Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for detecting indeterminate objects of interest contained within an encompassing medium using radiation event counts. Statistical analysis of measured events, such as local gamma radiation counts, is used to determine the probability of an object's presence in a field area. Event-detecting nodes are used to establish the baseline event activity such as background radiation (including environmental factors) in the field area, at a location determined unlikely to contain objects of interest due to geologic context or previous digging. Each node then independently detects and quantifies event activity, in an area to be evaluated, to derive evidence of the probability that an object of interest is within the medium. The calculated probabilities are then used to guide exploratory digging by indicating the likely direction and depth of an object of interest relative to the apparatus.

Abstract: An example method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon is described. The method includes rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore and concurrently rotating an annular support structure at a second rotational velocity about the open bore, wherein the second rotational velocity is less than the first rotational velocity. While continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, the method also includes generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using the imaging X-ray source. Upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position, the method includes initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source.

Abstract: A control unit of an electronic cassette switches the power supply state of a plurality of blocks BL which share a signal processing of a signal processing circuit between an operating state and a non-operating state. The control unit switches the block BL from the non-operating state to the operating state before a predetermined time TW necessary for stable operation of the block BL from a timing when the reading of charge starts in the block BL.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of estimating an input count rate of a radiation pulse detector from a detector signal where some individual signal pulses making up the detector signal are closely spaced in time less than a minimum reliable detection gap. In one aspect, the individual signal pulses are detected using a detection algorithm and a plurality of interval start times are defined each interposed with at least one of the detected individual signal pulse arrival times, each interval start time being later by at least the minimum reliable detection gap than a corresponding most recent detected individual signal pulse arrival time. A corresponding plurality of individual signal pulse arrival intervals are calculated between each of the interval start times and a corresponding next detected individual signal pulse arrival time.

Abstract: A detector apparatus for use as part of a data network includes a plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a network-capable network interface, and a switch or router, connected to each of the network-capable network interfaces of the plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a distinct IP address such that the data network is adjustable to take a change in a number of the plurality of x-ray detectors into account. The plurality of x-ray detectors are configured to detect x-rays generated from a single x-ray source.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and a driving method for reducing power consumption of pixels, and achieving an increase in the number of pixels. Provided is a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array unit that includes pixels arranged in a matrix. From each of the pixels an output signal indicating a logarithmic characteristic is acquired.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging element that outputs an image signal in a nondestructive manner; an image processor that performs predetermined processing on the outputted image signal to generate image data; and a controller that controls the image processor. Under control of the controller, the image processor reads out image signals from the imaging element a plurality of times within one exposure period, calculates a target gain value based on a target level and an added signal, and multiples the added signal by the target gain value to generate the image data. The target level is calculated based on a signal level of a last read-out image signal in one exposure period. The added signal being obtained by adding up the image signals read out the plurality of times.

Abstract: A particle-beam inspection system may include a reflective particle-beam imaging system providing an image of a selected portion of a sample and a diffraction pattern of the selected portion of the sample and a controller communicatively coupled to the reflective particle-beam imaging system. The controller may receive two or more sample-plane images from the reflective particle-beam imaging system associated with two or more selected portions of the sample, where at least some of the two or more selected portions of the sample overlap. The controller may further receive two or more diffraction-plane images from the reflective particle-beam imaging system associated with the two or more selected portions of the sample. The controller may further construct one or more output images of the two or more selected portions of the sample from the two or more diffraction-plane images using phase information obtained from the two or more sample-plane images.

Abstract: An analysis method irradiates, with laser light, an analysis substrate made of a resin material and having a reaction region on which detection target substances and nanoparticles of a metal compound for labeling the detection target substances are captured. The analysis method extracts, as a substrate signal level, a signal level generated when receiving reflected light from the analysis substrate. The analysis method receives reflected light from the reaction region to generate a light reception level signal. The analysis method extracts a nanoparticle detection signal from the light reception level signal of the reflected light from the reaction region, the nanoparticle detection signal having a higher level than the signal level of the reflected light from the analysis substrate. The analysis method detects the nanoparticles in accordance with the extracted nanoparticle detection signal.

