Radiation Detecting Unit With Folded Flexible Substrate Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation detecting units in X-ray CT devices experience an insensitive region to radiation when tiled due to the need for space between photoelectric conversion elements and ICs, leading to reduced detection efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A radiation detecting unit design that incorporates a radiation shield plate with a flexible substrate, where the radiation shield plate is positioned between the photoelectric conversion elements and the signal processing circuit, and the flexible substrate is folded to eliminate the need for external connection space, preventing the formation of insensitive zones between adjacent units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation absorber is interposed between photoelectric conversion elements and IC to prevent X-ray damage, then reliability of IC is improved, but space for connection is increased causing insensitive regions between adjacent units
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation absorber is nested within the insulating substrate structure, specifically formed as a patterned layer that follows the electrode arrangement. This allows the radiation protection function to be integrated into the existing connection space without requiring additional external space, thereby preventing insensitive regions between adjacent photoelectric conversion elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation absorber is arranged in a planar pattern on the insulating substrate rather than as a separate three-dimensional component. By forming the radiation absorber as a two-dimensional patterned layer that coincides with the electrode layout, the design eliminates the need for additional connection space while maintaining radiation protection, thus preventing insensitive regions between adjacent units.
2Productivity
If photoelectric conversion elements are tiled in parallel to increase detection slices, then productivity of detection is improved, but insensitive regions occur between adjacent units due to connection space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation absorber pattern is nested within the insulating substrate structure, allowing complete coverage of radiation protection within the existing connection space. This enables adjacent photoelectric conversion elements to be placed closer together without leaving gaps, thus eliminating insensitive regions and maintaining high detection sensitivity across all tiled units.
Solution Approach 2:
By transforming the radiation absorber from a three-dimensional component into a two-dimensional patterned layer on the insulating substrate, the design maximizes the use of available connection space. This allows photoelectric conversion elements to be tiled densely in parallel arrangements without creating insensitive regions, thereby maintaining measurement precision while increasing the number of detection slices.
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 design effectively prevents the occurrence of insensitive zones in parallel arrangements of radiation detecting units, enhancing detection efficiency and reducing electromagnetic noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
light of predetermined wavelength emitted from the scintillator according to incidence of radiation
Implementation Method 2
the light is converted into electric signals by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements on the first surface
Implementation Method 3
the radiation passing through the photoelectric conversion elements is blocked by the radiation shield plate provided opposite to the photoelectric conversion section with the flexible substrate in between
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
An object is to prevent occurrence of an insensitive zone to radiation in parallel arrangement of multiple units. This radiation detecting unit 1 is provided with a PD array 5 including a plurality of PD elements 13 arrayed opposite to a scintillator 3 and output electrode pads 23 arrayed corresponding to the PD elements 13, integrated circuits 7 for processing signals from the PD elements 13, a flexible substrate 9 for mounting of the PD array 5 and integrated circuits 7, and a radiation shield plate 1 provided opposite to the PD array 5 with the flexible substrate 9 in between and formed so that ends thereof 11a are located inside the PD array 5; the output electrode pads 23 have an array pitch made shorter than that of PD elements 13; the flexible substrate 9 is folded along the ends 11a at intermediate regions A3 between mounting regions of the PD array 5 and integrated circuits 7, whereby the integrated circuits 7 are arranged on the opposite side to the PD elements 13 with the radiation shield plate 11 in between.