Photodetector scintillator radiation imager having high efficiency light collection
First Claim
1. A radiation imaging device comprising:
- an array of photodetectors;
a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in an array, each of said elements having a first end surface through which incident radiation enters the scintillator element and a second end surface optically coupled to said photodetector array, each of said scintillator elements further having sidewalls extending between said first and second end surfaces;
a non-optically diffusive dielectric layer disposed immediately adjacent to and extending around at least said sidewalls of each of said scintillator elements, said dielectric layer having an optical index that is less than the optical index of said scintillator element; and
an optically reflective layer adjoining said dielectric layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation imager comprising an array of scintillator elements optically coupled to a photodetector array comprises a dielectric layer extending around at least the sidewalls of the scintillator elements, and preferably over the surface of the scintillator elements through which the incident radiation enters, and an optically reflective layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has an optical index that is less than that of the scintillator material, and consequently light collection efficiency of the scintillator is improved as light photons generated in the scintillator reflected back into the scintillator both at the interface of the scintillator and the dielectric layer and at the optically reflective layer. A dome-shaped surface at the end of the scintillator element through which the incident radiation enters and an undulatory-shaped surface at the end of the scintillator which is optically coupled to the photodetectors further increase the light collection efficiency of the scintillator by reducing the number of photons that undergo total internal reflection in the scintillator.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A radiation imaging device comprising:
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an array of photodetectors; a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in an array, each of said elements having a first end surface through which incident radiation enters the scintillator element and a second end surface optically coupled to said photodetector array, each of said scintillator elements further having sidewalls extending between said first and second end surfaces; a non-optically diffusive dielectric layer disposed immediately adjacent to and extending around at least said sidewalls of each of said scintillator elements, said dielectric layer having an optical index that is less than the optical index of said scintillator element; and an optically reflective layer adjoining said dielectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A radiation imaging device comprising:
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an array of photodetectors; a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in an array, each of the elements having a first end surface through which incident radiation enter the scintillator element and a second end surface optically coupled to said photodetector array, each of said elements further having sidewalls extending between said first and second end surfaces; said scintillator array being optically coupled to said photodetector array via an optical coupling medium disposed therebetween; said first end surfaces of said scintillator elements being substantially dome shaped and said second end surfaces being curvilinear and having a rippled shape so as to optimize passage of said light photons striking said second surface from within said scintillator element to said photodetector array; a dielectric layer extending around at least said sidewalls of each of said scintillator elements, said dielectric layer having an optical index that is less than the optical index of said scintillator element; a plurality of interstitial wall members connected together and disposed around the sidewalls of each of said scintillator elements, said wall members being positioned so that said dielectric layer is disposed between a respective one of said wall members and a respective one of said scintillator element sidewalls; an optically reflective layer disposed on the surfaces of said interstitial wall members and adjoining said dielectric layer, said optically reflective layer further being disposed over said dome-shaped scintillator first end surfaces; a processing circuit coupled to receive signals generated by said photodetector array; and display and analysis equipment coupled to, and responsive to, said processing circuit for displaying images in response to radiation detected by said array of photodetectors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification