X-ray Fluorescence Detector Pixel Array with Focusing Electrodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray fluorescence detectors are limited by the speed at which they can collect and process X-ray photons, as they require charge carriers from one photon to be fully collected before the next photon is detected, leading to inefficiencies in energy-dispersive analysis.
Innovation Solution
A detector comprising a plurality of pixels with an X-ray absorption layer and focusing electrodes, where each pixel counts X-ray photons and directs charge carriers to electrical contacts, allowing for simultaneous collection and processing of multiple photons across energy bins, with a controller managing voltage comparators and counters to digitize and compile photon energies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If proportional counters or solid-state detectors are used for energy dispersive analysis, then the energy of incoming X-ray photons can be determined, but the detection speed is limited because charge carriers from one photon must be fully collected before the next photon is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The detector is divided into multiple pixels arranged in an array, where each pixel independently detects and processes X-ray photons. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple photons simultaneously, thereby increasing detection speed while maintaining energy measurement precision for each photon
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the detection process by implementing fast readout circuitry that can rapidly collect and process charge carriers from multiple photons in sequence within each pixel, enabling high-speed detection without sacrificing energy resolution
2Measurement precision
If wavelength dispersive analysis with photomultiplier is used, then individual X-ray photons can be counted at a single wavelength, but the system requires a monochromator and can only analyze one wavelength at a time
Solution Approach 1:
Each pixel in the detector array is designed to detect X-ray photons across a broad energy range simultaneously, eliminating the need for a monochromator. The pixel array can count photons at multiple wavelengths in parallel, providing both high counting precision and multi-wavelength capability without the complexity of wavelength-dispersive components
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 configuration enables faster and more efficient detection and compilation of X-ray spectra, allowing for higher throughput and improved analysis of X-ray fluorescence, suitable for applications like medical imaging, cargo scanning, and industrial inspection.
Implementation Method 1
an incoming X-ray photon ionizes a large number of detector atoms with the amount of charge carriers produced being proportional to the energy of the incoming X-ray photon
Implementation Method 2
a focusing electrode surrounding the electrical contact and configured to direct to the electrical contact charge carriers generated by an X-ray photon incident within confines of the focusing electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a detector, comprising: a plurality of pixels, each pixel configured to count numbers of X-ray photons incident thereon whose energy falls in a plurality of bins, within a period of time; an X-ray absorption layer; wherein the X-ray absorption layer comprises an electrical contact within each of the pixels, and a focusing electrode surrounding the electrical contact and configured to direct to the electrical contact charge carriers generated by an X-ray photon incident within confines of the focusing electrodes; and wherein the detector is configured to add the numbers of X-ray photons for the bins of the same energy range counted by all the pixels.