Single Photon Counting Detectors in Strip or Pixel Design Having Digital Inter-Pixel Communication and Logic

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This invention presents an advanced photon detection system for single-photon counting that features a pixel or strip array with built-in digital inter-pixel communication and logic. By integrating digital communication and logic between neighboring pixels at the hardware level, the system can interpolate photon positions with higher spatial resolution than the size of the individual pixels, and it addresses common issues such as the charge-sharing and corner effect (where signals from photons incident at pixel borders might be lost). Additionally, it enables higher count rates and efficient noise discrimination while minimizing circuit area through shared resources for threshold adjustment.

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• X-ray and synchrotron imaging and detection systems
• High-resolution medical imaging (e.g., CT, PET scans)
• Scientific instrumentation requiring precise photon localization, such as in crystallography or particle physics experiments
• Electron microscopy imaging for improved spatial resolution
• Security screening systems where photon counting and high spatial resolution are needed
• Astrophysical and satellite-based detectors for single-photon event detection
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) in industrial applications

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enhanced spatial resolution beyond physical pixel size through digital position interpolation
• Mitigation of the charge-sharing and corner effect, resulting in higher photon detection efficiency—especially for small pixels
• On-chip digital processing allows faster data rate and higher count rate per pixel
• Lower electronic noise and improved signal-to-noise discrimination
• Efficient, scalable design with resource sharing (like threshold current sources) to save chip area and power
• Capability to handle electron detection with veto logic, reducing artifacts from multiple pixel hits
• Flexibility to tune system response to different photon energies and rates via adjustable thresholds and combinatorial logic
• Improved robustness and manufacturability by performing position interpolation and correction in digital hardware rather than analog or off-chip post-processing

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Patent Abstract

The present invention discloses a photon detection system for single photon detection, comprising:a) a layer of photosensitive material (4);b) an N x M array of photo-detector diodes (2) arranged in said layer of photosensitive material (4); each of said photo-detector diodes (2) having a bias potential interface (Vbias) and a diode output interface (8), said bias potential interface of each photo-detector diode (2) being connected to a bias potential (Vbias);c) a N x M array of high gain, low noise readout unit cells (RO), one readout unit cell (RO) for each photo-detector diode (2); andd) each readout unit cell (RO) comprising:d1) an input interface (37) connecting said diode output interface (17) to a high-gain charge-to-voltage amplifier (31);d2) said high-gain charge-to-voltage amplifier (31) being connected to at least one comparator (35) having fixed or controllable comparator thresholds (Vthr);d3) an interpixel communication (25) connecting at least one of the comparator outputs to at least one neighboring pixel and receiving at least one of the comparator outputs from the neighboring pixel; andd4) at least one comparator (35) is followed by an interpixel logic (25), receiving as input at least one of the outputs of the comparators (32, 34) of at least one neighboring pixel, which is then connected to at least one counter (28, 28a, 28b, 28c, 36a to 36b), each counter followed by a counter readout (41).Thus, the present invention allows for a digital inter pixel communication that makes it possible to determine the photon position in the detector with a higher position resolution than the physical pixel size and to remove the corner effect in pixel detectors. As an example, the readout unit cell may comprise a second comparator wherein the first and the second comparator having fixed or controllable comparator thresholds and wherein the second comparator has a lower comparator threshold that the first comparator.