Methods and apparatus for pixilated detector masking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of detecting ionizing radiation utilizing a pixelated semiconductor substrate such that each pixel comprises a central region and a region of variable response, said method comprising:
- substantially blocking the ionizing radiation from reaching the region of variable response utilizing a collimating mask that deposited on at least one of a surface of the semiconductor substrate and of a thickness so that the collimating mask is suitable as a general purpose collimator, and a cathode electrode substantially covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate;
collimating the ionizing radiation, wherein said collimating includes aligning a plurality of apertures of a first collimator with a corresponding opening in the collimating mask and the central region, with a gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask, and aligning a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator with a corresponding aperture in said first collimator; and
receiving the ionizing radiation at the central region, with the gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask.
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Abstract
A method of detecting ionizing radiation is provided. The method includes pixelating a semiconductor substrate such that each pixel comprises a central region and a region of variable response, substantially blocking the ionizing radiation from reaching the region of variable response, and receiving the ionizing radiation with the central region.
48 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of detecting ionizing radiation utilizing a pixelated semiconductor substrate such that each pixel comprises a central region and a region of variable response, said method comprising:
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substantially blocking the ionizing radiation from reaching the region of variable response utilizing a collimating mask that deposited on at least one of a surface of the semiconductor substrate and of a thickness so that the collimating mask is suitable as a general purpose collimator, and a cathode electrode substantially covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate; collimating the ionizing radiation, wherein said collimating includes aligning a plurality of apertures of a first collimator with a corresponding opening in the collimating mask and the central region, with a gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask, and aligning a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator with a corresponding aperture in said first collimator; and receiving the ionizing radiation at the central region, with the gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for aligning a collimator with a detector, said method comprising:
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depositing a collimating mask to cover a region of variable response to incident radiation of the detector, the collimating mask being deposited with a thickness to act as a general purpose collimator; configuring the collimating mask to expose a region of the detector with a substantially uniform response to the incident radiation; aligning each of a plurality of apertures of a first collimator with a corresponding opening in said collimating mask and the exposed region of the detector, with a gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask; and aligning each of a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator with a corresponding aperture in said first collimator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling radiation exposure to a pixilated detector, said method comprising:
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substantially blocking radiation exposure to a region of variable response of the detector with a collimating mask that is deposited on at least one of a surface of a semiconductor substrate with sufficient thickness to act as a general purpose collimator, and a cathode electrode substantially covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate; exposing a substantially uniformly responsive region of the detector with a collimating mask; aligning a first collimator above a gap over the collimating mask; and aligning a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator with a corresponding aperture in said first collimator.
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14. An imaging system comprising:
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a semiconductor detector that includes; a pixilated semiconductor substrate that is responsive to ionizing radiation, said substrate including a first surface in a direction of a source of ionizing radiation; and a collimating mask of a thickness to act as a general purpose collimator deposited on said substrate first surface, said collimating mask including a plurality of mask openings exposing a central region of a pixel of said semiconductor detector substrate to the ionizing radiation, said collimating mask including mask septa substantially blocking the incident ionizing radiation from a region of variable response associated with the pixel; and
a removable collimator aligned above a gap over the collimating mask; andeach of a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator aligned with a corresponding aperture in said removable collimator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A detector assembly for an imaging system, said detector assembly comprising:
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a radiation detector comprising; a pixilated semiconductor substrate comprising a pixel electrode coupled to a first surface of said substrate, said pixel electrode defining a pixel region of said substrate; a cathode covering a second surface of said substrate; a dielectric layer covering said cathode; a collimating mask of a thickness to act as a general purpose collimator deposited on said dielectric layer and comprising a mask portion comprising openings therethrough surrounded by a mask septa, said mask portion configured to expose a central region of the pixel, and to overlay a region surrounding the central region; and a first collimator removably couplable to said radiation detector above a gap, said first collimator comprising apertures therethrough, said apertures configured to substantially align with the collimating mask openings, said first collimator further configured to receive a stackable collimator such that apertures of the first collimator and the stackable collimator substantially align with respect to each other; and
a stackable collimator configured to be received on the first collimator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification