# US 9,040,927 B2 · Radiation detection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,927 B2 - Document ID: US9040927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/713,523 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-21 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Go Kawata; Hideyuki Funaki; Honam Kwon; Risako Ueno; Kazuhiro Suzuki - Inventors: Go Kawata; Hideyuki Funaki; Honam Kwon; Risako Ueno; Kazuhiro Suzuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040927B2 ## CPC - G01T 1/2002: {Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers} - G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] - G01T 1/20185: {Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres} - G01T 1/248: {Silicon photomultipliers [SiPM], e.g. an avalanche photodiode [APD] array on a common Si substrate} - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A radiation detection apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a scintillator including a fluorescent material to convert radiation to visible radiation photon; a photon detection device array having a plurality of cells each of which includes a photon detection device to detect visible radiation photon emitted from a fluorescent material in the scintillator and convert the visible radiation photon to an electric signal; and a plurality of lenses provided on cells respectively in association with the cells to cause the visible radiation photon to be incident on the photon detection device in an associated cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiation detection apparatus, comprising: a scintillator including a fluorescent material to convert radiation to visible radiation photons; a photon detection device array having a plurality of cells each of which includes a photon detection device to detect visible radiation photons emitted from the fluorescent material in the scintillator and convert the visible radiation photons to an electric signal, the photon detection device being an avalanche photodiode of pn-junction type, each of the plurality of cells further comprising resistors provided to surround active regions of the avalanche photodiode; and a plurality of lenses provided on cells respectively in association with the cells to cause the visible radiation photons to be incident on the photon detection device in an associated cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lenses is a lens which is convex on an incidence side of the visible radiation photons. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a ratio 2r/l is in a range of 0.6 to 1.2, where r is a curvature radius of each of the plurality of lenses and l is a size of each of the plurality of cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of a height of each of the plurality of lenses to a curvature radius of each of the plurality of lenses is in a range of 1.0 to 1.5. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a projection structure provided on a visible radiation photon emitting face of the scintillator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the projection structure has a plurality of polygonal pyramid projection parts, the projection parts are arranged on a face of emission of the visible radiation photons of the scintillator, and a ratio of a height of each of the projection parts to a length of one side of a bottom face of each of the projection parts is in a range of 0.1 to 0.5. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reflective members are provided in regions of the plurality of cells except the active regions and the resistors to reflect visible light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the reflective members is a grating. ### Claim 9 A radiation detection apparatus comprising: a scintillator having a fluorescent material to convert radiation to visible radiation photons; a projection structure provided on a visible radiation photon emitting face of the scintillator; a photon detection device array having a plurality of cells each of which includes a photon detection device to detect visible radiation photons emitted from a fluorescent material in the scintillator and convert the visible radiation photons to an electric signal; and a plurality of lenses provided on cells respectively in association with the cells to cause the visible radiation photons to be incident on the photon detection device in an associated cell, wherein the projection structure has a plurality of polygonal pyramid projection parts, the projection parts are arranged on a face of emission of the visible radiation photons of the scintillator, and a ratio of a height of each of the projection parts to a length of one side of a bottom face of each of the projection parts is in a range of 0.1 to 0.5. ### Claim 10 A radiation detection apparatus comprising: a scintillator having a fluorescent material to convert radiation to visible radiation photons; a projection structure provided on a visible radiation photon emitting face of the scintillator; a photon detection device array having a plurality of cells each of which includes a photon detection device to detect visible radiation photons emitted from a fluorescent material in the scintillator and convert the visible radiation photons to an electric signal; and a plurality of lenses provided on cells respectively in association with the cells to cause the visible radiation photons to be incident on the photon detection device in an associated cell, wherein the photon detection device is an avalanche photodiode of pn-junction type, and each of the plurality of cells further comprises resistors provided to surround active regions of the avalanche photodiode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein reflective members are provided in regions of the plurality of cells except the active regions and the resistors to reflect visible light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the reflective members is a grating.