Self-triggered X-ray sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging detection system, comprising:
- an image sensor, having a plurality of sensing pixels disposed relative to one another to form a pixel array, said sensing pixels being responsive to photons and including a charge storage structure that accumulates charge indicative of said photons, thus producing photo-electrical signals having a relation with said photons;
a control circuit, connected to said image sensor, operating to control said image sensor to operate between areset state in which said charge is not accumulated, and an integration state in which said charge is accumulated; and
an event detector, disposed relative to said pixel array and electrically connected to said control circuit, having a photosensitive element to receive a portion of said photons, said event detector operating to effect a triggering mechanism for said control circuit that controls a state of said image sensor.
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Abstract
An imaging pixel array with event detectors for detecting input light signals and activating the imaging pixel array based on a predetermined threshold intensity of an input light. Each event detector is preferably made of auxiliary photosensitive pixels with a thresholding circuit. The imaging pixel array is activated to perform signal integration if the input light signal is above the threshold intensity. A self-triggered X-ray sensor can be realized with such event detectors. A CMOS active pixel sensor can be used as the imaging pixel array with advantages.
139 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An imaging detection system, comprising:
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an image sensor, having a plurality of sensing pixels disposed relative to one another to form a pixel array, said sensing pixels being responsive to photons and including a charge storage structure that accumulates charge indicative of said photons, thus producing photo-electrical signals having a relation with said photons; a control circuit, connected to said image sensor, operating to control said image sensor to operate between areset state in which said charge is not accumulated, and an integration state in which said charge is accumulated; and an event detector, disposed relative to said pixel array and electrically connected to said control circuit, having a photosensitive element to receive a portion of said photons, said event detector operating to effect a triggering mechanism for said control circuit that controls a state of said image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A X-ray imaging device, comprising:
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a X-ray source, operable to emit X-ray radiation that transmits through an object to be imaged; a scintillator material responsive to said X-ray radiation to produce photons in a signal spectrum, being disposed relative to said X-ray source and the object to receive transmitted X-ray radiation from the object and to emit said photons based on received transmitted X-ray radiation; a photosensitive pixel array having a plurality of photosensitive pixels each with a charge storage structure that accumulates charge indicative of said photons, said pixel array responsive to said photons in said signal spectrum and disposed relative to said scintillator material in a location to receive said induced photons, operable to receive said photons from said scintillator material and produce electrical signals having a relation with said photons; a control circuit, connected to said pixel array, operating to control said pixel array to operate between a reset state in which said charge is not accumulated, and an integration state in which said charge is accumulated; and an event circuit having a plurality of event detectors, disposed relative to said pixel array and electrically connected to said control circuit, each having a photosensitive element to receive said photons from said scintillator material, said event detectors operating to provide a triggering mechanism in said control circuit that affects said pixel array. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for performing signal detection with a detector having a plurality of pixels, comprising:
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providing a control mechanism for said pixels to control said detector to operate between a reset state in which charge sensed by said detector is not accumulated; and
an integration state in which said charge is accumulated;providing an event detection circuit for detecting presence of an incoming signal to be detected; measuring a signal level of said incoming signal with said event detection circuit to determine whether said signal level is greater than a predetermined threshold; maintaining said pixels in said reset state if said signal level is below said predetermined threshold; and resetting said pixels into said integration state if said signal level is greater than a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification