the second value is greater than the first value. As a result, the first cutout image 151 is ternarized and a ternarized image is obtained. Hereinafter, in the ternary image, the area where the brightness value is the third value will be called the high brightness area, the area where the brightness value is the second value will be called the medium brightness area, and the area where the brightness value is the first value will be called the medium brightness area. A certain area is sometimes called a low brightness area.

The lower threshold (also referred to as the first threshold) used in the ternarization of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion is, for example, an area outside the IP image area included in the first cut-out image 151 before inversion. It is set to a value larger than the brightness value of the image and smaller than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion. The upper threshold (also referred to as a second threshold) used in the ternarization of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion is, for example, the brightness of the unexposed area image included in the first cut-out image 151 before inversion. The value is set to be larger than the value and smaller than the minimum brightness value of the radiation image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion. For example, the minimum brightness value of the radiation image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion is 10000, the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the first cutout image 151 before inversion is 3000, and the first cutout image before inversion Consider a case where the brightness value of the IP image area outside area image included in 151 is 1000. In this case, the lower threshold is set to 2000, for example, and the upper threshold is set to 5000, for example. As a result, in the ternary image of the first cutout image 151 before inversion, the portion corresponding to the image of the area outside the IP image area becomes a low brightness area, the portion corresponding to the unexposed area image becomes a medium brightness area, and the radiation image The part corresponding to is a high brightness area. The image processing unit 81 appropriately specifies the unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 before inversion by specifying the medium brightness region in the ternary image of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion. Can be done. Note that if the imaging plate 10 does not include an unexposed portion, the ternary image of the first cutout image 151 before inversion does not include a medium brightness region.

The lower threshold (also referred to as the first threshold) used in the ternarization of the first cut-out image 151 after inversion is, for example, the maximum brightness of the radiation image included in the first cut-out image 151 after inversion. The brightness value is set to be larger than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the first cutout image 151 after inversion and smaller than the brightness value of the unexposed area image included in the first cutout image 151 after inversion. The upper threshold (also referred to as the second threshold) used in the ternarization of the first cut-out image 151 after inversion is, for example, the brightness of the unexposed area image included in the first cut-out image 151 after inversion. The luminance value is set to a value larger than the brightness value of the IP image area outside the IP image area and smaller than the brightness value of the IP image area outside area image included in the first cutout image 151 after inversion. As a result, in the ternary image of the first cropped image 151 after inversion, the portion corresponding to the image of the area outside the IP image area becomes a high brightness area, the portion corresponding to the unexposed area image becomes a medium brightness area, and the radiation image The area corresponding to is the low brightness area. The image processing unit 81 appropriately identifies the unexposed area image in the first cut-out image 151 after inversion by specifying a medium brightness area in the ternary image of the first cut-out image 151 after inversion. Can be done.

In this way, the image processing unit 81 can appropriately identify the unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 including the IP image area outside area image.

In the unexposed area identification process, the image processing unit 81 may identify an unexposed area image in the entire image at the time of light emission. In this case, the image processing unit 81 digitizes the entire image at the time of light emission into three values in the same manner as in the case of specifying the unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 including the image of the area outside the IP image area. Generate an image. The lower threshold value and upper threshold value used in ternarization of the entire image 100a during pre-inversion light emission are the lower threshold value and upper threshold value used in ternarization of the first cut-out image 151 before inversion. It is set in the same way as the threshold. The image processing unit 81 can appropriately identify the unexposed area image in the entire image 100a during pre-reversal emission by specifying the medium brightness area in the ternary image of the entire image 100a during pre-inversion emission. . In addition, the lower threshold value and the upper threshold value used in the ternarization of the entire image 100b during light emission after inversion are the lower threshold values used in the ternarization of the first cropped image 151 after inversion. and the upper threshold. The image processing unit 81 can appropriately identify the unexposed area image in the entire image 100b after inversion and emission by specifying the medium brightness region in the ternary image of the entire image 100b during inversion and emission. .

When the image processing unit 81 identifies an unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission, the display control unit 82 specifies that the unexposed area image is in the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission. Unexposed notification information 161 may be displayed on the display unit 3 to notify the existence of the unexposed image. Thereby, the user can easily recognize that an unexposed region image exists in the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion.

50 and 51 are schematic diagrams showing display examples of the unexposed notification information 161. In the example of FIG. 50, a first cutout image 151 including a radiation image 151a and an unexposed area image 151b and unexposed notification information 161 are displayed on the display surface 3a of the display unit 3. In the example of FIG. 51, the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal and the unexposed notification information 161 are displayed on the display surface 3a. In the example of FIG. 50, a border line 1510 that frames the range of the unexposed area image 151b is displayed as unexposed notification information 161 that notifies that the unexposed area image 151b exists in the first cutout image 151. . Similarly, in the example of FIG. 51, the border line 1030 that frames the range of the unexposed area image 103b is used as unexposed notification information 161 to notify that the unexposed area image 103b exists in the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after reversal. Displayed. The border lines 1510 and 1030 may be displayed in at least one color.

The unexposed notification information 161 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 50 and 51. For example, hatching such as diagonal lines added to the unexposed area image may be displayed as the unexposed notification information 161. Furthermore, the unexposed area image may be displayed in at least one color to display the unexposed notification information 161.

Further, as shown in FIG. 52, a frame-shaped figure 1511 surrounding the first cutout image 151 may be displayed as the unexposed notification information 161. In the example of FIG. 52, hatching is shown in the frame-like figure 1511 for convenience of explanation, but the frame-like figure 1511 does not need to have hatching, or may have hatching. Furthermore, the frame-shaped figure 1511 may be displayed in at least one color. Similarly, when an unexposed area image is specified in the entire image at the time of light emission, a frame-shaped figure surrounding the entire image at the time of light emission may be displayed as the unexposed notification information 161. Furthermore, the unexposed notification information 161 may be displayed as at least one of letters and symbols.

Note that if the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission does not include an unexposed area image, that is, the image processing unit 81 identifies the unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission. If there is no unexposed area image, the display control unit 82 may cause the display unit 3 to display notification information 162 notifying that there is no unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151 or the entire image during light emission. This allows the user to easily recognize that the imaging plate 10 does not include any unexposed portions.

FIG. 53 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of the notification information 162. FIG. 53 shows a display example of notification information 162 that notifies that there is no unexposed area image in the first cutout image 151. In the example of FIG. 53, a frame-shaped figure 1512 surrounding the first cutout image 151 that does not include an unexposed area image is displayed as the notification information 162. In the example of FIG. 53, hatching is shown in the frame-like figure 1512 for convenience of explanation, but the frame-like figure 1512 does not need to be shown with hatching, or may be shown with hatching. Further, the frame-shaped figure 1512 may be displayed in at least one color. When the frame figure 1511 in FIG. 52 is displayed as the unexposed notification information 161, the frame figure 1511 as the unexposed notification information 161 and the frame figure 1512 as the notification information 162 are displayed in different manners. Is displayed. At this time, the frame-shaped figure 1511 and the frame-shaped figure 1512 may be displayed in mutually different colors. Further, the frame-shaped figure 1511 and the frame-shaped figure 1512 may have different hatchings. Similarly, if there is no unexposed region image in the entire image at the time of light emission, a frame-shaped figure surrounding the entire image at the time of light emission may be displayed as the notification information 162. Further, the notification information 162 may be displayed as at least one of characters and symbols. Note that if an unexposed area image exists, the existence of the unexposed area image will be notified in a display mode different from the display of the frame-shaped figure 1512. It can also be said that the non-existence is notified.

