Thomson Tubes Electroniques

Bernard Munier

Guy Roziere

An image detector using arrays of photodiodes, and in particular to a radiological image detector. In the image detector, all the photodiodes of one and the same array are linked to adapter amplifiers embodied in the form of at least one integrated circuit. In each integrated circuit, an adapter amplifier, to which no photodiode is linked, delivers a voltage serving as a reference to define a bias voltage to be applied to the photodiodes. This arrangement makes it possible in particular to associate photosensitive arrays with amplifiers exhibiting different voltage thresholds.

Image sensor with integrated amplifiers for data acquisition

In order to solve an analogue/digital conversion dynamic swing problem encountered with detectors, especially solid-state detectors, of a tomodensitometer, there is provision to operate converters at a greater frequency, that is to say more often. In doing this, the converters used need not have as large a conversion dynamic swing. It is shown that instead of a 20-bit conversion, one can make do with a 14-bit conversion. The various conversions are added together to construct the signal. The measurement is thereafter switched, by way of improvement, as a function of the level of the signal received. This measurement is performed according to one mode of use or another, in which modes this acceleration of the rate of analogue/digital conversion is or is not effected.

Method for acquiring measurements and scanner implementing said method

To solve a control complexity problem encountered with very numerous detectors of a tomodensitometer, there is provision to group the detectors into groups and to subject all the detectors of a group to the same processing. By way of improvement, the determination of the mode of processing is performed during a view, and the processing is applied to the signals detected during a subsequent view.

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Seyssinet-Pariset, France

Bernard Munier