Abstract: Disclosed herein is a phone, comprising a Lidar system which comprises (A) an image sensor comprising an array of avalanche photodiodes (APDs)(i), i=1, . . . , N, for i=1, . . . , N, the APD (i) comprising an absorption region (i) and an amplification region (i), wherein the absorption region (i) is configured to generate charge carriers from a photon absorbed by the absorption region (i), wherein the amplification region (i) comprises a junction (i) with a junction electric field (i) in the junction (i), wherein the junction electric field (i) is at a value sufficient to cause an avalanche of charge carriers entering the amplification region (i), but not sufficient to make the avalanche self-sustaining, and wherein the junctions (i), i=1, . . . , N are discrete, and (B) a radiation source, wherein the phone is configured to convert sounds to electrical signals, reproduce sounds from electrical signals, and send/receive electrical signals to/from another phone via any means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: causing emission of characteristic X-rays of a first element attached to a first biological analyte; causing emission of characteristic X-rays of a second element attached to a second biological analyte; detecting a characteristic of the first biological analyte based on the characteristic X-rays of the first element and a characteristic of the second biological analyte based on the characteristic X-rays of the second element; wherein the first element and the second element are different; wherein the first biological analyte and the second biological analyte are in the same solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of operating an apparatus which comprises (a) an image sensor comprising an array of avalanche photodiodes (APDs)(i), i=1, . . . , N, N being a positive integer, (b) a radiation source, and (c) an optical system, the method comprising: using the radiation source to emit a first pulse of first illumination photons at a time point T1a; for i=1, . . . , N, measuring a time of flight (1,i); for i=1, . . . , N, based on the time of flight (1,i), determining a spot distance (1,i); using the radiation source to emit a second pulse of second illumination photons at a time point T2a; for j=1, . . . , N, measuring a time of flight (2,j); for j=1, . . . , N, based on the time of flight (2,j), determining a spot distance (2,j); and for k=1, . . . , N, comparing the spot distance (1,k) and the spot distance (2,k). The optical system comprises a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of operating an apparatus which comprises (a) an image sensor comprising an array of avalanche photodiodes (APDs)(i), i=1, . . . ,N, N being a positive integer, (b) a radiation source, and (c) an optical system, the method comprising: using the radiation source to emit a pulse of illumination photons at a time point Ta; for i=1, . . . ,N, measuring a time of flight (i) from Ta to a time point Tb(i) at which a photon of the illumination photons returns to the APD (i) through the optical system after bouncing off a surface spot (i) of a targeted object corresponding to the APD (i); and determining a three-dimensional contour of the targeted objects based on the times of flights (i), i=1, . . . ,N. The optical system comprises a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens. The first cylindrical lens is positioned between the targeted objects and the second cylindrical lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, comprising: introducing a tracer into a body region of an organism at an introduction site of the organism; causing emission of characteristic X-rays of the tracer in the body region; capturing images of the tracer in the body region with the characteristic X-rays; determining a first three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the tracer in the body region based on the images; and examining the first 3D distribution of the tracer in the body region to identify a sentinel lymph node for the introduction site. If the sentinel lymph node is not identified in the first 3D distribution, the method further comprises repeating said causing, said capturing, and said determining thereby resulting in a second 3D distribution of the tracer in the body region; and examining the second 3D distribution to identify the sentinel lymph node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: forming one or more blobs within a footprint of a pixel of a photodetector; wherein the blobs comprise quantum dots configured to emit a pulse of visible light upon absorbing a particle of radiation; wherein the pixel is configured to detect the pulse of visible light. Also disclosed herein is a radiation detector, comprising: an array of discrete blobs with quantum dots configured to emit a pulse of visible light upon absorbing a particle of radiation; an electronic system configured to detect the particle of radiation by detecting the pulse of visible light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus for detecting radiation and a method of making it. The method may comprise forming a recess into a semiconductor substrate, wherein a portion of the semiconductor substrate extends into the recess and is surrounded by the recess; forming a semiconductor single crystal in the recess, the semiconductor single crystal having a different composition from the semiconductor substrate; forming a first doped semiconductor region in the semiconductor substrate; forming a second doped semiconductor region in the semiconductor substrate; wherein the first doped semiconductor region and the second doped semiconductor region form a p-n junction that separates the portion from the rest of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for detecting radiation, comprising: a radiation absorption layer comprising a semiconductor, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact positioned across the semiconductor from the second electrical contact; a DC-to-DC converter configured to apply a DC voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the DC-to-DC converter comprising micro-electromechanical switches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for image tracking using an X-ray imaging system during an interventional radiology procedure on a human or an