U.S. patent application number 11/153535 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for dual substrate plasma panel based ionizing radiation detector.
This patent application is currently assigned to Integrated Sensors, LLC. Invention is credited to Peter S. Friedman, Ray A. Stoller.
Application Number | 20090166548 11/153535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40796967 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090166548 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friedman; Peter S. ; et
al. |
July 2, 2009 |
DUAL SUBSTRATE PLASMA PANEL BASED IONIZING RADIATION DETECTOR
Abstract
A plasma panel based ionizing-photon radiation detector includes
an input and output substrate with gamma-ray to free-electron
conversion occurring primarily on the input plate and a sealed
discharge gas between the substrates. X-electrodes and Y-electrodes
are formed on the two substrates and configured to form a plurality
of pixels. Impedances are coupled to the X and Y electrodes and a
power supply is coupled to the X-electrodes. Discharge event
detectors coupled to impedances detect discharge events on the Y
electrodes and at the pixel locations, which leads to the detection
of ionizing-photon radiation.
Inventors: |
Friedman; Peter S.; (Toledo,
OH) ; Stoller; Ray A.; (Paulding, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR, P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Assignee: |
Integrated Sensors, LLC
Toledo
OH
|
Family ID: |
40796967 |
Appl. No.: |
11/153535 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60580651 |
Jun 17, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
250/385.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01T 1/2935
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/385.1 |
International
Class: |
G01T 1/185 20060101
G01T001/185 |
Claims
1. An ionizing radiation counting detector comprising: a first
substrate; a second substrate generally parallel to said first
substrate and forming a gap with said first substrate; a gas
contained within said gap; at least one first electrode coupled to
said first substrate; at least one second electrode coupled to said
second substrate; at least one third electrode coupled to said
second substrate; a second impedance coupled to said second
electrode; a third impedance coupled to said third electrode; a
power supply coupled to said first electrode; a first discharge
event detector coupled to said second impedance; a second discharge
event detector coupled to said third impedance; and a plurality of
pixels defined by said second electrode and said third electrode,
each pixel capable of outputting a gas discharge pulse upon
interaction with ionizing radiation wherein each gas discharge
pulse has approximately an equal value; wherein said first and
second discharge event detectors comprise detection circuitry for
detecting if a gas discharge pulse is output from the pixels and
for counting each gas discharge pulse as an individual discharge
event, said detection circuitry comprising timestamp circuitry
coupled to said first discharge event detector and said second
discharge event detector that timestamps discharge events detected
by said first discharge event detector and said second discharge
event detector and combines discharge events having the same
timestamp; wherein an amount of detected radiation is based on the
number of counted discharge events.
2. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, wherein
said second electrode and said third electrode are paired in close
proximity to define said pixels.
3. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 2, wherein
said first electrode is an X-electrode, said second electrode is a
Yc (column)- electrode, and said third electrode is a Yr
(row)-electrode .
4. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, further
comprising: at least one first driver coupled to said second
electrode; and at least one second driver coupled to said third
electrode.
5. (canceled)
6. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, further
comprising: discharge event data storage coupled to said time-stamp
circuitry for storing coupled discharge events detected by said
first discharge event detector and said second discharge event
detector that occur at generally the same time.
7. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 6, further
comprising: sensitivity control coupled to said discharge event
data storage for providing feedback information to said power
supply and said first and second discharge event detectors.
8. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 3, further
comprising an ionizing-photon to free-electron emitter layer
coupled to said first substrate and defining said X-electrode as an
emitter source electrode.
9. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, further
comprising: a hermetic seal coupling said first substrate to said
second substrate; and peripheral edge spacers to define said
gap.
10. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, further
comprising a dielectric layer between said second electrode and
said third electrode.
11. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 1, further
comprising a first impedance coupled to said first electrode.
12. An ionizing radiation counting detector comprising: a first
substrate; a second substrate generally parallel to said first
substrate and forming a gap with the first substrate; a gas filling
said gap; an emitter source electrode coupled to said first
substrate; a current directional first and second electrode coupled
to said second substrate and defining a pixel centroid; a first
driver, a first current limit impedance and a first pulse detector
coupled to said first electrode; a second driver, a second current
limit impedance and a second pulse detector coupled to said second
electrode; and a plurality of pixels defined by said first
electrode and said second electrode, each pixel capable of
outputting a gas discharge pulse upon interaction with ionizing
radiation wherein each gas discharge pulse has approximately an
equal value; wherein said first and second pulse detectors comprise
detection circuitry for detecting if a gas discharge pulse is
output from the pixels and for counting each gas discharge pulse as
an individual discharge event, said detection circuitry comprising
timestamp circuitry coupled to said first discharge event detector
and said second discharge event detector that timestamps discharge
events detected by said first discharge event detector and said
second discharge event detector and combines discharge events
having the same timestamp; wherein an amount of detected radiation
is based on the number of counted discharge events.
13. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 12, further
comprising: a power supply, an third driver and a third current
limit impedance coupled to said emitter source electrode.
14. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 13, wherein
said emitter source electrode is an X-electrode, said first
electrode is a Yc (column)-electrode, and said second electrode is
a Yr (row)-electrode .
15. (canceled)
16. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 12, further
comprising: discharge event data storage coupled to said time-stamp
circuitry for storing coupled discharge events detected by said
first pulse detector and said second pulse detector that occur at
generally the same time.
17. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 16, further
comprising: sensitivity control coupled to said discharge event
data storage for providing feedback information to said power
supply and said first and second pulse detectors.
18. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 12, further
comprising: a hermetic seal coupling said first substrate to said
second substrate; and peripheral edge spacers that define said
gap.
19. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 12, further
comprising a dielectric layer between said second electrode and
said first electrode.
20. A method of detecting ionizing radiation based on counting of
gas discharge events comprising: receiving ionizing radiation at a
first substrate of a plasma panel, said plasma panel having a
second substrate; creating at least one free-electron within said
first substrate in response to the received ionizing-photon
radiation, said creating resulting in an emittance of an electron
out of said first substrate and into a gas contained within a gap
between said first and second substrates; causing a gas discharge
pulse at a pixel site of the plasma panel, said pixel site capable
of outputting said gas discharge pulse upon interaction with
ionizing radiation wherein each gas discharge pulse has
approximately an equal value; and counting said pulse at a first
pulse detector coupled to a second electrode and at a second pulse
detector coupled to a third electrode, wherein said second and
third electrodes are coupled to said second substrate of the plasma
panel, and wherein said counting comprises detecting if said gas
discharge pulse is output from the pixel site and for counting each
gas discharge pulse as an individual discharge event; timestamping
discharge events and combining discharge events having the same
timestamp; wherein an amount of detected radiation is based on the
number of counted discharge events.
21. An ionizing radiation counting detector comprising: a first
substrate; a second substrate generally parallel to said first
substrate and forming a gap with said first substrate; a gas
contained within said gap; at least one first electrode coupled to
said first substrate; at least one second electrode coupled to said
second substrate; at least one third electrode coupled to said
second substrate; a second impedance coupled to said second
electrode; a third impedance coupled to said third electrode; a
power supply coupled to said second electrode; a first discharge
event detector coupled to said second impedance; a second discharge
event detector coupled to said third impedance; and a plurality of
pixels defined by said second electrode and said third electrode,
each pixel capable of outputting a gas discharge pulse upon
interaction with ionizing radiation wherein each gas discharge
pulse has approximately an equal value; wherein said first and
second discharge event detectors comprise detection circuitry for
detecting if a gas discharge pulse is output from the pixels and
for counting each gas discharge pulse as an individual discharge
event, said detection circuitry comprising timestamp circuitry
coupled to said first discharge event detector and said second
discharge event detector that timestamps discharge events detected
by said first discharge event detector and said second discharge
event detector and combines discharge events having the same
timestamp; wherein an amount of detected radiation is based on the
number of counted discharge events.
22. The ionizing radiation counting detector of claim 21, further
comprising: at least one driver coupled to said third electrode.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/580,651, filed Jun. 17, 2004, the specification
of which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an
ionizing-photon radiation detector. More particularly, one
embodiment of the present invention is directed to a plasma panel
based ionizing-photon radiation detector.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] Many useful applications, such as the detection of
radioactive material and computer-assisted tomography ("CAT") rely
on the detection of photon radiation, known as X-ray and/or
gamma-ray radiation. Both of these types of high-energy photon
radiation cause ionization and for purposes of this disclosure the
two terms, X-ray and gamma-ray, are used interchangeably. In terms
of the detection of such ionizing radiation, the spectral region of
greatest interest for most applications generally falls between the
energies of about 20 to 2,000 keV (i.e., 0.02 to 2 MeV).
[0004] In the above spectral range of interest, the primary types
of interaction are the photoelectric and Compton effects. The
relative contribution from each can be determined in quantitative
fashion a priori via the combination of the incident photon energy
and the atomic number (i.e., Z-number) of the interacting atom. The
photoelectric effect describes a single atomic absorption, whereas
the Compton effect describes an inelastic scattering collision that
simultaneously results in a Compton recoil electron and a Compton
scattered photon. The latter can be inelastically scattered again
and again, until the photon either exits or is "absorbed" by the
interacting media. Of the two processes, the primary basis for the
majority of known ionizing radiation detectors used in imaging
applications at photon energies up to at least 200 keV is the
photoelectric effect, which causes the initial production of a
single "free-electron" and a corresponding positive atomic ion.
[0005] In order to detect ionizing electromagnetic radiation,
several known sensing devices are commonly used. One of the
earliest known electronic devices is the ionization chamber.
Detection of radiation in an ionization chamber, such as a
Geiger-Mueller ("GM") tube, is based upon electrical conductivity
induced in an inert gas (usually containing argon and neon) as a
consequence of ion-pair formation.
[0006] Further, a number of solid state semiconductors are used for
detecting ionizing-photon radiation, the most common of which is
the silicon photodiode, which can be either crystalline or
amorphous in structure. However, a number of other semiconductor
materials have also been used, including Ge, GaAs, CdTe, CdZnTe,
etc. The basic principle of operation for semiconductor detectors
is similar to the ionization chamber, namely that electromagnetic
radiation absorbed by the semiconductor simultaneously creates both
electrons and positive holes. The resulting charges move in
opposite directions in an applied field, with the current being
proportional to the energy of the incident ionizing radiation. The
use of large area, amorphous-silicon detectors has recently been
employed to produce digital electronic images which can replace
X-ray film.
[0007] Currently, the most effective known radiation detector is
generally considered to be a scintillation counter. Compared to a
GM-tube that can have a "dead-time" on the order of 100 .mu.s
(microseconds) between counting events, during which time any
response to radiation is impossible, a scintillation detector
generally has a dead-time of about 1 .mu.s or less. Another
advantage of the scintillation detector is that the number of
emitted photons produced by the scintillation plate or crystal,
upon interaction with ionizing radiation, is approximately
proportional to the energy of the incident radiation. However, a
conventional scintillation counter requires an expensive
crystalline scintillation plate of high optical quality along with
expensive photodiodes or photomultiplier tubes.
