Patent Application
20180059264
This application claims a priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 201610797192.2, filed on Aug. 31, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to the field of radiation imaging, and in particular, to a detector, and a detection system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently.
Imaging detection apparatuses using X-ray imaging technologies are known to people. For example, in subways, airports and bus stations, personal bags and other items of passengers are detected by using the apparatuses, so as to check whether there are illegal transport articles such as radiation sources, explosives, drugs etc. At present, the threat of terrorist organization is serious, and thus the accuracy for identifying materials in the imaging detection apparatuses is very important.
In recent years, with the development of semiconductor technology, semiconductor detectors at room temperature have been used in many fields, such as nuclear physics, X-ray detection, gamma ray detection, astronomical detection, environmental monitoring, medical imaging etc. In particular, cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe, CZT for short) is considered to be the most promising radiation detection material due to its advantages such as excellent energy resolution, high detection efficiency and the ability to work at room temperature.
Compared with integral and indirect type radiation detectors, photon counting imaging using CZT semiconductor detectors has higher detection efficiency, a higher signal-to-noise ratio and a higher energy resolution. Therefore, it is possible to display images for a plurality of energy regions, and to identify materials by using information on the plurality of energy regions. Currently, multi-energy imaging apparatuses for detection have been proposed, and different energy region divisions can be applied to image display and material identification. In particular, the energy region divisions may include equal energy region division, fine energy region division, optimized energy region division etc.
In fact, the optimized energy region division of materials is directly related to the materials to be scanned. For example, when monocrystalline or polycrystalline materials are identified using Bragg diffraction, scattering energy caused by different crystalline materials is different. When metal materials are identified using K-edge, the K-edge caused by the different metal materials is also different. When non-metallic materials are identified, capabilities of identification of different materials are also different for different energy region divisions. Thus, a single energy region division can only be applied to a single field. However, different conditions may occur in security detection of articles in public places, such as radioactive sources, liquids, explosives, drugs, etc. A single energy region division cannot be applied to places which may have a large number of suspicious articles.
Generally, existing products use a fixed energy region division, that is, existing products can only be applied to relatively narrow fields. For example, when a product for dividing energy regions for metal identification is used to identify liquid or an organic material, the effect will be deteriorated. Similarly, when a product for dividing energy regions for organic material identification is used for other applications, the effect will also be deteriorated. Therefore, the existing products are difficult to be applied to a complex place, but there is a need for a device to identify various articles simultaneously in current security situations. However, if a plurality of such detectors are arranged in the same place to operate as an multi-energy imaging apparatus for detection, the imaging apparatus will be expensive and there will be increased requirements for the place. In addition, there are also multi-energy imaging apparatuses for detection which are achieved by increasing a number of energy regions (e.g., 32, 256 or more energy regions). However, there will be extreme high design requirements for such apparatuses, the development on hardware and/or software of the apparatuses is also difficult, and most of the energy regions have little contribution to material identification in practice, resulting in lower efficiency of the apparatuses.
In addition, in a single linear array detector, pixels which operate normally cannot reach 100%, and damaged pixels may have a great impact on material identification and image display. Since the detectors usually have a high cost, it is expensive to replace a detector. Besides, for a full-time operating detector, it is inconvenient to replace the detector.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to provide a detector and a detecting system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently, which can satisfy extreme high demands on the system design due to increased energy regions while mitigating the impact of the damaged pixels of the detector on image display and material identification. Further, the present disclosure can utilize the performance of the detector effectively, and can improve the operating efficiency of the detecting system and the capability of material identification.
In order to at least solve at least one of the above problems, the present disclosure provides a detector and a detecting system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a detector, comprising a plurality of columns of pixels, wherein each column of pixels may include one class-A electrode and a plurality of class-B electrodes, wherein the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes are sequentially arranged in a moving direction of a detected object, such that the rays transmitted through the detected object firstly enter into the class-A electrode and then into the class-B electrodes.
Alternatively, the detector may further comprise a guiding electrode or a protecting electrode arranged between respective electrodes.
Alternatively, a class-A pixel corresponding to the class-A electrode may have at least one energy region.
Alternatively, each of class-B pixels corresponding to the plurality of class-B electrodes may have at least three energy regions.
Alternatively, each of the class-B pixels may have the same energy region division.
Alternatively, each of the class-B pixels may have different energy region divisions.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a detecting system for dividing energy regions intelligently, which may comprise: a detector configured to collect rays transmitted through a detected object, generate a detection signal according to the rays, and transmit the detection signal to a signal processing apparatus, wherein each column of pixels of the detector comprises one class-A electrode and a plurality of class-B electrodes, wherein the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes are arranged sequentially in a moving direction of the detected object, such that the rays transmitted through the detected object firstly enter into the class-A electrode and then into the class-B electrodes; the signal processing apparatus, comprising: a first processor configured to receive and process the detection signal, calculate a number of signals in each energy region by using one or more thresholds for dividing the energy regions, and transmit the detection signal, the one or more thresholds and the calculated numbers to a second processor; and the second processor configured to receive the detection signal, the one or more thresholds and the calculated numbers from the first processor, and transmit the detection signal and the calculated numbers to a host computer; and the host computer configured to receive the detection signal and the calculated numbers from the second processor, obtain image data of the detected object based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, estimate a material component of the detected object according to the image data, and control the second processor to adjust the one or more thresholds in the first processor according to the estimated material component, so as to divide the energy regions intelligently.
Alternatively, the host computer may further be configured to output the image data based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, and identify material based on a detection signal corresponding to the class-B electrodes.
Alternatively, the host computer may further be configured to output the image data based on the detection signals corresponding to the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a detecting method for dividing energy regions intelligently, which may comprise: collecting, by a detector, rays transmitted through a detected object and generating a detection signal, wherein each column of pixels of the detector comprises one class-A electrode and a plurality of class-B electrodes, and the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes are arranged sequentially in a moving direction of the detected object, such that the rays transmitted through the detected object firstly enter into the class-A electrode and then into the class-B electrodes; obtaining image data of the detected object based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, and estimating a material component of the detected object based on the image data; adjusting one or more thresholds for dividing the energy regions according to the estimated material component; and determining an energy region to which the detection signal corresponding to the class-B electrodes belongs, according to the adjusted one or more thresholds, and calculating a number of signals in each energy region.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure provides a detector and a detecting system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently, which can satisfy extreme high demands on the system design due to increased energy regions and mitigate the impact of the damaged pixels of the detector on image display and material identification. Further, the present disclosure can utilize the performance of the detector effectively and improve the operating efficiency of the detecting system.
It should be understood that although the CZT detectors capable of operating at a room temperature and having a high energy resolution and detection efficiency are used in the following description, the present disclosure is not limited to the CZT detectors, and other detectors such as Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Cadmium Manganese Telluride (CdMnTe), Mercuric Iodide (HgI2), Thallium Bromide (TlBr), Lead Iodide (PbI2) Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Germanium (Ge) etc. can also be used.
In addition, it should be noted that although multiple energy implementations according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are based on a material identification system, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The inventive concept can be applied to fields such as industrial Computed Tomography (CT), medical imaging, dental CT, etc.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to provide a detector and a detecting system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently, which can satisfy extreme high demands on the system design due to increased energy regions and mitigate the impact of the damaged pixels of the detector on image display and material identification. Further, the present disclosure can utilize the performance of the detector effectively and improve the operating efficiency of the detecting system and the capability of material identification.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a detector for increasing a counting rate by optimizing a structure of electrodes of the detector. In particular,
Alternatively, the electrodes in the above-described exemplary embodiments may be formed by using chemical coating, sputtering, evaporation, surface synthesis etc., and the electrodes may be ohmic contact-type electrodes or Schottky contact-type electrodes. In addition, the material of the electrodes may be gold, platinum, indium, indium oxide, rhodium or other metal material, or a mixed material.