As shown in FIG. 37 described above, the display control unit 82 displays the first cropped image 151 and the erased entire image 200 simultaneously and separately on the display unit 3, and the first cropped image When the unexposed area image 151 is included, unexposed notification information 161 may also be displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. At this time, a second cutout image may be displayed instead of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing. In addition, as shown in FIG. 30 described above, the display control unit 82 displays the entire image when emitting light and the entire image when erasing 200 on the display unit 3 at the same time and separately. When an unexposed area image is included, unexposed notification information 161 may also be displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 55. At this time, a second cutout image may be displayed instead of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing.

In addition, when displaying the first cropped image 151 that does not include the unexposed area image and the entire erased image 200 simultaneously and separately on the display unit 3, the display control unit 82 also displays the notification information 162 together. It may be displayed on section 3. At this time, a second cutout image may be displayed instead of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing. Similarly, when the display control unit 82 simultaneously and separately displays the entire image during light emission and the entire image during erasure 200, which do not include the unexposed area image, on the display unit 3, the display control unit 82 also displays the notification information 162 on the display unit. 3 may be displayed. At this time, a second cutout image may be displayed instead of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing.

As described above, the detector 40 according to the present example can detect not only the emitted light L2 from the imaging plate 10 but also the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the imaging plate 10 to some extent. Therefore, the reading device 1 can obtain a radiation image based on the detection of the emitted light L2 and a reflected light image (for example, an unexposed area image) based on the detection of the reflected light. Therefore, the convenience of the reading device 1 is improved.

For example, the reading device 1 uses the above-described overall image at the time of light emission, including a radiation image based on the detection of the emitted light L2 from the imaging plate 10 and a reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light from the imaging plate 10. Thus, it is possible to appropriately specify the IP size and the IP tilt angle.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 29, 30, 37, 54, 55, etc., the reading device 1 generates a radiation image based on the detection of the emitted light L2 from the imaging plate 10 and the reflected light from the imaging plate 10. By simultaneously and separately displaying the reflected light image based on the detection of , the user can easily compare the radiation image read from the imaging plate 10 and the appearance of the imaging plate 10 . This allows the user to easily identify, for example, that the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 28 to 30, 54, 55, etc., when the entire IP reflected light image, which is the reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light from the imaging plate 10, is displayed, the user For example, it is possible to easily identify whether or not an abnormality has occurred on the surface of the imaging plate 10. Abnormalities on the surface of the imaging plate 10 include, for example, scratches, dents, chips, dirt, and adhesion of foreign matter.

FIGS. 56 and 57 show an example of a radiation image 101b included in the entire image 100b at the time of inversion and light emission obtained by the reading device 1 when an abnormality occurs on the front surface of the imaging plate 10, and an example of the radiation image 101b obtained by the reading device 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP total reflection light image 201 included in a total image 200 at the time of erasure before inversion. In the illustrated example, the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion is used as the entire image at the time of erasing. FIG. 56 also shows an enlarged view 1010L of an abnormal region image 1010 showing an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 in the radiation image 101b. Further, FIG. 57 also shows an enlarged view 2010L of an abnormal region image 2010 in which an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 is shown in the entire IP reflected light image 201. 56 and 57 respectively show a radiation image 101b and an IP total reflection light image 201 when a scratch has occurred on the front surface of the imaging plate 10.

As shown in FIGS. 56 and 57, in the radiation image 101b and the IP total reflection light image 201, the brightness value of the abnormal area image 1010 showing the abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 may be different from the brightness value of the surrounding area. . On the other hand, even when a lesion such as caries has occurred in the tooth that is the subject of imaging, the brightness value of the area where the lesion occurs on the tooth may be different from the brightness value of the surrounding area in the radiographic image 101b. . Furthermore, unlike the example in FIG. 56, in the radiographic image 101b, the brightness value of the abnormal area image 1010 may be close to the brightness value of the area where teeth are photographed. In view of these points, it is not easy for the user to identify abnormalities on the surface of the imaging plate 10 based on the radiation image 101b displayed on the display unit 3.

On the other hand, teeth are not visible in the IP total reflection light image 201 of the imaging plate 10 that does not accumulate a radiation image as a latent image. Therefore, the user can easily identify abnormalities on the surface of the imaging plate 10 based on the IP total reflected light image 201 displayed on the display unit 3. That is, by recognizing the abnormal area image 1010 included in the IP total reflection light image 201 displayed on the display unit 3, the user can easily identify the abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10. The user may identify an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 based on the entire erased image 200 including the entire IP reflected light image 201 displayed on the display unit 3 . Further, the user may identify an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 based on the second cutout image that includes at least a portion of the entire IP reflected light image 201 and is displayed on the display unit 3 .

When the display unit 3 displays the radiation image and the entire IP reflected light image simultaneously and separately, the user can easily identify a region corresponding to an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 in the radiation image. Therefore, for example, if the user is a dentist, the dentist can easily exclude a region corresponding to an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10 from the diagnostic information in the radiographic image.

FIG. 58 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of the first cutout image 151 and the second cutout image 152 acquired for the imaging plate 10 having an abnormality on the front surface. In the example of FIG. 58, the IP equivalent portion 105b of the entire image 100b at the time of light emission after inversion is set as the first cutout image 151, and the erased IP reflected light image (that is, the portion corresponding to IP) 201 of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion is set. is set in the second cutout image 152. The second cutout image 152 has an abnormal region image 2010 showing an abnormality on the surface of the imaging plate 10. When displaying as shown in FIG. 58 is performed, the user identifies the abnormal area image 2010 in the erased IP reflected light image 201 included in the displayed second cutout image 152, for example. Then, based on the abnormal region image 2010 identified in the erased IP reflected light image 201, the user identifies an area corresponding to the abnormality of the imaging plate 10 in the radiation image 101b included in the first cutout image 151.

Note that the display control unit 82 may display the entire IP reflected light images of the plurality of imaging plates 10 simultaneously and separately on the display unit 3. FIG. 59 is a schematic diagram showing an example of such a display. In the example of FIG. 59, a plurality of second cut-out images 152 each showing the front surface of a plurality of imaging plates 10 are displayed on the display surface 3a. In the example of FIG. 59, the IP overall reflection light image 201 of the entire image 200 at the time of erasing before inversion is set as the second cutout image 152. As shown in FIG. 59, by simultaneously and separately displaying a plurality of IP overall reflected light images 201 showing the front surfaces of a plurality of imaging plates 10, the user can, for example, Among them, it is possible to easily identify the imaging plate 10 in which an abnormality has occurred over a relatively wide range. For example, the user may discard the imaging plate 10 in which abnormality has occurred over a wide range. Note that a plurality of entire images during erasure, each of which shows the front surface of a plurality of imaging plates 10, may be simultaneously and separately displayed on the display unit 3.

