System and method for conditioning a radiation detector

US5510626A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• Owen L. Nelson · Windom, US
• Jathan D. Edwards · Afton, US
• Earl L. Cook · Woodbury, US
• Padmanabham A. Arimilli · Vadnais Heights, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 1994
• Grant date: Apr 23, 1996
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G21/08
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A system and method for conditioning a photoconductive radiation detector achieve charge redistribution within a photoconductive layer without the need for charge removal or charge injection techniques. A first conditioning voltage is applied across the detector to establish a first electric field. The first electric field is reversed relative to fields applied to the detector during image exposure and image read-out operations. While the first conditioning voltage is maintained, the photoconductive layer is exposed for a period of time to first conditioning radiation having one or more wavelengths selected to penetrate at least a portion of the photoconductive layer. A second conditioning voltage, less than the first conditioning voltage, then can be optionally applied across the detector to establish a forward bias electric field. While the second conditioning voltage is maintained, the photoconductive layer is exposed for a period of time to second, broad spectrum conditioning radiation. The detector can then be placed in a dark environment for a period of time, in a shorted condition, to dark-adapt the photoconductive layer.