Stacked Plate Collimator for Uniform Radiation Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deposition techniques for creating multi-layer collimators in semiconductor radiation detectors result in non-uniform thickness and high costs, leading to compromised accuracy and reliability of radiation measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the construction of a collimator with a stack of plates made from materials with increasing atomic weight, where each plate defines an opening, and the openings are centered to form a multi-layer structure that absorbs high-energy radiation uniformly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deposition techniques are used to create multi-layer collimators, then radiation absorption is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to non-uniform thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is divided into multiple discrete plates stacked together, where each plate can be individually manufactured with precise thickness control. This segmentation allows each component to be made with high precision using conventional machining techniques, avoiding the thickness uniformity problems of deposition while maintaining the multi-layer radiation absorption function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the manufacturing approach from deposition (which has inherent thickness variation) to mechanical machining or precision cutting methods. This parameter change in the manufacturing process enables precise control of each plate's thickness, ensuring uniformity across all plates while maintaining the required radiation absorption properties through proper material selection and stacking.
2Reliability
If deposition techniques are used to create multi-layer collimators, then radiation absorption is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the collimator into separate plates that can be manufactured using conventional, cost-effective machining techniques rather than expensive deposition processes, the invention reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the multi-layer structure's radiation absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses conventional materials and standard manufacturing processes that are more economical than deposition techniques. The plates can be made from readily available materials using standard mechanical processing, significantly reducing the cost of production compared to specialized deposition methods.
3Reliability
If deposition techniques are used to create multi-layer collimators, then radiation absorption is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is segmented into multiple plates that can be manufactured independently and simultaneously using conventional machining techniques. This allows for parallel production of multiple components, significantly reducing total manufacturing time compared to the sequential nature of deposition processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The plates can be pre-manufactured using fast conventional machining methods before final assembly. This preliminary manufacturing action using efficient mechanical processes reduces the overall production time compared to waiting for slow deposition processes to complete the multi-layer structure.
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 method ensures uniform radiation absorption, reducing fluorescence interference and improving measurement accuracy and reliability while being cost-effective and time-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a first plate that defines an opening therethrough, wherein the first plate is made of first material; zero or more intermediate plates that each define an opening therethrough, wherein each intermediate plate is made of respective second material that has a higher atomic weight than the first material; a third plate that defines an opening therethrough, wherein the third plate is made of third material that has a higher atomic weight than the second material
Implementation Method 2
The method ensures uniform radiation absorption, reducing fluorescence interference and improving measurement accuracy and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a collimator protecting components of a semiconductor radiation detector assembly from excess radiation, including: a first plate defining an opening therethrough, the first plate being made of first material; zero or more intermediate plates each defining an opening therethrough, wherein each intermediate plate is made of respective second material having a higher atomic weight than the first material; a third plate that defines an opening therethrough, and wherein the third plate is made of third material having a higher atomic weight than the second material, wherein the zero or more intermediate plates are arranged between the first plate and the third plate to form a stack of plates so the respective atomic weight of the plates in the stack increases from the first plate towards the third plate and so the respective openings through the plates in the stack are substantially centered with respect to each other.