Radiation detection devices and methods

1. A detector comprising at least one detector element, the at least one detector element comprising:

a photodiode element operable to generate charge carriers in response to incident radiation, the detector being configured to generate a signal indicative of a cumulative amount of charge carriers generated by the photodiode element during an integration period;

a reset switch element configured to couple the photodiode element to a reset potential;

a charge storage reservoir; and

a gain control switch element configured to couple the charge storage reservoir to the photodiode element,

wherein the detector is configured to operate in a selected one of a high gain mode and a low gain mode, wherein in each mode the detector is configured to perform a reset operation in which the reset switch element and the gain control switch element are closed in order to couple the charge storage reservoir and the photodiode element to the reset potential, the detector being configured to open the gain control switch element following a reset operation in dependence on whether the charge storage reservoir is to remain connected to the photodiode element during the integration period,

wherein if the low gain mode is the selected mode the detector is configured to cause the gain control switch element to remain closed during the integration period, and if the high gain mode is selected the detector is configured to cause the gain control switch element to remain open during the integration period, and

wherein the gain control switch element is provided in a flow path of current between the reset switch element and the photodiode element.

2. The detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gain control switch elements each having a respective charge storage reservoir associated therewith, the detector being configured to connect one or more of the charge storage reservoirs to the photodiode element via the corresponding gain control switch element.

3. The detector according to claim 2 , configured wherein when a reset operation is performed, a plurality of said plurality of gain control switch elements are closed in order to couple the respective charge storage reservoirs to the photodiode element and to the reset potential, the detector being configured to open one or more of the gain control switch elements following a reset operation in dependence on whether the charge storage reservoir associated with a given gain control switch element is to remain connected to the photodiode element during the integration period.

4. The detector according to claim 1 , further configured to read out a signal from the at least one detector element indicative of a cumulative amount of charge carriers generated by the photodiode element during the integration period.

5. The detector according to claim 4 , wherein the detector comprises at least one readout signal line, the at least one detector element comprising a switch element configured to apply, to one said at least one readout signal line, a signal indicative of a cumulative amount of charge carriers generated by the photodiode element during the integration period.

6. The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector element comprises a plurality of detector elements.

7. The detector according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of detector elements comprise a plurality of rows of detector elements, each row comprising a plurality of detector elements forming a corresponding plurality of columns.

8. The detector according to claim 7 , wherein each column of detector elements is provided with a corresponding column readout signal line, the detector elements of a given column being configured to apply to the column readout signal line a signal indicative of a cumulative amount of charge carriers generated by the photodiode element during the integration period.

9. A method of detecting radiation or particles via a detector, the method comprising:

generating charge carriers in a photodiode element, and generating a signal indicative of a cumulative amount of charge carriers generated by the photodiode element during the integration period;

operating the detector in a selected one of a high gain mode and a low gain mode, wherein in each mode the method comprises:

performing a reset operation in which a reset switch element and a gain control switch element are closed in order to couple a charge storage reservoir and the photodiode element to a reset potential, the method comprising opening the gain control switch element following the reset operation in dependence on whether the charge storage reservoir is to remain connected to the photodiode element during the integration period, wherein if the low gain mode is the selected mode the gain control switch element remains closed during the integration period, and if the high gain mode is selected the gain control switch element remains open during the integration period; and

providing the gain control switch element in a flow path of current between the reset switch element and the photodiode element.