[0008] Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an
ionizing-photon radiation detector with high resolution capability,
fast pixel response, minimal dead-time, and which can be
manufactured in large sizes relatively inexpensively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is a plasma panel
based ionizing-photon radiation detector that includes an input and
output substrate with sealed gas between the substrates. The input
substrate contains an X-electrode layer or pattern that is on the
inner wall interfacing the gas with a voltage potential applied
with respect to opposing electrode structures on the output
substrate. The Yc-electrodes (i.e., column) and Yr-electrodes
(i.e., row) on the output substrate are configured to form a
plurality of pixels to establish location and current flow
direction from ionized gas discharges between the input and output
substrates. Impedances are coupled to the Yc- and Yr-electrodes and
a power supply circuit is coupled to the input substrate
X-electrode layer, and the Y current-directional electrodes.
Discharge event detectors coupled to impedances detect discharge
events on the Yc- and Yr-electrodes and at the pixel locations,
which leads to the detection of ionizing-photon radiation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified
circuitry attached to two current-directional electrodes (Yc and
Yr) defining a pixel centroid of a plasma panel based detector in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention for
electrically sensing a discharge site. For simplification, "X"
signifies the input substrate's emitter source electrode voltage
potential at a pixel, and "X-Driver" signifies the circuit means
for supplying "X". Similarly, "Y" signifies the electrode circuitry
on the output substrate.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating detection event
processing circuitry that is attached to the circuitry of FIG. 1 in
accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a plasma panel based
detector in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] One embodiment of the present invention is the use of a gas
discharge panel (referred to as a plasma display panel ("PDP") if
originally designed for display applications, or plasma panel
("PP") if designed for photon radiation detection) coupled to
electronic circuitry to detect ionizing-photon radiation. Similar
to a GM-tube, a PP can be considered a gas-ionization chamber that
generates a current pulse (or plasma) induced in a gas as a
consequence of ion-pair formation triggered by electrons injected
into the gas, and followed by a rapid acceleration of secondary ion
multiplication. In both cases (i.e., GM-tube and PP), the initial
electron injection/acceleration event can be an impinging gamma-ray
interacting with the device material in the presence of an
appropriate electric field. The GM-tube detector is a highly cost
effective and sensitive detector, but without imaging
capability.
[0014] A typical GM-tube and PDP operates at a high potential
between the anode and cathode, generally 200-400V in the case of a
commercial PDP, and 500-1500V in the case of a GM-tube. However the
field gradients, which are more important than the actual voltage
settings, may not be as far apart because the gap between the anode
and cathode in a PDP is on the order of 0.1 mm, which is about two
orders-of-magnitude smaller than in the GM-tube. As indicated
above, both devices generate secondary ion-pair production by
collisions between accelerated electrons and gaseous atoms. As a
consequence, both devices cause amplification of the initial ion
current, and the electrical pulse quickly becomes very large,
resulting in an electron avalanche event. More importantly,
however, is the fact that all of the electrode elements along at
least one axis of a PP-based detector in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention can electrically act as
parallel sensors (analogous to multiple GM-tubes), so that if one
electrode is experiencing "dead-time", the other electrodes can
still remain unaffected and be ready to fire.
[0015] In a standard TV-resolution PDP (i.e., not high resolution
or "HDTV"), there are 480 scan lines and about 852.times.3 column
electrodes, corresponding to 1,226,880 pixels which in principle
can act as independent "parallel GM-tubes". Therefore, for a
relatively inexpensive PP-detector in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, due to a combination of the very large
number of parallel sensing elements and much faster response time,
the collection efficacy compared to a similarly sized array of
GM-tubes, is at least two orders-of-magnitude better. However, an
area array of GM-tubes would be expected to be considerably more
expensive and cannot provide the additional features of embodiments
of the present invention, such as high-resolution imaging
capability and radioisotope identification.
[0016] In a PDP, the avalanche event is a very fast plasma
discharge and is self-limiting by virtue of the build up of an
opposing voltage or impedance that cuts off the discharge before
too high of a current develops. In the case of AC-PDPs, this
opposing voltage is induced across a thick-film dielectric (i.e.,
series capacitor), whereas in DC-PDPs the extinguishing
voltage-drop occurs across a series resistor. Without an opposing
voltage, the plasma discharge will not self-extinguish and an arc
will occur that can vaporize the PDP electrodes.
[0017] In contrast, in a GM-tube, the current is self-limiting by
the build up of a space charge "dark" region from the slower moving
cations that effectively terminates the flow of electrons to the
anode. The net effect in the case of a GM-tube is a momentary pulse
of current followed by an interval during which the tube does not
conduct. During this "dead-time" when the tube is non-conducting,
response to radiation is impossible. The dead-time, during which
the space charge must dissipate, represents an upper limit in the
response capability of the GM-tube and is on the order of 50-150
.mu.s. Unlike the GM-tube, in the PP-based detector in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, the dead-time can be
on the order of 1 .mu.s, and so it can respond about 100 times
faster--i.e., on a similar time scale as some of the
photomultiplier tubes that might be used in a scintillation
counter.