Abstract: First information corresponding to a radio signal received at a first sensing device from a candidate location is obtained. Second information corresponding to a radio signal received at a second sensing device from the candidate location is obtained. A first relationship between the first sensing device and the candidate location and a second relationship between the second sensing device and the candidate location are determined. A first inverse and a second inverse of respectively the first and second relationships are obtained. A first estimate of the radio signal at the first sensing device is determined from the first information and the first inverse. A second estimate of the radio signal at the second sensing device is determined from the second information and the second inverse. Energy emitted from the candidate location is measured based on the first estimate and the second estimate.

Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes: a radiation detection unit including an image obtaining pixel for obtaining a radiation image and a dose obtaining pixel for obtaining a radiation dose; a generating unit configured to generate calibration data for calibrating an output value of the dose obtaining pixel by comparing an output value of the image obtaining pixel and the output value of the dose obtaining pixel; and a calibration unit configured to calibrate the output value of the dose obtaining pixel by using the calibration data.

Abstract: A particle beam delivery system includes a beam delivery line of charged particle and a gantry body supporting the beam delivery line. The gantry body is rotatably supported by a first support and a second support. The gantry body serves to rotate the beam delivery line about a horizontal axis passing through the first and second supports. The gantry body comprises a cantilevered portion configured to support at least a section of the beam delivery line in a cantilevered manner extended beyond the first and second supports. The second support is supported by a structure which is rotatable about a vertical axis passing through the second support, thereby providing clearance for the cantilevered portion of the gantry body when rotating about the horizontal axis. The gantry body may be rotatable about the horizontal axis in 360 degrees, clockwise and/or counterclockwise. A gantry assembly and a particle beam radiotherapy system comprising a gantry assembly are also provided.

Abstract: Transmission microscopy imaging systems include a mask and/or other modulator situated to encode image beams, e.g., by deflecting the image beam with respect to the mask and/or sensor. The beam is modulated/masked either before or after transmission through a sample to induce a spatially and/or temporally encoded signal by modifying any of the beam/image components including the phase/coherence, intensity, or position of the beam at the sensor. For example, a mask can be placed/translated through the beam so that several masked beams are received by a sensor during a single sensor integration time. Images associated with multiple mask displacements are then used to reconstruct a video sequence using a compressive sensing method. Another example of masked modulation involves a mechanism for phase-retrieval, whereby the beam is modulated by a set of different masks in the image plane and each masked image is recorded in the diffraction plane.

Abstract: A method for measuring dosage by means of a radiation detector, especially an X-radiation or gamma-radiation detector, used in the spectroscopic mode, and a dosage measurement system using said method. A range of energies and a dose type H is chosen, a radiation detector of a given type is used, spectra measured by the detector are established for various radiations of the given type, the energies of which are within the chosen range and the respective doses of which are known, and from the spectra, a weighting function is established, that is a correspondence between a mean dose increment and a mean energy, deposited into the detector. This enables a person provided with a dosimeter identical to the detector to know at any time the mean absorbed dose rate, expressed in the amount H.

Abstract: A method for X-ray detection using a charge-integrating X-ray detector including a photodetector array of pixels, each of which converts incident radiation into accumulated charge during an X-ray exposure, is provided. The method includes, for each pixel, reading out the accumulated charge from the pixel and determining an X-ray charge value from the read out accumulated charge. If the X-ray charge value is less than a photon counting threshold, the X-ray charge value is replaced with a quantized charge value representative of an estimated photon count and recording the quantized charge value as a recorded charge value. If, however, the X-ray charge is equal to or greater than the photon counting threshold, the X-charge value is recorded as the recorded charge value. The method allows operating a charge-integrating X-ray detector in a mixed photon-counting/analog output mode.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprising, a stage configured to receive a substrate, a mark array disposed on the stage and comprising a first mark and a second mark separated from each other by a first distance, a first beam irradiator configured to irradiate a first beam to the first mark, a second beam irradiator being separated from the first beam by a pitch greater than the first distance and configured to irradiate a second beam to the second mark, a detector disposed over the mark array and configured to receive a third beam reflected by the first mark and a fourth beam reflected by the second mark, and a controller configured to control the position of the stage using an output of the detector.

