Staggered array imaging system using pixilated radiation detectors

1. A radiation inspection system comprising:

a first set of semiconductor radiation detectors spaced apart from one another in a first direction;

a second set of semiconductor radiation detectors spaced apart from one another in the first direction, wherein:

each of said radiation detectors includes a first plurality of pixels spaced apart from one another in said first direction and a second plurality of pixels spaced apart from one another in said first direction;

said second plurality of pixels is positioned laterally adjacent said first plurality of pixels;

said pixels of said first and second pluralities of pixels of each of said radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in said first direction;

each of said pixels is operative for outputting a current or voltage pulse in response to radiation from a radiation source striking said pixel;

said second set of radiation detectors is positioned laterally adjacent said first set of radiation detectors; and

said radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in said first direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

adjacent pixels of each of said plurality of pixels of each radiation detector are spaced apart from one another by a first distance in said first direction; and

one pixel of said first set of radiation detectors and one pixel of said second set of radiation detectors are spaced said first distance apart from one another in said first direction.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

next to each space between adjacent radiation detectors of the first set of radiation detectors is positioned one radiation detector of the second set of radiation detectors; and

next to each space between adjacent radiation detectors of the second set of radiation detectors is positioned one radiation detector of the first set of radiation detectors.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the extent or length of each space in the first direction is less than the extent or length in the first direction of the radiation detector positioned next to said space.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the ends of each radiation detector positioned next to a space are positioned adjacent the radiation detectors that define the space.

6. The system of claim 1 , further including a collimator including slots having a pattern corresponding to the patterns of the first and second plurality of pixels of the first and second sets of radiation detectors.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the collimator is positioned in a path of the radiation such that each plurality of pixels receives radiation from the radiation source via one slot of the collimator.

8. The system of claim 7 , further including:

a transport system for translating a specimen in a direction laterally to the first direction between the radiation source and the radiation detectors; and

a controller operative for acquiring the output of each pixel and for forming from said acquired output a composite image of the passage of radiation through the object.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein, moving in the first direction, radiation detectors are encountered in the following order:

a first radiation detector of the first set of radiation detectors;

a first radiation detector of the second set of radiation detectors;

a second radiation detector of the first set of radiation detectors; and

a second radiation detector of the second set of radiation detectors.

10. A radiation inspection system comprising:

a first set of semiconductor radiation detectors spaced apart from one another in a first direction;

a second set of semiconductor radiation detectors spaced apart from one another in said first direction; and

a third set of semiconductor radiation detectors spaced apart from one another in said first direction, wherein:

said second set of radiation detectors is positioned laterally adjacent said first set of radiation detectors;

radiation detectors of said first and second sets of radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in said first direction;

said third set of radiation detectors is positioned laterally adjacent said second set of radiation detectors on a side thereof opposite said first set of radiation detectors;

said radiation detectors of said second and third sets of radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in said first direction; and

said radiation detectors of said first and third sets of radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in said first direction, wherein an object moving in said first direction, radiation detectors are encountered in the following order:

a first radiation detector of said first set of radiation detectors;

a first radiation detector of said second set of radiation detectors;

a first radiation detector of said third set of radiation detectors;

a second radiation detector of said first set of radiation detectors;

a second radiation detector of said second set of radiation detectors; and

a second radiation detector of said third set of radiation detectors.

11. The system of claim 10 , further including a collimator having first, second and third sets of slots having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first, second and third sets of radiation detectors.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the collimator is positioned in a path of output radiation such that each radiation detector receives radiation via one slot of the collimator and the collimator blocks the passage of radiation that would not be received by a radiation detector.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

each of said radiation detectors includes at least one plurality of pixels spaced apart from one another in said first direction;

each of said pixels is operative for outputting a current or voltage pulse in response to radiation from the radiation source striking said pixel, and further including:

a radiation source operative for outputting radiation along a transmission path;

a collimator disposed in the transmission path between said radiation source and said plurality of radiation detectors, said collimator having a plurality of slots for the passage of radiation from said radiation source to said plurality of radiation detectors, with each of said slots permitting passage of radiation to one of said radiation detectors;

a transport system for translating an object between said radiation source and said plurality of radiation detectors in a direction lateral to the direction of said transmission path; and

a controller operative for acquiring the output of each pixel of said radiation detectors and for forming from said acquired output a composite image of the passage of radiation through said object.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein:

each radiation detector includes at least one plurality of pixels spaced from each other in the first direction; and

the first, second, and third sets of radiation detectors are positioned such that at least some of the pixels of said pluralities of pixels of the first, second, and third radiation detectors are arranged in an alternating or staggered pattern in the first direction.