A scintillator screen

Abstract

The scintillator screen comprises a flexible substrate, a first scintillator unit, a second scintillator unit and a packaging layer. The flexible substrate is bent along a central symmetry axis thereof to form a first wing portion and a second wing portion arranged oppositely. The first scintillator unit is arranged on one side of the first wing portion close to the second wing portion. The second scintillator unit is arranged on one side of the second wing portion close to the first wing portion. The packaging layer covers surfaces of the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit. The scintillator screen is designed by stacking two independent scintillator units with adjustable thickness, so that high-energy rays and low-energy rays can be captured by the corresponding scintillator units respectively in one exposure process, and two images with different energy characteristics are generated at the same time. The innovative design not only improves the detection efficiency and reduces the radiation dose, but also significantly reduces the potential radiation damage to organisms and precision devices. Double imaging (high energy and low energy) can be realized through one shooting, and the radiation damage is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of radiation detection technology, specifically to a scintillator screen. Background Technology

[0002] Detectors made from inorganic scintillators are currently widely used in various fields such as nuclear physics, nuclear medicine, radiology, industrial CT, geological surveying, security detection, and resource exploration. Among the many inorganic scintillator materials, alkali halide scintillators are particularly prominent, with thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI:Tl) being the most typical and widely used. Cesium iodide scintillators have long been considered the preferred choice for many applications due to their significant advantages, including high brightness (high light output, brighter images), high resolution (ability to distinguish finer structures), and high detection efficiency (strong ability to capture X-rays).

[0003] However, this mainstream technology faces a core contradiction: the thickness of a single scintillator screen is insufficient to meet the demands of detecting radiation with vastly different energy levels. Specifically, in the medical field, imaging soft tissues (such as breast tissue) requires low-energy X-rays. In this case, a thinner scintillator screen, due to less internal light scattering, achieves extremely high spatial resolution and reveals clear details. Conversely, when imaging high-density objects such as bones and metal components, high-energy rays are necessary for effective penetration. Therefore, the scintillator thickness must be increased to improve the capture probability of high-energy photons (i.e., detection efficiency); otherwise, the image signal will be too weak. When inspecting an object containing materials of varying densities, operators are forced to use scintillator screens of different thicknesses and perform multiple exposures. This directly leads to the inspected biological organism or precision device accumulating excessive radiation doses, increasing health risks and potentially causing radiation damage to the product itself. While thicker scintillator screens improve the detection efficiency of high-energy rays, their internal light scattering effect is drastically amplified, resulting in blurred images and a significant decrease in spatial resolution, akin to looking through frosted glass. While thin scintillator screens offer excellent resolution, they lack the ability to detect high-energy rays (low sensitivity) and produce poor imaging results when facing high-density objects, thus failing to meet detection requirements. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the problems existing in the prior art described above, this application provides a scintillator screen that can simultaneously obtain high-resolution and high-sensitivity images in a single exposure, thereby reducing radiation damage.

[0005] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this utility model provides a flickering screen, comprising:

[0006] A flexible substrate is bent along its central axis of symmetry to form a first wing and a second wing that are arranged opposite to each other.

[0007] The first scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the first wing near the second wing;

[0008] The second scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the second wing closest to the first wing;

[0009] An encapsulation layer covers the surfaces of the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit.

[0010] Optionally, the areas of the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit are equal.

[0011] Optionally, the thickness of both the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit is between 50 μm and 1500 μm.

[0012] Optionally, there is a preset distance between the encapsulation layer on the first scintillator unit and the encapsulation layer on the second scintillator unit, the preset distance being between 10μm and 500μm.

[0013] Optionally, the thickness of the encapsulation layer is between 10 μm and 400 μm.

[0014] Optionally, the flickering screen also includes:

[0015] The axis of symmetry is marked on the central axis of symmetry of the flexible substrate.

[0016] The bend mark is located on both sides of the axis of symmetry mark.

[0017] Optionally, the scintillator screen further includes: alignment marks, correspondingly disposed on the edge of the flexible substrate and one side of the bending mark.

[0018] Optionally, the alignment mark is an optical positioning circular hole.

[0019] Optionally, the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit have different thicknesses.

[0020] Optionally, the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit have the same thickness.

