Collimator-Aligned Radiation Detector Array for High-Resolution Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor radiation detectors face challenges in heat management, making it difficult to produce large-area detectors with a large number of pixels, which affects their efficiency and accuracy in radiation imaging.
Innovation Solution
The method involves aligning a collimator and multiple radiation detectors to capture images of a scene from different positions, using a collimator with radiation transmitting and blocking zones to optimize radiation exposure, and arranging detectors in staggered rows to tessellate the scene, allowing for image stitching to form a complete image. The detectors include semiconductor layers that directly convert radiation into electric signals, eliminating the need for scintillators and improving spatial resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If semiconductor radiation detectors are used to directly convert radiation into electric signals, then spatial resolution is improved and scintillator-related issues are eliminated, but heat management becomes difficult for large-area detectors with many pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array is divided into multiple independent detector modules, each with its own heat management. This segmentation allows efficient cooling of individual pixels while maintaining a large total detection area, resolving the contradiction between high spatial resolution (many pixels) and heat management.
2Measurement precision
If a collimator is added to improve spatial resolution and define radiation paths, then imaging precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator structure is integrated with the detector housing to serve multiple functions: defining radiation paths for spatial resolution, protecting the detector, and providing structural support. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining imaging precision.
3Productivity
If multiple radiation detectors are arranged in staggered rows to tessellate the scene, then coverage area and imaging efficiency are improved, but alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment sensors and adjustment mechanisms are incorporated to provide real-time feedback on detector positioning. This allows automatic correction of alignment errors during assembly and operation, enabling staggered row configurations for improved coverage without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the creation of efficient, high-resolution radiation imaging systems that overcome heat management issues, allowing for real-time imaging and improved spatial resolution without the need for post-exposure processing, while maintaining detector reusability.
Implementation Method 1
Semiconductor radiation detectors largely overcome this problem by direct conversion of radiation into electric signals. A semiconductor radiation detector may include a semiconductor layer that absorbs radiation in wavelengths of interest. When a radiation particle is absorbed in the semiconductor layer, multiple charge carriers (e.g., electrons and holes) are generated and swept under an electric field towards electric contacts on the semiconductor layer.
Implementation Method 2
the collimator includes a plurality of radiation transmitting zones and a radiation blocking zone, and wherein, when the collimator is aligned with the radiation detectors, the radiation blocking zone substantially blocks radiation that would otherwise incident on a dead zone of the image sensor and the radiation transmitting zones allow transmission of at least a portion of the radiation that would incident on active areas of the image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method comprising: aligning a collimator and a plurality of radiation detectors of an image sensor by: moving the radiation detectors along a first direction; moving the collimator along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; rotating the collimator about an axis perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; wherein the plurality of radiation detectors are configured to capture images of portions of a scene at different image capturing positions, respectively, and to form an image of the scene by stitching the images of the portions.