Technologies Available for License

2006-013: Multi-window signal processing electronics architecture for photon counting with multi-element sensors

Invention: 2006-013

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 8,354,650 was issued on January 15, 2013

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

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A block diagram of a signal processing electronics system having a multi-window architecture.

This technology is a multi-window radiation detection and counting system with multi-element sensors. It includes a radiation detector, an amplifier for the detector output, a gain equalization circuit, and multiple comparators for comparing the gain-adjusted amplified output to multiple independently adjustable trigger threshold signals. Only one of multiple counters corresponding to the comparator that changes state when its trigger threshold is exceeded is incremented. These elements make up a channel of the system, which may have many channels.

Description

A radiation detection and counting system includes a radiation detector element for outputting a signal related to an energy of a radiation event received thereby and an amplifier for amplifying the signal output by the detector element. A gain equalization circuit adjusts the gain of the amplified output signal and a plurality of comparators compare the gain adjusted amplified output signal to a like plurality of different valued threshold signals that are independently adjustable of each other A plurality of counters is operative whereupon only the counter associated with the one comparator that changes state in response to the peak of the gain adjusted amplified output signal exceeding the value of the trigger threshold signal thereof is incremented. A storage device stores the incremented value of each counter accumulated over a sample time interval and data output logic circuit transfers the stored accumulated counts out of storage.

Journal Publication & Intellectual Property

• US 8,354,650 B2 (.pdf)