Method to optimize the light extraction from scintillator crystals in a solid-state detector

US8481948B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV · NL

Inventors

• Thomas Frach · Aachen, DE
• Andreas Thon · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 9, 2010
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 9, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A light transmitting element such as a scintillating element (50) or an optic fiber (50′) has side surfaces coated with a metamaterial (62) which has an index of refraction less than 1 and preferably close to zero to light transmitted in the light transmitting element. A photonic crystal (80) or metamaterial layer optically couples a light output face of the light transmitting element with a light sensitive element (52), such as a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). A thin metal layer (64) blocks optical communication between adjacent scintillating elements (50) in a radiation detector (22), such as a radiation detector of a nuclear imaging system (10).