Time signatures and pattern matching in x-ray photon counting detectors
AssigneeRedlen Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBernard HARRIS, Krzysztof INIEWSKI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various aspects include circuits and methods for use in X-ray detectors for obtaining time information regarding when an indication of an X-ray photon's energy, such as a CSA output voltage, and using the time information to obtain temporal-spectral data regarding an X-ray photon detection. The temporal-spectral data may be used to determine the X-ray photon's energy, to detect and account for multiple X-ray photon detection events (“pile ups”), and/or accommodating detection events in which charge is shared between two pixel detectors.
Claims18
A method of processing and output from a pixel detector within an imaging X-ray detector of an X-ray photon detection event, comprising:
- obtaining time information related to when an indication of an X-ray photon's energy exceeds each of a plurality of energy thresholds;
- and
- using the time information and corresponding energy bins to determine temporal-spectral data for the X-ray photon detection event.
An imaging X-ray detector, comprising:
- a plurality of pixel detectors each comprising an anode;
- a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) coupled to each pixel detector anode and configured to sense voltage on the anode and output a voltage signal;
- a plurality of comparator circuits each having an input coupled to the CSA output and an input that receives a threshold voltage from one of a plurality of digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and outputs a signal in response to the CSA output equaling or exceeding the threshold voltage;
- a clock configured to output time information;
- and
- a plurality of threshold crossing recording circuits each coupled to the clock output of time information and the output signal of two of the plurality of comparators, wherein each of the plurality of threshold crossing recording circuits is configured to determine time information while a first of the two comparator output signals is high and a second of the two comparator output signals is low.
An imaging X-ray detector, comprising:
- a plurality of pixel detectors each comprising an anode;
- a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) coupled to each pixel detector anode and configured to sense voltage on the anode and output a voltage signal;
- a plurality of comparator circuits each having an input coupled to the CSA output and an input that receives a threshold voltage from one of a plurality of digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and outputs a signal in response to the CSA output equaling or exceeding the threshold voltage;
- and
- a plurality of timer circuits each coupled to the output signals of two of the plurality of comparators, wherein each of the plurality of timer circuits is configured to begin incrementing in response to a first of the two comparator output signals going high and stopping incrementing in response to a second of the two comparator output signals is low.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.