Pulse Shaper Circuit With Dual-Threshold Reset for X-Ray Accuracy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pulse shaper circuits in spectral photon counting detectors suffer from offsets that degrade the accuracy of measuring X-ray photon energy, leading to image artifacts in spectral X-ray images.

Innovation Solution

A pulse shaper circuit with a reset circuit that discharges the integrator after exceeding a first threshold value and, if an initial threshold value is exceeded without subsequently reaching the first threshold within a predetermined time, further discharges the integrator, reducing offset-related inaccuracies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the integrator is discharged using a conventional reset circuit, then the integrator can be reset, but offset effects persist that degrade measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveX-ray photon energy measurement accuracyVSAvoidoffset effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reset operation is segmented into two distinct phases: a first discharge phase that resets the integrator output to a reference level, and a second discharge phase that further discharges the integrator to eliminate residual offsets. This segmentation allows each phase to address specific aspects of the offset problem separately, improving overall measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first discharge phase acts as a preliminary action that prepares the integrator by resetting it to a known reference level before the second discharge phase eliminates remaining offsets. This preliminary reset ensures that subsequent measurements start from a consistent baseline, reducing measurement errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the integrator is fully discharged to eliminate offsets, then measurement accuracy improves, but the reset time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveX-ray photon energy measurement accuracyVSAvoidintegrator reset time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reset process uses periodic action with two distinct discharge phases separated by a reference level detection step. The first discharge phase operates continuously to reset the integrator, while the second discharge phase is triggered periodically when the reference level is reached. This periodic structure ensures complete offset elimination without requiring continuous high-current discharge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The reset circuit dynamically adjusts its discharge current in two stages: a high current during the first discharge phase for rapid resetting, and a controlled current during the second discharge phase for precise offset elimination. This dynamic current adjustment optimizes the balance between reset speed and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4314901B1Pulse shaper circuit
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4314901B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4314901B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4314901B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A pulse shaper circuit (200) for use in a spectral photon counting detector (120) includes an integrator (210) and a reset circuit (230). The integrator (210) includes an output (220) that generates an output pulse (V(t))) having an amplitude (Vpeak) indicative of an energy of a detected photon. The reset circuit (230) discharges the integrator (210) a first time period (DT1) after the output (220) of the integrator (210) exceeds a first threshold value (V1). The reset circuit (230) also discharges the integrator (210) if the output (220) of the integrator (210) exceeds an initial threshold value (V0), which is lower than the first threshold value (V1), and does not subsequently exceed the first threshold value (V1) within a predetermined time interval (DT0) after the initial threshold value (V0) is exceeded.