Photodiode for imaging system and method of making
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsWilliam Andrew Hennessy, Douglas Albagli
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Abstract
A photo-detector having a common electrode comprising a conductive material configured in a non-solid pattern in which there are gaps where there is no conductive material. In one embodiment, the distance (d) or (d′) between conductive portions of the common electrode is in a range from about 3 microns to about 5 microns. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the patterned common electrode covers between 20% to 70% of the surface of the respective photosensor element. A method for making the same is also provided.
Claims20
An X-ray imaging system comprising:
- an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays;
- a detector comprising:
- a scintillator configured to emit optical photons in response to the X-rays;
- an array of photosensor elements configured to generate electrical signals in response to the optical photons;
- a common electrode of the array of photosensor elements disposed between the scintillator and the array, wherein common electrode comprises a conductive material, wherein the respective portions of the common electrode overlying each photosensor element are configured in a non-solid pattern such that the common electrode covers no more than 70% of the surface of the respective photosensor element;
- a detector acquisition circuitry configured to acquire the electrical signals;
- a system controller configured to control at least one of the X-ray source or the detector acquisition circuitry;
- and
- an image processing circuitry configured to process the electrical signals to generate an image.
A photo-detector comprising:
- a photodiode having a common electrode comprising a conductive material configured in a non-solid pattern, wherein the common electrode covers no more than 70% of the surface of the photodiode.
A method of manufacturing a photo-detector, the method comprising:
- providing a photodiode;
- and
- forming a common electrode of the photodiode from a conductive material configured in a non-solid pattern such that the common electrode covers no more than 70% of the surface of the photodiode.
A method of manufacturing a detector, the method comprising:
- providing a scintillator configured to emit optical photons in response to the X-rays;
- and
- coupling an array of photosensor elements configured to generate electrical signals in response to the optical photons to the scintillator such that an electrode comprising a conductive material configured in a non-solid pattern is disposed between each photosensor element and the scintillator, wherein the electrode covers no more than 70% of the surface of each respective photosensor element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.