Radiation Detector with Synchronized In-Frame Background Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation detectors face challenges in accurately removing background components due to variations in background components between imaging and calibration processes, often resulting from temperature changes and other environmental factors, which degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
A radiation detector system that calculates and removes background components synchronously with imaging by using a processing unit to determine background components from pixel signals within the same frame, employing methods such as median or mode calculations and filter processing to correct pixel signals on-chip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If calibration is performed at a different time from imaging, then calibration can be completed without interfering with imaging, but background components may vary due to temperature changes and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the calibration process with the imaging process by performing both simultaneously. The radiation detector captures imaging data while also collecting calibration data from pixels that are not receiving radiation, eliminating the time delay between separate calibration and imaging operations and ensuring background components are measured under identical environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process operates continuously during imaging rather than being performed as a separate discrete operation. This continuous calibration approach ensures that background component measurements are always current and reflect the actual environmental conditions during imaging, maintaining measurement accuracy throughout the imaging process.
2Measurement precision
If calibration and imaging are performed simultaneously, then background components are synchronized with imaging, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel array into different functional regions: some pixels are dedicated to calibration (not receiving radiation) while others perform imaging. This segmentation allows the processing unit to handle calibration and imaging data separately and efficiently, reducing processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing approach where calibration data from non-irradiated pixels serves as a reference for correcting irradiated pixels. This intermediary calibration dataset simplifies the processing required to remove background components while maintaining synchronicity with imaging measurements.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate image processor is used for calibration, then calibration can be performed, but the system configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation detector is designed with multi-functionality, where the same detector hardware performs both imaging and calibration functions simultaneously. This eliminates the need for a separate calibration device or processor, simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining the ability to perform accurate background component removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation detector performs self-calibration by using its own non-irradiated pixels to generate calibration data during the imaging process. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external calibration equipment or separate calibration processors, reducing system complexity while ensuring accurate background component measurement.
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 ensures accurate and synchronized removal of background components, improving image data quality by minimizing variations and enhancing precision, even in the presence of temperature fluctuations and other environmental changes.
Implementation Method 1
a photodiode 201 that directly converts a radiation into an electric charge
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation detector includes a plurality of pixels configured to directly convert a radiation into an electric charge, a reading circuit configured to read pixel signals from the plurality of pixels for each frame, and a processing unit configured to process the pixel signals read by the reading circuit, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a background component contained in a pixel signal of each of the plurality of pixels by using values of the pixel signals read from the plurality of pixels in a frame in which the pixel signal whose background component is to be determined is read.