X-RAY WINDOW WITH BERYLLIUM SUPPORT STRUCTURE

• US 20110121179A1
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Moxtek (Polatechno Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Moxtek (Polatechno Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: XU, DEGAO, LIDDIARD, STEVEN D., DECKER, KEITH W.
• Application Number:
  US12/783,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20110121179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/336.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/18 Windows, e.g. for X-ray transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2237/2445 Photon detectors for X-rays, light, e.g. photomultipliers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/244 Detectors; Associated components or circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 47/004 Windows permeable to X-rays, gamma-rays, or particles windows for discharge tubes with provision for emergence of electrons or ions from the vessel H01J33/04; windows for X-ray tubes H01J35/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/18 Windows permeable to X-rays, gamma-rays, or particles

Abstract

A high strength window for a radiation detection system has a plurality of ribs comprising beryllium material. There are openings between the plurality of ribs. The tops of the ribs terminate generally in a common plane. The high strength window also has a support frame around a perimeter of the ribs. A layer of thin polymer film material is disposed over and spans the plurality of ribs and openings to pass radiation therethrough. A radiation detection system comprises a high strength window as described above and a sensor behind the window. The sensor is configured to detect radiation that passes through the window.

Claims

1. A window for a radiation detection system, the window comprising:

a) a support structure comprising;

i) a plurality of ribs comprising beryllium;

ii) openings between the plurality of ribs;

iii) tops of the ribs terminate generally in a common plane;

iv) a support frame around a perimeter of the ribs and carrying the ribs; and

b) a layer of thin film material disposed over and spanning the support structure and capable of passing radiation therethrough.

2. A window as in claim 1, wherein the openings comprise at least 75% of a total area within the frame, and the plurality of ribs comprise no more than 25% of the total area within the frame.

3. A window as in claim 1, wherein the openings comprise at least 90% of the total area within the frame, and the plurality of ribs comprise no more than 10% of the total area within the frame.

4. A window as in claim 1, wherein the height of the ribs is from about 50 um to about 100 um.

5. A window as in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the film is less than approximately 0.30 μ

m.

6. A window as in claim 1, wherein the layer of thin film material comprises beryllium.

7. A window as in claim 1, wherein the layer of thin film material comprises a polymer.

8. A window as in claim 1, further comprising a barrier layer disposed over the thin film material.

9. A window as in claim 8, wherein the barrier layer comprises boron hydride.

10. A window as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs and support frame are integrally formed from a single piece of material.

11. A window as in claim 1, wherein:

a) the window further comprises a window mount;

b) the support frame comprises beryllium; and

c) the support frame is sealed to the window mount through a metallic bond.

12. A window as in claim 11, wherein the metallic bond between the support frame and the window mount was formed by a brazing process.

13. A window as in claim 1, wherein:

a) the plurality of ribs are intersecting ribs; and

b) the intersecting ribs are oriented non-perpendicularly with respect to each other and define non-rectangular openings;

14. A window as in claim 13, wherein at least one corner of each opening is partially filled with a same material as the ribs.

15. A window as in claim 13, wherein the openings of the grid are hexagonal.

16. A window as in claim 1, wherein an uncured polymer is used to attach the layer of thin film to the plurality of ribs.

17. A window as in claim 1, wherein a partially cured polymer is used to attach the layer of thin film to the plurality of ribs.

18. A radiation detection system comprising:

a) a window for passing radiation therethrough, the window comprising;

i) a plurality of ribs comprising beryllium;

ii) openings between the plurality of ribs;

iii) tops of the ribs terminate generally in a common plane;

iv) a support frame around a perimeter of the ribs and carrying the ribs; and

v) a layer of thin film material disposed over and spanning the plurality of ribs and openings and capable of passing radiation therethrough; and

b) a sensor behind the window configured to detect radiation that passes through the window.

19. A radiation detection system comprising:

a) a support structure comprising;

i) a plurality of intersecting ribs comprising beryllium;

ii) openings between the plurality of ribs;

iii) tops of the ribs terminate generally in a common plane;

iv) the intersecting ribs being oriented non-perpendicularly with respect to each other and defining non-rectangular openings;

v) a support frame comprising beryllium around a perimeter of the ribs and carrying the ribs; and

b) a layer of thin film material disposed over and spanning the support structure and capable of passing radiation therethrough;

c) a window mount attached to the support frame through a metallic bond; and

d) a sensor behind the thin film material configured to detect radiation that passes through the thin film material.