System and method for capturing scintillation events
US7465938B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01T1/201
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A photon generating event capture system is configured to capture light photons. Image intensifiers are arranged to amplify light photons and sensors are arranged to capture the amplified light photons. A control system detects the amplification of light photons by the image intensifiers. Upon detecting amplification, the control system deactivates the image intensifiers to shutdown further light photon amplification and switches the sensors from a clear mode to an acquisition mode within a period of time less than a decay time of the image intensifiers. The locations and intensities of the amplified light photons are then captured and read out by the sensors. By operating the sensors in a clear mode prior to detecting amplification of light photons, noise recorded by the sensors prior to the detection of light photon amplification is either shifted out of the sensor prior to the photon generating event or is smeared across the sensor data. The effects of system noise can be reduced by detecting and removing this smeared sensor data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.