Abstract: An improved dose assay station for preparing unit-dose samples of radionuclide from a multi-dose vial is disclosed. The improved assay station is provided an assay chamber and a radionuclide sample lifter provided within the assay chamber. The radionuclide sample lifter is configured for lowering a radionuclide sample container into the assay chamber and raising the radionuclide sample container out of the assay chamber. The radionuclide sample lifter includes a magnetically coupled pneumatic actuator; and a carriage attached to the magnetically coupled pneumatic actuator, the carriage being configured for holding the radionuclide sample container, wherein the magnetically coupled pneumatic actuator moves the carriage between a first position and a second position within the assay chamber, wherein the first position places the carriage near the top end of the assay chamber and the second position places the carriage near the bottom end of the assay chamber.

Abstract: Each of first to fourth needle-like electrodes is arranged such that a direction of extension thereof is parallel, and generates ions by discharge. Through a space, a gas for conveying the ions generated by the first to fourth needle-like electrodes flows. Needle tips of the first needle-like electrode and the second needle-like electrode protrude from a first wall surface that forms the space, are spaced apart from each other, and are arranged in line in the space. Needle tips of the third needle-like electrode and the fourth needle-like electrode protrude from a second wall surface that forms the space and faces the first wall surface, are spaced apart from each other, and are arranged in line in the space. The first needle-like electrode and the fourth needle-like electrode generate positive ions, and the second needle-like electrode and the third needle-like electrode generate negative ions.

Abstract: Provided is a PRCA-based method for dynamically reestablishing a PET image. The method comprises: (1) performing collection and correction to obtain a coincidence counting matrix; (2) performing correction restriction on a PET measurement equation; (3) performing iterative estimation on PET dynamic concentration data; and (4) reestablishing each frame of PET image. In the present invention, different frames of collected data are regarded as a whole for reestablishment, and the relevancy of the PET data in time is fully used, so that the obtained result can embody the characteristic that the dynamic PET can show the time change of a target region; and secondly, in the present invention, a background and target region method is used, the interference to the target region caused by the background is reduced, in addition, the time and space correction are added in the reestablishment, the accuracy of the reestablishment result is higher, and the contrast between the target region and the background is improved.

Abstract: A method for assessing an alpha particle emission potential of a metallic material. A metallic material is initially subjected to a secular equilibrium disruption process, such as melting and/or refining, to disrupt the secular equilibrium of the radioactive decay of one or more target parent isotopes in the material. A sample of the material is treated to diffuse target decay isotopes within the sample such that the measured alpha particle emission directly corresponds to the concentration or number of target decay isotope atoms within the entirety of the sample, enabling the concentration of target decay isotopes in the sample to be determined. The concentration of target parent isotopes in the material may then be determined from the concentration of target decay isotopes and time elapsed from the secular equilibrium disruption process, and may be used to determine a maximum alpha particle emission that the metallic material will exhibit.

Abstract: A device for combined optical and nuclear image comprises a nuclear image acquisition module and a reference image acquisition module. The reference image acquisition module has: an optical image sensor; and an optical imaging system for deflecting the optical radiation from a reference field of view to the image sensor, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a mirror for the optical radiation, which mirror is arranged between the reference field of view and the optical image sensor. On the image sensor, a respective image area assigned to at least one of nuclear partial fields of view. The optical imaging system is arranged such that the optical radiation coming from the at least one nuclear partial field of view is deflected substantially exactly to the respectively assigned of the image areas.

