Multi-window signal processing electronics architecture for photon counting with multi-element sensors

Abstract

A radiation detection and counting system () includes a radiation detector element () for outputting a signal related to an energy of a radiation event received thereby and an amplifier () for amplifying the signal output by the detector element (). A gain equalization circuit () adjusts the gain of the amplified output signal and a plurality of comparators () compare the gain adjusted amplified output signal to a like plurality of different valued threshold signals that are independently adjustable of each other A plurality of counters () is operative whereupon only the counter associated with the one comparator () that changes state in response to the peak of the gain adjusted amplified output signal exceeding the value of the trigger threshold signal thereof is incremented. A storage () stores the incremented value of each counter () accumulated over a sample time interval and data output logic circuit () transfers the stored accumulated counts out of the storage.