Abstract: The invention relates to a large-area sensor arrangement, notably a flat dynamic X-ray detector (FDXD). The light-sensitive and/or X-ray-sensitive sensors (pixels) of the sensor arrangement are arranged in a planar distribution on a substrate (1), thus forming a sensitive layer (20). On the top surface of the layer (20) there is provided a contact point (23) for each sensor, which contact point is connected to an integrated circuit (6) via one or more connection layers (30, 40). A multi-layer, very compact construction is thus obtained in which the electronic evaluation circuitry (6) is arranged in a planar fashion and parallel to the sensors (20). Preferably, a respective evaluation circuit in the circuit (6) is associated with each sensor, resulting in very short paths and also in a reduction of noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector which includes at least one conversion unit (1) for converting absorbed X-ray quanta into electric charge signals, at least one evaluation unit (10) for amplifying and further processing the charge signals, and at least one data processing unit (11) for the acquisition, further processing and output of data. The charge signals are first amplified by an input amplifier (2) in the evaluation unit (10) after which they are evaluated in parallel in a counting channel (5) as well as in an integrator channel (7). The charge signals are then counted in the counting channel and the overall charge is integrated in the integrator channel as a measure of the energy delivered in the conversion unit (1). Because of the parallel presentation of the counting results and the integration results, more weight can be attached thereto in their respective range of the quantum flow that is optimum from a measuring point of view, so that the dynamic range of the X-ray detector is enlarged.

Abstract: An x-ray detector apparatus comprises an array of detector pixels (20), each pixel (20) comprising a conversion element (26, 260) for converting incident radiation into a charge flow, a charge storage element (28) and a switching device (29) enabling the charge stored to be provided to an output of the pixel (20). A plurality of dose sensing pixels further comprise a dose sensing element (40, 50) during x-ray exposure results in a change in the charge stored on the charge storage element (28) and also results in a dose sensing signal being generated which can be read out from the pixel (20). The dose sensing pixels enable a dose signal to be obtained without reading the charges stored on the pixel charge storage elements, so that dose sensing can be carried out during exposure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and a method of operating a sensor with includes a plurality of sensor elements (10), each of which includes a radiation-sensitive conversion element (1) which generates an electric signal in dependence on the incident radiation, and also with means (21 to 26) for amplifying the electric signal in each sensor element (10) and a read-out switching element (30) in each sensor element (10) which is connected to a read-out line (8) in order to read-out the electric signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and a method of operating a sensor with includes a plurality of sensor elements (10), each of which includes a radiation-sensitive conversion element (1) which generates an electric signal in dependence on the incident radiation, and also with means (21 to 26) for amplifying the electric signal in each sensor element (10) and a read-out switching element (30) in each sensor element (10) which is connected to a read-out line (8) in order to read-out the electric signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image correction method for an X-ray detector which includes a rear-mounted light source with improved correction of the after-image effects. The invention is based on the recognition of the fact that the so-called gain effects cannot be eliminated by means of known methods. The gain effects, however, give rise to an increase of the amplification by a few percents, and hence to a bright image with artefacts, already in the case of customary diagnostic X-ray doses. In accordance with the invention the gain effects are measured by acquisition of light source images by means of the build-in light source; the strength of the gain effect as well as a correction factor are determined pixel by pixel on the basis thereof. The pixel values of the bright image are corrected by means of the correction factor.

Abstract: An X-ray detector includes an array of X-ray sensitive sensors, each sensor including a conversion element which converts incident X-rays into electric charge pulses. The X-ray detector also includes an evaluation unit which is electrically connected to the conversion element in order to receive and evaluate the electric charge pulses. In order to form an X-ray detector which exhibits a high degree of linearity over a large dynamic range in conjunction with a higher maximum count rate and in order to avoid falsification of the calculated image by multiple counting of X-ray quanta, the evaluation unit includes a current/frequency converter as well as an electronic counter which is electrically connected thereto. The electric charge pulses from the conversion element are applied to the input of the current/frequency converter whose output pulses are applied to the electronic counter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of sensor elements in which the sensor elements are arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays or light, and to generate in response thereto a charge signal which corresponds to the radiation intensity. Furthermore, a sensor element includes means which enable determination of the incident radiation dose. The sensor elements in the arrangement form groups so that the outputs of all sensor elements of a group are coupled and the sensor elements of a group are preferably arranged so as to neighbor one another. This on the one hand enables determination of the dose in these zones while on the other hand images of lower resolution can be formed simply by combining output signals of a plurality of sensor elements. An arrangement of this kind can be used, for example, in an X-ray diagnostic device or in an optical image acquisition system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement which comprises electrical elements which include sensors for electromagnetic radiation such as light or X-rays or are constructed so as to emit or change light. At least one element of the arrangement is provided with a switching unit which evaluates the signal patterns of at least two control inputs of the element and compares them with at least one activation pattern. The element is activated in the case of correspondence. At least two elements of the arrangement have at least one identical activation pattern. The control inputs of the elements are preferably coupled to a control lead bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the correction or compensation of individual differences between the conversion characteristics of the image sensors (11) and the processing units (12) of an X-ray detector which are connected thereto. It is assumed that a functional relationship in conformity with GW=Fi(Lij(&phgr;)) exists between the quantity of radiation (&phgr;) entering the detector and the grey value (GW) resulting therefrom for a pixel (j, i), where Lij describes the approximately linear behavior of the sensor arrangement (10) and Fi the non-linear behavior of the processing unit (12). For the inverse value Lij−1 a linear model function is used and for the inverse value Fi−1 a non-linear model function is used with parameters which can be calculated from calibration measurements with different radiation quantities (&phgr;k).

Abstract: An X-ray detector apparatus comprises an array of detector pixels (20), each pixel (20) comprising a conversion element (26;260) for converting incident radiation into a charge flow, a charge storage element (28) and a switching device (29) enabling the charge stored to be provided to an output of the pixel (20). A plurality of dose sensing pixels further comprise a dose sensing element (40;50). Charge flow from the conversion element (26;260) during X-ray exposure results in a change in the charge stored on the charge storage element (28) and also results in a dose sensing signal being generated which can be read out from the pixel (20). The dose sensing pixels enable a dose signal to be obtained without reading the charges stored on the pixel charge storage elements, so that dose sensing can be carried out during exposure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector which includes at least one conversion unit (1) for converting absorbed X-ray quanta into electric charge signals, at least one evaluation unit (10) for amplifying and further processing the charge signals, and at least one data processing unit (11) for the acquisition, further processing and output of data. The charge signals are first amplified by an input amplifier (2) in the evaluation unit (10) after which they are evaluated in parallel in a counting channel (5) as well as in an integrator channel (7). The charge signals are then counted in the counting channel and the overall charge is integrated in the integrator channel as a measure of the energy delivered in the conversion unit (1). Because of the parallel presentation of the counting results and the integration results, more weight can be attached thereto in their respective range of the quantum flow that is optimum from a measuring point of view, so that the dynamic range of the X-ray detector is enlarged.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image correction method for an X-ray detector which includes a rear-mounted light source with improved correction of the after-image effects.