Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor radiation detection apparatus for discriminating radiation having differing energy levels

US5457322A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 29, 1994
Grant dateOct 10, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 29, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F30/29
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a high sensitivity semiconductor radiation detection apparatus having pn junctions formed in opposite surfaces of at least one semiconductor wafer. A common electrode for the pn junctions is formed in the substrate region of the semiconductor wafers, and a variable reverse bias voltage is supplied to an electrode formed in contact with at least one of the pn junctions, to vary the thickness of the depletion region generated at said pn junction, and hence the sensitivity of said junction to incident radiation of varying energy levels. By adjusting the relative thickness of the respective depletion regions, different types of radiation may be distinguished.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.