Signal processor for an array of CID radiation detector elements

Abstract

A signal processor for an array of charge injection device (CID) radiation detector elements is disclosed. An integration time control system effectively increases the dynamic range of the detector array by varying the integration times of the detector elements in accordance with measurements of the magnitudes of data signals respectively produced by the detector elements in relation to the saturation thresholds and of the detector elements so as to maintain the amount of radiation stored in a predetermined percentage of the detector elements within a predetermined operating range below their saturation thresholds and above their noise level. A responsivity compensation system adjusts the data signals prior to such measurements to compensate for variations in the responsivity of the detector elements. In response to the identification of a defective detector element, the last previously provided adjusted data signal in the data stream corresponding to a non-defective detector element is reproduced. Background data from the adjusted data signals is suppressed by subtracting a calculated background constant from each adjusted data signal. The suppressed data signal is compressed by being multiplied by a calculated scale factor. The compressed data signal is processed to provide a video display, and it is also stored in a digital memory so that it may subsequently be further processed by any processing system that may be used in conjunction with the signal processor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.