# US 2013/0156153 A1 · Digital detector and radiation apparatus using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156153 A1 - Document ID: US20130156153A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/709,949 - Filed: 2012-12-10 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Byoung Hoon KOH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156153A1 ## CPC - A61B 6/54: {Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis} - A61B 6/0414: {with compression means} - A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors} - A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography} - A61B 6/542: {involving control of exposure} - G03B 42/04: Holders for X-ray films - H10F 39/189: {X-ray, gamma-ray or corpuscular radiation imagers} - H10F 39/195: {X-ray, gamma-ray or corpuscular radiation imagers} - H10F 39/804: {Containers or encapsulations} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract Disclosed herein are a digital detector in which a detection array which detects radiation and readout elements are provided in separate respective housings, and a radiation apparatus which uses the same. The digital detector includes a first housing which includes a detection array and at least one second housing which includes at least one readout element, and the at least one second housing is mounted on the first housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A digital detector comprising: a first housing which includes a detection array; and at least one second housing which includes at least one readout element, wherein the at least one second housing is mounted on the first housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second housing is mounted on at least one side surface of the first housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second housing is rotatably mounted on at least one side surface of the first housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the first housing further includes a part of the at least one readout element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the detection array detects an amount of irradiated radiation and generates a signal based on the detected amount of irradiated radiation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one readout element converts a signal which is generated by the detection array into a digital image signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein: the first housing further includes a scintillator; and when radiation is irradiated, the scintillator emits visible rays toward the detection array based on the irradiation of the radiation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The digital detector according to claim 7, wherein: the detection array is optically connected to the scintillator; and the detection array includes at least one optical sensor which generates a signal which corresponds to an intensity of the rays which are emitted by the scintillator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein: the first housing further includes a photoconductor; and when radiation is irradiated, the photoconductor transmits an electrical signal to the detection array based on the irradiation of the radiation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The digital detector according to claim 9, wherein: the detection array is electrically connected to the photoconductor; and the detection array generates a signal which corresponds to the transmitted electrical signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, wherein the detection array is electrically connected to the at least one readout element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The digital detector according to claim 1, further comprising a third housing which includes a power supply which supplies power to each of the detection array and the at least one readout element, wherein the third housing is electrically connected to each of the first housing and the at least one second housing. ### Claim 13 A radiation apparatus comprising: a radiation irradiator; a digital detector which includes a first housing which includes a detection array and at least one second housing which includes at least one readout element, the at least one second housing being mounted on the first housing; a support structure on which a subject is placed and in which the digital detector is mounted; and a workstation which receives a digital image signal which is generated by the digital detector and which generates an image of an inside portion of the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The radiation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second housing is mounted on at least one side surface of the first housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The radiation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second housing is rotatably mounted on at least one side surface of the first housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The radiation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first housing further includes a part of the at least one readout element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The radiation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the support structure includes an automatic exposure controller (AEC) which is installed therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The radiation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein respective sizes of each of the first housing and the at least one second housing are determined such that the first housing is located at an inside portion of the support structure and the at least one second housing is located at an outside portion of the support structure when the digital detector is inserted into the support structure. ### Claim 19 A digital detector comprising: a detection array; a housing which includes the detection array; and a plurality of readout elements which are respectively installed in respective regions of the housing which exclude a region which is occupied by the detection array. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The digital detector according to claim 19, wherein: the region which is occupied by the detection array is located at an inside portion of a support structure when the digital detector is inserted into the support structure; and the respective regions in which each respective one of the plurality of readout elements is installed are located at an outside portion of the support structure when the digital detector is inserted into the support structure. ### Claim 21 A method for generating an X-ray radiographic image by using a mammographic apparatus which includes a detection array and at least one readout element, the method comprising: using the detection array to detect an amount of irradiated radiation and to generate a signal based on the detected amount of irradiated radiation; and using the readout element to convert the generated signal into a digital image signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the mammographic apparatus further includes a scintillator and the detection array includes at least one optical sensor, and the method further includes using the scintillator to emit visible rays toward the detection array based on the irradiated radiation, and the using the detection array further includes using the at least one optical sensor to generate a signal which corresponds to an intensity of the visible rays which are emitted by the scintillator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the mammographic apparatus further includes a photoconductor which is electrically connected to the detection array, and the method further includes using the photoconductor to transmit an electrical signal to the detection array based on the irradiated radiation, and the using the detection array further includes using the detection array to generate a signal which corresponds to the transmitted electrical signal.