X-ray detector, method of controlling the same, and X-ray photographing system
View Patent ↗An, X-ray detector photographs an object by receiving an X-ray irradiated from an X-ray generator. The X-ray detector includes: a plurality of photo-detecting pixels, each of which includes a photodiode, which detects an X-ray and generates an electric signal corresponding to an amount of a transmitted X-ray, and a switching device which transmits the electric signal; a gate driver which supplies a gate pulse to the switching device for turning on the switching device; and a read-out integrated circuit (IC) which reads out the electric signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels; wherein the gate driver and the read-out IC initialize the plurality of photo-detecting pixels in response to an X-ray warm-up control signal causing warm up of the X-ray generator.
1. An X-ray detector for photographing an object by receiving an X-ray irradiated from an X-ray generator, comprising:
a plurality of photo-detecting pixels, each of which comprises a photodiode which detects an X-ray and generates data signal corresponding to an amount of a transmitted X-ray, and a switching device which transmits the data signal;
a gate driver controlling the switching device by generating a gate pulse; and
a read-out integrated circuit (IC) which reads out the data signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels;
wherein the gate driver and the read-out IC initialize the plurality of photo-detecting pixels in response to an X-ray warm-up control signal causing warming up of the X-ray generator,
the gate driver and the read-out IC initialize the plurality of photo-detecting pixels by reading out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice.
2. The X-ray detector of claim 1 , wherein the gate driver outputs the gate pulse to the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal, and the read-out IC reads out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal.
3. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , wherein the read-out IC discharges the read-out signal in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal.
4. The X-ray detector of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector operates in an X-ray exposure mode, in which the plurality of photo-detecting pixels generate the data signals, in response to an exposure preparation signal inputted from the X-ray generator and, after the X-ray exposure is complete, the X-ray detector operates in an X-ray read-out mode for reading out the data signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels.
5. An X-ray photographing system comprising:
an X-ray generator which is warmed up in response to an X-ray warm-up control signal, and which irradiates an X-ray in response to a photographing control signal; and
an X-ray detector which photographs an object by receiving the X-ray irradiated from the X-ray generator;
wherein the X-ray detector is initialized in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal,
the X-ray detector comprises:
a plurality of photo-detecting pixels, each of which comprises a photodiode which detects an X-ray and generates data signal corresponding to an amount of a transmitted X-ray, and a switching device which transmits the data signal;
a gate driver which supplies a gate pulse to the switching device for turning on the switching device; and
a read-out integrated circuit (IC) which reads out the data signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels;
wherein the gate driver and the read-out IC initialize the plurality of photo-detecting pixels by reading out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice.
6. The X-ray photographing system of claim 5 , wherein the gate driver outputs the gate pulse to the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal, and the read-out IC reads out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal.
7. The X-ray photographing system of claim 6 , wherein the read-out IC discharges the read-out signal in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal.
8. The X-ray photographing system of claim 5 , wherein the X-ray detector operates in an X-ray exposure mode in which the plurality of photo-detecting pixels generate the data signals in response to an exposure preparation signal inputted from the X-ray generator and, after the X-ray exposure is complete, the X-ray detector operates in an X-ray read-out mode for reading out the data signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels.
9. A method of driving an X-ray detector which photographs an object by receiving an X-ray irradiated from an X-ray generator, the method comprising the steps of:
initializing the X-ray generator in response to an X-ray warm-up control signal calling for warm up of the X-ray generator;
photographing an object in response to an exposure preparation signal calling for preparation of the X-ray detector for exposure; and
reading out signals detected by each of a plurality of photo-detecting pixels after the X-ray exposure is complete,
wherein the step of initializing the X-ray generator comprises initializing the plurality of photo-detecting pixels by reading out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of initializing the X-ray generator further comprises reading out the plurality of photo-detecting pixels by outputting gate pulses for turning on switching devices to the plurality of photo-detecting pixels at least twice.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of initializing the X-ray generator further comprises discharging the read-out signal in response to the X-ray warm-up control signal.