Abstract: The method for providing a warning of radiation-dose-relevant space-weather events at cruising altitudes comprises the steps of detecting radiation data of the atmospheric radiation, particularly of the ionized radiation in the atmosphere, and providing a radiation model for 3D-spatially resolved estimation of a radiation field at cruising altitudes of the earth's atmosphere by use of a radiation dose rate scale based on a continuous range of values. Moreover, the 3D-spatially resolved rates of the effective radiation dose on the basis of the detected radiation data and the radiation model will be estimated. The radiation dose rate scale is divided, based on a continuous range of values, into a discrete, i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for radiation detection signal processing, and more particularly to a method capable of using a periodic signal to control the time of charging/discharging to a capacitor of an integrator. The method can be used for detecting the energy of incident photon of Gamma ray during the happening of an event while reducing dead time, and thereby, the count rate is increased. As the periodic signal is used as the signal for controlling the time of charging/discharging to a capacitor, the charging/discharging time of the integrator is no longer being controlled by the triggering time of the event, and thus, the present method is advantageous in that: the control method and circuit architecture are comparatively simpler since the charging/discharging time of the integrator no longer required to be controlled precisely, and thus the integration error due to insufficient resolution in delay element can be avoided.

Abstract: A method actuates a device for irradiating an object that has at least one target volume to be irradiated and at least one volume to be protected. The method includes defining at least one signal dose value for the volume to be protected and irradiating the object at least one of at least at times and at least in part with hadron irradiation. A dose introduced into the volume to be protected during the irradiation of the object is determined and at least one signal is emitted as soon as the introduced dose exceeds at least one signal dose value in at least one point of the volume to be protected.

Abstract: A radiation detector system and method that significantly reduces the cost of conventionally constructed radiation detectors is disclosed. The disclosed system generally comprises an injection molded detector body incorporating plastic material with embedded feed-thrus that are encapsulated within the detector body. This detector body is mated to a detector window assembly using a gasket or other means of sealing to inhibit gas leakage. The mating methodology between the detector body and the detector window assembly is by means of plastic snap-on tabs in these structures that permit semi-permanent mating while also allowing the structures to be easily disassembled for repair and maintenance. The present invention system/method permits a significant hardware cost reduction as compared to conventional prior art radiation detector construction methodologies.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus, which acquires an X-ray photographic image of an subject and outputs the X-ray photographic image to a plurality of output apparatuses, determines, as an output region to a first output apparatus, either an extracted irradiated region from an X-ray photographic image or a partial region selected from the X-ray photographic image by an user. When the size of the output region to the first output apparatus is not larger than an image size to be output to a second output apparatus, the output region to the first output apparatus is determined as an output region to the second output apparatus. When the output region to the first output apparatus is larger than the image size, a region corresponding to the image size is extracted from the output region to the first output apparatus as an output region to the second output apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a set of detector modules (108) that detect gamma rays, which have energy in a range of 40 to 140 keV and 511 keV, emitted by a radioisotope in an examination region, wherein 511 keV gamma rays are detected in singles mode in which individual 511 keV gamma rays, and not coincidence pairs of 511 keV gamma rays, are detected, an energy discriminator (132) that bins detected gamma rays into a first energy bin corresponding to 511 keV energy gamma rays and a second energy bin corresponding to 40 to 140 keV energy gamma rays, and a reconstructor (126) that reconstructs the 511 keV energy gamma rays thereby generating a first image of a distribution of a first radionuclide and that reconstructs the gamma rays in the one or more ranges between 40 and 140 keV thereby generating a second image of a distribution of a second radionuclide.

