Image sensors having X-ray detectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224388-B2
Application number	US-201816177709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an image sensor comprising: a plurality of X-ray detectors; an actuator configured to move the plurality of X-ray detectors to a plurality of positions, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture, by using the detectors, images of portions of a scene at the positions, respectively, and configured to form an image of the scene by stitching the images of the portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image sensor comprising:
a plurality of X-ray detectors;
an actuator configured to move the plurality of X-ray detectors to a plurality of positions, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture, by using the detectors, images of portions of a scene at the positions, respectively, and configured to form an image of the scene by stitching the images of the portions;
wherein at least one of the plurality of X-ray detectors comprises an X-ray absorption layer and an electronics layer;
wherein the X-ray absorption layer comprises an electrode;
wherein the electronics layer comprises an electronics system;
wherein the electronics system comprises:
a first voltage comparator configured to compare a voltage of the electrode to a first threshold,
a second voltage comparator configured to compare the voltage to a second threshold,
a counter configured to register a number of X-ray photons reaching the X-ray absorption layer, and
a controller;
wherein the controller is configured to start a time delay from a time at which the first voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the first threshold;
wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator during the time delay;
wherein the controller is configured to cause the number registered by the counter to increase by one, if the second voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the second threshold.

2. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of X-ray detectors are spaced apart.

3. The image sensor of claim 1 , comprising a collimator with a plurality of X-ray transmitting zones and an X-ray blocking zone;
wherein the X-ray blocking zone is configured to block X-ray that would otherwise incident on a dead zone of the image sensor, and the X-ray transmitting zones are configured to allow at least a portion of X-ray that would incident on active areas of the image sensor.

4. The image sensor of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the collimator such that an alignment of the X-ray detectors with the X-ray transmitting zones and the X-ray blocking zone is maintained at the positions.

5. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of X-ray detectors are arranged in staggered rows and on a plane perpendicular to a direction of some radiations used in the capture of the images of the portions.

6. The image sensor of claim 5 , wherein X-ray detectors in a same row are uniform in size; wherein a distance between two neighboring X-ray detectors in a same row is greater than a width of one X-ray detector in the same row in an extending direction of the row and is less than twice that width.

7. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein active areas of the X-ray detectors tessellate the scene at the positions.

8. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a robotic arm.

9. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of X-ray detectors comprise multiple layers of detectors.

10. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of X-ray detectors are rectangular in shape.

11. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of X-ray detectors are hexagonal in shape.

12. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a control unit configured to determine the positions.

13. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the electronics system further comprises a capacitor module electrically connected to the electrode, wherein the capacitor module is configured to collect charge carriers from the electrode.

14. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator at a beginning or expiration of the time delay.

15. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the electronics system further comprises a voltmeter, wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltmeter to measure the voltage upon expiration of the time delay.

16. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an X-ray photon energy based on a value of the voltage measured upon expiration of the time delay.

17. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to connect the electrode to an electrical ground.

18. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein a rate of change of the voltage is substantially zero at expiration of the time delay.

19. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein a rate of change of the voltage is substantially non-zero at expiration of the time delay.

20. A system comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source, wherein the system is configured to perform X-ray radiography on human chest or abdomen.

21. A system comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source, wherein the system is configured to perform X-ray radiography on human mouth.

22. A cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system, comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source, wherein the cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system is configured to form an image using backscattered X-ray.

23. A cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system, comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source, wherein the cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system is configured to form an image using X-ray transmitted through an object inspected.

24. A full-body scanner system comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source.

25. An X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) system comprising the image sensor of claim 1 and an X-ray source.

26. An electron microscope comprising the image sensor of claim 1 , an electron source and an electronic optical system.

27. A system comprising the image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the system is an X-ray telescope, or an X-ray microscopy, or wherein the system is configured to perform mammography, industrial defect detection, microradiography, casting inspection, weld inspection, or digital subtraction angiography.

28. A method of forming an image of a scene using the image sensor of claim 1 , the method comprising:
taking a first image of a first portion of the scene by positioning the X-ray detectors to a first position;
taking a second image of a second portion of the scene by positioning the X-ray detectors to a second position;
forming the image of the scene by stitching at least the first image and the second image.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the first and the second images have a spatial overlap.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the image sensor further comprises a collimator; wherein the method further comprises positioning the collimator before taking the first and the second images.

Assignees

• Shenzhen Xpectvision Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cao Peiyan
• Liu Yurun

Classifications

• G01T7/00

  Details of radiation-measuring instruments · CPC title

• G01V5/232

  having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor (G01V5/226 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01T1/24

  with semiconductor detectors · CPC title

• A61B6/4452

  the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other · CPC title

• A61B6/54

  Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis · CPC title