[0018] The gases used in a GM-tube and a PDP are similar--typically
argon-neon in GM-tubes and neon-xenon (which might include argon
and/or helium) in commercial PDPs. However, a plasma panel designed
as a PP-based detector in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention is operated using a higher-voltage gas mixture
than a commercial television PDP (e.g., on the order of perhaps 600
volts, depending upon design requirements), and optimized for a
gamma-ray initiated avalanche caused by a photon induced
free-electron ejected from the panel wall into the gas. The panel
wall it is noted, is any layer or solid surface in close proximity
to the gas, and can be the panel substrate itself or any solid
material layer or film that is coated to, or otherwise attached to,
the substrate surface facing the gas. Typically, however, "panel
wall" refers to the substrate layer close to and including the
emitter source electrode, although the term also includes any
internal 3-dimensional vertical structure such as a barrier-rib
located on the panel surface. For free-electrons generated by the
interaction of ionizing-photon radiation in the detector wall, if
the electron range-energy curve is known precisely for one wall
material, then it can be reasonably accurately estimated for other
wall materials by simple scaling based on the comparative material
density (.rho.) according to the relationship:
.rho..sub.1R.sub.1=.rho..sub.2R.sub.2. It is noted that generally
for a given energy, the electron range (R) does not vary that much
from one material to the next, as can be seen in the preceding
equation. There can, however, be order-of-magnitude variations in
the gamma-ray interaction for various wall materials at different
energies.
[0019] Significant reaction to low energy gamma radiation in a
gas-filled radiation detector can occur in both the gas media and
the device container walls. The probability of such interactions
between photons with matter is expressed as a collision
cross-section for the interacting media (e.g., per atom) and is a
function of the incoming photon energy. However, even for detection
devices containing fill-gases with high atomic numbers (i.e.,
high-Z) such as xenon, relatively little photon attenuation will
occur at low gamma-ray energies in gaseous radiation detectors
operating at reduced pressures with small gas gaps (i.e., gas
"thickness" dimension). In the spectral region above .about.100
keV, which is the primary spectral range of interest for the
detection of nuclear materials, incident gamma-ray attenuation
within a PP-sensor is expected to occur almost exclusively in the
plasma panel container walls. For medium-Z to high-Z wall material,
and for energies up to a few hundred keV, free-electron generation
via the photoelectric effect will dominate (i.e., photon
absorption); whereas at higher energies, the device wall
interaction will involve significant Compton scattering. However,
regardless of the mechanism, only those free-electrons that manage
to escape from the wall into the gas can be detected. Thus
optimization of the PP "wall" structure and materials for a
particular incident ionizing-photon energy range in one embodiment
of the present invention leads to the outer wall surface being of a
low-Z, non-interacting material, with the inner (gas-contacting)
wall surface utilizing higher-Z materials and with a thickness
appropriate to achieve significant photon interaction, yet not so
thick as to be beyond the range of the liberated free-electrons
being able to reach the gas.
[0020] The spectral region of particular interest with regard to
detecting nuclear materials for possible use in weapons of mass
destruction (e.g., uranium, plutonium, radium, etc.) primarily
encompasses the energy range from about 100 keV to 1.2 MeV. Towards
the low end of this range is the radioisotope .sup.57Co, which
emits gamma-rays at 122 keV (close to uranium). Near the midrange
is .sup.137CS, which emits gamma-rays at 662 keV (close to
plutonium). Both of these radioisotopes (i.e., Co and Cs) have been
successfully detected by a PP-sensor device in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention. However, the two edges of the
above spectral region of interest represent very different
materials and device optimization solutions. For example, below 100
keV the cover-plate/substrate thickness and material attenuation
should be minimized so as to maximize incident photon transmission,
whereas above 1 MeV sufficient interaction with the sensor active
media requires increased material thickness.
[0021] In the voltage realm of an operating and optimized PP-device
in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, each
gamma-ray induced free-electron that escapes from the wall into the
gas (or created directly in the gas) should be able to
"immediately" undergo electron multiplication in the high E-field
environment of the nearest pixel electrode and thus cause a
"plasma" gas discharge event ("DE") or avalanche which can be
electronically and/or optically sensed, and even visually seen. In
a PP-device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, this DE self-limits via opposing impedances in series
with the pixel discharge electrode (across which electronic pulses
can be counted) to confine the discharge to its original pixel site
thus preventing "run-away" avalanche delocalization. The DE output
pulse from each pixel should essentially always be about the same,
regardless of the number of free-electrons initially entering the
same local pixel space at the same moment in time. However, any
free-electron created by a different incident gamma-ray photon or a
Compton scattered photon generated by the original incident
gamma-ray entering a different pixel field space, will create a
different DE and be counted separately. Thus, the number and
distribution of pixel discharges should reflect the incident photon
intensity and be able to provide an "image" of the incident
gamma-ray source.
