Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic system, particularly for an X-ray detector, comprising a semiconductor layer (1) with an array of pixels (P) which are composed of photosensitive components (3) and associated electronic circuits (4). An insulating passivation layer (5) with recesses (5a) in its surface is disposed between the semiconductor layer (1) and a scintillator (8). A shielding metal (6) for the protection of the electronic circuits (4) from X-radiation may be disposed in the recesses (5a) of the passivation layer (5). Furthermore, the recesses may contain glue for the fixation of the scintillator (8), wherein the passivation layer (5) additionally serves as a spacer between scintillator (8) and semiconductor layer (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector element (1) for gamma radiation, which is particularly suitable for use in a PEF apparatus. The detector element (1) consists of two or more different conversion units (11, 12), which react to the absorption of a gamma quantum (y) with light emissions (?1, ?2) of different spectral composition. A photodetector arrangement (30) may therefore discriminate between the sites of origin of the light emissions by means of their spectral characteristics.

Abstract: An x-ray examination apparatus comprises an x-ray source and an x-ray detector. The x-ray detector includes a photoconductor to derive electric charges from incident x-radiation and read-out elements which derive electrical pixel-signals from the electric charges from the photoconductor. A central group of the read-out elements is located in a central region of the x-ray detector and a peripheral group of the read-out elements is located in a peripheral region which surrounds the central region. The x-ray examination apparatus being provided with a selection system to select the central group of read-out elements so as to supply pixel-signals from the central group of read-elements to the output circuit. The selection system may include an encompassing electrode to drain electric charges from the peripheral group. Or the selection system shields the peripheral group from x-rays.

Abstract: A radiation detector comprises a plurality of detector units and x-ray absorption members placed between the respective detector units. An individual detector unit includes a sensor element and read-out circuitry. The x-ray absorption members have a wider portion and a narrower portion and the read-out circuitry is accommodated at the narrower portion of the x-ray absorption member. Hence, the read-out circuitry is shielded from incident x-rays by the wider portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector for converting electromagnetic radiation (15) into electric charge carriers. The invention also relates to an X-ray examination apparatus provided with such a radiation detector, and to a method of manufacturing a radiation detector. In order to achieve a small building height of the radiation detector while nevertheless satisfying the same requirements as regards the resetting of the converter arrangement (16, 18) by means of an illumination device (6), it is proposed to provide a supporting layer (8) underneath a glass plate (2a) with a photosensor arrangement (2b), which supporting layer on the one hand provides uniform distribution of the light incident from below and on the other hand imparts the necessary stability to the radiation detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector for converting electromagnetic radiation, notably X-rays, into electric charge carriers. The invention also relates to a method of operating an X-ray detector and to a method of manufacturing an X-ray detector. The invention furthermore relates to an X-ray examination apparatus which includes an X-ray detector. In order to reduce image artefacts caused by bright burn effects, it is proposed to add a heating device (7) to an X-ray detector (1) for converting electromagnetic radiation, notably X-rays, into electric charge carriers by means of a converter arrangement, which heating device in accordance with the invention is arranged to apply heat to the converter arrangement (2) during operation of the X-ray detector (1).

Abstract: An image detector includes a sensor matrix with a plurality of sensor elements for converting radiation into electrical charges and with several line conductors. The sensor elements are arranged in columns and rows. Separate sensor elements are coupled to at least one of the line conductors. Separate groups of sensor elements in one column and/or in one row of the matrix are coupled to different line conductors and at least one line conductor is coupled to sensor elements of at least two columns or of at least two rows.

Abstract: An X-ray detector module (1) is provided, in which a preferably metallic carrier (3) forms tubular cells (4) in which there is provided a mixture of a binder (7) and scintillator particles (6). The absorption of X-rays by the scintillator particles (6) gives rise to the emission of light of a longer wavelength (&lgr;1, &lgr;2) that can be detected by a detector (5) arranged at the far end of the cells (4). In order to keep the light yield as high as possible, a difference of less than 20% is pursued between the refractive indices of the binder (7) and the scintillator particles (6) and/or nano-crystalline scintillator particles (6) of a size of between 1 and 100 nm are used. Preferably, the cell walls (3, 3′) are extended in the direction of incidence of the X-rays in order to form an anti-scatter grid above the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid two-dimensional scintillator arrangement which is formed by a plurality of one-dimensional detector strips. The detector strips (1) are formed by scintillator slabs (3) and absorber layers (2) which are glued between said scintillator slabs. The detector strips (1) are fitted parallel to one another in a fitting form (4). The one-dimensional detector strips can be manufactured with a high degree of precision. The fitting form (4) can also be manufactured with a very high degree of precision and accommodates the individual detector strips (1) in a second direction which extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the detector strips extend. The fitting form (4) is provided with transverse pieces (5), the detector strips (1) being inserted between the transverse pieces (5).

