Inventors:
Francis R. Croteau - Burlington MA
Assignee:
Baird Corporation - Bedford MA
International Classification:
G01T 129
G06F 1552
Abstract:
The present invention is provides a digital image or frame processor that improves pulse height resolution and eliminates post facto data correction. The calibration, acquisition, and correction of all scintillation data is performed in an array mode (20. times. 20 data array; 20 word postamble) by this frame processor. To enhance speed, the control word is 48 bits wide to enable several functions to be performed in parallel. This frame processor incorporates bit slice computer technology in an arithmetic logic unit that cooperates with the other components of the system. In accordance with the present invention, this frame processor performs the following functions within the shortest data accumulation time of the camera, i. e. typically 10 milliseconds in the case of a gamma camera system: pulse height analysis settings for each detector; electrocardiogram digitization and recording; dual multiplexed buffer memory acquisition; field uniformity correction; background subtract correction; detector dead time correction; and radioactive decay correction. In consequence, this frame processor permits customized, narrower energy windows to be applied to individual channels in multi-crystal cameras (or to the regions of single crystal cameras).