[0022] GM-tubes on the other hand, have no such imaging capability
because the entire device acts as a "single pixel" and therefore
cannot count "simultaneous" free-electrons ejected from different
spatial regions of the cathode-wall tube surface. Thus with its
high pixel spatial resolution, a PP-based detector in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention potentially has an
image resolution capability at least as high as a scintillation
detector.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry
attached to two current-directional electrodes (Yc and Yr) defining
a pixel centroid 18 of a PP-based detector in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention for electrically sensing a
discharge site. The circuitry attached to the X-axis and emitter
source electrode 26 of the plasma panel includes a power supply 10,
an X-Driver 6 and a current limit impedance 8. The circuitry
attached to the Yc-axis of the plasma panel includes a Yc-Driver
12, a current limit impedance 14 and a DEYc pulse detector 16. The
circuitry attached to the Yr-axis of the plasma panel includes a
Yr-Driver 22, a current limit impedance 24 and a DEYr pulse
detector 20. In either or all axes the current limiting impedances
can be implemented as resistances and/or reactances. In one
embodiment, the drivers, impedances and pulse detectors of FIG. 1
may be active or passive elements, and may in some combinations be
provided by integrated circuits. Further, in one embodiment,
Yc-Driver 12 and Yr-Driver 22 are not included on an individual
electrode basis as is common in commercial PDP video display
applications.
[0024] The sensing shown in FIG. 1 is initiated through a gamma-ray
interaction generating a free-electron 28 ejected out of the
emitter source X-electrode 26 and entering the high E-field
defining the pixel space 18 as previously described. The mechanism
can also be expressed in chronological terms relative to an
avalanche or discharge event ("DE")--i.e., before, during or after
the avalanche. It is also useful to be able to quantify the sensing
ability of the DE in physical terms. In this regard a "bare" plasma
panel reference, known as the "discharge margin" ("DM") voltage, is
useful for improving the plasma panel sensitivity. The DM voltage
correlates to the detection distance sensitivity of the PP-sensor.
Specifically, the larger the DM voltage, the greater the apparent
sensitivity (or detection distance) of the PP-device with respect
to a given radioactive source. The discharge and/or recovery speed
(in microseconds), the manufacturing cost, and the collection
efficacy are other factors relevant to optimizing embodiments of
the present invention. The factors involved in optimizing
embodiments of the present invention are discussed below relative
to panel gas mixture, panel design considerations, and panel
electronics.
Panel Gas Mixture
[0025] Significant improvement in detection sensitivity for a
PP-device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention
can be achieved by modifying the plasma panel gas mixture. The
basic xenon-in-neon mixture used in PDPs designed for video display
applications can be easily modified to increase the probability of
gaseous interactions with regard to ionizing-photons by increasing
the PP-device internal gas pressure. However, more significant
improvement can be achieved (in terms of both absorption and
inelastic scattering) by increasing the average atomic-weight or
Z-number of the gas mixture through: (1) replacement of helium with
neon, argon, krypton and/or xenon gas; (2) replacement of neon with
argon, krypton and/or xenon gas; and (3) any combination of the
above that results in either more xenon and/or a heavier average
atomic-weight gas mixture. As a side benefit, increasing the
concentration of heavier species such as xenon, increases the
reaction cross-sections and hence the probability of electron
multiplication and therefore the gas-discharge reaction-rate
kinetics, which in turn tends to reduce the plasma panel discharge
time and thus shorten device dead-time.
Panel Design Considerations
[0026] The PP-configuration used in accordance with embodiments of
the present invention can be optimized by developing designs based
on materials and geometry that maximize the generation of
free-electrons along with avalanche response sensitivity and
electrode resolution, while minimizing dielectric-surface-charge at
the gas interface, avalanche spread, discharge time and
manufacturing cost. To maximize gamma-ray to free-electron
conversion, high-Z materials should be employed close to the
dielectric-gas interface. Both the actual materials chosen and the
thickness for the dielectric and electrodes should be based in
large part upon efficient transmission and ejection of
free-electrons into the gas. To minimize the
dielectric-surface-charge at the gas interface, in one embodiment
the panel is a DC-PP structure (as opposed to an AC-PP structure).
However, there may be a trade-off between the gas interface
dielectric-surface-charge term, and the avalanche and spatial
resolution terms. The structure and electrical means for optimizing
avalanches should inhibit charge buildup, and/or erase charge.
[0027] The avalanche response is affected by the gas properties and
the electric field. These in turn are affected by the gas gap
(i.e., spacing between the input and output substrates) and gas
pressure. For example, increasing the voltage and/or the electric
field strength at the gas-surface interface of the input and/or
output substrates, enhances the acceleration of free-electrons into
the gas. Therefore the panel wall structure and electrodes in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention are optimized
by taking all these into account, as well as the free-electron and
surface-charge effects. To the extent that electronics may be
embedded into the structure, this also is taken into account. The
electric field is determined by the shape and arrangement of
electrodes, and so these should be considered. The goal in at least
one embodiment is to achieve avalanches that occur with durations
on the order of 1 .mu.s or less, and with current peaks on the
order of about 1 milliampere ("mA").
[0028] To minimize avalanche spread, in one embodiment the
discharge sites are isolated by structural and/or electrical means.
The structural means needs to minimize surface charges as discussed
above, and the electrical means needs to inhibit and/or erase
charges. The electrical means also needs to segregate or block out
in space and time each avalanche from others. The panel
configuration needs to take all of these means and terms into
account, including electrode structure and organization, and
integrated electronics features to implement the electrical means
discussed. The same rationale for minimizing avalanche spread, also
applies to maximizing spatial resolution. Maximized spatial
resolution should be considered together with the imaging function
to be achieved.
Panel Electronics
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating detection event
processing circuitry that is attached to the circuitry of FIG. 1 in
accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. The detection
event processing circuitry, discussed in more detail below,
includes time-stamped DEYc's 30 and time-stamped DEYr's 31,
sensitivity control 34, DEYc-r former 36, imaging function 38,
camera 40, and an external computing system 42.
