Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An apparatus comprising:a radiation absorption layer comprising an electrode;a counter configured to register a number of radiation particles absorbed by the radiation absorption layer;a controller configured to start a time delay from a time at which an absolute value of an electrical signal on the electrode equals or exceeds an absolute value of a first threshold;wherein the controller is configured to cause the number registered by the counter to change, in response to the absolute value of the electrical signal equaling or exceeding an absolute value of a second threshold during the time delay. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor module electrically connected to the electrode, wherein the capacitor module is configured to collect charge carriers from the electrode. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the second threshold is greater than the absolute value of the first threshold. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a meter, wherein the controller is configured to cause the meter to measure the electrical signal upon expiration of the time delay. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to determine an energy of the radiation particles based on a value of the electrical signal measured upon expiration of the time delay. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to connect the electrode to an electrical ground. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of the electrical signal is substantially zero at expiration of the time delay. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of the electrical signal is substantially non-zero at expiration of the time delay. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation absorption layer comprises a diode. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation absorption layer comprises silicon, germanium, GaAs, CdTe, CdZnTe, or a combination thereof. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus does not comprise a scintillator. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an array of pixels. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation particles are photons. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the photons are X-ray photons. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal is a voltage. 16. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source, wherein the system is configured to perform radiography on human chest or abdomen. 17. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source, wherein the system is configured to perform radiography on human mouth. 18. A cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system, comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source, wherein the cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system is configured to form an image using backscattered radiation. 19. A cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system, comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source, wherein the cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) system is configured to form an image using radiation transmitted through an object inspected. 20. A full-body scanner system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source. 21. A computed tomography (CT) system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a radiation source. 22. An electron microscope comprising the apparatus of claim 1, an electron source and an electronic optical system. 23. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system is a radiation telescope, or a radiation microscopy, or wherein the system is configured to perform mammography, industrial defect detection, microradiography, casting inspection, weld inspection, or digital subtraction angiography. 24. A method comprising:starting a time delay from a time at which an absolute value of an electrical signal on an electrode of a radiation absorption layer equals or exceeds an absolute value of a first threshold;changing a count of radiation particles incident on the radiation absorption layer in response to determination that the absolute value of the electrical signal equaling or exceeding an absolute value of a second threshold during the time delay. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising connecting the electrode to an electrical ground. 26. The method of claim 24, further comprising measuring the electrical signal upon expiration of the time delay. 27. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining an energy of the radiation particles based on a value of the electrical signal at expiration of the time delay. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein a rate of change of the electrical signal is substantially zero at expiration of the time delay. 29. The method of claim 24, wherein a rate of change of the electrical signal is substantially non-zero at expiration of the time delay. 30. The method of claim 24, wherein the absolute value of the second threshold is greater than the absolute value of the first threshold. 31. The method of claim 24, wherein the radiation particles are photons. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the photons are X-ray photons. 33. The method of claim 24, wherein the electrical signal is a voltage.