The detector and the detecting method thereof according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described generally above. The detecting system and the detecting method thereof according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to
In particular, the detecting system 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a detector 310, a signal processing apparatus 320 and a host computer. The detector 310 may be configured to collect rays transmitted through a detected object, generate a detection signal according to the rays, and transmit the detection signal to the signal processing apparatus 320, wherein each column of pixels of the detector comprises one class-A electrode and a plurality of class-B electrodes, wherein the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes are arranged sequentially in a moving direction of the detected object, such that the rays transmitted through the detected object firstly enter into the class-A electrode and then into the class-B electrodes. A detailed structure of the detector 310 has been shown in
In addition, the detecting system 300 may also include the signal processing apparatus 320 and the host computer 330 (such as, a PC). In particular, the signal processing apparatus 320 may include a first processor 321 and a second processor 322. The first processor 321 may be configured to receive and process the detection signal, calculate a number of signals in each energy region according to one or more thresholds for dividing energy regions, and transmit the detection signal, the one or more thresholds and the calculated numbers to the second processor 322. The second processor 322 may be configured to receive the detection signal, the one or more thresholds and the calculated numbers from the first processor 321, and transmit the detection signal and the calculated numbers to the host computer 330. Alternatively, the first processor 321 may be implemented as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), wherein the ASIC may include a charge-sensitive pre-amplification unit, a primary amplification unit, a filtering and imaging unit, a threshold device, a counter, etc., so as to achieve functions of counting of various energy regions and threshold adjustment. The first processor 321 may amplify, filter and shape the signal from the anode and perform the counting of respective energy regions according to the corresponding thresholds adjusted by the second processor 322. Alternatively, the second processor 322 may be implemented with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The second processor 322 transmits the counted values for respective energy regions from the first processor 321 to the host computer 330. The host computer 330 may be configured to receive the detection signal and the counted values from the second processor 322, obtain image data of the detected object based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, and estimate a material component of the detected object based on the image data. In addition, the host computer 330 may further be configured to control the second processor 322 to adjust the one or more thresholds in the first processor 321 according to the estimated material component, so as to divide the energy regions intelligently. Alternatively, the host computer 330 may further be configured to output the image data based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, and identify the material based on the detection signal corresponding to the class-B electrodes. Alternatively, the host computer 330 may further be configured to output the image data based on the detection signals corresponding to the class-A electrode and the class-B electrodes. Of course, the detection signal corresponding to the class-B electrodes may also be used to output image data, especially when the class-A pixel has been damaged, which can improve the imaging quality and reduce the cost of maintenance. When the host computer is implemented as a PC, the host computer 330 may be configured to control the second processor 322 to adjust the thresholds in the first processor 321, display the image of the detected object, and determine the components and categories of the detected object. Specifically, the host computer 330 may be configured to control the second processor 322 to acquire the thresholds from the first processor 321, adjust the acquired thresholds, and transmit the adjusted thresholds to the first processor 321 to update the thresholds in the first processor 321. Furthermore, after the host computer 330 receives the detection signal corresponding to the class-A electrode, the energy regions of the class-B pixels are divided intelligently according to algorithms stored in the host computer, and the thresholds for the energy regions in the first processor 321 are adjusted and controlled by the second processor 322.
In view of the above, the present disclosure is directed to provide a detector and a detecting system and method for dividing energy regions intelligently, which can satisfy extreme high demands on the system design due to increased energy regions and mitigate the impact of the damaged pixels of the detector on image display and material identification. Further, the present disclosure can utilize the performance of the detector effectively, and improve the operating efficiency of the detecting system, which can improve the quality of the images and be beneficial to identify the material of the detected object by observers. Also, the present disclosure can improve the capability of material identification by combining with an algorithm for identifying materials.
It is to be understood that although the foregoing description has been made for the purpose of identifying materials, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the present disclosure can also be applied to a radiation imaging system with a multi-angle, multi-light source, multi-detector structure.
The above implementation is merely a specific implementation of the inventive concept, and the invention is not limited to the above-described implementations. It is possible to omit or skip some processes in the above-described implementations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
The foregoing method may be implemented in a form of a executable program commands which can be recorded in a computer readable recording medium and implemented by a variety of computer apparatuses. In this case, the computer-readable recording medium may include a separate program command, a data file, a data structure, or a combination thereof. At the same time, the program commands recorded in the recording medium may be specifically designed or configured for use in the present disclosure, or be well known by a person skilled in the art of computer software. The computer-readable recording medium may comprise a magnetic medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk or a magnetic tape, an optical medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or a digital versatile disk (DVD), a magneto-optical medium such as a magneto-optical floppy disk, and hardware such as ROM, RAM and FLASH which may store and implement the program commands. In addition, the program commands may comprise machine language codes formed by compilers and executable high-level language which is executable by using an interpreter via computers. The preceding hardware device may be configured to operate as at least one software module to perform the operations of the present disclosure, and vice versa.
Although the operation of the method of the present method is shown and described in a particular order, it is possible to change the order of operations of each method, such that a particular operation may be performed in reverse order or such that a particular operation may be performed at least partially with other operations. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the example embodiments described above, and may include one or more other components or operations, or omit one or more other components or operations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
While the present disclosure has been shown in connection with the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201610797192.2 | Aug 2016 | CN | national |
