The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2011
Bernd Schmitt, Lauchringen, DE;
Anna Bergamaschi, Baden, CH;
Aldo Mozzanica, Windisch, CH;
Roberto Dinapoli, Brugg, CH;
Bernd Schmitt, Lauchringen, DE;
Anna Bergamaschi, Baden, CH;
Aldo Mozzanica, Windisch, CH;
Roberto Dinapoli, Brugg, CH;
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen/PSI, CH;
Abstract
A single photon counting detector system has a layer of photosensitive material and an N×M array of photo-detector diodes. Each photo-detector diode has a bias potential interface and a diode output interface. The bias potential interface is connected to bias potential. An N×M array of high gain, low noise readout unit cells is provided, one readout unit cell for each photo-detector diode. Each readout unit cell has an input interface connected to the diode output interface, a high-gain voltage amplifier with an integration capacitor at least two parallel lines of digital counters, each having a comparator with an individually selectable threshold and a gateable section to determine the counting intervals of the digital counters. A multiplexer allows access to the readout cell unit either on a per pixel basis or for several pixels in parallel to read out the digital counter to a data processor transferring the data off chip.