RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving SNR of radiation detector readout electronics
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 408P
OP 408P
VO 49
IS supplement 1
A1 Irving Weinberg
A1 Pavel Stepanov
A1 Pamela Abshire
A1 David Sander
A1 Arielle Weinberg
A1 Marc Dandin
YR 2008
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/49/supplement_1/408P.4.abstract
AB 1719 Objectives: Solid-state radiation detectors have advantages of size and low voltage, but often suffer from noise artifacts. We sought to develop flexible readout methods to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for such detectors. Methods: Readout strategies were evaluated for increasing signal-to-noise ratios in circuits intended for active-pixel-sensor (APS) detectors (e.g., as in Medipix arrays). An additional amplifier element was inserted into the traditional three-transistor integration circuit, in order to decouple the intrinsic capacitance of the radiation detector from the charging capacitor. SNR from the resulting circuit was compared to traditional APS integrating circuits during exposure to x-rays with 75-keV peak energy. Results: Experimental measurements demonstrated approximately ten-fold improvement in SNR for the four-transistor integration circuit as compared to traditional APS systems. Conclusions: Signal-to-noise ratio for solid-state radiation detectors can be improved through additional pixel-based amplifier stages.