Radiation detector assembly with test circuitry

A radiation detector assembly (20) includes a detector array module (40) configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (42) operatively connected with the detector array. The ASIC includes signal processing circuitry (60) configured to digitize an electrical detection pulse received from the detector array, and test circuitry (80) configured to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry. The test circuitry includes a current meter (84) configured to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry, and a charge pulse generator (82) configured to generate a test electrical pulse that is injected into the signal processing circuitry. The radiation detector assembly (20) is assembled by operatively connecting the ASIC (42) with the detector array module (40), and the signal processing circuitry (60) of the ASIC of the assembled radiation detector assembly is tested without the use of radiation.

The following relates to the radiological imaging arts, computed tomography (CT) arts, emission tomography imaging, radiation detector arts, and related arts.

In computed tomography (CT) imaging an x-ray tube transmits x-rays through a subject, and the subject-attenuated x-rays are detected by an oppositely arranged radiation detector assembly. In some CT systems the radiation detector assembly includes scintillators that convert x-ray photons to bursts (i.e., scintillations) of light and photodiodes arranged to detect the light. Such radiation detector assemblies have high sensitivity integrating mode and provide other benefits, but do not allow for exploiting spectral information available in the signal behind the object, or—if kVp-switching is applied—only allow for dual energy imaging, which acquires some spectral information with two different tube spectra.

In order to make the detector capable of fully evaluating this spectral information (i.e. with more than two spectrally resolved measurements), one major approach is to replace the scintillator/photodiode combination with a radiation detector array comprising a (mono-crystalline) direct conversion material such as a material based on the CdTe—ZnTe alloy system; so far only non-crystalline direct conversion materials exhibit sufficient speed to deal with the high count rates in human medical CT imaging. In such radiation detector assemblies, the detector array is pixelated into an array (e.g. 30×30=900) of detector pixels. Each detector pixel includes electrodes, dielectric isolation, or so forth to define an operationally distinct radiation detection element. The pixelated detector array is electrically connected with detector electronics to form a module of the radiation detector assembly. In one approach, the pixelated detector array (or detector crystal) is flip-chip bonded to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) providing the signal processing, or to an array of such ASIC's. The ASIC implements for each of the detector pixels an energy-resolving counting channel, for example including a pulse shaper or other analog processing circuitry, the output of which is connected to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, such as a comparator which is a binary analog-to-digital (A/D) converter the output of which is a binary value having one value if no x-ray photon is detected and a second, different value if an x-ray photon is detected. In a different approach, the detector crystal may be bonded to an interposer substrate, and this interposer substrate by be bonded to the readout ASIC, possibly via a further interposer, which is bonded to the ASIC. Such an interposer would be used, if the ASIC exhibits a pixel pitch, which is smaller than the pixel pitch on the detector crystal.

Before using the CT system for medical imaging or other tasks, the radiation detector assembly is tested to ensure it is operating properly. Typically, testing is performed on the assembled radiation detector assembly consisting of a number of these modules including the flip-chip bonded ASIC component or components, by irradiating the radiation detector assembly with x-rays under suitably controlled conditions. The initial testing can be performed either before or after installation in the CT system. After installation, detector array test is repeated occasionally, for example each time the CT system is started up, in order to validate continued operation of the radiation detector assembly within operating specifications. Testing performed after installation in the CT system typically uses the x-ray tube of the CT system as the radiation source for the validation.

These radiation detector assembly testing approaches have substantial disadvantages and limitations. The testing assumes uniformity of the x-ray radiation across the detector array. If this assumption is incorrect, then the test results will reflect the spatial nonuniformity of the x-ray radiation and the radiation detector assembly may fail the test even though it is actually operating within operating specifications. The testing also cannot distinguish between a problem with a detector pixel of the detector array and a problem with downstream signal processing performed by the ASIC. As a result, the remedy when a module of the radiation detector assembly is found by the testing to be outside the operating specifications typically is replacement of the entire module including both the detector array and the ASIC component or components.

The following provides new and improved apparatuses and methods which overcome the above-referenced problems and others.

In accordance with one disclosed aspect, an apparatus comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured for operative connection with a detector array module that converts radiation particles to electrical detection pulses. The ASIC includes signal processing circuitry configured to digitize electrical detection pulses received from the detector array module, and test circuitry configured to perform electrical testing of the signal processing circuitry.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, an apparatus comprises a detector array module configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) operatively connected with the detector array module. The ASIC includes signal processing circuitry configured to digitize an electrical detection pulse received from the detector array module, and test circuitry configured to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry. The test circuitry includes a current meter configured to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, an apparatus as set forth in the immediate preceding paragraph further includes a processor operatively connected with the ASIC and configured to perform an ASIC test method comprising the operations of: (i) causing the test circuitry to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry; (ii) causing the current meter of the test circuitry to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry by the operation (i) and storing the measurement; (iii) storing an output of the signal processing circuitry responsive to the operation (i); and (iv) repeating the operations (i), (ii), and (iii) for a plurality of different values of the test electrical pulse.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, in an apparatus as set forth in any one of the three immediately preceding paragraphs, the test circuitry includes a charge pulse generator configured to generate a test electrical pulse that is injected into the signal processing circuitry.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, a method comprises: electrically testing signal processing circuitry of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) without the use of radiation; and testing a radiation detector assembly comprising (i) a detector array module configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses and (ii) the ASIC operatively connected with the detector array module to digitize the electrical detection pulses, the testing of the radiation detector assembly using radiation incident on the detector array module.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, a method comprises: assembling a radiation detector assembly by operatively connecting an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with a detector array module configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses; and testing signal processing circuitry of the ASIC of the assembled radiation detector assembly without the use of radiation.

In accordance with another disclosed aspect, a method as set forth in either one of the two immediately preceding paragraphs is disclosed, wherein the ASIC includes a charge pulse generator and a current meter, and the testing of signal processing circuitry of the ASIC without the use of radiation comprises injecting a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry using the charge pulse generator of the ASIC and measuring the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry using the current meter of the ASIC.

One advantage resides in more probative radiation detector assembly testing.

Another advantage resides in radiation detector assembly testing that can distinguish between failure of a detector array module and a failure of the downstream signal processing implemented by the ASIC component or components.

Another advantage resides in more rapid radiation detector assembly testing.

With reference toFIG. 1, an illustrative example is shown of a radiological imaging system suitably employing a radiation detector array with electronics calibration as disclosed herein. The illustrative example is a hybrid PET/CT imaging system10which in the illustrated embodiment is a GEMINI™ PET/CT imaging system (available from Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands). The hybrid PET/CT imaging system10includes a transmission computed tomography (CT) gantry12and a positron emission tomography (PET) gantry14. The hybrid PET/CT imaging system10is a “hybrid” system in that a common lineal subject transport system16is arranged to transport an imaging subject into either of the CT or PET gantries12,14. The CT gantry12is equipped with an x-ray tube18and an radiation detector assembly20that is sensitive to the x-rays. The internal components18,20are shown by partial cutaway of the CT gantry12. The PET gantry14houses a PET radiation detector assembly22(diagrammatically shown in part by partial cutaway of the PET gantry14) arranged as an annular ring within the PET gantry14. The PET radiation detector assembly22is sensitive to 512 keV radiation emitted by positron-electron annihilation events.

The hybrid imaging system10is in operative communication with an illustrated computer24or other control electronics that implement a CT radiation detector assembly testing module30and a CT image acquisition/reconstruction/display module32. The CT radiation detector assembly testing module 30 performs testing of the CT radiation detector assembly20in conjunction with test circuitry built into the CT radiation detector assembly20. The CT image acquisition/reconstruction/display module32causes the CT gantry12including the x-ray tube18and the radiation detector assembly20to acquire x-ray transmission projection data of a subject and implements filtered backprojection, iterative reconstruction, or another reconstruction algorithm to generate a reconstructed image of the subject from the acquired projection data, and further causes the reconstructed image to be displayed on a display34of the computer24and/or printed by a printing device (not shown) and/or stored in a suitable memory, or so forth.

