US4945242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photosensitive device and image detector including such a device, especially two-energy image detector
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1989-02-22
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2009-02-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a photosensitive matrix (2) permitting the simultaneous acquisition of two images, especially radiological images, and which offers at the same time a maximum sensitivity and a maximum image resolution. The matrix (2) of the invention includes photosensitive points (P1 to P9) disposed in lines and in columns. According to a feature of the invention, each photosensitive point (P1 to 9) includes two photosensitive cells (JA, JB), the first ends (3A, 3B) of which are connected to a same line conductor (L1 to L3), and the second ends (4A, 4B) of which are connected to different column conductors. FIG. 1.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Luc Berger
- 👤 Marc Arques
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:31
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/76; H04N5/00; H04N5/30; H04N5/32; H04N5/3205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An image detector comprising a photosensitive device including a matrix of photosensitive points (P1 to P9), the photosensitive points (P1 to P9) being connected to line conductors (L1 to L3) and to column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FB1 to FB3), wherein each photosensitive point (P1 to P9) includes a first and a second photosensitive cell (JA, JB) each capable of storing an information item, the two photosensitive cells (JA, JB) being superposed; and a first and a second scintillator substance (27, 58) which are sensitive to different energies of an incident radiation and emitting visible or non-visible light in response to the incident radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image detector comprising a photosensitive device including a matrix of photosensitive points (P1 to P9), the photosensitive points (P1 to P9) being connected to line conductors (L1 to L3) and to column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FB1 to FB3), wherein each photosensitive point (P1 to P9) includes a first and a second photosensitive cell (JA, JB) each capable of storing an information item, the two photosensitive cells (JA, JB) being superposed; and a first and a second scintillator substance (27, 58) which are sensitive to different energies of an incident radiation and emitting visible or non-visible light in response to the incident radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FB1 to FB3) are divided into two arrays (FA, FB), and wherein the first and the second photosensitive cells (JA, JB) of a same photosensitive point (P1 to P9) are connected by their first end (3A, 3B) to a same line conductor (L1 to L3) and are connected by their second end (4A, 4B) to a column conductor (FA1 to FA3, FB1 to FB3) of a different column array (FA, FB).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 2, wherein each photosensitive cell (JA, JB) consists of a photosensitive element (DA, DB) in series with a capacitor (CA, CB).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photosensitive elements (DA, DB) are photodiodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photosensitive elements (DA, DB) are NIPIN-type or PINIP-type phototransistors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the line conductors (LA1 to LA3) are connected to an addressing device (8), and wherein, on the one hand, the column conductors (FA1 to FA3) of the first column array (FA) are connected to a first reading and multiplexing device (9A), and wherein, on the other hand, the column conductors (FB1 to FB3) of the second column array (FB) are connected to a second reading and multiplexing device (9B).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the line conductors (L1 to L3) are connected to a reading and multiplexing device (74), and wherein the first and the second arrays (FA, FB) of column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FB1 to FB3) are each connected to an addressing device (8A, 8B).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second photosensitive cells (JA, JB) are carried by a substrate (26) and are each formed from a stack of semiconductor layers (30, 31, 32 and 40, 41, 42) and from an insulating layer (34, 55), all these layers being superposed on one another between two conductive layers (28, 58), one of which is engraved to constitute the column conductors (FB1 to FB3) of the second column array (FB) and the other of which is engraved to constitute the column conductors (FA1 to FA3) of the first column array (FA), and wherein the two stacks or cells (JA, JB) are separated by an intermediate conductive layer (51) with which the line conductors (L1 to L3) are constructed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intermediate conductive layer (51) is transparent to light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the photosensitive elements (DA, DB) have substantially equal thicknesses (E1, E2).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 9 or 10, which further includes a light source (60) permitting the performance of a general reset to level of the voltages at the terminals of the photosensitive elements (DA, DB).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intermediate conductive layer (51) is opaque to light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two scintillator substances (27, 58) constitute a first and a second scintillator layer (SA, SB), between which the photosensitive device (1) is situated, in such a manner as to construct a sandwich structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the photosensitive device (1) includes a substrate (26), the substrate (26) carrying photosensitive cells superposed by twos (JA, JB), the second scintillator layer (SB) being deposited on the substrate (26) and intercalated between the latter and the photosensitive cells (JA, JB).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 14, which includes at least one light source (60) serving to perform a voltage reset to level of the photosensitive cells (JA, JB).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image detector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source (60) emits a light having a greater wavelength than the light emitted by the scintillator layers (SA, SB).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image detector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the incident radiation is an X-ay radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
An image detector including a first and a second scintillator substance (27, 58) which are sensitive to different energies of an incident radiation and emitting visible or non-visible light in response to the incident radiation, which detector further includes a photosensitive device (1), said photosensitive device including a matrix of photosensitive points (P1 to P9), the photosensitive points (P1 to P9) being connected to line conductors (L1 to L3) and to column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FA1 to FB3), wherein each photosensitive point (P1 to P9) includes a first and a second photosensitive cell (JA, JB) each capable of storing an information item, the two photosensitive cells (JA, JB) being superposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
An image detector including a first and a second scintillator substance (27, 58) which are sensitive to different energies of an incident radiation and emitting visible or non-visible light in response to the incident radiation, which detector further includes a photosensitive device (1), said photosensitive device including a matrix of photosensitive points (P1 to P9), the photosensitive points (P1 to P9) being connected to line conductors (L1 to L3) and to column conductors (FA1 to FA3, FA1 to FB3), wherein each photosensitive point (P1 to P9) includes a first and a second photosensitive cell (JA, JB) each capable of storing an information item, the two photosensitive cells (JA, JB) being superposed.
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) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |