X RAY-TO-INFRARED CONVERSION STRUCTURES FOR ILLUMINATING X RAY DETECTORS WITH INFRARED LIGHT TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE
First Claim
1. A structure for use in an imaging system, comprising:
- a first layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light;
a second layer comprising a material configured to emit UV or visible light upon exposure to ionizing radiation;
a third layer comprising a material configured to emit infrared (IR) light upon exposure to UV or visible light; and
a fourth layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light but transparent to IR light.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments include a structure that is configured to emit infrared (IR) light when exposed to ionizing radiation, such as X ray and gamma radiation, and to be positioned adjacent to a radiation detector so that infrared light illuminates the radiation detector when the structure and detector are exposed to the ionizing radiation. The structure may include a layer that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, another layer that is opaque to UV and visible light, and an intermediate layer that is configured to emit IR light when exposed to ionizing radiation. The intermediate layer may be a single layer. The intermediate layer may be two layers including a layer configured to emit UV or visible light when exposed to ionizing radiation and a layer configured to emit IR light when exposed to UV or visible light.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A structure for use in an imaging system, comprising:
-
a first layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light; a second layer comprising a material configured to emit UV or visible light upon exposure to ionizing radiation; a third layer comprising a material configured to emit infrared (IR) light upon exposure to UV or visible light; and a fourth layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light but transparent to IR light. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14)
-
-
2. A structure for use in imaging systems, comprising:
-
a first layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light; a second layer comprising a material configured to emit infrared (IR) light upon exposure to ionizing radiation; and a third layer comprising a material that is opaque to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light but transparent to IR light. - View Dependent Claims (10, 13)
-
-
15. An imaging system, comprising:
-
a source of ionizing radiation; a radiation detector; and a structure positioned adjacent to the radiation detector and configured to emit infrared radiation when exposed to the ionizing radiation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of imaging an object using ionizing radiation, comprising:
-
providing a radiation detector and a structure configured to emit infrared radiation when exposed to ionizing radiation located adjacent to the radiation detector; and exposing the object to ionizing radiation so that the ionizing radiation passes through the object, through the structure and into the radiation detector. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification