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;
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.
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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.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A photon counting image sensor module configured to perform parallel mode readout of a pixel array, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for parallel mode readout for an X-ray image sensor module having a pixel array, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification