Parallel readout integrated circuit architecture for X-ray image sensor

• US 8,680,474 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myung-Jin Soh, Piera Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Luxell Technologies Incorporated (Lux Acquisition Corp.)
• Inventors: Soh, Myung-Jin, Soh, Seul-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US13/410,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20130228693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 25037001-37015, 378/98.8
• US Class Current: 250/370.09
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for parallel readout for an X-ray image sensor module having a pixel array. Specifically, among other things, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented infrastructure comprising: capturing an electrical signal at each of a plurality of pixels within the pixel array; converting each of the captured electrical signals into a respective voltage; comparing each of the respective voltages with a reference voltage to discriminate whether the electric signal from the sensor represents a photon detection; counting a photon detection for each of the plurality of pixels within the pixel array based upon an output of the comparator; connecting all pixels in each of the columns; and sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output.

Claims

1. A photon counting image sensor module configured to perform parallel mode readout of a pixel array, comprising:

a two-dimensional pixel array, wherein each pixel within the pixel array comprises a sensor configured to capture an electrical signal;

an amplifier configured to convert the electrical signal into a voltage;

a comparator configured to compare the voltage derived from the electric signal with a reference voltage to discriminate whether the electric signal from the sensor represents a photon detection; and

a counter configured to count a photon detection for each respective pixel within the pixel array based upon an output of the comparator;

a plurality of column bus lines respectively connecting all pixels in each of the columns;

a vertical shift register having a plurality of parallel outputs for sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output; and

a column output bus line for transmitting a pixel data of a first pixel to an adjacent second pixel.

2. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of column bus lines is connected to the sensor output.

3. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, wherein all pixels in a row are selected for readout an additional plurality of times after an initial readout.

4. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a photodiode.

5. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, wherein the counter is a linear feedback shift register.

6. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of row lines respectively connecting all pixels in each of said rows.

7. The photon counting image sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a control and timing circuit configured to produce at least one of a control signal or timing sequence.

8. A computer-implemented method for parallel mode readout for an X-ray image sensor module having a pixel array, comprising:

capturing an electrical signal at each of a plurality of pixels within the pixel array;

converting each of the captured electrical signals into a respective voltage;

comparing each of the respective voltages with a reference voltage to discriminate whether the electric signal from the sensor represents a photon detection;

counting a photon detection for each of the plurality of pixels within the pixel array based upon an output of the comparator;

connecting all pixels in each of the columns;

sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output; and

transmitting a pixel data of a first pixel to an adjacent second pixel via a column output bus line.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of column bus lines is connected to the sensor output.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising selecting all pixels in a row for readout an additional plurality of times after an initial readout.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a photodiode.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the counter is a linear feedback shift register.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising respectively connecting all pixels in each of the rows via a row line.

14. A computer-readable storage device storing computer instructions which, when executed, enables a computer system to perform parallel mode readout for an X-ray image sensor module having a pixel array, the computer instructions comprising:

capturing an electrical signal at each of a plurality of pixels within the pixel array;

converting each of the captured electrical signals into a respective voltage;

comparing each of the respective voltages with a reference voltage to discriminate whether the electric signal from the sensor represents a photon detection;

counting a photon detection for each of the plurality of pixels within the pixel array based upon an output of the comparator;

connecting all pixels in each of the columns;

sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output; and

transmitting a pixel data of a first pixel to an adjacent second pixel via a column output bus line.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of column bus lines is connected to the sensor output.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for selecting all pixels in a row for readout an additional plurality of times after an initial readout.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a photodiode.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, further comprising computer instructions for shifting a data associated with the all pixels in a row to one of an integrated circuit or device.