When the operation unit 4 receives a predetermined operation from the user, the display control unit 82 may cause the display unit 3 to display a plurality of previously acquired IP overall reflected light images 201 as shown in FIG. 59. Further, when the operation unit 4 receives a predetermined operation from the user, the reading device 1 sets the operation mode of the reading device 1 to a quality check mode for checking the quality of the imaging plate 10, and sets the operation mode of the reading device 1 to a quality check mode for checking the quality of the imaging plate 10. Among them, a plurality of IP overall reflected light images 201 each showing a plurality of imaging plates 10 may be acquired and displayed as shown in FIG. 59. A plurality of imaging plates 10 are sequentially loaded into the reading device 1 in the quality confirmation mode by a user. When one imaging plate 10 is inserted through the insertion slot 2a, the reading device 1 in the quality confirmation mode executes steps s3, s4, s21, and s22 in FIG. Obtain an entire image when erased that shows the front side of the image. Then, the reading device 1 executes steps s5 and s6 in FIG. 27 and discharges the processed imaging plate 10. When the processed imaging plate 10 is ejected from the reading device 1, the next imaging plate 10 is loaded into the reading device 1. The reading device 1 in the quality confirmation mode operates in the same manner to acquire an entire image during erasing that shows the front side of the next imaging plate 10, and ejects the processed imaging plate 10. Thereafter, the loading of the imaging plate 10 into the reading device 1 and the ejection of the imaging plate 10 from the reading device 1 are repeated in the same manner, and in the reading device 1 in the quality confirmation mode, a plurality of imaging plates 10 are each A complete image of the plurality of images is obtained when the images are erased. Thereafter, the display control unit 82 causes the display unit 3 to perform a display as shown in FIG. 59 based on the plurality of acquired overall images at the time of erasure. For example, based on the display in FIG. 59, the user identifies and discards the imaging plate 10 in which an abnormality has occurred over a wide range.

In addition, when the entire IP reflected light image is displayed, the user may, for example, place the imaging plate 10 face down, opposite to normal, in the reading device 1 and place the imaging plate 10 face down, front and back, based on the display of the entire IP reflected light image. It can be specified that the setting is reversed. In this example, the user generally inserts the imaging plate 10 into the reading device 1 face up, but the user may mistakenly insert the imaging plate 10 face down. When the imaging plate 10 is inserted face up and set correctly, the support plate 21 of the holding unit 20 supports the back side of the imaging plate 10 as described above. Therefore, as described above, the excitation light L10 is correctly irradiated onto the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10. On the other hand, if the imaging plate 10 is mistakenly placed face down and set upside down, the support plate 21 will support the front surface of the imaging plate 10, that is, the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10. Therefore, the excitation light L10 is irradiated onto the back surface of the imaging plate 10. Then, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the back surface of the imaging plate 10 and the region outside the IP image area R130, and outputs an image signal as the detection result.

Hereinafter, an image signal as a result of detection of reflected light when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down in the reading device 1 and set upside down will be referred to as a back loading image signal. Further, the entire image based on the image signal at the time of back loading is referred to as the entire image at the time of back loading. The entire image at the time of back loading does not include a radiation image, but includes, for example, an entire IP reflected light image showing the back surface of the imaging plate 10 and an image of a region outside the IP image area. Furthermore, the fact that the support plate 21 supports the front surface of the imaging plate 10 may be referred to as front surface support, and the fact that the support plate 21 supports the back surface of the imaging plate 10 may be referred to as back surface support.

In the above description, it is assumed that the imaging plate 10 is always placed face up in the reading device 1 and set correctly. That is, in the above description, it is assumed that the imaging plate 10 is always supported on the back side. Therefore, in the above description of the process in FIG. 14, the entire light emission image including the radiation image is obtained in step s2, and the entire light emission image including the radiation image is displayed in step s7. However, when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down with respect to the reading device 1, the entire acquired image obtained in step s2, in other words, the entire image based on the image signal output by the detector 40 in step s2 is , the entire image when the back side is inserted shows the back side of the imaging plate 10. That is, in step s2, the entire image at the time of back-loading, which does not include the radiation image, is obtained instead of the entire image at the time of light emission including the radiation image. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down into the reading device 1, the entire image is displayed at step s7 when the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down. In the reading process in step s2, if the imaging plate 10 is set correctly, the radiation image is read from the imaging plate 10, and if the imaging plate 10 is set upside down, the radiation image is read from the imaging plate 10. When inserting the back side, you can get a complete image of the back side.

Similarly, when the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down into the reading device 1, in the process shown in FIG. is the overall image when the back is inserted. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down into the reading device 1, in step s27, two whole images are displayed when the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down. Both the entire image when the back is inserted, which shows the back side of the imaging plate 10, and the entire image when erased, which is obtained when the erased imaging plate 10 is held by the holding unit 20, do not include radiation images and are composed only of reflected light images. has been done.

FIG. 60 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an IP total reflection light image 301 included in the total image at the time of reverse insertion. In this example, information specific to the back surface (also referred to as back surface specific information) is shown on the back surface of the imaging plate 10. It can also be said that the back side specific information is information that is not shown on the front side of the imaging plate 10. Further, it can be said that the back surface specific information is back surface identification information or a back surface identifier for identifying the back surface of the imaging plate 10. The back side specific information includes, for example, characters indicating the type of size of the imaging plate 10, characters indicating the manufacturer of the imaging plate 10, a bar code, and the like. The barcode included in the back side unique information may indicate the serial number of the imaging plate 10, for example.

As shown in FIG. 60, the IP overall reflected light image 301 showing the back surface of the imaging plate 10 includes an image 302 of information specific to the back surface. The image 302 includes a character image 304 indicating the type of size of the imaging plate 10, a character image 305 indicating the manufacturer of the imaging plate 10, and a barcode image 303.

When the display unit 3 displays the entire image at the time of reverse loading, the user can check whether the imaging plate 10 is inserted face down into the reading device 1 based on the entire IP reflected light image 301 included in the displayed overall image at the time of reverse loading. In other words, it can be determined that the imaging plate 10 has been set upside down. Specifically, the user identifies that the imaging plate 10 has been placed face down into the reading device 1 by recognizing the image 302 of back side specific information included in the displayed IP overall reflected light image 301. can do. In this way, the user can recognize that the imaging plate 10 has not been correctly inserted into the reading device 1.

From a different point of view, the user can recognize that the image of the back surface specific information is not included in the entire IP reflected light image displayed on the display unit 3, so that the imaging plate 10 can be correctly oriented face-up with the reader 1. It can also be said that it is possible to specify that the imaging plate 10 has been placed in the image plate 10, that is, that the imaging plate 10 has been correctly set.

The back surface specific information shown on the back surface of the imaging plate 10 is not limited to the above. For example, the back side specific information may include a two-dimensional barcode. Further, the back surface specific information may include characters, symbols, or figures shown in at least one of the four corners of the back surface of the imaging plate 10. Further, the back surface specific information may be the minimum necessary information only for identifying the back surface of the imaging plate 10.

The image processing unit 81 cuts out at least a second cut-out image including at least a part of the entire IP reflected light image from the entire image at the time of erasing, as well as when cutting out a second cropped image including at least a part of the entire IP reflected light image from the entire image at the time of erasing. A portion may be cut out as a cutout image. In this case, the display control unit 82 may cause the display unit 3 to display at least a portion of the entire IP reflected light image 301 cut out from the entire image at the time of reverse insertion. Thereby, the user can identify that the imaging plate 10 has been mistakenly placed face down into the reading device 1 based on at least a portion of the displayed IP total reflected light image 301.

In the above example, back-side specific information shown on the back side of the imaging plate 10 is used to allow the user to identify that the imaging plate 10 has been placed face down in the reading device 1, but information specific to the front side (also called front-side specific information) shown on the front side of the imaging plate 10 may also be used. Front-side specific information can also be said to be information that is not shown on the back side of the imaging plate 10. In addition, front-side specific information can also be said to be front-side identification information or a front-side identifier for identifying the front side of the imaging plate 10.

FIG. 61 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the imaging plate 10 in which the front surface specific information 1000 is shown on the front surface 10x. As shown in FIG. 61, the front specific information 1000 may include characters. The characters included in the front surface specific information 1000 may be characters indicating the manufacturing company of the imaging plate 10, for example, the initials of the name of the manufacturing company of the imaging plate 10. The front surface specific information 1000 may be the minimum necessary information only for identifying the front surface 10x of the imaging plate 10.

On the front surface 10x of the imaging plate 10, the radiation image forming layer 11 is provided so as to avoid the front surface specific information 1000. In this example, the overall image at the time of emission based on the detection of the emitted light L2 and reflected light from the imaging plate 10 includes a reflected light image of the front surface specific information 1000. For example, by confirming that the acquired overall image or the cut-out image displayed on the display unit 3 does not include a reflected light image of the front surface specific information 1000, the user can determine that the imaging plate 10 has been mistakenly inserted face down into the reading device 1, that is, that the imaging plate 10 has been set upside down. In addition, by confirming that the acquired overall image or the cut-out image displayed on the display unit 3 includes a reflected light image of the front surface specific information 1000, the user can determine that the imaging plate 10 has been correctly inserted face up into the reading device 1, that is, that the imaging plate 10 has been correctly set.

Note that the front specific information 1000 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 61. Furthermore, the front side specific information 1000 may be displayed on the front side of the imaging plate 10, and the back side specific information may be displayed on the back side of the imaging plate 10.

Furthermore, the imaging plate 10 may be provided with a convex portion 12 for the user to identify that the imaging plate 10 has been placed face down in the reading device 1, that is, that the imaging plate 10 has been set upside down. . FIG. 62 is a diagram showing an example of how the imaging plate 10 is provided with the convex portions 12. FIG. 62 shows the front side 10x of the imaging plate 10. In the example shown in FIG. 62, a convex portion 12 is provided on the periphery of the imaging plate 10. The convex portion 12 is provided on one side of the four sides constituting the periphery of the imaging plate 10, avoiding the center portion. In the example shown in FIG. 62, the convex portions 12 are provided on the short sides of the imaging plate 10, avoiding the central portion. The radiation image forming layer 11 is not formed on the surface of the convex portion 12, and the black alumite treatment is not performed. For example, the excitation light L10 is reflected on the surface of the convex portion 12 to the same extent as on the surface of the imaging plate 10. Regardless of whether or not the imaging plate 10 is set upside down, the overall image obtained based on the image signal output from the detector 40 includes the reflected light image of the convex portion 12 . Note that the convex portions 12 may be provided on the long sides of the imaging plate 10.

In this way, the convex portion 12 is provided on one side of the imaging plate 10, avoiding the center, so that the position of the convex portion 12 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the light source 30 side is always different when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the back side and when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the front side.

Similar to FIG. 62, FIG. 63 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the imaging plate 10 viewed from the front side 10x. FIG. 63 shows the imaging plate 10 shown in FIG. 62 rotated 180 degrees parallel to its main surface. 64 and 65 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the imaging plate 10 viewed from the back surface 10y side. FIG. 65 shows the imaging plate 10 shown in FIG. 64 rotated 180 degrees parallel to its main surface.

As shown in FIGS. 62 to 65, the position of the convex portion 12 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front side 10x and the position of the convex portion 12 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the back side 10y are always the same. different. As shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front surface 10x side, the protrusion 12 is located on the side next to the side in the counterclockwise direction on which it is provided (the lower side in FIG. 62). ) in the clockwise direction (the upper side in FIG. 62). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 64 and 65, when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the rear surface 10y side, the protrusion 12 is located on the side clockwise next to the side on which it is provided (the upper side in FIG. 64). (the lower side in FIG. 64) than the adjacent side in the counterclockwise direction (the lower side in FIG. 64).

In this way, when the convex portion 12 is provided on one side of the imaging plate 10 while avoiding the center part, the imaging plate 10 is different when viewed from the front surface 10x side and when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the back surface 10y side. , the positions of the convex portions 12 are always different. Therefore, the position of the convex portion 12 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the light source 30 side is always different between when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the back side and when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the front side. . In other words, the position of the convex portion 12 when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the light source 30 side is always different between when the imaging plate 10 is set upside down and when the imaging plate 10 is set correctly. It becomes like this. Therefore, the position of the image of the convex portion 12 (that is, the reflected light image) in the entire image during light emission or the entire image during erasure obtained when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the back side is different from that when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the front side. The position of the image of the convex portion 12 is always different from the position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the overall image at the time of reverse insertion obtained when Thereby, by confirming the position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the entire acquired image displayed on the display unit 3, the user can confirm that the imaging plate 10 is supported from the front, that is, the imaging plate 10 is facing down. It can be easily identified that the document was inserted into the reading device 1 at the time of writing. In other words, the user can easily identify that the imaging plate 10 has been set upside down by checking the position of the convex portion 12 in the acquired overall image displayed on the display unit 3. From a different perspective, it can be said that the user can easily identify whether the imaging plate 10 has been set correctly by checking the position of the convex portion 12 in the acquired overall image displayed on the display unit 3.

In addition, the protrusion 12 may be detachable from the imaging plate 10, as shown in FIG. 66.

Further, a plurality of convex portions 12 may be provided on the periphery of the imaging plate 10. 67 and 68 are schematic diagrams showing an example of how two convex portions 12 are provided on the periphery of the imaging plate 10. FIG. 67 shows the imaging plate 10 viewed from the front side 10x, and FIG. 68 shows the imaging plate 10 viewed from the back side 10y. In the examples shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, the two convex portions 12 are provided on two opposing sides of the imaging plate 10, respectively. Furthermore, when the imaging plate 10 is viewed from the front surface 10x side (or the back surface 10y side), the two convex portions 12 are located at points symmetrical with respect to the center of the front surface 10x (or the back surface 10y). Even if the two convex portions 12 are provided at the periphery of the imaging plate 10 as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, the overall image during light emission or during erasure that can be obtained when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the back side. The position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the overall image is always different from the position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the overall image when the back is inserted, which is obtained when the imaging plate 10 is supported from the front. Therefore, by confirming the position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the entire acquired image displayed on the display unit 3, the user can confirm that the imaging plate 10 has been placed face down into the reading device 1, that is, the imaging plate 10 It can be easily determined that the card has been set upside down. In addition, by confirming the position of the image of the convex portion 12 in the entire acquired image displayed on the display unit 3, the user can confirm that the imaging plate 10 has been inserted into the reading device 1 face up, that is, the imaging plate 10 is It can be easily determined that it has been set correctly.