Abstract: An X-ray detector that includes a sensor matrix and a scintillator arrangement and in which wire elements are spaced apart in layers A and B in order to reduce the crosstalk in neighboring detector elements. Scintillators are inserted at least partly in the grid openings formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scatter correction while forming a computed X-ray tomogram. The distribution of the scattered radiation is determined by detector cells (7′) which, because of the measuring method carried out, are shielded from direct irradiation in a two-dimensional, multi-cell detector field (3). This distribution is used to perform a scatter correction in the neighboring, directly irradiated detector cells (7). Furthermore, scatter correction can be performed by computer simulation of the scatter processes. To this end, use is preferably made of a Monte Carlo method and the effect of the geometry and the material composition of the measuring arrangement, of the patient size, of the irradiated tissue and the like, is taken into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector for converting electromagnetic radiation, notably X-rays, into electric charge carriers. The invention also relates to a method of operating an X-ray detector and to a method of manufacturing an X-ray detector. The invention furthermore relates to an X-ray examination apparatus which includes an X-ray detector. In order to reduce image artefacts caused by bright burn effects, it is proposed to add a heating device (7) to an X-ray detector (1) for converting electromagnetic radiation, notably X-rays, into electric charge carriers by means of a converter arrangement, which heating device in accordance with the invention is arranged to apply heat to the converter arrangement (2) during operation of the X-ray detector (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector for converting electromagnetic radiation (15) into electric charge carriers. The invention also relates to an X-ray examination apparatus provided with such a radiation detector, and to a method of manufacturing a radiation detector. In order to achieve a small building height of the radiation detector while nevertheless satisfying the same requirements as regards the resetting of the converter arrangement (16, 18) by means of an illumination device (6), it is proposed to provide a supporting layer (8) underneath a glass plate (2a) with a photosensor arrangement (2b), which supporting layer on the one hand provides uniform distribution of the light incident from below and on the other hand imparts the necessary stability to the radiation detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid two-dimensional scintillator arrangement which is formed by a plurality of one-dimensional detector strips. The detector strips (1) are formed by scintillator slabs (3) and absorber layers (2) which are glued between said scintillator slabs. The detector strips (1) are fitted parallel to one another in a fitting form (4). The one-dimensional detector strips can be manufactured with a high degree of precision. The fitting form (4) can also be manufactured with a very high degree of precision and accommodates the individual detector strips (1) in a second direction which extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the detector strips extend. The fitting form (4) is provided with transverse pieces (5), the detector strips (1) being inserted between the transverse pieces (5).

Abstract: This disclosure defined by this invention sets forth an X-ray detector including a scintillator. The scintillator is formed with a doped alkali halogenide and is constructed with an array of photodiodes including at least one photodiode containing a semiconductor material with a color transformer. The color transformer contains a photoluminescent phosphor and may be arranged between the scintillator and the array of photodiodes. One benefit of the scintillator, and an x-ray detect which includes the scintillator, is that it enables a larger part of the X-radiation to be used for image analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector module (1) in which a preferably metallic carrier (3) forms tubular cells (4) in which there is provided a mixture of a binder (7) and scintillator particles (6). The absorption of X-rays by the scintillator particles (6) gives rise to the emission of light of a longer wavelength (&lgr;1,&lgr;2) that can be detected by a detector (5) arranged at the far end of the cells (4). In order to keep the light yield as high as possible, a difference of less than 20% is pursued between the refractive indices of the binder (7) and the scintillator particles (6) and/or nano-crystalline scintillator particles (6) of a size of between 1 and 100 nm are used. Preferably, the cell walls (3, 3′) are extended in the direction of incidence of the X-rays in order to form an anti-scatter grid above the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scatter correction while forming a computed X-ray tomogram. The distribution of the scattered radiation is determined by means of the detector cells (7′) which, because of the measuring method carried out, are shielded from direct irradiation in a two-dimensional, multi-cell detector field (3). This distribution is used to perform a scatter correction in the neighboring, directly irradiated detector cells (7). Furthermore, scatter correction can be performed by means of a computer simulation of the scatter processes. To this end, use is preferably made of a Monte Carlo method and the effect of the geometry and the material composition of the measuring arrangement, of the patient size, of the irradiated tissue and the like, is taken into account.

Abstract: In order to increase the ruggedness and the scattered radiation attenuation quality, a grid (3) with comb elements (12) which absorb electromagnetic radiation and are intended to form a grid is constructed, in such a manner that comb lamellae (11) extend transversely of an associated comb base surface which supports the comb lamellae (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus which includes a radiation source, a detector device and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the detector output signals into digital values. In order to realize a computed tomography apparatus in which the number of binary positions required for the encoding of the signal entering the analog-to-digital converter is reduced while using simple components which operate with a high degree of reliability, use is made of a read-out amplifier (1) which precedes the analog-to-digital converter (10), has a plurality of gain factors and a control system (12) for the relevant gain factor which, when a predetermined limit value of the integrated input signal is reached, automatically selects an appropriate, each time lower gain factor for the step-wise linear approximation of a proportional ratio between the digital values and the square root of the detector output signals.

Abstract: An X-ray detector comprising a scintillator including a doped alkali halogenide, and comprising an array of photodiodes including at least one photodiode containing a semiconductor material, with a color transformer containing a photoluminescent phosphor being arranged between the scintillator and the array of photodiodes, enables a larger part of the X-radiation to be used for image analysis.