Edge arrangement for tileable pixelated emission sensor
For larger FOV in a gamma camera, multiple solid-state detectors are tiled. The edge pixels of the pixelated detectors are smaller than interior pixels so that the pitch of the pixels or anodes is constant across the tiled detectors. The constant pitch occurs where pairs of edge pixels combined from different detectors contribute the pitch or area of an interior pixel. As a result of this optimized edge pixel pairing and corresponding regular pitch across the tiles, the spectral and other performance is less degraded.
1 . A detector system comprising:
a first detector having a plurality of first pixelated detector cells including first interior detector cells and first edge detector cells on a first edge of the first detector; and
a second detector having a plurality of second pixelated detector cells including second interior detector cells and second edge detector cells on a second edge of the second detector;
wherein the first detector is tiled with the second detector such that the second detector is positioned adjacent to the first detector where the first edge is by the second edge;
wherein the first edge detector cells have a first lesser area than the first interior detector cells, the second edge detector cells have a second lesser area than the second interior detector cells; and
wherein the first and second lesser areas are sized such that a pair of an abutting first edge detector cell and an abutting second edge detector cell combine to form a combination cell having substantially the same area and shape as one of the first interior detector cells so that a pitch of the first and second pixelated detectors cells across the first and second detectors is constant.
2 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second interior detector cells and the combination cells are square, the first and second edge detector cells being rectangular.
3 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second interior detector cells and the combination cells are triangular, some of the first and second edge detector cells being triangular and others of the first and second edge detector cells being trapezoidal.
4 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second interior detector cells and the combination cells are hexagonal, the first and second edge detector cells being five sided.
5 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second lesser areas are substantially equal.
6 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second lesser areas are about ½ of areas of the first and second interior detector cells, respectively.
7 . The detector system of claim 1 further comprising a gap less than the pitch between the first and second detectors, wherein the first and second lesser areas are less than ½ of areas of the first and second interior detector cells, respectively, such that the pitch is constant.
8 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second detectors comprise room temperature semiconductor detectors.
9 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second detectors have a same shape, and wherein the first and second interior detector cells have the same shape.
10 . The detector system of claim 1 wherein the first and second pixelated detector cells include corner edge detector cells being ½ or less of the first and second lesser areas.