Note that each of the two convex portions 12 may be removably attached to the imaging plate 10, as shown in FIG. 69. Further, only one of the two convex portions 12 may be removable from the imaging plate 10. Further, when the imaging plate 10 is provided with at least one convex portion 12, front surface specific information may be shown on the front surface 10x of the imaging plate 10, and back surface specific information may be shown on the back surface 10y of the imaging plate 10. Good too.

As described above, the convenience of the reading device 1 is improved because the reading device 1 can obtain a radiation image based on the detection of the emitted light L2 and a reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light.

In the above example, the object to which the excitation light L10 is irradiated was the imaging plate 10, but the object may be other than the imaging plate 10. The object to which the excitation light L10 is irradiated may be, for example, an evaluation member having an evaluation pattern on its surface for evaluating the image quality of the radiation image read from the imaging plate 10 by the reading device 1.

The evaluation member has, for example, the same size and shape as the imaging plate 10, and is inserted into the reading device 1 through the insertion port 2a of the reading device 1. The evaluation member placed in the reading device 1 is held by the holding section 20 similarly to the imaging plate 10. The radiation image forming layer 11 may or may not be formed on the evaluation member. When the radiation image forming layer 11 is formed on the evaluation member, no radiation energy is accumulated in the radiation image forming layer 11.

When the holding part 20 holds the evaluation member, the above-mentioned irradiation target 1200 is composed of the holding part 20 and the evaluation member held by the holding part 20. Hereinafter, in the support-side main surface 1200a of the irradiation target 1200, the area where the image formed by the actuated light L2 therefrom is the image of the evaluation member will be referred to as the evaluation member image area or simply the member image area. The evaluation member image area can also be said to be an evaluation member presence area where the evaluation member exists on the support side main surface 1200a. Further, the area excluding the member image area in the detection range R110 is referred to as an area outside the member image area for evaluation or simply an area outside the member image area. The evaluation member image area corresponds to the IP image area R100, and the area outside the evaluation member image area (in other words, the area outside the member image area) corresponds to the IP image area outside R130.

70 to 73 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the evaluation member 900. FIG. 70 shows an evaluation member 900 (also referred to as resolution evaluation member 900A) for evaluating the resolution of a detected radiation image. FIG. 71 shows an evaluation member 900 (also referred to as a geometric accuracy evaluation member 900B) for evaluating the geometric accuracy of a detected radiation image. FIG. 72 shows an evaluation member 900 (also referred to as contrast evaluation member 900C) for evaluating the contrast of a detected radiation image. FIG. 73 shows an evaluation member 900 (also referred to as artifact evaluation member 900D) for evaluating artifacts in detected radiation images.

As shown in FIG. 70, a resolution evaluation pattern 902a for evaluating the resolution of the detected radiation image is shown on the front surface 901a of the resolution evaluation member 900A. For example, a line pair chart is adopted as the resolution evaluation pattern 902a.

As shown in FIG. 71, a geometric accuracy evaluation pattern 902b for evaluating the geometric accuracy of the detected radiation image is shown on the front surface 901b of the geometric accuracy evaluation member 900B. As the geometric accuracy evaluation pattern 902b, for example, a pattern in which a plurality of small dots are arranged in a grid pattern is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 72, a contrast evaluation pattern 902c for evaluating the contrast of the detected radiation image is shown on the front surface 901c of the contrast evaluation member 900C. As the contrast evaluation pattern 902c, for example, a plurality of rectangular patterns expressed in gray scale and having different brightness (in other words, shading) are arranged.

As shown in FIG. 73, an artifact evaluation pattern 902d for evaluating artifacts in the detected radiation image is shown on the front surface 901d of the artifact evaluation member 900D. For example, a monochrome uniform pattern is adopted as the artifact evaluation pattern 902d. For example, a pure white pattern may be adopted as the artifact evaluation pattern 902d.

In the reading device 1, the evaluation member 900 is held by the holding unit 20 so that the evaluation pattern faces the light source 30 side. In other words, the evaluation member 900 is held by the holding section 20 so that its front surface faces the light source 30 side. From this, the evaluation pattern of the evaluation member 900 is irradiated with the excitation light L10. Then, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the front surface of the evaluation member 900 (in other words, the member image area) and the area outside the member image area, and outputs an image signal as the detection result.

Hereinafter, an image signal as a detection result of reflected light when the evaluation member 900 is held by the holding section 20 will be referred to as an evaluation image signal. Furthermore, the entire image based on the evaluation image signal is referred to as the evaluation overall image. The overall evaluation image shows the evaluation pattern and includes a reflected light image of the evaluation pattern (hereinafter also referred to as evaluation pattern image). The overall image for evaluation does not include radiological images. The overall image for evaluation consists only of reflected light images.

FIG. 74 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the reading device 1 when the reading device 1 acquires the entire image for evaluation in which the evaluation pattern is reflected. When the evaluation member 900 inserted through the insertion opening 2a of the housing 2 is held by the holding section 20 and the operation section 4 receives a predetermined operation from the user, step s51 is executed as shown in FIG. Ru. In step s51, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 to the reading start position under the control of the drive control section 83. After step s51, step s52 is executed.

In step s52, the light source 30 irradiates the front surface and outer region of the evaluation member 900 with excitation light L10. Then, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the excitation light L10 on the front and outer regions of the evaluation member 900, and outputs an evaluation image signal as the detection result. The evaluation image signal is a grayscale image signal.

After step s52, in step s53, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 to the ejection position under the control of the drive control section 83. Next, in step s54, the evaluation member 900 is discharged to the outlet 2b of the casing 2. Then, in step s55, the display control section 82 causes the display section 3 to display, for example, a gray scale image for evaluation based on the evaluation image signal. When the resolution evaluation member 900A is inserted into the reading device 1, in step s55, an overall image for evaluation including an image of the resolution evaluation pattern 902a is displayed. When the geometric accuracy evaluation member 900B is inserted into the reading device 1, in step s55, an overall image for evaluation including an image of the geometric accuracy evaluation pattern 902b is displayed. When the contrast evaluation member 903C is inserted into the reading device 1, in step s55, an overall image for evaluation including an image of the contrast evaluation pattern 902c is displayed. When the artifact evaluation member 900D is inserted into the reading device 1, in step s55, an overall image for evaluation including an image of the artifact evaluation pattern 902d is displayed. Note that step s55 may be executed at any time after step s52.

The user can evaluate the image quality of the detected radiation image based on the evaluation pattern image included in the overall evaluation image displayed on the display unit 3. That is, the user can evaluate the image quality of the detected radiation image based on the evaluation pattern image displayed on the display unit 3. For example, the user evaluates the resolution of the detected radiation image based on the image of the resolution evaluation pattern 902a displayed on the display unit 3. Further, the user evaluates the geometric accuracy of the detected radiation image based on the image of the geometric accuracy evaluation pattern 902b displayed on the display unit 3. Further, the user evaluates the contrast of the detected radiation image based on the image of the contrast evaluation pattern 902c displayed on the display unit 3. Further, the user evaluates the artifact of the detected radiation image based on the image of the artifact evaluation pattern 902d displayed on the display unit 3.

