Split event reduced x-ray imager

A method for collecting electrical charges generated by photons of X-ray radiation received by an X-ray imager, comprising the steps of:

• providing a semiconductor substrate having a photosensitive surface for receiving X-ray photons,
• having an electrode surface for receiving a plurality of electrodes, having a region for generating electrical charges corresponding to said photons, and having permanent barriers implanted therein to divide a portion of said semiconductor substrate into a plurality of columns;
• providing a plurality of barrier electrodes and a plurality of collection site electrodes mounted to said electrode surface, each of said plurality of barrier electrodes having a width substantially smaller than a width of each of said collection site electrodes;
• providing a multi-phase clock having a first phase coupled to said plurality of barrier electrodes;
• energizing said plurality of barrier electrodes to erect a corresponding plurality of temporary barriers, each of said plurality of temporary barriers having sufficient potential gradient to reduce the occurrence of split events, said plurality of temporary barriers being positioned in said plurality of columns to create an array of potential wells;
• providing from said multi-phase clock at least a second phase coupled to said plurality of collection site electrodes;
• and
• energizing said plurality of collection site electrodes during an integration period to effect a collection of electrical charges in said array of potential wells.

A charge coupled device imager for receiving X-ray photons from an object, comprising:

• a semiconductor substrate having a photosensitive surface for receiving X-ray photons, having an electrode surface for receiving a plurality of electrodes, having a region for generating electrical charges corresponding to said photons, and having permanent barriers implanted therein to divide a portion of said semiconductor substrate into a plurality of columns;
• a plurality of barrier electrodes and a plurality of collection site electrodes mounted to said electrode surface, each of said plurality of barrier electrodes having a width substantially smaller than a width of each of said collection site electrodes;
• a multi-phase clock having a first phase coupled to said barrier electrodes for energizing said plurality of barrier electrodes to erect a corresponding plurality of temporary barriers, each of said plurality of temporary barriers having sufficient potential gradient to reduce the occurrence of split events, said temporary barriers being positioned in said plurality of columns to create an array of potential wells;
• said multi-phase clock having at least a second phase coupled to said plurality of collection site electrodes for energizing said plurality of collection site electrodes during an integration period to effect a collection of electrical charges in said array of potential wells.