X-ray imaging apparatus and method of operating the same

Abstract

An apparatus including a scintillator panel which absorbs X-rays radiated from an X-ray generator and converts the X-rays into visible light; an image detector including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix array and charging the plurality of pixels with electric charges proportional to intensity of the visible light converted by the scintillator panel; a gate driver which selects a line in the image detector and applies a drive signal to pixels in the selected line; an automatic exposure request signal generator which generates an automatic exposure request signal as a trigger signal informing of X-ray radiation through detection of X-rays radiated from the X-ray generator; and a controller which controls a time point of performing an exposure operation depending on a state of the drive signal applied to the pixels of the selected line in response to the automatic exposure request signal is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
 a scintillator panel which absorbs X-rays radiated from an X-ray generator and converts the X-rays into visible light;   an image detector including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix array and charging the plurality of pixels with electric charges proportional to intensity of the visible light converted by the scintillator panel;   a gate driver which selects a line in the image detector and applies a drive signal to pixels in the selected line; and   a controller which controls a time point of performing an exposure operation depending on a state of the drive signal applied to the pixels of the selected line in response to an exposure request signal informing of X-ray radiation from the X-ray generator.   
     
     
         2 . The X-ray imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller completes preparation for the exposure operation after application of the drive signal is completed, when the drive signal applied to the pixels of the selected line is in an active state at a time point of receiving the exposure request signal. 
     
     
         3 . The X-ray imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a signal processor which processes the exposure request signal received from the X-ray generator; and   a read-out unit which reads an amount of electric charges in the pixels of the selected line.