By way of illustration, the CT radiation detector assembly20includes test circuitry as disclosed herein (to be further described with illustrative reference toFIG. 2). More generally, the disclosed radiation detector assemblies with test circuitry, and radiation detector assembly testing methods employing same, can also be implemented in conjunction with the PET radiation detector assembly22, or with other radiation detector assemblies such as in the radiation detector heads of a gamma camera. Moreover, although the hybrid imaging system10is illustrated inFIG. 1by way of example, the disclosed radiation detector assemblies with built-in test circuitry, and disclosed radiation detector assembly testing methods employing same, can also be employed in conjunction with standalone (rather than hybrid) radiological imaging systems.

Furthermore, as used herein terms such as “radiation particle”, “particle of the incident radiation” and similar phraseology are to be broadly construed as encompassing radiation particles such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma particles, x-ray photons, photons, or so forth. In the illustrative embodiment, illustrative phraseology such as “photon” or “x-ray photon” may be used herein as is appropriate for the illustrative example of radiation in the form of x-rays in a CT system. Similarly, terms such as “photon counting” or “photon counting mode” may be used in describing the illustrative embodiment, and are to be broadly construed as encompassing counting of radiation particles in general, and as such are intended to encompass counting of photons, or x-ray photons, or alpha particles, or beta particles, or so forth as appropriate for the radiation of interest and the type of direct conversion material employed in the detector array of the radiation detector assembly.

With reference toFIG. 2, the radiation detector assembly20includes a detector array module40and an application-specific integrated circuit42, both of which are shown in part in diagrammatic sectional view inFIG. 2. The detector array module40is pixelated, that is, includes an array of detector pixels, which are denoted inFIG. 2as an illustrative detector pixel44that will be discussed herein as an example and additional detector pixels44′ that are illustrated inFIG. 2to show the pixelated array. The detector pixels44,44′ are made of a suitable direct conversion material that converts a radiation particle to an electrical detection pulse. For x-rays, some suitable direct conversion materials include alloys of the CdTe—ZnTe alloy system. The radiation detector array module40is pixelated into an array of detector pixels44,44′, such as by way of example an array of 30×30=900 detector pixels. Each detector pixel44,44′ includes electrodes, dielectric isolation, or so forth (features not shown) so as to define the detector pixel as an operationally distinct radiation detection element. In the illustrative example, the detector pixels44,44′ are disposed on a substrate46which provides mechanical support and optionally may also include electrically conductive traces or other operative elements.

The illustrative ASIC42is generally planar and includes a front surface50facing the detector array module40and a back surface44facing away from the detector array module40. The front surface50of the ASIC42is connected with the detector array module40by a flip-chip bond54comprising a plurality of bonding bumps, two of which are illustrated by way of example in the view in part ofFIG. 2. The flip-chip bond54provides operative connection between the detector array module40and the ASIC42such that, again by way of example, an electrical detection pulse generated by an x-ray photon detection in the detector pixel44transfers to the ASIC42. It is to be understood that the ASIC42may or may not be coextensive in area with the detector array module40. For example, in some (coextensive) embodiments the ASIC42and the detector array module40both have area A×B; on the other hand, in some (non-coextensive) embodiments, the detector array module40may have area A×B while the ASIC42may have area (A/2)×(B/2). In the latter case, four such ASIC components are suitably provided to span the larger (A×B) area of the detector array module40.

