Sensor matrix

In an X-ray examination apparatus, a radiation sensor device comprising:

• an array of X-ray radiation sensors arranged in rows and columns in a matrix, said sensors each generating a charge the magnitude of which is in dependence upon the amount of incident X-ray radiation on that sensor;
• a plurality of electric switches, each associated with a different sensor, said sensors and switches each comprising thin film elements;
• a plurality of switch control lines, each line corresponding to a different row for receiving an applied switch activate signal for activating the switches of that row to simultaneously output the charges of the sensors corresponding to the relevant activated switches of a sensor row;
• a plurality of parallel read lines for receiving said outputted charges;
• transfer means for converting the outputted charges on said read lines into a serial signal;
• and
• an amplifier comprising a crystalline semiconductor coupled to each read line preceding said transfer means for amplifying the outputted charges on the corresponding read line.

An X-ray examination apparatus comprising:

• X-ray generating means for examining an object with said X-rays;
• and
• sensor device for sensing the X-rays representing said object;
• said sensor device comprising:
• an array of radiation sensors arranged in rows and columns in a matrix, said sensors each generating a charge the magnitude of which is in dependence upon the amount of incident radiation on that sensor;
• a plurality of electric switches, each associated with a different sensor, said sensors and switches each comprising thin film elements;
• a plurality of switch control lines, each line corresponding to a different row for receiving an applied switch activate signal for activating the switches of that row to simultaneously output the charges of the sensors corresponding to the relevant activated switches of a sensor row;
• a plurality of parallel read lines for receiving said outputted charges;
• transfer means for converting the outputted charges on said read lines into a serial signal;
• and
• an amplifier comprising a crystalline semiconductor coupled to each read line preceding said transfer means for amplifying the outputted charges on the corresponding read line.