[0030] In one embodiment, the electronic sensing and detecting
circuitry shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are involved before, during,
and after an avalanche. Power supply 10 biases the electrical
sensing mechanisms before the avalanche. The detection electronics
(e.g., DEYc pulse detector 16, and DEYr pulse detector 20) provide
the sensing mechanism during an avalanche. The DE processing
circuitry (e.g., DEYc's 30, DEYr's 31, sensitivity control 34,
DEYc-r former 36, imaging function 38, camera 40, and external
computing system 42) provides the after-avalanche sensing
mechanism.
[0031] Power supply 10 in one embodiment is the power supply to the
plasma panel and has one output connected to the X-electrode(s) on
one side of a DC plasma panel. In an embodiment having an AC plasma
panel, there is at least one "X" output and one "Y" output from
power supply 10. In one embodiment power supply 10 can be
implemented as multiples of the same circuit with their separate
outputs going to individual electrodes or groups of electrodes. In
one embodiment, power supply 10 is adjustable, under control of the
DE processing system described below.
[0032] As discussed, a DE equals a gamma-ray sensing event,
therefore the following notation may be used in describing
embodiments of the present invention:
[0033] DE=discharge event=gamma-ray sensed
[0034] DEYc=DE sensed in the Yc-axis (i.e., output column
electrode) of the plasma panel
[0035] DEYr=DE sensed in the Yr-axis (i.e., output row electrode)
of the plasma panel
[0036] DEYc-r=DE sensed at a Yc-Yr pixel location of the plasma
panel
[0037] As described, in embodiments of the present invention, a DE
is self-limiting by virtue of an opposing impedance that cuts off
the discharge before a run-away current develops that could
vaporize the electrode(s). The "opposing impedance" in one
embodiment is impedance 14 and impedance 24 of FIG. 1, which can be
resistive in the case of a DC plasma panel. Whenever a DE occurs,
the current flowing through the electrodes and their associated
impedances causes a voltage drop across the impedance which
terminates the discharge. The momentary voltage drop across the
impedances in the current path of the DE is sensed by DEYc and DEYr
pulse detectors 16 and 20 shown in FIG. 1.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the outputs of DEYc and DEYr pulse
detectors 16 and 20 are coupled to synchronizing circuits that
time-stamp each event referenced to a master clock. Therefore, DEYc
and DEYr events with the same time-stamp are combined to define and
store DEYc-r's in a DEYc-r former 36 circuit. DEYc-r former 36
provides information to sensitivity control 34 circuit that
provides feedback information to power supply 10 and DEYc and DEYr
pulse detectors 16 and 20. Feedback control may be implemented for
real-time impedance adjustment and optimization. The DE processing
system is a closely linked system requiring coordinated design
optimization involving the Yc and Yr impedances, power supply
(whether AC or DC), drive waveforms, pulse detectors, and almost
every aspect of the plasma panel's configuration and materials
selection. The DE circuitry processing system in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention also feeds a stream of
sequential DEYc-r frames or "pictures" to imaging function 38.
Because the master clock should be capable of running at a speed
high enough to catch DE's sometimes occurring continuously,
simultaneously and back-to-back, large amounts of raw data could be
generated such that the data might need to be appropriately
filtered and/or compressed using known processing methods. In one
embodiment, standard commercial gate arrays, memory chips and other
IC components are implemented to meet the DE processing
requirements.
[0039] In one embodiment, camera 40 is included in the DE
processing to perform various functions. First, if one side of the
plasma panel has optically clear discharge sites, camera 40 may be
used to directly capture DEYc-r's. Camera 40 is synchronized to
sensitivity control 34, DEYc-r former 36 and imaging function 38.
In another embodiment, a second camera function may be used to
capture photodiode (i.e., LED) blinks from current in the electrode
paths. In this embodiment, the photodiodes transform discharge
current to light pulses that the camera would capture as DEYc and
DEYr "pictures", which would further be synchronized and processed
in DEYc-r former 36 and imaging function 38.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment the DE processing
system feeds a stream of sequential DEYc-r frames or "pictures"
from DEYc-r former 36 to imaging function 38. In one embodiment the
DEYc-r frames are translated into a protocol and transport scheme
that can be readily connected and processed by external computer
system 42 using known processing techniques. A bi-directional bus
or network function is represented by the 4-point arrow structure
indicated as the "Synchronization Link" in FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a PP-based detector 100
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
PP-based detector 100 includes an input (front) substrate 70 which
is the side of the plasma panel where incident radiation enters.
Input substrate 70 includes a gamma-ray to free-electron
conversion/emissive layer interfacing the gas. Input substrate 70
may be a glass material, or metal, or a lamination of glass and
metal or metal and metal. Advantages of smooth conductive surfaces
with uniform voltage characteristics could be realized with metal
substrates, as well as with thin-film coatings such as chrome,
nickel, tin oxide, ITO, etc. on glass. Input substrate 70 may also
be a lamination or an integrated portion with the emissive
layer.
[0042] PP-based detector 100 includes an emitter source X-electrode
26. In one embodiment, emitter source X-electrode 26 may be a
conductive sheet or layer with a voltage potential applied to it
with respect to the opposing Y-electrodes on the output substrate.
In another embodiment, emitter source electrode 26 can be
patterned, and the patterns may be aligned with opposing electrodes
on the output substrate 72 (discussed below) to optimize sensing
mechanisms and pixel locations. Patterning may be done such that
there could be transparency to low energy (i.e., keV)
ionizing-photon radiation, passing some of it through to allow
direct interactions with the gas.