In the assembled (that is, flip-chip bonded) configuration, each detector pixel has corresponding signal processing circuitry (sometimes referred to herein as an ASIC pixel) for digitizing the electrical detection pulses generated by the detector pixel. To illustrate one example,FIG. 2shows an ASIC pixel60comprising signal processing circuitry for digitizing electrical detection pulses generated by the illustrative detector pixel44. The ASIC pixel60includes a pulse shaper62or other analog processing circuitry for shaping the electrical detection pulse received from the detector pixel44into a more standardized shape. For example, in some embodiments the pulse shaper62shapes the electrical detection pulse to have a Gaussian or other standard shape with a selected pulse full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM). For a pulse of standardized shape, the pulse height is usually proportional, or approximately proportional, to the energy of the X-ray photon, which caused the pulse. The output of the pulse shaper62is input to one or more comparators64,65,66which serve as binary analog-to-digital (A/D) converters. Each of the comparators64,65,66has a different threshold: the comparator64has a threshold Th1; the comparator65has a threshold Th2; and the comparator66has a threshold Th3. In general, Th1≠Th2≠Th3, and without loss of generality it is assumed herein that Th1<Th2<Th3. Accordingly, denoting the (shaped) electrical detection pulse height as P, Table 1 shows the outputs of the comparators64,65,66for various ranges of pulse height P, where an output of “0” indicates P is less than the comparator threshold and an output of “1” indicates P is greater than the comparator threshold. It can be seen that the three comparators or binary A/D converters64,65,66collectively provide for distinguishable digitization levels. The binary values of Table 1 can be output directly (not illustrated), or as in the illustrated embodiment additional ASIC pixel readout circuitry68of the ASIC pixel60combines the outputs of the comparators64,65,66to generate a single analog or digital output readable at a terminal70at the back side52of the ASIC42.

Although single terminal70is shown inFIG. 2by way of diagrammatic example, the ASIC pixel60may have a multi-terminal (e.g., multi-pin) output. For example, the illustrative embodiment having four possible digitized signal output levels may be conveniently represented by a two-bit binary output providing the binary values “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” to represent the four possible levels. Moreover, although three comparators64,65,66are shown by way of example, it is to be understood that the number of comparators can be as few as one (thus providing a two-level digital output), or can be two, three, four, or more comparators, with the digital resolution and/or range increasing with increasing number of comparators. Still further, while three comparators64,65,66operating in parallel are shown by way of example, it is to be understood that other types or configurations of A/D circuitry can be employed.

The illustrative ASIC pixel60corresponding to the illustrative detector pixel44is shown by way of example, and it is to be understood that the ASIC pixel60is duplicated for each detector pixel44,44′. For example, if the detector array module40is pixelated into an 30×30 array of detector pixels, then there are 900 detector pixels in total, and there are a corresponding 900 ASIC pixels digitizing electrical detection pulses received from the 900 detector pixels. For uniform imaging: the thresholds Th1of the comparators64of the 900 ASIC pixels should be the same (within a specified tolerance); the thresholds Th2of the comparators65of the 900 ASIC pixels should be the same (within a specified tolerance); and the thresholds Th3of the comparators64of the 900 ASIC pixels should be the same (within a specified tolerance). In some embodiments, these thresholds are tunable by a trimming signal delivered to each ASIC pixel, while in other embodiments there is no trimming and the ASIC fabrication is expected to have been sufficiently precise to ensure the same thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3within the specified tolerances.

With brief reference back toFIG. 1, the CT system includes a CT detector assembly testing module30suitably implemented by a programmed processor of the computer24or by another digital processor. The testing module30operates in conjunction with testing circuitry of the ASIC42to test the ASIC pixels to ensure that the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3of the pixels are within specified tolerances.

With reference back toFIG. 2, testing circuitry80of the ASIC42is diagrammatically illustrated. The testing circuitry80is configured to perform electrical testing of the signal processing circuitry, that is to say, testing of the ASIC pixels60. This testing is electrical testing that is independent of operation of the detector array module40and does not make use of radiation incident on the detector array module40. The electrical testing of the signal processing circuitry performed by the testing circuitry80can be performed without any radiation incident on the detector array module40, and indeed can be performed either with or without the detector array module40being operatively connected (e.g., flip-chip bonded) to the ASIC42.

