X-ray Detector Light Guide for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insufficient heat dissipation in X-ray detectors limits the light output to the converter material, leading to reduced conditioning of the converter material and increased occurrence of image artifacts due to drift properties, which in turn affects the stability and quality of X-ray images.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray detector design with a light source arranged on a carrier element and a light guide unit that directs light to a surface of the converter element remote from the carrier, allowing for improved heat dissipation and homogeneous illumination, reducing the negative impact of heat on the converter element and enhancing image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light source is arranged close to the converter element to improve illumination, then the illumination intensity increases, but the heat dissipation becomes insufficient leading to temperature rise and image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide unit extends the light path from the light source to the converter element by utilizing spatial dimensions beyond the immediate vicinity of the converter element. The light guide unit comprises a light guide that conducts light from the light source arranged on the carrier element to the converter element, allowing the light source to be positioned at a distance while maintaining effective illumination through the extended optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide unit acts as an intermediary between the light source and the converter element. It comprises optical components including a light guide that transfers light from the light source to the converter element, enabling decoupling of the light source position from the converter element position while maintaining effective light delivery and simultaneous heat management.
2Reliability
If additional lighting is used to condition the converter material and reduce drift properties, then the image quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source serves multiple functions: it conditions the converter material by illuminating it to reduce drift properties and improve image quality stability, and it can also be used for calibration purposes. The light guide unit delivers light for both conditioning and potential calibration applications, making the system multi-functional without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system for conditioning the converter material is integrated with the carrier element structure. The light source is arranged on the carrier element, and the light guide unit is coupled to both the light source and the converter element, merging multiple functions (support, illumination, guidance) into a unified structure rather than separate 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
The improved cooling and illumination of the converter element lead to increased light output, better conditioning of the converter material, reduced image artifacts, and stable image quality by effectively managing heat dissipation and illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide unit (9, 93) which is formed outside a projection of the areal extension of the converter element (3) in the stacking direction (21) and is arranged in such a way that a quantity of light emitted by the light source (7) is incident via a light path (11) on a surface of the converter element (3) which is remote from the carrier element (5)
Implementation Method 2
In a first stage, the X-ray or gamma quanta are absorbed in a scintillator element and converted into optically visible light. This effect is called luminescence.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an X-ray detector (1) comprising a converter element (3) and a support element (5) in a stacking arrangement, wherein a light source (7) is arranged on the support element (5), a light guiding unit (9) is formed outside a projection of a planar extent (4) of the converter element (3) in the stacking direction, and the light guiding unit (9) is arranged such that a quantity of light emitted by the light source (7) falls via a light path (11) onto a surface of the converter element (3) facing away from the support element (5).