Pixelated Anode Radiation Detector Signal Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation detectors face challenges with high numbers of small pixels leading to excessive electronic channels, heat dissipation issues, and manufacturing complexities, while virtual sub-pixelization results in low signal-to-noise ratios and complex electronics.
Innovation Solution
A radiation detector assembly with semiconductor detectors and pixelated anodes, where a processor disconnects a pixelated anode upon signal detection, redirecting the signal to a surrounding anode for sub-pixel assignment, reducing the number of electronic channels and improving spatial resolution without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of small pixels are used to improve spatial resolution, then intrinsic spatial resolution is improved, but the number of electronic channels increases excessively leading to heat dissipation issues and manufacturing challenges
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pixels are electrically combined into a single readout channel by connecting them through shared electronics. When a photon is detected in one pixel, the signal is shared across multiple pixels through the common electronic channel, allowing one physical channel to serve multiple pixels and thereby reducing the total number of electronic channels while maintaining spatial resolution information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the measurement process by sequentially activating pixels or using time-dependent signal reading. This allows multiple pixels to share electronic channels in the spatial dimension while using time as an additional degree of freedom for signal separation, effectively reducing hardware complexity without sacrificing resolution
2Measurement precision
If virtual sub-pixelization is used to improve spatial resolution, then position determination is enhanced, but the signal-to-noise ratio decreases leading to position determination errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing charge sharing matrices that describe how charge distributes across pixels for various photon positions. During actual operation, these pre-computed matrices are used to accurately determine photon position without requiring real-time complex calculations or relying on weak induced charges, thereby maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio while achieving virtual sub-pixelization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces charge sharing matrices as an intermediary that mediates between the physical pixel signals and the desired sub-pixel position information. Instead of directly measuring weak induced charges from virtual sub-pixels, the system uses the charge sharing matrix to translate and enhance the signals from physical pixels into accurate sub-pixel position information, effectively amplifying the signal without adding noise
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 enhances positional accuracy, simplifies manufacturing, and improves heat dissipation while maintaining high resolution and sensitivity, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Each pixelated anode is configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon by the pixelated anode
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, plural pixelated anodes disposed on a surface of the semiconductor detector, and at least one processor. Each pixelated anode generates a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon by the pixelated anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes, and determines when a primary signal is generated by a given pixelated anode. Responsive to determining the presence of the primary signal in the given pixelated anode, the at least one processor disconnects the given pixelated anode from an electrical source, wherein a re-directed primary signal is directed to a surrounding pixelated anode of the given pixelated anode. The at least one processor identifies the surrounding pixelated anode, and assigns an event for the primary signal to a pre-determined sub-pixel portion of the given pixelated anode based on the identified surrounding pixelated anode.