The testing circuitry80is configured to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry (for example, into the ASIC pixel60). Toward this end, the testing circuitry80includes a charge pulse generator82configured to generate a test electrical pulse (of configurable size) that is injected into the signal processing circuitry. The test electrical pulse simulates an electrical detection pulse received from the detector pixel44. The charge pulse generator82can be variously embodied, for example by a chopped current source, or by a switched capacitor, or so forth. The test circuitry80also includes a current meter84configured to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry. The current meter84may, for example, be embodied by a pulse integrator circuit. Optionally, charge pulse readout circuitry86is provided to digitize or otherwise process the measurement of the test electrical pulse, and the (optionally digitized) measurement is output at a terminal or terminals88disposed at the back side52of the ASIC42.

By reading the output terminal70of the ASIC pixel60responsive to the injection of the test electrical pulses of a range of different (integrated) sizes as measured by the current meter84at the terminal(s)88, the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3of the comparators64,65,66can be empirically determined by means of a threshold scan, i.e. while injecting pulses of a known size (i.e. gauged using the current meter) each threshold is moved from its maximum value to the minimum value (or vice versa); the threshold setting, at which 50% of the number of generated input pulses is detected is considered the threshold value, which corresponds to the size of the injected pulses. The range of different test electrical pulse sizes preferably spans the expected range of the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3, or preferably spans the range of the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3for an ASIC operating within operating specifications.

In some embodiments, the illustrated test circuitry80is duplicated for each ASIC pixel. Thus, for example, if there are 900 detector pixels and a corresponding 900 ASIC pixels, then there would be 900 instances of the illustrated test circuitry80. Alternatively, fewer instances of the test circuitry80can be provided, with some embodiments having as few as a single instance of the test circuitry80. In such embodiments, as illustrated a bus90is provided which is configured to operatively connect the test circuitry80with a selected ASIC pixel in order to test the selected ASIC pixel.

Optionally, the pulse integrator or other current meter84is gauged or calibrated prior to its use in testing the ASIC pixels. By way of illustrative example of this aspect, an input terminal or terminals92are provided on the ASIC42. The illustrated terminal92is on the back side of the ASIC, which in some embodiments may be problematic since it may employ non-standard CMOS contacting—accordingly, the terminal or terminals used for gauging or calibrating the current meter84can instead be placed elsewhere. A calibrated current pulse can be input to the terminal(s)92by an external calibration charge pulse source94. The calibrated current pulse input at the terminal(s)92feeds into the pulse integrator/current meter84which measures the calibrated current pulse, and the measurement is digitized by the readout circuitry86and output at the terminal(s)88. In this way, the pulse integrator/current meter84can be calibrated, and the calibration information is suitably stored in a memory or data storage accessible by the CT detector assembly testing module30. The memory or data storage can be part or accessible by the computer24that embodies the testing module30, or can be a memory element included in the ASIC42(not illustrated).

Alternatively, the pulse integrator or current meter84is gauged by an internal current source or charge pulse generator94′ (shown in phantom), the signal of which is measured (and thus gauged) via the output terminal88on the ASIC42using a calibrated external current meter or pulse integrator (not shown). During this calibration, a bypass shunt95bypasses the readout elements84,86so that the output terminal88directly outputs the signal from the internal current source or charge pulse generator94′. Once the internal current source or charge pulse generator94′ is gauged, the bypass shunt95is opened and the pulse integrator or current meter84is used to measure this known current or charge pulse from the gauged internal source94′ and thus gauge the pulse integrator or current meter84.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 1 and 2and with further reference toFIG. 3, a suitable testing procedure for testing the radiation detector assembly20is described. The testing procedure is performed by the detector assembly testing module30operating in conjunction with the testing circuitry80of the ASIC42. In an initial calibration operation, the external calibration charge pulse source94is applied to the terminal(s)92in an operation100, the pulse integrator/current meter84is calibrated in an operation102, and the calibration information is stored in an operation104. The calibration operations100,102,104generally do not need to be performed very often, assuming that the pulse integrator/current meter84does not drift significantly over time. In some embodiments, the calibration operations100,102,104are performed at the factory before installation of the radiation detector assembly20in the CT gantry12. The calibration operations100,102,104can be performed either before or after the ASIC42is flip-chip bonded to the detector array module40. In a simplified gauging procedure, a constant current (rather than a pulsed current) is injected and measured by the current meter.