[0043] PP-based detector 100 may optionally include spacer-barriers
74. Spacers 74 may be just a few pixels in length, and if so of
almost any cross-sectional shape (e.g., rectangular, cylindrical,
etc.), or as long as an entire electrode row or column.
Additionally they may be applied sparingly at only a few necessary
positions, just enough to maintain structural integrity in an
open-cell type structure. In embodiments of PP-based detectors
having a small size, spacers within the device active area may be
avoided entirely by being placed near the panel periphery and
adjacent to, or close to, the perimeter seal. In a more complex
"rib" structure embodiment, the spacer-barriers 74 might be located
alongside every electrode row or column as shown in FIG. 3, or at
regularly spaced intervals, and may be partially conductive. In
such a rib structure, the spacer-barriers act as both barriers to
discharge-spreading and as spacers. In a more complex "closed-cell"
embodiment (not shown), the barriers would essentially
fully-enclose each discharge site. However, a closed-cell structure
should still have some kind of small barrier "openings", employing
some provision such as a small notch at the top of the wall to
ensure adequate gas evacuation and allow gas back-fill during the
panel fabrication and gas-processing manufacturing steps. Further,
barrier-rib structures (not shown) may only need to cover a portion
of the gas gap, and may be partially conductive. In another
embodiment, instead of the spacer-barrier wall 74 shown in FIG. 3,
a "virtual" barrier may be formed by a relatively deep surface
depression at the same location where the spacer-barrier would have
been. In this embodiment, the "virtual" barrier is used because the
gas gap with the depression would be too great for the voltage to
support a discharge in or across the depression.
[0044] A gas gap 84 is the "empty space", or void, between input
substrate 70 and output substrate 72 and is filled with an
appropriate gas mixture at an appropriate pressure per as
previously discussed. Standard known methods used to seal PDPs are
used to seal substrates 70 and 72, thus forming a chamber to
contain the gas. The gas may be a Penning type mixture. Spacers 74
are configured to allow proper gas distribution, pressurization and
gas gap for appropriate electric field across the gas.
[0045] PP-based detector 100 further includes an output substrate
72 which is on the side of the plasma panel where the sensing
mechanisms transition through the avalanche phase into the
formation of an "image". In an embodiment where the imaging
function is "driven" by camera shots of the avalanches, output
substrate 72 is at least partially "transparent" and therefore
constructed with glass and with electrodes sufficiently transparent
or narrow to reveal the avalanches.
[0046] PP-based detector 100 further includes three types of
electrodes: Yc or column electrodes 76, Yr or row electrodes 80,
and an emitter source X-electrode(s) 26. The column and row
electrodes provide directional current paths from the discharge.
Emitter source electrode 26 (i.e., the input substrate electrode),
may be patterned into a set of electrodes, or it may be a
continuous conductive plane or surface (e.g. metal film) as in FIG.
3, with one connection to a "drive" circuit. The drive circuit as
shown schematically in FIG. 1, can be as simple as a DC power
supply 10, connected through a resistor 8. It is also possible that
the emitter source layer is contacted to, or integrated with,
metallic or non-metallic transparent conductive electrode
patterns.
[0047] In an embodiment where the Yc- and Yr-electrodes 76 and 80
are used on a single substrate as shown in FIG. 3, they are
connected to separate "drive" circuits, which may be a DC power
supply connection through one resistor. In the embodiment of FIG.
3, Yc- and Yr-electrodes 76 and 80 are "paired" together in close
proximity to form Yc/Yr individual pixels with the same voltage
potential on each electrode so that a discharge caused by an
avalanche from the input substrate's X-electrode to either the Yc-
or Yr-electrode spreads from one to the adjacent-other locally.
Current will flow in both electrodes into the drive circuits, which
may also serve as current (or voltage drop across impedance)
sensors. Therefore, the Yc-Yr column-row (directional-current)
"location" of the initial discharge can be determined if each
electrode has its own drive sensor circuit. Yc- and/or
Yr-electrodes 76 and 80 may include emitter source materials,
whether on the input or the output substrate. As will be described
further below, the dielectric insulation layer 78 that is applied
to the output substrate to separate column and row electrodes, may
be made slightly conductive to prevent charge buildup on the inner
walls while maintaining a strong current directionality for DEYc-r
sensing.
[0048] In addition to the above embodiments, the structure shown in
FIG. 3 can be "flipped" so that the bottom substrate is on top
serving as the input substrate and the top substrate is on the
bottom serving as the output substrate. In such an embodiment, the
Yc- and Yr-electrodes become emitter sources as well as current
flow directors. The other substrate could also have emitter source
material in its electrode structure. One substrate's electrodes may
be grounded (e.g., Yc and Yr). The other electrode is connected
through a resistor to the DC power supply. The resistor limits the
current flow during an avalanche and effectively controls the
avalanche parameters: how long it lasts, how much it spreads, and
when it can reoccur. Each avalanche parameter is a function of the
resistor together with other design parameters such as the gas, and
the electrode material and geometry. Electrodes, including emitter
source 26, in one embodiment can be patterned into groups that are
electrically isolated and driven by separate resistors to achieve
the avalanche characteristics desired. For example, in one
embodiment, each individual electrode shown in FIG. 3 needs to have
a resistor for properly controlled avalanches and to provide
current sensing circuitry such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If
the output substrate is transparent, or mostly transparent
including electrode, each discharge location could be determined
with a solid state, sensor-based camera (e.g., CMOS or CCD)
[0049] An alternative embodiment to sensing current by the
voltage-drop across a resistor or other impedance device is to use
current-sensing, opto-isolators in series with resistors. The
opto-isolators provide direct outputs (i.e., DEYc or DEYr) to the
electronic circuitry and are a standard method for reducing large
amplitude voltages that can be problematic. In another embodiment,
photodiodes are used in series with resistors. The photodiodes
could be arranged around a plasma panel such that a digital camera
40 (FIG. 2) could be used to capture DEYc or DEYr occurrences.