In this way, in this example, the light source 30 and the detector 40 for obtaining a detected radiation image are used, and the evaluation image signal as the detection result of the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the front surface of the evaluation member 900 is obtained. It has been obtained. Therefore, the image quality of the detected radiation image can be appropriately evaluated based on the evaluation pattern image included in the reflected light image based on the evaluation image signal.

The evaluation member 900 may be made of paper, resin, or metal, for example. Moreover, the evaluation pattern may be printed and formed on the front surface of the evaluation member 900. Furthermore, at least one of the resolution evaluation pattern 902a and the geometric accuracy evaluation pattern 902b may be configured with unevenness on the front surface of the evaluation member 900. When the evaluation pattern is printed on the front surface of the evaluation member 900, a highly accurate evaluation pattern can be obtained using printing technology. Therefore, the image quality of the detected radiation image can be evaluated more appropriately. Furthermore, the evaluation member 900 may be made of printed paper on which an evaluation pattern is printed. In this case, the image quality of the detected radiation image can be evaluated using the inexpensive evaluation member 900. The evaluation member 900 may be made of cardboard.

<Other configuration examples of the reading device>
In the above example, the holding unit 20 moves, but the holding unit 20 does not have to move. In this case, the light source 30, the detector 40, and the erasing light source 70 move while the holding unit 20 is stopped, thereby realizing the same processing as described above in the reading device 1. Also, the light source 30, the detector 40, the erasing light source 70, and the holding unit 20 may move.

Further, the reading device 1 may include a plurality of light sources. FIG. 73 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reading device 1 (also referred to as reading device 1A) including two light sources.

As shown in FIG. 75, the reading device 1A includes the above-described light source 30 and another light source 130. The light source 130 can irradiate the imaging plate 10 or the evaluation member 900 held by the holding part 20 with the irradiation light L11. The light source 130 has, for example, the same configuration as the light source 30, and can scan the irradiation light L11 in the main scanning direction DRm. The irradiation light L11 is, for example, visible laser light. The wavelength of the irradiation light L11 may be the same as or different from the wavelength of the excitation light L10. The light source 130, like the light source 30, is controlled by the light emission control section 86. It can also be said that the irradiation light L11 is the action light L1.

The light source 130 may be used, for example, in step s22 of FIG. 27 described above. In this case, in step s22, the light source 130 instead of the light source 30 irradiates the front surface of the erased imaging plate 10 (in other words, the IP image area) and the area outside the IP image area with the irradiation light L11. In step s22, like the light source 30, the light source 130 repeatedly performs a process of scanning the irradiation light L11 on the imaging plate 10 and the area outside the IP image area in the main scanning direction DRm under the control of the light emission control unit 86. On the other hand, in step s22, the drive section 50 moves the holding section 20 holding the imaging plate 10 in the sub-scanning direction DRs, similarly to the above-described reading process. While the holding unit 20 is moving in the sub-scanning direction DRs, the process of scanning the irradiation light L11 in the main scanning direction DRm is repeatedly executed, so that the irradiation light L11 is applied to the imaging plate 10 similarly to the excitation light L10. And the area outside the IP image area is raster scanned. In step s22, while the irradiation light L11 is raster-scanned with respect to the imaging plate 10, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the irradiation light L11 from the imaging plate 10, and generates an erasing image signal as the detection result. Output. The entire image at the time of erasing based on this image signal at the time of erasing includes the entire IP reflected light image and the image of the area outside the IP image area, as well as the entire image at the time of erasing described above based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10, and the radiation image Does not include. In step s27 of FIG. 27, the entire image at the time of erasing is displayed based on the detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11. The reading device 1A can use the entire erasing image based on the detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11, as well as the entire erasing image based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10. For example, the reading device 1A may specify the IP inclination angle or the IP size based on the entire image at the time of erasing based on the detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11. The reflected light of the irradiation light L11 is included in the affected light L2.

Note that when the processing of FIG. 27 is executed by the reading device 1A when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down into the reading device 1A, in step s22, the above-mentioned back loading is performed based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10. Similar to the overall image at the time, an overall image at the time of reverse loading is obtained based on the detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11. The user can specify that the imaging plate 10 has been placed face down into the reading apparatus 1A based on the entire image displayed on the display unit 3 of the reading apparatus 1A when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down.

Further, the light source 130 may be used, for example, in step s52 of FIG. 74 described above. In this case, in the reading device 1A, in step s52, the light source 130 instead of the light source 30 irradiates the front surface of the evaluation member 900 and the area outside the member image area with the irradiation light L11. The operation of the reading device 1A in step s52 is similar to the operation of the reading device 1A in step s22 described above. In step s52, while the irradiation light L11 is raster-scanned with respect to the evaluation member 900 and the region outside the member image region, the detector 40 detects the reflected light of the irradiation light L11 from the evaluation member 900 and the outer region. , and outputs an evaluation image signal as the detection result. The overall image for evaluation based on this image signal for evaluation includes an evaluation pattern image and does not include a radiation image, similarly to the above-mentioned overall image for evaluation based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10. In step s55 of FIG. 74, an overall evaluation image based on detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11 is displayed on the display unit 3 based on the evaluation image signal obtained in step s52. The user can evaluate the image quality of the detected radiation image based on the evaluation pattern image included in the overall evaluation image displayed on the display unit 3 of the reading device 1A.

The reading device 1 may include multiple detectors. FIG. 76 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reading device 1 (also referred to as reading device 1B) including two detectors and one light source.

As shown in FIG. 76, the reading device 1B includes the above-described detector 40 and a detector 140 different from the detector 40. Further, the reading device 1B includes a light source 30 and does not include a light source 130. Detector 140 has a similar configuration to detector 40, for example. Similar to the detector 40, the detector 140 can detect the emitted light L2 from the imaging plate 10. Further, like the detector 40, the detector 140 receives the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the imaging plate 10 or the evaluation member 900, and the reflection of the excitation light L10 from the region outside the IP image region or the region outside the member image region. It can detect light.

The detector 140 may be used, for example, in step s22 of FIG. 27 described above. In this case, in the reading device 1B, in step s22, while the light source 30 is raster scanning the front surface of the erased imaging plate 10 and the area outside the IP image area, the detector 140 scans the imaging plate 10 and the IP image area. The reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the outside area is detected, and an erasing image signal is output as the detection result. The entire image at the time of erasing based on the image signal at the time of erasing includes the entire IP reflected light image and the image of the area outside the IP image area, but does not include the radiation image, similar to the entire image at the time of erasing described above. The reading device 1B can perform various processes such as specifying the IP tilt angle based on the entire image at the time of erasure acquired in step s22.

Note that when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down in the reading apparatus 1B and the process of FIG. An overall image of the back side of the plate 10 is obtained when the back side is inserted.

The detector 140 may also be used, for example, in step s52 of FIG. 74 described above. In this case, in the reading device 1B, in step s52, while the light source 30 is raster scanning the front surface of the evaluation member 900 and the area outside the member image area, the detector 140 scans the evaluation member 900 and the member image. The reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the outside area is detected, and an image signal for evaluation is output as the detection result. The overall image for evaluation based on this image signal for evaluation includes an evaluation pattern image and does not include a radiation image, similar to the overall evaluation image described above.