Once the calibration operations100,102,104are completed, the ASIC test can be performed. Typically, the ASIC test is performed at regular intervals, for example each morning when the CT gantry is started up, or once a week, or on some other schedule. The ASIC test can be performed either before or after the ASIC42is flip-chip bonded to the detector array module40, but during routine operations it is convenient to perform the ASIC test on the assembled radiation detector assembly20(that is, with the ASIC42flip-chip bonded to the detector array module40), and with the radiation detector assembly20installed on the CT gantry12. The radiologist or other user initiates the ASIC test in an operation110, for example by selecting “ASIC test” in a menu displayed on the screen34of the computer24. Once initiated, the test circuitry80(and more particularly the charge pulse generator82) applies test charge pulses in an operation112to an ASIC pixel over a range of “energies” expected to span the range of thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3, and the comparator outputs (or, more generally, the responses of the ASIC pixel to the applied test charge pulses) are recorded in an operation114. As diagrammatically indicated116, the operations112,114are repeated for all ASIC pixels of the ASIC42, for example by sequentially switching the testing over all the ASIC pixels via the bus90. In the recording operations114, the test charge pulses are measured by the pulse integrator/current meter84as calibrated by the stored calibration information104, so that the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3for each ASIC pixel can be quantitatively determined so as to generate a table of thresholds120for the comparators of each ASIC pixel.

The thresholds information120can be used in various ways. In one approach, an ASIC pixel validation algorithm122compares the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3of each ASIC pixel against an operating specification, so as to identify a map124of bad pixels (that is, pixels for which at least one of the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3is not within the operating specification). The map124serves as input to an ASIC validation algorithm126that determines whether the ASIC42is considered defective. In making this assessment, the ASIC validation algorithm126preferably considers not only the total number of bad ASIC pixels, but also their distribution over the map124. For example, the ASIC42may pass the validation test if the bad ASIC pixels are isolated from each other and are distributed substantially randomly across the face of the radiation detector assembly20; contrawise, the ASIC42may fail the validation test if the same number of bad ASIC pixels are grouped together on the face of the radiation detector assembly20so as to create a relatively large region of inaccurate ASIC pixels. Other factors that may be taken into account by the ASIC validation algorithm126include: the deviation of the thresholds of bad ASIC pixels from the operating specification (larger deviations biasing toward ASIC validation failure); absolute locations of the bad ASIC pixels (for example, bad ASIC pixels may be more tolerable at the periphery of the detector face as compared to the center of the detector face); and so forth.

The ASIC validation algorithm126generates an output128, for example on the computer display34(optionally including a displayed graphical map of the ASIC pixels with any bad ASIC pixels marked), informing the radiologist or other user whether the ASICs42have passed or failed the ASIC test. In some embodiments, if the ASIC test is passed then an operation130is performed in which the bad ASIC pixels are disabled or their output is simply ignored. This can be done in software (for example, by maintaining a table of bad pixels that is accessed by the CT image acquisition/reconstruction/display module32to discard data acquired by bad pixels) or by hardware approaches such as including a disable circuit (not illustrated) in the signal processing circuitry of each ASIC pixel that sets the pixel output to all zeros when the disable setting is turned on for that ASIC pixel.

