Overlapping pixel summing scheme in the full size photon counting computed tomography (CT)

1 . A photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus, comprising:

a PCD array including a plurality of micro-pixels positioned in at least one of a channel direction and a row direction; and

processing circuitry configured to:

receive signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels,

configure the PCD array to include (a) a first micro-pixel area including a first group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, and (b) a second micro-pixel area including a second group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, such that a portion of the first and second groups of plural micro-pixels overlap between the first and second groups,

bin the signals from the first group of plural micro-pixels into a first virtual bin value by summing the signals from the first group with equal weighting in a spatial domain;

bin the signals from the second group of plural micro-pixels into a second virtual bin value by summing the signals from the second group with the equal weighting in the spatial domain;

combine the first and second virtual bin values to generate a combined data set; and

generate an image by performing reconstruction on the combined data set.

2 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by m arrays of micro-pixels, where m and n are each integers greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is m or n micro-pixels.

3 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to reconfigure the PCD array such that the first and second micro-pixels are each p by q arrays of micro-pixels, where p and q are each integers greater than 1, and p and q are not equal to either n and m, or m and n, respectively.

4 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein n and m are 2 and 3, respectively, and p and q are 3 and 3, respectively.

5 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by n arrays of micro-pixels, where n is an integer greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is n micro-pixels.

6 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each non-rectangular.

7 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to configure the PCD array prior to receiving the signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels.

8 . The photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to configure the PCD array after receiving the signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels.

9 . An overlapping micro-pixel summing method, comprising:

configuring a PCD array including a plurality of micro-pixels positioned in at least one of a channel direction and a row direction to include a first micro-pixel area including a first group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels and a second micro-pixel area including a second group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, such that a portion of the first and second groups of plural micro-pixels overlap between the first and second groups;

receiving signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels;

binning the signals from the first group of plural micro-pixels into a first virtual bin value by summing the signals from the first group with equal weighting in a spatial domain;

binning the signals from the second group of plural micro-pixels into a second virtual bin value by summing the signals from the second group with the equal weighting in the spatial domain;

combining the first and second virtual bin values to generate a combined data set; and

generating an image by performing reconstruction on the combined data set.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by m arrays of micro-pixels, where m and n are each integers greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is m or n micro-pixels.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising reconfiguring the PCD array such that the first and second micro-pixels are each p by q arrays of micro-pixels, where p and q are each integers greater than 1, and p and q are not equal to either n and m, or m and n, respectively.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein n and m are 2 and 3, respectively, and p and q are 3 and 3, respectively.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by n arrays of micro-pixels, where n is an integer greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is n micro-pixels.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each non-rectangular.

15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the PCD array is configured prior to receiving the signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels.

16 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the PCD array is configured after receiving the signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels.

17 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer instructions stored therein, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform:

configuring a PCD array including a plurality of micro-pixels positioned in at least one of a channel direction and a row direction to include a first micro-pixel area including a first group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels and a second micro-pixel area including a second group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, such that a portion of the first and second groups of plural micro-pixels overlap between the first and second groups;

receiving signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels;

binning the signals from the first group of plural micro-pixels into a first virtual bin value by summing the signals from the first group with equal weighting in a spatial domain;

binning the signals from the second group of plural micro-pixels into a second virtual bin value by summing the signals from the second group with the equal weighting in the spatial domain;

combining the first and second virtual bin values to generate a combined data set; and

generating an image by performing reconstruction on the combined data set.

18 . The computer program product according to claim 17 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by m arrays of micro-pixels, where m and n are each integers greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is m or n micro-pixels.

19 . The computer program product according to claim 18 , further comprising computer instructions for reconfiguring the PCD array such that the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each p by q arrays of micro-pixels, where p and q are each integers greater than 1, and p and q are not equal to either n and m, or m and n, respectively.

20 . The computer program product according to claim 17 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-pixels are each n by n arrays of micro-pixels, where n is an integer greater than 1, and

wherein the overlap between the first and second groups is n micro-pixels.

21 . A photon counting detector (PCD) apparatus, comprising:

a PCD array including a plurality of micro-pixels positioned in at least one of a channel direction and a row direction; and

processing circuitry configured to

receive signals from each of the plurality of micro-pixels,

configure the PCD array to include (a) a first micro-pixel area including a first group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, and (b) a second micro-pixel area including a second group of plural micro-pixels of the plurality of micro-pixels, such that a portion of the first and second groups of plural micro-pixels overlap between the first and second groups,

bin the signals from the first group of plural micro-pixels into a first virtual bin value with a weighting so that center channels micro-pixels are weighted more than micro-pixels in the portion; and

bin the signals from the second group of plural micro-pixels into a second virtual bin value with a weighting so that center channels micro-pixels are weighted more than micro-pixels in the portion.