Trixell

Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Trixell S.a.s.

Bruno Bosset

Thierry Ducourant

Pierre Rohr

Jean-Luc Martin

Bertrand Dupont

Thibaut Wirth

Robert Neyret

Bruno Commere

Simon Marecaux

Martin Siaud

Laurent Charrier

Clément Atoyan

Xavier Favre

Claude Venin

Gauthier Creteur

Aysegul Van Oost

Patrice Andre

A digital detector includes a conversion block intended to convert incident radiation into electric charge; an electronic card that converts the electric charge into a digital image, the conversion block comprising N conversion stages superposed on one another, N being an integer between 2 and M, each of the N conversion stages comprising: a monolithic substrate; a first converter assembly in the form of a polygonal matrix array, M being the number of sides of the polygonal matrix array, M preferably being equal to 4, and configured so as to generate the electric charge on the basis of the incident radiation; an addressing and driving module for addressing and driving the matrix array, the addressing and driving module being arranged on the monolithic substrate along one side of the polygonal matrix array; each of the N conversion stages being oriented by at least 1/M of a turn with respect to the other N−1 conversion stages of the conversion block, and with an orientation distinct from the other N−1 conversion stages of the conversion block.

Digital detector with superposed conversion stages

A matrix-array detector includes a set of pixels that are sensitive to a physical effect and arranged in a matrix array in at least one row and columns, each pixel generating a signal dependent on the physical effect, Q column conductors, each connecting the one or more pixels of one and the same column and intended to transport the signals generated by the pixels. The detector further comprises N multiplexers configured to operate simultaneously, each multiplexer receiving the signals from K column conductors, K being greater than or equal to 2, Q being at least equal to K. The columns and associated conductors are ordered according to their physical distribution, q representing a current column. The N multiplexers are ordered from 1 to Q/K, n representing the rank of the current multiplexer. The column of rank q, where q is between 1 and K, is connected to the multiplexer of rank n=q modulo K. Downstream of the multiplexers, the detector comprises a network of switches allowing signals present at the outputs of the multiplexers to be mixed.

Pixel matrix with rapid regrouping

A photosensitive sensor includes multiple elementary sensors butted together, each elementary sensor comprising a pixel matrix organized in rows, the pixels of each row being connected to conductors of multiple types, column conductors of which are connected to read circuits of the sensor. The sensor moreover comprises, connected to each of the column conductors, a group of components that is separate from the conductor under consideration, the group of components forming a matching impedance of the conductor under consideration. The impedances in each elementary sensor have the same value and the impedances for different elementary sensors have different impedance values so as to balance the link impedances between the various read circuits and the corresponding column conductors for the various elementary sensors.

Photosensitive sensor with elementary sensors butted together

An image detector comprises a sensor produced on a first monolithic substrate comprising a set of pixels organized in a matrix on rows and columns and configured to generate signals as a function of a radiation striking the detector, column conductors, each linking the pixels of a same column and intended to convey the signals generated by the pixels, at least one bump contact situated at the periphery of the first substrate and outside of the matrix of pixels and linked to the column conductors. At least two column conductors are connected together on the first substrate outside of the matrix of pixels and the column conductors connected together converge toward the at least one bump contact.

Pooling of two columns of pixels of an image detector

A method for reading an imaging device intended for capturing images in a detector including a large number of photosensitive points called pixels organized into a matrix. The pixels of the same column are linked to a column conductor enabling the successive reading of the photosignals acquired by the pixels of the column, the method consisting for each of the pixels in carrying out a correlated double sampling read phase, the read phase comprising an operation of resetting the pixel followed by two read operations, the first without the photosignal, and the second with the photosignal. Three steps are concatenated in succession for the pixels of the same column:

Efficient method for reading an imaging device using correlated double sampling

An imaging device comprises a sensor of surface area of at least 10 cmand comprising: an image zone produced on a single substrate and comprising a group of pixels disposed in rows and columns, the number of pixels per column not being uniform for all the columns of pixels, each pixel collecting electric charges generated by a photosensitive element, row conductors linking the pixels row by row, column conductors linking the pixels column by column, row addressing blocks linked to the row conductors to address each row of pixels individually, and column reading blocks linked to the column conductors to read the electric charges collected by the pixels of the row selected by the row addressing blocks, the column reading blocks being situated at the periphery of the image zone; the row addressing blocks and the column reading blocks being produced on the same substrate as the image zone.

CMOS imaging device having optimized shape, and method for producing such a device by means of photocomposition

The invention relates to a method for controlling a light-sensitive device comprising a matrix of light-sensitive points arranged into lines and columns. The invention can essentially but not exclusively be used in light-sensitive devices used for detecting X-ray images. The method includes a step (E) of acquiring an image during which each light-sensitive point can accumulate a charge, and a step (E) of reading said image. The reading step (E) comprises a preliminary sub-step (E) of converting the charges accumulated at the different light-sensitive points into analog signals representative of said charges, and a sub-step (E) of processing the analog signals in order to obtain a digital image. According to the invention, the processing sub-step (E) is repeated N times for a same light-sensitive point and for a same acquisition step (E), with N being an integer greater than or equal to two, and the reading step (E) comprises a sub-step (E) of averaging the N signals processed per light-sensitive points in order to provide a single digital image per acquisition step (E).

Method for controlling a light-sensitive device

The present invention relates to a photosensitive device comprising a matrix of photosensitive pixels, in particular of the type produced by techniques for depositing semiconductor materials. The invention relates more particularly (but not exclusively) to the driving of such devices used for detecting radiological images. It also relates to a method of driving the photosensitive device. The photosensitive device includes means for adjusting the amplitude of the bias, allowing separate adjustment of the amplitude of the bias of the photosensitive pixels (Pto PPto P). The method of driving the photosensitive device consists, in the calibration phase, in adjusting the amplitude of the bias of each of the photodetector elements (Dp) separately from one another, so as to bring the output saturation levels of the two photosensitive pixels into maximum coincidence.

Photosensitive device and method for controlling same

A method of driving a photosensitive device including a matrix of photosensitive pixels of the type produced in particular by techniques for depositing semiconductor materials. The method may be particularly directed to the driving of such devices used for radiological image detection. The method subjects the photosensitive pixel during a read phase to a cycle of successive images including a useful image preceded by at least one offset image taken at an initial instant. A correction is applied to the useful image, the correction being based on the offset image taken at the initial instant and based on the time separating the useful image from the offset image taken at the initial instant.

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Moirans, France

Bruno Bosset