[0050] Spacers 74 of FIG. 3 interfacing the gas may attract and
store charge that inhibits PP-device sensitivity and response to
incident ionizing-photon radiation. Spacers and barriers may be
implemented as partially conductive structures that need to have a
bias voltage applied. In FIG. 3, for example, in one embodiment
each spacer 74 may require a bias voltage connection. A bias
voltage may be applied on a timing basis and synchronized to be
applied just after an avalanche is detected to remove charge along
the barrier. An embodiment may include an individual control for
each barrier.
[0051] Embodiments of the invention include a PP-seal that
maintains a long-term, gas-tight, hermetic barrier under pressure
and mechanical stresses. The seal also includes a gas-exchange port
mechanism. The seal is consistent with maintaining the gas gap with
or without the spacer-barriers in the plasma panel. In one
embodiment the seal material is conductive, and one of the
substrates is an insulator with a very slightly but continuously
conductive ring or band coating between the conductive seal and the
conductive active-area electrodes on the non-conductive substrate.
This should keep the field gradients lower at or near the seal as
compared to the active area, and completely eliminate dielectric
surfaces on the inside of the detector seal that could store charge
and mask or mimic gamma-ray events.
[0052] In one embodiment, previously discussed structures may be
converted to AC operation by application of a dielectric coating
over the electrode surfaces, insulating them from the gas. For
example, Yc- and Yr-electrodes 76, 80 of FIG. 3 could be insulated
from the gas by a dielectric overcoat and operated as a
surface-discharge AC plasma panel. In this embodiment, an emitter
layer would continue to be needed, but not as an input electrode,
and may or may not have a dielectric overcoat.
[0053] Any known or future developed manufacturing processes used
to fabricate PDPs can be used with embodiments of the present
invention. In one embodiment, in order to maximize the transmission
of low energy keV ionizing-photon radiation through the input
substrate and minimize mechanical strain, the input and output
substrates are of identical material composition and thickness, and
fabricated from the thinnest glass suitable for commercial PDP
processing. One such example for the glass substrate would be to
use standard, 2.8 mm thick, Asahi PD200. As lower cost, compatible,
thinner (or thicker) glass substrate materials become available,
they may be substituted for 2.8 mm Asahi PD200.
[0054] Embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3,
have essentially all of the most complex processing steps relegated
to the output plate. Since there are no material-specific or
process-specific requirements for the Y-electrodes, they could be
fashioned from a variety of low cost, conductive materials, and
fabricated by any one of a number of conventional thick-film and/or
thin-film processes. In one embodiment the bottom Yr-electrodes are
made as thin as reasonably possible in order to have minimum impact
on the surface planarity of the subsequent dielectric layer 78. In
one embodiment, PDP thin-film electrode material system Cr/Cu/Cr is
sputtered and lithographically patterned, although other thin-film
electrode material systems can also be used. Once the bottom
Yr-electrodes have been fabricated, a "PDP type" thick-film,
dielectric paste is applied and then fired to form a suitable
insulating layer between the bottom Yr-electrodes and top
Yc-electrodes. Next, a standard dielectric acid etching process,
such as a dilute nitric acid spray, is used in conjunction with a
suitably patterned photoresist layer, to create the necessary vias
through the dielectric to the bottom Yr-electrodes. After via
completion, a standard thin-film or thick-film conductive coating
(e.g., Cr/Cu/Cr film, nickel paste, etc.) is applied to coat or
fill the vertical vias and create a conductive bridge or
vertical-column to electrically bring the bottom Yr-electrodes up
to the top surface of the dielectric layer. At the same time, or
subsequently, the surface Yc- and Yr-electrodes are fabricated
using standard thin-film or thick-film electrode
materials/processes. The more intricate surface Yr-electrode
pattern, as shown in FIG. 3, is in electrical contact with, and
properly aligned with respect to, and centered over, the previously
fabricated conductive vias.
[0055] In one embodiment, discharge-isolation barrier ribs in place
of some or all of the spacer-barriers 74 are fabricated using
manufacturing processes currently employed in the barrier
fabrication process for commercial PDPs. However, since a number of
applications for the invention do not have a high-resolution
requirement (in contrast to PDPs for HDTV), relatively
low-resolution panels can be fabricated. Therefore, instead of
fabricating the discharge-isolation barrier ribs by a negative
process (i.e., material removal) such as sandblasting, lift-off, or
etching, a lower cost, positive fabrication process such as
screen-printing can be used. If only intermittent spacers are
required, then even lower cost production processes can be
employed, such as using preform spacer materials in conjunction
with a pick-and-place fabrication process.
[0056] As described, embodiments of the present invention utilize a
plasma panel structure in conjunction with detection electronics to
form a PP-based detection device that can be manufactured
inexpensively. Several embodiments of the present invention are
specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will
be appreciated that other modifications and variations of the
present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the
purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit
and intended scope of the invention.
* * * * *