Panel Radiation Detector Using SiPM Edge Sensors and 1-Bit Digitization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation detectors using plastic scintillators face challenges in sensitivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in spectroscopic measurements due to poor energy resolution and high cost, compared to crystal scintillators.
Innovation Solution
A panel radiation detector design featuring a plurality of adjoining plastic scintillator slabs with silicon photomultiplier sensors arranged at their edges, combined with signal processing units that perform 1-bit digitization of detection signals to determine radiation event energy, allowing for improved sensitivity, spatial resolution, and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic scintillators are used for radiation detection, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but energy resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The scintillator is divided into multiple slabs with SiPM sensors positioned at the edges of each slab. This segmentation allows for improved light collection efficiency by placing sensors closer to the scintillation events, thereby improving energy resolution while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of plastic scintillators.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing SiPM sensors on the broad surfaces of the scintillator, the invention positions them at the edges (one-dimensional positioning). This edge positioning strategy optimizes the geometric relationship between scintillation light production and sensor detection, improving light collection efficiency and energy resolution without increasing material costs.
2Reliability
If conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are used for light readout, then detection capability is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, fragile PMTs with cheaper, more robust SiPM sensors. SiPMs are solid-state devices that are mechanically stronger, consume less power, and do not require high voltage supplies or light guides, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the vacuum tube-based PMT system with solid-state SiPM sensors. This replacement eliminates the need for complex mechanical components such as light guides and high voltage supplies, reducing overall device complexity while preserving radiation detection functionality.
3Measurement precision
If full digitization is performed for signal processing, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of digitization from full-resolution analog-to-digital conversion to 1-bit digitization. This parameter change significantly reduces the energy consumption of the digitization circuit while still enabling accurate energy determination through pulse width analysis, as the pulse width contains sufficient information about the scintillation light intensity.
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
The design enhances detection sensitivity and efficiency while reducing costs, enabling spectroscopic capabilities that were previously unattainable with common plastic scintillator detectors, by leveraging improved light collection and simplified signal processing through pulse width analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The detection is performed by measuring the scintillation light generated when radiation interacts with the scintillating material of the scintillator
Implementation Method 2
A SiPM comprises a dense array of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensors operating in Geiger mode
Data Source
AI summary
A panel radiation detector is provided for detecting radiation event(s) of ionizing radiation, comprising a plurality of adjoining plastic scintillator slabs, a plurality of silicon photomultiplier sensors arranged at an edge of at least one of the plastic scintillator slabs) and configured to detect scintillation light generated in the scintillator slabs responsive to the radiation events, and a plurality of signal processing units each connected to one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors, wherein the signal processing units each comprise a digitization circuit configured to generate a digitized signal for signal analysis by executing 1-bit digitization of a detection signal generated by at least one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors responsive to the detected scintillation light for determining the energy of the detected radiation event(s).