RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING DETECTOR USING VOLTAGE CONVERSION ON GLASS
Exemplary embodiments of digital radiographic area detectors and/or methods for using the same can include an imaging array ( 12 ) including a plurality of active pixels ( 22 ), each active pixel ( 22 ) including at least one amorphous silicon and/or amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide electrically chargeable photosensor and at least three thin-film transistors; scanlines coupled to a plurality of active pixels ( 22 ) arranged along a first direction in a portion of the imaging array ( 12 ); datalines coupled to a plurality of active pixels ( 22 ) arranged along a second direction in the portion of the imaging array ( 12 ); circuits to provide signal sensing for the portion of the imaging array ( 12 ) coupled to the second conductive lines; and charge conversion circuitry to convert voltage values output by the active pixels ( 22 ) to a corresponding charge values for input to the signal sensing circuits during readout.
1 . A digital radiographic area detector comprising:
an imaging array comprising a plurality of active pixels, each active pixel comprising at least one amorphous silicon electrically chargeable photosensor and at least three thin-film transistors;
a bias control circuit to provide a bias voltage to the photosensors for a portion of the imaging array;
first conductive lines coupled to a plurality of active pixels arranged along a first direction in the portion of the imaging array;
second conductive lines coupled to a plurality of active pixels arranged along a second direction in the portion of the imaging array;
circuits to provide signal sensing for the portion of the imaging array coupled to the second conductive lines; and
charge conversion circuitry to convert voltage values output by the active pixels to a corresponding charge values for input to the signal sensing circuits during readout of a signal from the portion of the imaging array.
2 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the active pixels are configured to output voltage on second conductive lines and the charge conversion circuitry comprises a first circuit formed in crystal silicon at ROICs formed in crystal silicon to convert the signal sensing circuits to accept voltage.
3 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the active pixels are configured to output voltage on the second conductive lines and the charge conversion circuitry comprises first circuit to convert voltage to charge, and where the signal sensing circuits comprises ROICs formed in crystal silicon that input charge values.
4 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the active pixels are configured to output voltage on the second conductive lines and the charge conversion circuitry comprises first circuit to convert voltage to charge, where the first circuit is formed of amorphous silicon on the imaging array.
5 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the active pixels are configured to output voltage on the second conductive lines and the charge conversion circuitry comprises first circuit to convert voltage to charge, where the first circuit is formed of amorphous silicon between the imaging array and the signal sensing circuits.
6 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the active pixels are configured to output voltage on the second conductive lines and the charge conversion circuitry comprises first circuit to convert voltage to charge, where the first circuit is formed of polycrystalline semiconductor materials at the imaging array.
7 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , where the signal sensing circuits comprises ROICs formed in crystal silicon.
8 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , wherein the photosensors comprise MIS photosensor or a PIN photodiodes, wherein the imaging array comprises a-IGZO devices, and wherein the DR detector is a flat panel detector, a curved detector or a detector including a flexible imaging substrate.
9 . The digital radiographic detector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a scintillator screen disposed on a side of the detector array for converting a radiographic image into a radiographic light image that is converted by the detector array into the electronic radiographic image;
a stiffener disposed in the cavity;
a shock absorbing assembly comprising an elastomeric material and located within the cavity for absorbing shock to the detector array/stiffener in directions perpendicular to and parallel to the detector array/stiffener;
a wireless interface having an antenna for wirelessly transmitting an electronic radiographic image from the detector to a remote location; and
a battery and imaging electronics mounted within the cavity below the detector array/stiffener.
10 . A digital radiographic area detector comprising:
an imaging array comprising a plurality of active pixels, each active pixel comprising at least one polycrystalline semiconductor electrically chargeable photosensor and thin-film transistors;
first conductive lines (e.g., datalines) coupled to a plurality of active pixels arranged along a first direction in the portion of the imaging array;
circuits to provide signal sensing for the portion of the imaging array coupled to the second conductive lines; and
charge conversion circuitry to convert voltage values output by the active pixels to a corresponding charge values for input to the signal sensing circuits.
11 . A method of operating a digital radiographic area detector comprising an imaging array comprising a plurality of active pixels, each active pixel comprising at least one polycrystalline semiconductor electrically chargeable photosensor and at least three thin-film transistors, the method comprising:
outputting voltage values corresponding to an x-ray exposure by at least one active pixel;
converting the output voltage values to corresponding charge values;
receiving the corresponding charge values at signal sensing circuits;
and
converting the corresponding charge values to digital values.