Radiation detector module with insulating shield

{
  "publication_number": "US2021285897A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Radiation detector module with insulating shield",
  "abstract": "A radiation detector module includes a frame, a module circuit board connected to the frame, detector units that each include radiation sensors disposed above the frame and electrically connected to the module circuit board, and an optically and infrared radiation opaque, X-ray transparent, electrically insulating detector shield covering a top surface and at least one side surface of the radiation sensors.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A radiation detector module, comprising: a frame; a module circuit board connected to the frame; detector units that each comprise radiation sensors disposed above the frame and electrically connected to the module circuit board; and an optically and infrared radiation opaque, X-ray transparent, electrically insulating detector shield covering a top surface and at least one side surface of the radiation sensors. 2. The detector module of claim 1, wherein: the detector shield the detector shield is configured to block at least 99% of incident visible light and infrared radiation; is configured to transmit at least 99% of incident X-rays having an energy ranging from about 20 KeV to about 160 KeV; and has a dielectric strength of at least 2000 V/mil at a voltage of −1000V. 3. The detector module of claim 2, wherein the detector shield comprises tape or film formed of a polymeric material. 4. The detector module of claim 3, wherein the detector shield comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material or a polyimide material. 5. The detector module of claim 1, wherein: the top surfaces of the detector units form at least a part of the planar detection surface on top of the frame; a first portion of the detector shield covers a planar top surface of the detection surface; and a second portion of the detector shield extends and an angle from the first portion and covers a first side of the detector units. 6. The detector module of claim 5, wherein top surfaces of the radiation sensors form at least part of the detection surface. 7. The detector module of claim 5, wherein the second portion of the detector shield covers plural side surfaces of the radiation sensors. 8. The detector module of claim 5, further comprising dummy units located adjacent to the detector units and having top surfaces that form part of the detection surface, wherein: the dummy units are electrically inactive; and the first portion of the detector shield covers the top surfaces of the dummy units. 9. The detector module of claim 1, wherein the detector shield comprises an alignment feature configured to optically identify locations of the detector units. 10. The detector module of claim 1, wherein the detector shield is attached to the detector module by an adhesive, a friction fitting, or a clamp. 11. The detector module of claim 1, further comprising side shields disposed on the frame and configured to cover opposing sides of the module circuit board. 12. The detector module of claim 1, further comprising an electrically grounded, anti-scatter grid disposed over the detector shield. 13. The detector module of claim 12, wherein the anti-scatter layer comprises a metallic rectangular grid, blades, or wires. 14. The detector module of claim 1, wherein radiation sensors comprise a radiation-sensitive material selected from cadmium zinc telluride, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and a scintillator material. 15. The detector module of claim 1, wherein: the module circuit board comprises a row of board-side connectors on each side of the circuit board; and each of the detector units further comprises an interposer, an application-specific integrated chip (ASIC), a carrier board, and a pair of flex cable assemblies electrically connected to one of the board-side connectors in each row. 16. The detector module of claim 1, wherein each detector module comprises at least two radiation sensors having a respective rectangular shape adjoined to each other with no gap or with a gap less than 3 mm. 17. A detector array, comprising: an array frame; and detector modules of claim 1 connected to the array frame, such that detection surfaces of the detector modules are exposed through the array frame. 18. The detector array of claim 16, wherein the detector shield prevents electrical contact and electrical breakdown between the radiation sensors of adjacent detector modules in the array frame. 19. The detector array of claim 16, wherein the array frame is curved, such that the detection surfaces of the detector modules collectively form a curved detection surface of the detection array. 20. An X-ray detection system, comprising: a radiation source configured to emit an X-ray; the detector array of claim 17, wherein the detector array is configured to receive the X-ray from the radiation source through an intervening space configured to contain an object therein; and an image reconstruction system including a computer configured to run an automated image reconstruction algorithm on detection signals generated from the detector array."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to gamma-ray and X-ray detectors, and more specifically to an X-ray detector module with an insulating shield.\n\nRoom temperature pixelated radiation detectors made of semiconductors, such as cadmium zinc telluride (Cd 1-x Zn x Te where 0<x<1, or “CZT”), are gaining popularity for use in medical and non-medical imaging. These applications use high energy resolution and sensitivity of the radiation detectors.\n\nAccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is a radiation detector module, comprising: a frame; a module circuit board connected to the frame and comprising a row of board-side connectors; units disposed on the frame such that top surfaces of the units form a planar detection surface on top of the frame, the units comprising detector units that each comprise a radiation sensor disposed above the frame, an interposer, an application-specific integrated chip (ASIC), a carrier board, and a flex cable assembly electrically connected to one of the board-side connectors; and an optically opaque, X-ray transparent, dielectric detector shield covering the detection surface.\n\nAccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is a detector array comprising: an array frame; and radiation detector modules connected to the array frame, such that the detection surfaces of the detector modules are exposed through the array frame.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01N 23/046",
    "A61B 6/032",
    "A61B 6/4258",
    "A61B 6/4266",
    "A61B 6/4291",
    "A61B 6/44",
    "G01N 2223/04",
    "G01N 2223/30",
    "G01N 2223/419",
    "G01N 2223/501",
    "G01N 23/083"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01N 23/046",
    "G01N 23/083"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Redlen Technologies Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Christopher Read",
    "Keira FLANAGAN",
    "Michael AYUKAWA",
    "Jeffrey Allan WALTON"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-03-05",
  "publication_date": "2021-09-16",
  "priority_date": "2020-03-11",
  "application_number": "US-202117193219-A",
  "family_id": "77664660",
  "cited_by_count": 7
}