US4045675A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state radiation detector system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1976-07-12
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A solid state radiation flux detector system utilizes a detector element, consisting of a bar of semiconductor having electrical conductance of magnitude dependent upon the magnitude of photon and charged particle flux impinging thereon, and negative feedback circuitry for adjusting the current flow through a light emitting diode to facilitate the addition of optical flux, having a magnitude decreasing in proportion to any increase in the magnitude of radiation (e.g. X-ray) flux incident upon the detector element, whereby the conductance of the detector element is maintained essentially constant. The light emitting diode also illuminates a photodiode to generate a detector output having a stable, highly linear response with time and incident radiation flux changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack D. Kingsley
- 👤 Henry H. Woodbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/26; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/02; G01P13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for detecting the magnitude of a flux of externally produced radiation, comprising: solid state radiation detector means for varying the magnitude of an electrical parameter responsive to the magnitude of a total incident flux of optical photons and externally produced radiation; first means for generating a flux of optical photons incident on said detector means; second means for causing the flux of said first means to vary responsive to changes in said electrical parameter to maintain the magnitude of said electrical parameter substantially constant at said detector means; and third means for monitoring said optical flux of said first means to generate a system output having a magnitude proportional to the flux of said externally produced radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for detecting the magnitude of a flux of externally produced radiation, comprising: solid state radiation detector means for varying the magnitude of an electrical parameter responsive to the magnitude of a total incident flux of optical photons and externally produced radiation; first means for generating a flux of optical photons incident on said detector means; second means for causing the flux of said first means to vary responsive to changes in said electrical parameter to maintain the magnitude of said electrical parameter substantially constant at said detector means; and third means for monitoring said optical flux of said first means to generate a system output having a magnitude proportional to the flux of said externally produced radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detector means comprises a member of a semiconductor material having an electrical parameter varying in response to the total incident radiation flux thereon, said member having a pair of opposed surfaces; and an electrode deposited upon each of said pair of surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the varying electrical parameter is the conductivity of said semiconductor material between said electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said externally produced radiation is a flux of X-ray photons and said semiconductor material is sodium-doped cadmium selenide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means is a light emitting diode generating said flux of optical photons responsive to a flow of current therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises: means for establishing a reference magnitude of said electrical parameter; and means for generating a signal having a magnitude related to the difference between the magnitude of said varying electrical parameter of said detector means and said reference magnitude, said signal being coupled to said first means for varying the magnitude of said flux of optical photons generated thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said varying electrical parameter is the conductance of said detector means, said reference magnitude establishing element is an electrical resistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said signal generating means is a differential amplifier means having an input and an output, said detector means and said electrical resistance being coupled in parallel to said input, said output having thereat said signal related to the difference between the magnitude of said varying conductance of said detector means and the conductance of said electrical resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third means is a photodiode receiving an essentially constant proportion of the optical photons emitted by said first means to generate a current therethrough having a magnitude essentially proportional to a change in said externally produced radiation incident upon said first means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said third means further comprises electrical resistance means in series with said photodiode for transforming said current flow through said photodiode to a voltage at said system output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |