Liquid ion chamber electrode apparatus
AssigneeVarian Associates, Inc.
InventorsDerek J. Day, Reza Majidi-Ahy, Willi Fencl, Heinrich Riem, Salvatore Provencale, Rolf Staehelin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides electrode assemblies for LIC imagers that maximize ion collection and the electric field for the minimum bias voltage. To achieve this optimization the ion collection is confined to small regions. Due to this limited ion collection region, high neutralization efficiencies and fast sweep-out times can be obtained. Furthermore, with an electrode separation of approximately 0.1 millimeters, pulse voltages of less than 100 volts can be used. Low voltages result in improved reliability, longer system life, and lower safety risks.
Claims22
A liquid ion chamber electrode assembly, comprising;
- a first electrode array;
- a second electrode array;
- and
- a film spacer interposed between said first and second electrode arrays, said spacer having a plurality of apertures containing an ionization liquid.
A liquid ion chamber electrode assembly, comprising:
- a first sheet of non-conducting material with a first axis and a second axis;
- a first plurality of electrode strips of a first thickness applied to said first sheet of material, said electrode strips parallel to said first axis;
- a plurality of non-conducting material strips of a second thickness interposed between said first plurality of electrode strips, said second thickness greater than said first thickness;
- a second sheet of nonconducting material with a first surface and a second surface;
- a second plurality of electrode strips applied to said first surface of said second sheet of material, wherein said first surface of said second sheet with said second plurality of electrode strips is sealably coupled to said plurality of non-conducting strips, said second plurality of electrodes parallel to said second axis of said first sheet of material;
- and
- a liquid, wherein a portion of said liquid is sealed within the enclosures defined by said first plurality of electrodes, said plurality of non-conducting strips, said second plurality of electrodes, and said second sheet of non-conducting material.
A liquid ion chamber coplanar electrode assembly, comprising:
- a first array of electrodes affixed to a substrate;
- a second array of electrodes affixed to said substrate;
- a sealing plate attached to said substrate;
- and
- an ionization liquid confined within the volume defined by said substrate and said sealing plate.
A liquid ion chamber electrode assembly, comprising:
- a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface, said first substrate having a plurality of channels running along a first axis of said first surface;
- a first plurality of continuous electrode strips attached to said first surface of said first substrate, said electrode strips running perpendicular to said first axis;
- a second substrate sealably coupled to said first substrate, said second substrate having a second plurality of continuous electrode strips running perpendicular to said first axis of said first surface, said second plurality of electrode strips proximate to said plurality of channels;
- and
- an ionization liquid confined within said plurality of channels.
A liquid ion chamber electrode assembly, comprising:
- a first electrode array affixed to a first surface of a first substrate;
- a second electrode array affixed to a second substrate;
- a first film spacer interposed between said first and second electrode arrays, said first spacer having a first plurality of apertures containing a first ionization liquid;
- a third electrode array affixed to a second surface of said first substrate;
- a fourth electrode array affixed to a third substrate;
- and
- a second film spacer interposed between said third and fourth electrode arrays, said second spacer having a second plurality of apertures containing a second ionization liquid.
A liquid ion chamber composite electrode assembly, comprising at least two coplanar electrode arrays, each of said coplanar arrays comprised of a first and a second array of electrodes affixed to a single substrate and an ionization liquid confined to a region proximate to said electrode arrays, wherein said coplanar electrode arrays are stacked together to form said composite electrode assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.