The reading device 1 may include multiple detectors and multiple light sources. FIG. 77 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reading device 1 (also referred to as reading device 1C) including detectors 40 and 140 and light sources 30 and 130.

The reading device 1C may use the detector 140 and the light source 130, for example, in step s22 of FIG. 27 described above. In this case, in step s22, in the reading device 1C, while the light source 130 is raster scanning the front surface of the erased imaging plate 10 and the area outside the IP image area, the detector 140 scans the imaging plate 10 and the IP image area. The reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the outside area is detected, and an erasing image signal is output as the detection result. The entire image at the time of erasing based on the image signal at the time of erasing includes the entire IP reflected light image and the image of the area outside the IP image area, but does not include the radiation image, similar to the entire image at the time of erasing described above. Note that when the processing of FIG. 24 is executed by the reading device 1C when the imaging plate 10 is placed face down into the reading device 1C, an acquired overall image showing the back side of the imaging plate 10 is obtained in step s22.

Further, the reading device 1C may use the detector 140 and the light source 130, for example, in step s52 of FIG. 74 described above. In this case, in the reading device 1C, in step s52, while the light source 130 is raster scanning the front surface of the evaluation member 900 and the area outside the member image area, the detector 140 scans the evaluation member 900 and the member image. The reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the outside region is detected, and an image signal for evaluation is output as the detection result. The overall evaluation image based on this evaluation image signal includes an evaluation pattern image and does not include a radiation image, like the evaluation overall image described above.

In the reading devices 1A and 1C, the light source 130 may output light other than visible light as the irradiated light L11. For example, the irradiated light L11 may be infrared light or ultraviolet light. In this case, detectors capable of detecting infrared light or ultraviolet light are used as the detectors 40 and 140.

Further, in the reading devices 1B and 1C, the detector 140 that detects the reflected light of the irradiation light L11 may include, for example, a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor used in a camera. CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device, and CMOS is an abbreviation for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

In addition, in the reading device 1C, the light source 130 does not scan the irradiation light L11 but, like the erasing light source 70, uses the irradiation light L11 to cover the entire range of the imaging plate 10 or the evaluation member 900 in one irradiation. It may be irradiated. In this case, the detector 140 may include, for example, a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor used in a camera.

Further, in the reading devices 1B and 1C, the detector 40 does not need to be able to detect the reflected light of the excitation light L10. In this case, the optical filter 42 of the detector 40 does not need to transmit the excitation light L10. Furthermore, in the reading device 1C, the detector 40 does not need to be able to detect the reflected light of the irradiation light L11. In this case, the optical filter 42 of the detector 40 does not need to transmit the irradiation light L11.

In the entire image during light emission obtained when the detector 40 does not detect the reflected light of the excitation light L10, when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed part, the brightness value of the unexposed area image and the area outside the IP image area This value is similar to the brightness value of the image. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the image processing unit 81 cannot specify the IP inclination angle and the IP size based on the entire image at the time of light emission in the method using the binarized image as described above. becomes difficult. However, even if the imaging plate 10 includes an unexposed portion, the image processing unit 81 determines the IP tilt angle and the IP size based on the entire image at the time of erasure based on the image signal at the time of erasure outputted by the detector 140. can be appropriately specified as described above.

Further, in the reading devices 1B and 1C, the detector 140 does not need to be able to detect the stimulated light L5. In this case, the reading devices 1B and 1C can obtain the entire IP reflected light image without erasing the radiation image from the imaging plate 10. For example, the reading device 1B may operate the detectors 40 and 140 simultaneously in the reading process of step s2 described above. In this case, the detection of the excited region light L20 by the detector 40 and the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10 from the imaging plate 10 by the detector 14 are performed in parallel. The entire image based on the image signal output by the detector 140 is the same as the entire image at the time of erasure, and includes the entire IP reflected light image and the image of the area outside the IP image area, but does not include the radiation image. Further, the reading device 1C may operate the light sources 30 and 130 simultaneously and the detectors 40 and 140 simultaneously in the reading process of step s2 described above. In this case, the detection of the excited region light L20 by the detector 40 and the detection of the reflected light of the irradiation light L11 from the imaging plate 10 by the detector 140 are performed in parallel. In this case as well, the entire image based on the image signal output by the detector 140 is the same as the entire image at the time of erasing, and includes the entire IP reflected light image and the image of the area outside the IP image area, but does not include the radiation image. In this way, in the reading process, by obtaining not only a radiation image based on the detection of the excited region light L20 but also a reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10 or the irradiation light L11, the image shown in FIG. The processing of steps s21 and s22 becomes unnecessary. That is, in the series of processes shown in FIG. 18 described above, a radiation image based on the detection of the excited region light L20 and a reflected light image based on the detection of the reflected light of the excitation light L10 or the irradiation light L11 can be obtained. . Therefore, the operation of the reading device 1 can be simplified.

In the reading device 1 of the above example, a plurality of components other than the AC adapter 5 are integrated in the housing 2, but they do not need to be integrated. For example, the reading device 1 may include a display unit 13 located outside the housing 2, in addition to the display unit 3 provided in the housing 2, or instead of the display unit 3. FIG. 78 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reading device 1 (also referred to as reading device 1D) that includes a display section 13 on the outside of the display surface of the housing 2. The display unit 13 can also be called a display device 13.

The display unit 13 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device, and is capable of displaying various information such as characters, symbols, figures, and images. The display section 13 is controlled by a display control section 82 of a control section 80 inside the housing 2 . The display control unit 82 can control the display unit 13 through the interface unit 95 inside the housing 2, for example. Communication between the interface unit 95 and the display unit 13 may be based on USB, DisplayPort, or HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (registered trademark). . Further, the interface section 95 may be connected to the display section 13 by wire or wirelessly. The display unit 13 may display the acquired entire image or may display a cut-out image. Note that in the example of FIG. 78, the display section 3 is provided in the housing 2 of the reading device 1D, but the display section 3 may not be provided. Further, the reading device 1D may include a plurality of light sources or a plurality of detectors, as shown in FIGS. 75 to 77.

79 and 80 are schematic diagrams showing other examples of the configuration of the reading device 1. In the reading device 1 (also referred to as reading device 1E) shown in FIGS. 79 and 80, a computer device 950 having some of the functions of the reading device 1E is provided outside the casing 2. As shown in FIG. 80, the computer device 950 includes, for example, the above-described display section 3, image processing section 81, and display control section 82. Computer device 950 may be, for example, a personal computer (also referred to as a general-purpose computer). In this case, the computer device 950 may be a notebook type or a desktop type. Hereinafter, in the reading device 1E, the housing 2, the plurality of components integrated by the housing 2, and the AC adapter 5 may be collectively referred to as the reading device main body 9.

The computer device 950 can communicate with the reading device main body 9. The computer device 950 includes, for example, a control section 951 having an image processing section 81 and a display control section 82, and an interface section 952 that communicates with the reading device main body 9. The computer device 950 also includes an operation unit 953 that accepts operations from the user.

The control unit 951 can integrally manage the operations of the computer device 950, and can also be called a control circuit. The control unit 951 can control the display unit 3 and the interface unit 952, for example. Further, the control unit 951 can perform processing according to a user operation received by the operation unit 953.