Abstract: A method for assessing an alpha particle emission potential of a metallic material. A metallic material is initially subjected to a secular equilibrium disruption process, such as melting and/or refining, to disrupt the secular equilibrium of the radioactive decay of one or more target parent isotopes in the material. A sample of the material is treated to diffuse target decay isotopes within the sample such that the measured alpha particle emission directly corresponds to the concentration or number of target decay isotope atoms within the entirety of the sample, enabling the concentration of target decay isotopes in the sample to be determined. The concentration of target parent isotopes in the material may then be determined from the concentration of target decay isotopes and time elapsed from the secular equilibrium disruption process, and may be used to determine a maximum alpha particle emission that the metallic material will exhibit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drive laser system producing an amplified light beam of pulses that travels along a drive axis; a beam delivery system that directs the amplified light beam of pulses toward a target region; a target material delivery system that provides a target mixture containing a target material in the target region; two or more sensors radially separated from a main axis that crosses the target region, the two or more sensors being configured to detect energy of ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation emitted from a plasma state of the target material when the amplified light beam of pulses intersects the target mixture; and a controller that receives the output from the two or more sensors. The controller is configured to estimate a relative radial alignment between the target mixture and the drive axis within the target region based on an analysis of the detected energy.

Abstract: A method for a constructing radiation detector includes fabricating a multi-layer structure upon a wafer, the multi-layer structure comprising a plurality of metal layers, a plurality of sacrificial layers, and a plurality of insulating layers, forming a cavity within the multi-layer structure, filling the cavity with a gas that ionizes in response to nuclear radiation, and sealing the gas within the cavity.

Abstract: Described is a method and system that facilitates triage of thousands to millions of potential patients within a relatively short period of time by scanning of a substrate of a designated card issued to a victim. The method and the system comprise a plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices located at a plurality of remote peripheral self-testing sites, and each one of the plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices facilitates self-testing of the substrate of the designated card. Each of the plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices provides test results of the scan of the substrate of the designated card, and the potential patients are identified, then subsequently screened and triaged based upon the test results of the scan of the substrate of the designated card.

Abstract: A photon detector article includes a photon detector configured to receive a primary waveform, the photon detector includes a multiplication region; a photon absorption region; a punch through voltage range; and a breakdown voltage; a source in electrical communication with the photon detector and configured to provide the primary waveform that includes a first voltage that is: less than a maximum value of the punch through voltage range, or effective to maintain a charge carrier in the absorption region; and a second voltage that is greater than the breakdown voltage; and a reference member in electrical communication with the source and configured to provide a reference waveform in response to receiving the primary waveform.

Abstract: A new technique which uses a pump-probe methodology to place a molecule into one or more excited rotational and/or vibrational states. By evaluating spectral changes due to at least one discrete frequency of pump photons a multi-dimensional characterization of the molecule's excited state energy level results. This multi-dimensional characterization typically involves evaluating the changes between excited and unexcited state measurements. The differential nature of the evaluation makes the technique self-referencing and solves problems common to many spectroscopic techniques. The multi-dimensionality of the technique provides high specificity and immunity to interferents. The preferred embodiments involve excitation by using photons suited to pumping the rotational states and evaluating the effects by probing the energy levels of one of more vibrational states.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for presenting images derived from a photon counting imaging modality. Initially, a first image is derived by binning native projection data in a first manner to create first binned data and generating the first image using the first binned data. A region-of-interest within the object may be identified from the first image, and, based upon the identified region-of-interest, the native projection data may be rebinned in a second, different, manner to create second binned data. Because the second manner of binning the native projection data is different than the first manner, an image resulting from the second binned data may be different than the first image. Moreover, a user interface may be provided for assisting a user in selecting a region-of-interest and/or for specifying desired properties of the second image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (400) includes a detector array (412) with at least one detector tile (418). The detector tile includes a photosensor array (422) with a two dimensional array of individual photosensitive detector pixels (424) located within a non-photosensitive area (426). The imaging apparatus also includes readout electronics (432) coupled to the photosensor array and including individual readout channel wells (602, 604) corresponding to the individual detector pixels. The imaging apparatus also includes an anti-aliasing filter (800) for a detector pixel that is located in at least one of a region of the photosensor array corresponding to the detector pixel or a region of the readout electronics corresponding to the detector pixel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous flowthrough labyrinth device that has a detector well formed therein in which a radiation detection device may be placed. The continuous flowthough labyrinth device allows a fluid sample to be introduced into the flow path of the device so that the fluid sample evenly surrounds the top and side surfaces of the detector well, which results in the fluid sample being evenly distributed around the radiation detection device. The continuous flowthrough labyrinth device may be connected to any radiation level fluid monitoring system, for example systems used by municipalities and/or industries. The continuous flowthrough labyrinth device may be placed such that fluids entering and/or exiting systems are monitored for radiation, or even placed to determine the radiation levels of fluids within systems.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of nuclear physics and can be used in system for identifying nuclear explosions based on the measured activities in the atmosphere of naturally-occurring radioactive gases (NORG). The technical result is an increase in the determination efficiency and in the reliability of punctual estimations of deposits from various types of fission in the global activity for each krypton and xenon isotope.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing background noise in a particle collider, comprises identifying an interaction point among a plurality of particles within a particle collider associated with a detector element, defining a trigger start time for each of the pixels as the time taken for light to travel from the interaction point to the pixel and a trigger stop time as a selected time after the trigger start time, and collecting only detections that occur between the start trigger time and the stop trigger time in order to thereafter compensate the result from the particle collider to reduce unwanted background detection.