[0021] As described above, the flickering screen provided by this utility model has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0022] The scintillator screen of this invention includes a flexible substrate, a first scintillator unit, a second scintillator unit, and an encapsulation layer. The flexible substrate is bent along its central axis of symmetry to form a first wing and a second wing arranged opposite each other. The first scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the first wing closest to the second wing. The second scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the second wing closest to the first wing. The encapsulation layer covers the surfaces of the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit.

[0023] This invention utilizes a scintillator screen with a superimposed design of two independent scintillator units with adjustable thickness. This allows high-energy and low-energy rays to be captured separately by the corresponding scintillator units during a single exposure, simultaneously generating two images with different energy characteristics. This innovative design not only improves detection efficiency and reduces radiation dose, but also significantly reduces potential radiation damage to organisms and precision devices. Dual imaging (high-energy and low-energy) can be achieved in a single exposure, further reducing radiation damage.

[0024] Furthermore, this invention's scintillator screen achieves a significant breakthrough in imaging quality. By employing two scintillator units for separate imaging, the light scattering problem commonly found in single-thick scintillators is effectively avoided. Simultaneously, the controllable gap design between the two scintillator units further reduces optical crosstalk, ensuring image clarity. The high-reflectivity material used in the encapsulation layer also effectively improves light output efficiency, resulting in a significant improvement in the image signal-to-noise ratio.

[0025] Furthermore, this invention significantly reduces manufacturing difficulty and raw material consumption by folding and combining two scintillator units, while maintaining detection efficiency. This design also allows for flexible adjustment of the thickness ratio of the two scintillator units to meet different application requirements, greatly enhancing the product's applicability and market competitiveness. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the scintillating screen provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 2 The image shown is a top view of the flexible substrate provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0028] Figure 3 The image shown is a side view of the flexible substrate provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0029] Figure 4 The image shown is a top view of a flexible substrate provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit are disposed thereon.

[0030] Figure 5 The image shown is a side view of a flexible substrate provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit are disposed thereon.

[0031] Figure 6 The image shown is a top view of the first and second scintillator units provided in this embodiment of the invention after an encapsulation layer has been applied.

[0032] Figure 7The image shown is a side view of the first and second scintillator units provided in this embodiment of the invention after an encapsulation layer has been applied.

[0033] Figure Labels

[0034] 1. Flexible substrate; 11. First wing; 12. Second wing; 2. First scintillator unit; 3. Second scintillator unit; 4. Encapsulation layer; 5. Chip flip film; 6. Alignment mark; 7. Symmetry axis mark; 8. Bending mark. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. This utility model can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this utility model.

[0036] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in this embodiment are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this utility model. Although the illustrations only show components related to this utility model and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components, the shape, quantity, positional relationship and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed under the premise of realizing the technical solution of this utility model, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] This embodiment provides a scintillating screen, referring to... Figure 1 It includes a flexible substrate 1, a first scintillator unit 2, a second scintillator unit 3, and an encapsulation layer 4.

[0039] Reference Figure 1 The flexible substrate 1 is bent along its central axis of symmetry to form a first wing 11 and a second wing 12 facing each other. The flexible substrate 1 is made of a bendable material. Optionally, in this embodiment, the flexible substrate 1 is made of PI material, which has good flexibility, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. PI material can not only withstand multiple bends without damage, but also maintain stable performance in high-temperature environments, ensuring the reliability and durability of the scintillator screen in various complex environments.

[0040] Reference Figure 1The first scintillator unit 2 is disposed on the side of the first wing 11 near the second wing 12. The second scintillator unit 3 is disposed on the side of the second wing 12 near the first wing 11. This symmetrical layout design ensures that the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 can be precisely aligned and stacked when the flexible substrate 1 is bent along its central axis of symmetry, thereby achieving efficient dual-layer imaging. Specifically, the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are deposited on the first wing 11 and the second wing 12 using physical vapor deposition (PVD). PVD technology can precisely control the thickness and uniformity of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3, ensuring the quality and performance of each scintillator unit. In this embodiment, the areas of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are equal, ensuring precise alignment during bending. In this embodiment, the thicknesses of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 can be the same or different, depending on the actual situation. Optionally, in this embodiment, the thicknesses of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are different. The thicknesses of both the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 range from 50 μm to 1500 μm. For example, the thickness of the first scintillator unit 2 is 200 μm, suitable for low-energy X-ray imaging; the thickness of the second scintillator unit 3 is 800 μm, suitable for high-energy X-ray imaging. This thickness difference design allows the scintillator screen to simultaneously adapt to the detection requirements of different energy rays, improving the flexibility and applicability of imaging. Both the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are made of CsI:Tl (cesium iodide-doped thallium), which has high light output and good energy resolution. CsI:Tl is a widely used scintillator material, favored for its high brightness, high resolution, and high detection efficiency. Alternatively, the materials for the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 can also be other scintillator materials such as NaI:Tl (sodium iodide-doped thallium), LYSO (lutetium aluminate-doped cerium), etc., and the specific selection can be customized according to different application requirements.

[0041] Reference Figure 1An encapsulation layer 4 covers the surfaces of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3. In this embodiment, the thickness of the encapsulation layer 4 is between 10 μm and 400 μm. A preset distance, between 10 μm and 500 μm, exists between the encapsulation layer 4 on the first scintillator unit 2 and the encapsulation layer 4 on the second scintillator unit 3. This preset distance effectively reduces optical crosstalk between the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3. During high-energy ray imaging, the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 emit a large number of light signals. If there is insufficient gap between the encapsulation layer 4 on the first scintillator unit 2 and the encapsulation layer 4 on the second scintillator unit 3, these light signals may interfere with each other, leading to blurred imaging and reduced resolution. By setting a gap of 10 μm to 500 μm, this optical crosstalk can be significantly reduced, thereby improving the clarity and accuracy of the imaging. Secondly, this gap also provides a certain mechanical buffer. During the bending process of the flexible substrate 1, a certain amount of mechanical stress may be generated between the encapsulation layer 4 on the first scintillator unit 2 and the encapsulation layer 4 on the second scintillator unit 3. By setting appropriate gaps, these stresses can be effectively alleviated, preventing damage to the encapsulation layer 4 due to excessive compression, thereby improving the mechanical stability and service life of the scintillator screen. The encapsulation layer 4 needs to have high reflectivity and low radiation absorptivity to ensure effective transmission of optical signals and high-sensitivity detection. The material of the encapsulation layer 4 can be customized according to product requirements; optional materials include high-reflectivity aluminum composite films. In an optional embodiment of this example, the encapsulation layer 4 is an Al2O3 (alumina) encapsulation layer, which has good reflectivity and chemical stability.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 To achieve precise alignment during the fabrication of the scintillator screen, the scintillator screen also includes a symmetry axis mark 7, a bending mark 8, and an alignment mark 6. The symmetry axis mark 7 is located at the central symmetry axis of the flexible substrate 1 and is used to determine the center position of the bend, ensuring the accuracy and symmetry of the bend. The bending mark 8 is located on both sides of the symmetry axis mark 7 and is used to observe the bending alignment state, ensuring precise alignment of each part during the bending process. The alignment mark 6 is correspondingly disposed on the edge of the flexible substrate 1 and one side of the bending mark 8, providing micron-level positioning accuracy during bending alignment. In an optional embodiment of this example, the alignment mark 6 is an optical positioning circular hole. A high-precision alignment operation can be achieved through an optical positioning system, ensuring that the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are spatially aligned, forming a stacked structure.

[0043] Reference Figure 1This invention's scintillator screen utilizes a stacked design of two independent scintillator units with adjustable thickness. This allows high-energy and low-energy rays to be captured separately by the corresponding scintillator units during a single exposure, generating two images with different energy characteristics. This innovative design not only improves detection efficiency and reduces radiation dose, but also significantly reduces potential radiation damage to organisms and precision devices. Dual imaging (high-energy and low-energy) can be achieved in a single exposure, reducing radiation damage. Furthermore, this invention's scintillator screen achieves a significant breakthrough in imaging quality. By employing two scintillator units for separate imaging, the light scattering problem common in single-thick scintillators is effectively avoided. Simultaneously, the controllable gap design between the two scintillator units further reduces optical crosstalk, ensuring image clarity. The high-reflectivity material used in the encapsulation layer also effectively improves light output efficiency, significantly improving the image signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, this invention, through the folded combination of the two scintillator units, significantly reduces manufacturing difficulty and raw material consumption while maintaining detection efficiency. This design also allows the product to flexibly adjust the thickness ratio of the two scintillator units according to different application requirements, greatly enhancing the product's applicability and market competitiveness.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 7 This embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a flickering screen, used to manufacture the flickering screen described in Embodiment 1. (Refer to...) Figure 2 and Figure 3 The fabrication method provided in this embodiment first provides a flexible substrate 1, and performs plasma cleaning on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 to enhance the adhesion of subsequent thin films. In this embodiment, the flexible substrate 1 is preferably a polyimide film. A central axis of symmetry is defined on the surface of the flexible substrate 1, and a symmetry axis mark 7 is made along this central axis of symmetry. Simultaneously, bending marks 8 are made on both sides of the symmetry axis mark 7. The bending marks 8 are used to observe the bending alignment state. Alignment marks 6 are provided on the edge of the flexible substrate 1 and on one side of the bending marks 8. The alignment marks 6 can be formed by laser etching, precision printing, or physical indentation, and the alignment marks 6 are preferably a series of optical positioning holes. The symmetry axis mark 7 provides a macroscopic reference, the bending marks 8 ensure accurate bending angles, and the optical positioning holes achieve micron-level precision alignment. (Refer to...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 Then, using physical vapor deposition (PVD), a first scintillator unit 2 and a second scintillator unit 3 are fabricated on the flexible substrate 1, with the central axis of symmetry as the boundary. The areas of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 are equal, and their thicknesses can be set according to detection requirements. The shape and boundaries of the deposition area can be precisely controlled using a mask fixture during the deposition process. (Refer to...) Figure 6 and Figure 7Next, an encapsulation layer 4 is prepared on the surfaces of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3 using magnetron sputtering, evaporation, or lamination processes. In this embodiment, the encapsulation layer 4 is a thin film with high reflectivity and low radiation absorption, preferably made of Al2O3 or aluminum, with a thickness controlled between 10 μm and 400 μm. During preparation, it is necessary to ensure that the encapsulation layer 4 covers the functional areas of the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3, while not covering the bent area at the central axis of symmetry and the alignment mark 6. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The flexible substrate 1, after deposition and encapsulation, is then bent along its central axis of symmetry. Bending alignment can be achieved using positioning holes, rollers, lasers, vision, inductance, etc., with alignment accuracy reaching the micrometer level. Using alignment marks 6, a visual recognition system or mechanical positioning pins are employed for precise alignment, ensuring that the first scintillator unit 2 on the first wing 11 and the second scintillator unit 3 on the second wing 12 are spatially aligned, forming a stacked structure. After bending, temporary or permanent tooling is used to maintain the shape of the scintillator screen, creating a controllable gap of 10μm to 500μm between the first scintillator unit 2 and the second scintillator unit 3. Finally, the bent and aligned stacked structure is placed into a pre-formed outer packaging frame. The flexible substrate 1, the first wing 11, and the second wing 12 are fixed to the frame using snaps, adhesives, or heat fusion, completing the final assembly of the scintillator screen and ensuring a stable structure and precise relative positions of all functional units.

[0046] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this utility model should still be covered by the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A flickering volume screen, characterized in that, include: A flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate is bent along its central axis of symmetry to form a first wing and a second wing arranged opposite to each other; The first scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the first wing near the second wing; The second scintillator unit is disposed on the side of the second wing closest to the first wing; An encapsulation layer covers the surfaces of the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit.

2. The flickering screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit have the same area.

3. The flickering screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of both the first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit is between 50 μm and 1500 μm.

4. The scintillating screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a preset distance between the encapsulation layer on the first scintillator unit and the encapsulation layer on the second scintillator unit, the preset distance being between 10 μm and 500 μm.

5. The scintillating screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the encapsulation layer is between 10 μm and 400 μm.

6. The scintillating screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The axis of symmetry is marked on the central axis of symmetry of the flexible substrate; The bend marks are located on both sides of the axis of symmetry mark.

7. The flickering screen according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: Alignment marks are correspondingly disposed on the edge of the flexible substrate and on one side of the bending mark.

8. The flickering screen according to claim 7, characterized in that, The alignment mark is an optical positioning circular hole.

9. The flickering screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit have different thicknesses.

10. The scintillating screen according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first scintillator unit and the second scintillator unit have the same thickness.

Images