IP Library Granted Patent US 9,063,056
Granted Patent B2
US 9,063,056 · App. 14/053,656 · Granted Jun 23, 2015

Imaging detector and method for operating an image detector

Inventor: Robert Fasbender (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
G01N23/04G01T1/24A61B6/42A61B6/4233A61B6/4291
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,063,056
App. No.
14/053,656
Granted
Jun 23, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image detector is disclosed, in particular for X-ray radiation. In an embodiment, the image detector includes a regular arrangement of image pixels including a plurality of detector pixels, wherein at least two of the detector pixels of an image pixel differ with regard to their sensitivity.

Claims (21)

1. An image detector, comprising:

a regular arrangement of image pixels including a plurality of detector pixels, at least two of the detector pixels of an image pixel differing with regard to sensitivity, such that the at least two of the detector pixels are used to metrologically detect different subranges of a provided dynamic range of a radiation power, wherein each detector pixel comprises a light-sensitive semiconductor sensor, and wherein the detector pixels that differ with regard to their sensitivity have different semiconductor sensors.

2. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein, for manipulating the sensitivity, at least one detector pixel, of each image pixel including a plurality of detector pixels, includes a filter element.

3. The image detector of claim 2 , wherein the filter elements are designed such that the filter elements transmit a predefined intensity portion of the impinging electromagnetic radiation for a metrological detection.

4. The image detector of claim 3 , wherein the filter elements are designed such that the filter elements include a substantially constant absorptivity in the entire expected frequency range of the impinging electromagnetic radiation.

5. The image detector of claim 2 , wherein each filter element is disposed downstream of a scintillator.

6. The image detector of claim 2 , wherein the image detector includes a structured color filter, such that subregions of the color filter form the filter elements.

7. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein, for manipulating the sensitivity, a plurality of detector pixels, of each image pixel including a plurality of detector pixels, include a filter element, and wherein at least two filter elements of each image pixel including a plurality of detector pixels differ.

8. The image detector of claim 7 , wherein the filter elements are designed such that the filter elements transmit a predefined intensity portion of the impinging electromagnetic radiation for a metrological detection.

9. The image detector of claim 8 , wherein the filter elements are designed such that the filter elements include a substantially constant absorptivity in the entire expected frequency range of the impinging electromagnetic radiation.

10. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein the image detector includes only image pixels designed in the same way.

11. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein each image pixel is constructed from four detector pixels of the same size.

12. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein, for forming a read-out electronic system, each detector pixel includes a read-out unit, and wherein all the read-out units are constructed in the same way.

13. The image detector of claim 1 , further comprising a read-out electronic system, designed such that the signals of all the detector pixels are amplified in the same way.

14. A method for operating an image detector, comprising:

splitting into subranges, for generation of image data, a provided dynamic range of a radiation power for the image data, each subrange being metrologically detectable by way of a regular arrangement of detector pixels, wherein each detector pixel comprises a light-sensitive semiconductor sensor, and wherein the detector pixels that differ with regard to their sensitivity have different semiconductor sensors; and

combining with one another, for imaging of the provided dynamic range, the measurement signals of the detector pixels of the regular arrangements.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein, in regions of the image detector in which electromagnetic radiation including a radiation power above a threshold value impinges, the measurement signals from detector pixels with a filter element are used to generate pixels for an image, and in regions in which electromagnetic radiation including a radiation power below the threshold value impinges, the measurement signals from detector pixels without a filter element are used for generating pixels.

16. The image detector of claim 1 , wherein the image detector is for X-ray radiation.

17. The image detector of claim 16 , wherein the provided dynamic range is a provided dynamic range of an X-ray dose.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the provided dynamic range of a radiation power for the image data is a provided dynamic range of an X-ray dose.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2016
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 039271/0561 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2013
From: FASBENDER, ROBERT
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 031560/0135 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 219 041 · Oct 18, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140110586A1 · Apr 24, 2014