Abstract: A precision densitometer for radiosensitive films and the like provides point-to-point scanning in which a laser source and collimated receiver are moved in tandem over the area of the film. The film may be supported only at its edges to remove scattering and interference caused by a glass support bed. Highly repeatable 25 ?m resolution density measurements may be obtained.

Abstract: A method for analysing the effect of temperature on at least one nuclear fuel rod, a rod comprising packed zones completely filled with fuel and intermediate zones partially filled with fuel, comprises: acquiring at least two count profiles, a first count profile being associated with a non-migrating isotope and a second count profile being associated with a migrating isotope; locating the intermediate zones by using the first count profile; determining an indicator Ki_1 indicative of the depth in the first profile of a measurement dip located at an intermediate zone i; determining an indicator Ki_2 indicative of the depth in the second profile of a measurement dip located at the intermediate zone i; determining for this intermediate zone i an indicator ?i by comparing the indicators Ki_1 and Ki_2.

Abstract: A method for analysing at least one fuel rod comprising a stack of nuclear fuel, a rod comprising packed zones completely filled with fuel and intermediate zones partially full of fuel, comprises: acquiring a count profile associated with a non-migrating isotope, a profile being made up of spectrometry measurements taken along the rod for this isotope; determining a set of at least one indicator K_i that makes it possible to quantify the reduction in material at an intermediate zone of index i, the said indicator being deduced from the count profile; detecting the change in geometry by comparing the set of at least one indicator K_i against a set of at least one reference value RK indicative of the initial geometry of the nuclear fuel stack.

Abstract: Radiation detectors having nanowires with charged, radiation-labile coatings configured to change the electrical properties of nanowires are provided. In one aspect, a radiation detection device is provided. The radiation detector device includes at least one nanowire having a radiation-labile coating with charged moieties on a surface thereof, wherein the radiation-labile coating is configured to degrade upon exposure to radiation such that the charged moieties are cleaved from the radiation-labile coating upon exposure to radiation and thereby affect a transconductance of the nanowire.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a pulsed radiation source may include an imaging sensor having a frame rate that is less than a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of the pulsed radiation source. A processing unit may be in communication with the imaging sensor, and be configured to (i) process a sequence of image data of a scene captured by the imaging sensor to determine whether radiation of the pulsed radiation source is detected, (ii) determine a PRF code of the pulsed radiation source from possible multiple different PRF codes based on the processed sequence of image data, and (iii) notify a user of the PRF code or information associated with the PRF code.

