FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to a system for digitizing radiographic films.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Film radiography is a well established technique for the non destructive testing of industrial components manufactured by casting, welding forging etc. Normally a source of electromagnetic radiation such as an x-ray machine or a radioactive material is used to provide a penetrating radiation which penetrates the object and the intensity of the emerging radiation from the object is recorded by a film. The film is processed and is evaluated for the condition of the component. This film is to be stored for a specified time as per the code of construction.
According to US Patent No. 4156775A, it is possible to scan the film radiographic using a specially built system. However, the system suffers from the drawback that it scans the film line by line and stores the images and the analog signal is received from the recording medium.
Patent publication No. US 2003219237 and all 2003237226 disclose an apparatus and method for digital recording of a film image, where the apparatus uses different monochromatic filters for storing images and reconstructing the same at the storing end.
It is known from E3436767, entitled 'Filter for digitizing an original using the reflection method', that a filter is employed which uses a thin film with predetenmined refraction index for placing on the original and allows the image to broken into gray levels. This is claimed to be useful for recording the image without affecting the paper quality.
Further, German Patent No. 4203447 discloses a method of digitization of analogue x=ray pictures for diagnosis. It converts data to digital form for transmission to distributed unit with information recorded for archiving. The system uses a line scan camera and digitizes the radiograph. This is mainly for medical purposes.
Treatment procedure for images e.g. video or film for measurement. Transformation or viewing-using initial digitization followed by compression transmission and or recording, decompression and final use is disclosed in Patent number:FR2695498. The patent is for digitizing video images. The raw information for the digitization is analog video image in this patent.
Patent number WO0068735 discloses a digital photographic back on which the image can be viewed and if required can be digitized.
The methods and apparatus hereinbefore described either use elaborate filtering arrangements. Also, none of the patents relate to digitizing radiographs of industrial radiography or of digitizing radiographic film images for which a need exists in the industry.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
It is therefore an object of this invention to propose a system for digitizing radiographic films whereby the image is digitized in a single shot.
It is further object of this invention to propose a method for digitizing radiographic films wherein the digital data is stored.
It is another object of this invention to propose a method for digitizing radiographic films, which has no moving parts.These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to this invention there is provided An apparatus for digitization of radiographic film, containing pre-recorded image, comprising of a backside illuminator for providing illumination through the film and provided with variable light to backside illuminator having variable size of aperture for viewing and recording, a digital camera, configured for viewing the image and correcting the field of view, for sending digital signals for interfacing with computer, a connecting flange between the two.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION;
This invention relates to an apparatus for digitizing radiographic films comprising a back side illuminator and a digital camera connected by a connecting flange.
In according with this invention, the system for digitizing radiographic films comprises a back illuminator and a digital camera.
The camera is placed in front of an illuminator and the film is placed in between the camera and the illuminator. The camera is used for taking the photograph. The required film is placed on the screen on a back illuminator system. A digital camera used in conventional photography with the required resolution is placed at the desired focus distance. While the radiographic film is illuminated from the backside, the image is photographed using the digital camera. This enables the image to be digitally recorded in the medium-a floppy disc or a memory device. The floppy disc image can be used for the storage of radiographic film images and can be permanently stored in either a compact disc or a hard disc drive and can be printed on paper. The digitized image can be used for transmitting through computers and used for enhancing the image through the computer software.
The main advantages of the invention are:
A system for digitizing the film is developed.
A standard digital camera is used for the purpose.
This is a simple method of digitizing the x-ray film.
The background illumination can be adjusted for the adjusting the light
intensity for suitable viewing.
The system is portable and can be used in any site or manufacturing
centre.
The digitized image can be printed out on paper for the records. The resultarrt image can be enhanced with computer software using image
enhancement software.
This is a cheaper and between quality method for observation and recording.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
This invention will now be explained in greater details with the help of the accompanying drawings where
Fig 1 shows the apparatus for digitizing radiographic films.
Fig 2 shows the digitized image of a radiograph of a plate weld and
Fig 3 shows the digitized image of a radiograph of a pipe weld.
Fig 1 shows the apparatus for digitization of radiographic films with a backside.
Back side Illuminator (2), a digital camera (1) and a connecting flange between
the two (3).
The backside illuminator is provided with the variable light to back light illuminator
with a variable size of the aperture for viewing and recording.
The camera (2) has the required sensitivity required relating to the radiographic
film.
The equipment is provided with the man machine interface having at least one
key to operate the camera and the apparatus is configured for viewing the image
and correcting the field of view, if required.
Fig 2 and 3 show the digitised images of the radiographs of a plate weld and a
pipe weld respectively where from it can be observed that the required sensitivity
of the image is seen on the image of the penetrometer used in radiography.

We Claim:
1. An apparatus for digitization of radiographic film, containing pre
recorded image, comprising of:-
- a backside illuminator (2) for providing illumination through the film and provided with variable light to backside illuminator having variable size of aperture for viewing and recording,
- a digital camera (1), configured for viewing the image and correcting the field of view, for sending digital signals for interfacing with computer,
- a connecting flange (3) between the two.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiographic film is a transparent sheet, not being a solid object, having prerecorded image.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-recorded image in the radiographic film is illuminated through and viewed in the transmitted light.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital camera (1), having the required sensitivity relating to radiographic film, converts the analog image in the film into digital image indirectly.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with man machine interface having atleast one key to operate the digital camera (1).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital signal is
obtained from analog image of the radiographic film by means of a
frame grabber card in the man-machine interface.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein digital signal is made available directly for signal processing with Digital Image Processing Software for image quality improvement.