The control unit 951 includes, for example, at least one processor and a storage unit, and can be said to be a type of computer device. At least one processor included in the control unit 951 may include a CPU, or may include a processor other than the CPU. In the control unit 951, various functions are realized by at least one processor executing programs in a storage unit (also referred to as a storage circuit). In the control unit 951, the above-described image processing unit 81 and display control unit 82 are formed as functional blocks by at least one processor executing a program in the storage unit.

The operation unit 953 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The operation unit 953 may include a touch sensor that detects a user's touch operation. When the operation unit 953 includes a touch sensor, the touch sensor and the display unit 3 may constitute a touch panel display having a display function and a touch detection function.

The interface section 952 can communicate with the interface section 95 of the reading device main body 9. Communication between the interface section 952 and the interface section 95 of the reading device main body 9 may be based on Ethernet, USB, WiFi, or other standards. May be compliant. The interface section 952 may communicate with the interface section 95 by wire or wirelessly. The interface section 952 can be called an interface circuit, a communication section, or a communication circuit. The control section 951 of the computer device 950 and the control section 80 of the reading device main body 9 can exchange information with each other through the interface section 952 and the interface section 95.

In the reading device 1E, the control section 951 of the computer device 950 and the control section 80 of the reading device main body 9 cooperate to execute the various processes described above that were performed by the control section 80. In the reading device 1E, the detection control unit 85 outputs the image signal output by the detector 40 to the interface unit 95. The interface section 95 outputs the input image signal to the interface section 952. The interface section 952 inputs the input image signal to the control section 951. The image processing section 81 performs the above-described image processing on the image signal input to the control section 951. Then, the image processing unit 81 executes the above-described tilt angle specifying process, size specifying process, and cutting process based on the image signal after image processing. Further, the display control unit 82 causes the display unit 3 to display, for example, the entire acquired image based on the image signal after image processing.

The operation unit 953 of the computer device 950 may accept at least a portion of the plurality of user operations accepted by the operation unit 4 of the reading device main body 9. For example, the operation unit 953 may accept a user operation that instructs to start a series of processes in FIG. 18, a user operation that instructs to start a series of processes in FIG. 26, or a user operation that instructs to start a series of processes in FIG. A user operation that instructs to start a series of processes may be accepted, or a user operation that instructs to start a series of processes shown in FIG. 74 may be accepted. In this case, the control unit 951 notifies the reading device main body 9 of the user operation received by the operation unit 953 through the interface unit 952. In the reading device main body 9, the control unit 80 receives a notification from the control unit 951 through the interface unit 95, and executes processing according to the user operation received by the operation unit 953.

Furthermore, the operation unit 953 may accept user operations that the operation unit 4 does not accept, and the operation unit 4 may accept user operations that the operation unit 953 does not accept. Furthermore, if the user operation received by the operation unit 953 and the user operation received by the operation unit 4 conflict, the reading device 1E, for example, preferentially executes the process corresponding to the user operation received by the reading device main body 9. may be done.

Note that the reading device 1E may include a display section provided in the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like described above. Further, the reading device 1E may include a plurality of light sources or a plurality of detectors, as shown in FIGS. 75 to 77. Further, the reading device 1E does not need to include either the operation unit 4 or 953. Further, in the reading device 1E, the control unit 80 of the reading device main body 9 may execute some of the plurality of processes performed by the image processing unit 81 of the computer device 950 instead. For example, the control unit 80 may perform image processing on the image signal from the detector 40, and the image signal after the image processing may be input to the image processing unit 81.

As mentioned above, although the reading device 1 has been described in detail, the above description is an illustration in all aspects, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. Further, the various modifications described above can be applied in combination as long as they do not contradict each other. And it is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E Reading device 10 Imaging plate 30, 130 Light source 40, 140 Detector 81 Image processing section 100a, 100b, 200 Overall image 101a, 101b, 151a Radiographic image 103a, 103b, 151b Unexposed Area image 151 Cutout image L1 Excitation light L4, L40 Reflected light L5 Stimulated light

Claims (10)

A reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate,
a first light source that irradiates the imaging plate with excitation light;
a first detector that detects photostimulated light from the imaging plate due to the excitation light;
a second light source that irradiates the imaging plate with light;
a second detector that detects reflected light of the light from the imaging plate;
When the light emitted by the imaging plate under the action of at least one of the excitation light and the light is defined as IP-effected light,
The first detector detects the stimulated light from the imaging plate from the IP-effected light, and the second detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from the IP-induced light. , the first detector and the second detector output an IP applied light image signal that is an image signal as a detection result of the IP applied light,
A reading device comprising a size specifying section that specifies the size of the imaging plate based on the IP applied optical image signal. The reading device according to claim 1,
The size specifying unit specifies the type of the size based on the specified size. The reading device according to claim 1,
The first detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from which the radiation image has been erased, and outputs an erased IP image signal that is an image signal as a detection result of the reflected light,
The size specifying unit specifies the size of the imaging plate based on the erasing IP image signal. A reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate,
a first light source that irradiates the imaging plate with excitation light;
a first detector that detects photostimulated light from the imaging plate due to the excitation light;
a second light source that irradiates the imaging plate with light;
a second detector that detects reflected light of the light from the imaging plate;
When the light emitted by the imaging plate under the action of at least one of the excitation light and the light is defined as IP-effected light,
The first detector detects the stimulated light from the imaging plate from the IP affected light, and the second detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from the IP affected light. , the first detector and the second detector output an IP applied light image signal that is an image signal as a detection result of the IP applied light,
A reading device comprising: a tilt angle specifying section that specifies a tilt angle of the imaging plate from a reference posture based on the IP-effected optical image signal. The reading device according to claim 4,
A reading device comprising a correction processing section that corrects the inclination of the image of the imaging plate based on the inclination angle. A reading device that reads a radiation image from an imaging plate,
a first light source that irradiates the imaging plate with excitation light;
a first detector that detects photostimulated light from the imaging plate due to the excitation light;
a second light source that irradiates the imaging plate with light;
a second detector that detects reflected light of the light from the imaging plate;
When the light emitted by the imaging plate under the action of at least one of the excitation light and the light is defined as IP-effected light,
The first detector detects the stimulated light from the imaging plate from the IP-effected light, and the second detector detects the reflected light from the imaging plate from the IP-induced light. , the first detector and the second detector output an IP applied light image signal that is an image signal as a detection result of the IP applied light,
A display section;
and a display control unit that controls the display unit,
The display control unit simultaneously and separately displays an acquired image obtained from radiography of a living body and an imaging plate shape extraction image representing a shape of the imaging plate extracted by processing the IP-affected light image signal. A reading device. The reading device according to claim 6,
A reading device comprising: an unexposed region image specifying unit that identifies an unexposed region image of a portion unexposed to radiation in an acquired image obtained from radiography of the living body. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The first light source functions as the second light source and irradiates the imaging plate with the excitation light as the light. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
the first detector functions as the second detector,
The first detector is a reading device that outputs the IP-effected optical image signal. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
an image processing unit that performs image processing on detected image signals from the first detector and the second detector;
The image processing unit is configured to perform processing based on the detection of the IP-affected light in a living body radiographic image, which is an image obtained by scanning the imaging plate, which is a photoreceptor for living body radiography, with the excitation light. A reading device that sets a cutting range for cutting out an IP biological radiography image.

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