Abstract: A spectrometer (100) for detecting a source of radioactive emissions having a detector (120) that produces a detector signal (20), with an amplifier (30) followed by a single digitizer (40) followed by a digital signal processing unit (50), within which the signal processing implements two distinct pathways (51, 52), and associated firmware to utilize the two resulting sets of processed data in nuclear isotope identification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a workpiece which, on its surface, displays a depression having an opening width of at least 0.2 mm and in which depression a carrier material which is connected in a substantially inseparable manner to the workpiece and contains a characteristic marking material for the workpiece is disposed; and to a method for manufacturing the same and to a method for authentication and/or identification of the workpiece.

Abstract: The techniques described herein provide for correcting for pulse pile-up and/or charge sharing in a radiation scanner (100). It finds particular application with the use of a pixilated radiation detector (116) (e.g., a photon counting detector). A circuit (200), comprising a plurality of comparators (204, 206, 208), is configured to determine the energy spectrum of a pulse produced from a photon strike. If the energy spectrum is greater than the energy range for a pulse produced by a single photon strike given an input spectrum and/or if pulses produced from adjacent pixels have temporal coincidence, pulse pile-up and/or charge sharing may be identified and a correction mechanism/correction factors may be applied to determine an actual number of photons that struck the detector (116).

Abstract: A secondary charged particle detection device for detection of a signal beam is described. The device includes a detector arrangement having at least two detection elements with active detection areas, wherein the active detection areas are separated by a gap (G), a particle optics configured for separating the signal beam into a first portion of the signal beam and into at least one second portion of the signal beam, and configured for focusing the first portion of the signal beam and the at least one second portion of the signal beam. The particle optics includes an aperture plate and at least a first inner aperture openings in the aperture plate, and at least one second radially outer aperture opening in the aperture plate, wherein the first aperture opening has a concave shaped portion, particularly wherein the first aperture opening has a pincushion shape.

Abstract: A detector module (50) for a positron emission tomography (PET) system (10) includes an optical transceiver (66) receiving an optical data stream from a PET processing system (48). The data stream includes a pulse train carrying a command to generate sync/reset pulses. The system (10) further includes synchronization circuitry (70) configured to simultaneously jitter clean the pulse train and one of: 1) count the pulses of the pulse train; and 2) monitor the pulse train for a missing pulse. The synchronization circuitry (70) is further configured to, in response to counting a predetermined number of pulses or detecting the missing pulse, extract a jitter clean pulse from the pulse train to generate a jitter clean sync/reset pulse. The system (10) further includes an internal clock (64) which receives the jitter clean sync/reset pulse.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging device includes a signal processing circuit (22) processes signals from a detector array (16) which detects radiation from an imaging region (20). The hit signals are indicative of a corresponding detector (18) being hit by a radiation photon. The signal processing circuit (22) includes a plurality of input channels (321, 322, 323, 324), each input channel receiving hit signals from a corresponding detector element (18) such that each input channel (321, 322, 323, 324) corresponds to a location at which each hit signal is received. A plurality of integrators (42) integrate signals from the input channels (32) to determine an energy value associated with each radiation hit. A plurality of analog-to-digital converters (441, 442, 443, 444) convert the integrated energy value into a digital energy value. A plurality of time to digital converters (40) receive the hit signals and generate a digital time stamp.

Abstract: An image sensor system using offset analog to digital converters. The analog to digital converters require a plurality of clock cycles to carry out the actual conversion. These conversions are offset in time from one another, so that at each clock cycle, new data is available. A CMOS image sensor converts successive analog signals, representing at least a portion of an image, into successive digital signals using an analog to digital circuit block. Multiple clock cycles may be used by the circuit block to fully convert an analog signal into a corresponding digital signal. The conversion of one analog signal into a corresponding digital signal by the circuit block may be offset in time and partially overlapping with the conversion of a successive analog signal into its corresponding successive digital signal by the circuit block.