animal. The method may comprise acquiring a first image of an object inside a human or an animal with a first X-ray detector of the X-ray imaging system; acquiring a second image of the object with the X-ray imaging system during the interventional radiology procedure, at a time later than acquiring the first image; determining a displacement of the first X-ray detector based on the first image and the second image; moving the first X-ray detector by the displacement, with an actuator of the X-ray imaging system. The X-ray imaging system comprises the first X-ray detector, the second X-ray detector and the actuator. A spatial resolution of the first X-ray detector is higher than a spatial resolution of the second X-ray detector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detector, comprising: a plurality of pixels; a first guard ring comprising a plurality of segments, wherein the detector is configured to detect charge carriers collected by the segments; a controller configured to detect charge sharing between at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels and at least one segment of the first guard ring.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of recovering performance of a radiation detector, the radiation detector comprising: a radiation absorption layer configured to absorb radiation particles incident thereon and generate an electrical signal based on the radiation particles; an electronic system configured to process the electrical signal, the electronic system comprising a transistor, the transistor comprising a gate insulator with positive charge carriers accumulated therein due to exposure of the gate insulator to radiation; the method comprising: removing the positive charge carriers from the gate insulator by establishing an electric field across the gate insulator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for forming a radiation detector. The method comprises forming a radiation absorption layer and bonding an electronics layer to the radiation absorption layer. The electronics layer comprises an electronic system configured to process electrical signals generated in the radiation absorption layer upon absorbing radiation photons. The method for forming the radiation absorption layer comprises forming a trench into a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; doping a sidewall of the trench; forming a first electrical contact on the first surface; forming a second electrical contact on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The method further comprises dicing the semiconductor substrate along the trench.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an X-ray source, comprising: a cathode in a recess of a first substrate; a counter electrode on a sidewall of the recess, configured to cause field emission of electrons from the cathode; and a metal anode configured to receive the electrons emitted from the cathode and to emit X-ray from impact by the electrons on the metal anode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detector, comprising: a plurality of strip pixels, wherein each of the strip pixel is configured to count numbers of radiation photons incident thereon whose energy falls in a plurality of bins, within a period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: forming a doped region of a semiconductor substrate by doping a surface of the semiconductor substrate with dopants; driving the dopants into the semiconductor substrate by annealing the semiconductor substrate; controlling doping profile of the doped region by repeating doping and annealing the semiconductor substrate; forming a first electrode on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first electrode is in electrical contact with the doped region; forming an outer electrode arranged around the first electrode, wherein the outer electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image sensor comprising: a plurality of X-ray detectors; an actuator configured to move the plurality of X-ray detectors to a plurality of positions, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture, by using the detectors, images of portions of a scene at the positions, respectively, and configured to form an image of the scene by stitching the images of the portions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: obtaining a third image from a first X-ray detector when the first X-ray detector and a second X-ray detector are misaligned; determining, based on a shift between a first image and the third image, a misalignment between the first X-ray detector and the second X-ray detector when the first and second detectors are misaligned; wherein the first image is an image the first X-ray detector should capture if the first and the second detectors are aligned.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image sensor comprising an array of APDs, an electronic system configured to individually control reverse biases on the APDs based on intensities of light incident on the APDs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation detector, comprising a first pixel; a first reflector; and a first scintillator, wherein the first reflector is configured to guide essentially all photons emitted by the first scintillator into the first pixel. The first reflector is configured to reflect photons emitted by the first scintillator toward the first reflector. The first scintillator is essentially completely enclosed by the first reflector and the first pixel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image sensor with two radiation detectors, each having a planar surface for receiving radiation; and a calibration pattern. The planar surfaces of the radiation detectors are not coplanar. The image sensor can capture images of two portions of the calibration pattern, respectively using the radiation detectors. The image sensor can determine two transformations for the radiation detectors based on the images of the portions of the calibration pattern, respectively. The image sensor can capture images of two portions of a scene, respectively using the radiation detectors, determine projections of the images of the portions of the scene onto an image plane using the transformations, respectively, and form an image of the scene by stitching the projections.