US 4,982,080 A · Radiation detecting array including unit cells with periodic output signals each within a unique frequency band

Abstract

A radiation detecting array 10 has a frequency domain architecture wherein incident radiation is imaged in parallel by an array of radiation detectors 12-16. Each radiation detector has an associated amplitude to frequency conversion device 18-22 for providing output signals wherein the output of each photodetector is represented as a frequency within a uniquely identified band of frequencies, the specific frequency being a function of the output signal amplitude of the photodetector. The readout of one or more selected detectors is accomplished by providing a swept frequency band or bands associated with the desired detector or detectors and mixing the detector frequencies with the swept band. The frequency representing the photodetector output may be input directly to a low dispersion transmission line 30. The unit cells may include radiation detectors comprised of superconducting material and also superconducting components that inherently manifest current or voltage to frequency conversion characteristics in accordance with the Josepson effect. An array having high temperature superconducting components includes photodetectors 60, associated voltage to frequency convertors 64 and a transmission line 70 integrated upon a common substrate.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An array of radiation sensitive detectors, comprising:

a plurality of unit cells, each of said unit cells comprising:
a radiation detector responsive to incident radiation for generating an output signal having an amplitude which is a function of the radiation incident upon the detector;
and
means, coupled to an output of said detector, for converting the detector output signal to a signal having a frequency the magnitude of which is a function of the amplitude of the detector output signal, the frequency having a value within a specific range of frequencies associated with the radiation detector, whereby
individual ones of the plurality of unit cells have a unique range of frequencies associated therewith, the unique range of frequencies being substantially non-overlapping with other ranges of frequencies of others of the unit cells.

2 more elements

A method of operating a plurality of radiation detectors comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of radiation detectors each of which is operable for generating an output signal having a magnitude which is a function of a characteristic of radiation incident thereon;
simultaneously converting the output signal of each of the detectors to a periodic signal having an instantaneous frequency within a range of frequencies, the range of frequencies for each of the detectors being substantially non-overlapping with the range of frequencies of others of the detectors, the instantaneous magnitude of the frequency being a function of the magnitude of the output signal;
and
coupling the periodic signals to a frequency discriminator.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Radiation detecting array including unit cells with periodic output signals each within a unique frequency band

Life of this patent

Radiation detecting array including unit cells with periodic output signals each within a unique frequency band

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23