Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Joseph Y Pai

Choon-Woo Kim

Nang T Tran

A solid state radiation detection panel adapted to receive radiation, having a plurality of modules positioned immediately adjacent each other, with each of the plurality of modules having an array of photosensitive detectors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each of the photosensitive detectors having a radiation sensitive area; and circuit means for selectively addressing one of the photosensitive detectors by addressing one of the plurality of rows and one of the plurality of columns and reading the output of the one of the array of photosensitive detectors where each of the plurality of modules being arranged in a three dimensional structure in which the array of photosensitive detectors is arranged on a planar first surface of the module covering substantially the entire area of the planar first surface. The circuit means is located within the module in an area away from the planar first surface opposite from the received radiation. Photosensitive detectors located along an edge of the module having non-radiation sensitive circuitry located opposite the edge from the radiation sensitive area. The radiation sensitive area of the edge photosensitive detectors are smaller than the radiation sensitive area of the inside photosensitive detectors and the center to center distance of the radiation sensitive area of adjacent photosensitive detectors is maintained substantially constant between adjacent edge photosensitive detectors as adjacent inside photosensitive detectors. The module further has a pin diode along the edge of the module.

Solid state radiation detection panel having tiled photosensitive

A solid state radiation detector having an improved method of reading data from individual sensors and an x-ray machine configured with such a solid state radiation detector. At least one sensor of the solid state radiation detector is designated as a reference sensor. The output of the reference sensor is read until it reaches a predetermined threshold. Once the threshold has been reached, a timer determines when the predetermined x-ray exposure time is completed. Upon completion, the sensors of the solid state radiation sensor are read. Thus, all sensors may be read at the proper time to achieve maximum output in spite of an unknown and variable warm-up period for the x-ray tube following activation and possibly an unknown exposure time. Alternatively, once the output of the reference has reached the predetermined threshold, the output of that reference continues to be monitored to determine when the output of the reference sensor falls below a second predetermined threshold. At approximately that time, all sensors of the solid state radiation detector are read.

X-ray machine, solid state radiation detector and method for reading

A solid state radiation detection panel to receive radiation, having a plurality of modules positioned immediately adjacent each other, with each of the plurality of modules having an array of photosensitive detectors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each of the photosensitive detectors having a radiation sensitive area; and circuit for selectively addressing one of the photosensitive detectors by addressing one of the plurality of rows and one of the plurality of columns and reading the output of the one of the array of photosensitive detectors where each of the plurality of modules being arranged in a three dimensional structure in which the array of photosensitive detectors is arranged on a planar first surface of the module covering substantially the entire area of the planar first surface. The circuit is located within the module in an area away from the planar first surface opposite from the received radiation. Photosensitive detectors located along an edge of the module having non-radiation sensitive circuitry located opposite the edge from the radiation sensitive area. The radiation sensitive area of the edge photosensitive detectors are smaller than the radiation sensitive area of the inside photosensitive detectors and the center to center distance of the radiation sensitive area of adjacent photosensitive detectors is maintained substantially constant between adjacent edge photosensitive detectors as adjacent inside photosensitive detectors. The module further has a p/n diode along the edge of the module.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Joseph Y Pai