If the output128informs the radiologist or other user that an ASIC42has failed the ASIC test, the radiologist or other user suitably takes remedial action. Advantageously, the radiologist or other user knows that the ASIC42is defective—in contrast, a test performed on the radiation detector assembly20as a whole cannot distinguish between a defect in the detector array module40and a defect in the ASIC42. Accordingly, responsive to the test output128indicating that the ASIC42is defective, the radiologist or other user suitably performs maintenance on the radiation detector assembly20comprising replacing the defective ASIC42with a different ASIC, and repeating the ASIC test to validate the newly installed ASIC. This avoids unnecessarily replacing the detector array module40, which is typically a costly component.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 1,2, and3, in some embodiments the results of the ASIC test, and in particular the table of thresholds120of the comparators of the ASIC pixels, is as information for testing the detector array module40. In brief, since the table of thresholds120informs respective to variations in the ASIC pixels, any remaining variation observed for the radiation detector assembly20as a whole is attributable to variations in the pixels44,44′of the detector array module40.

Toward this end, after completion of the ASIC test the radiologist optionally initiates the detector assembly test in an operation110, for example by selecting “Detector assembly test” in a menu displayed on the screen34of the computer24. Unlike the ASIC test, the detector assembly test uses radiation incident on the detector array module40. In some embodiments, the detector assembly test is performed with the assembled radiation detector assembly mounted in the CT gantry12, and the radiation incident on the detector array module40is provided by the x-ray tube18. To provide a well-defined spectrum for the radiation incident on the detector array module40, a filter such as a K-edge filter or other spectral filter is optionally inserted in an operation142. In a suitable approach, once the user selects the detector assembly test in operation140, the computer displays instructions to load the filter and pauses until the user indicates that a filter has been loaded. As shown inFIG. 2, a K-edge filter 143 is suitably interposed between the radiation-sensitive face of the detector array module 40 and the x-ray tube 18.

Once the K-edge filter is loaded (or, more generally, radiation is established which is incident on the detector array module40and which has a spectrum with a suitable edge or other spectral feature enabling identification of the incident photon energy), the pixel response to the x-rays is measured for all the pixels in an operation144. In the measurement operation144, the term “pixel” denotes (by way of example) the operational combination of the detector pixel44and its corresponding ASIC pixel60. In an operation146, a photon energy versus detector pixel charge output calibration is determined for each pixel of the detector assembly20. In determining this calibration, the table of thresholds120for the ASIC pixel comparators64,65,66is utilized so that the pixel charge output as measured by the digitizing circuitry64,65,66is precisely known. Additionally, the actual x-ray photon energy is precisely known due to the use of the k-edge filter143(or, more generally, due to a known spectrum of the radiation incident on the detector during the measurement operation144). As a result, the calibration relating photon energy and detector pixel charge output is readily determined (It will be appreciated that this calibration cannot be readily determined without reference to the table of thresholds120for the ASIC pixel comparators64,65,66, because without this information120it is not possible to differentiate variations in the detector pixel charge output of the detector pixel44from variations in the thresholds Th1, Th2, Th3of the comparators64,65,66.) This relationship can be used for correction purposes in the subsequent data evaluation, e.g. image reconstruction.

The detector pixel calibrations generated by the operation146are used by a detector array validation algorithm148to validate the detector array module40. This validation suitably considers factors such as the variance of the detector pixel charge output across the detector array module40for the (spectrally well-defined) radiation incident on the detector array module40, the location of the variance (as with the ASIC validation, a variance in the detector pixel charge output at the center of the detector area is more problematic than a similar variance at the periphery), and so forth. The detector array validation algorithm148provides a pass-or-fail output150, which is suitably displayed on the computer display34. If the output150of the detector array validation algorithm148indicates a defective detector array, the radiologist or other user can effect the maintenance by replacing only the detector array module40while keeping the ASIC42(assuming that the ASIC passed the ASIC test of operation110and forward). Again, this can reduce maintenance costs by avoiding replacement of the costly ASIC42assuming a reversible bonding method between detector crystal and readout ASIC.

This application has described one or more preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the application be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.