Which component of the imaging system is responsible for converting photon data to digital signals?

The data acquisition system is crucial in the imaging process because it directly converts the captured photon data into digital signals that can be processed further. This component serves as the intermediary that takes the analog information generated by the detector and transforms it into a digital format. This conversion is essential, as digital signals are necessary for subsequent image reconstruction and processing tasks.

The other components play different roles in the overall imaging workflow. The reconstruction processor is involved in assembling the digital data into a coherent image after conversion. The detector array system is where the initial detection of photons occurs, but it does not handle the conversion to digital signals. Image processing software is utilized after the data has been digitized to enhance, analyze, or manipulate the resulting images, but it does not participate in the initial conversion from photon data to digital signals.