PARALLEL READOUT INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE FOR X-RAY IMAGE SENSOR
First Claim
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; and
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
3 Citations
20 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; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. 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; and sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. 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; and sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification