Solid-State Detector Reset Light Source Homogeneity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Solid-state detectors with amorphous silicon active pixel matrices suffer from ghosting artifacts due to residual charges trapped in deep energy levels, leading to non-uniform X-ray image quality, especially when individual light-emitting diodes fail, causing uneven reset distribution.

Innovation Solution

The ability to individually drive and control the intensity of light-emitting diodes in the reset light source allows for matching and substitution of faulty diodes, maintaining constant intensity and homogeneity, thereby reducing ghosting artifacts and ensuring uniform image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flat board composed of light-emitting diodes is fitted as a reset light underneath the a-Si plate, then ghosting artifacts are reduced, but non-uniform reset distribution occurs when individual light-emitting diodes fail

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage quality consistencyVSAvoidreset uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reset light source is divided into multiple individually controllable light-emitting diodes arranged in a matrix, allowing each LED to be controlled separately. This segmentation enables selective adjustment or deactivation of specific LEDs that have failed, maintaining overall reset uniformity despite individual failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intensity parameter of each light-emitting diode can be individually adjusted to compensate for failures. By changing the intensity parameters of neighboring LEDs or adjusting the timing parameters of reset illumination, the system maintains uniform reset distribution even when some LEDs fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual light-emitting diodes are used in the reset light source, then intensity control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintensity control flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: normal operation control, failure detection, and automatic compensation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex systems while providing intensive control capabilities for each light-emitting diode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects failures and compensates for them without requiring manual intervention. The control system monitors the status of each LED and autonomously adjusts intensities or activates backup LEDs, reducing operational complexity despite the detailed control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If light-emitting diodes are driven individually with adjustable intensity, then compensation for faulty diodes is possible, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereset light source reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing the intensity of all LEDs, only the specific LEDs that need compensation are adjusted to higher intensities. This localized approach maintains reliability by compensating for faulty diodes while minimizing overall energy consumption by leaving other LEDs at normal operating levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively minimizes ghosting and switching artifacts, resulting in improved image quality of digital X-ray records by compensating for faulty diodes and maintaining consistent reset light distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a reset light source which is arranged behind them in the radiation direction of X-ray radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

the amorphous silicon thus to be stabilized and homogenized by way of defined emitted light pulses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS7767973B2Solid-state detector and method for resetting residue charges by illumination in the case of a solid-state detector

Publication Date: 2010.08.03 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

For a uniform image quality of digital X-ray records, a solid-state detector is provided. The detector includes light-sensitive pixel elements arranged in an active matrix, and a reset light source arranged behind them in the radiation direction of X-ray radiation, with the reset light source being in the form of an arrangement with light-emitting diodes and with the light-emitting diodes being designed such that can be driven individually and their intensity can be controlled individually. At least one of a failed and malfunctioning light-emitting diode is detectable. The intensities of the serviceable light-emitting diodes are driven and controlled in the event of a failure or a malfunction of at least one light-emitting diode in such a manner that the intensity and/or the homogeneity of the reset light source remains the same.