Patent ID: 7511278

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting particles, comprising: a support element ( 1 ), and a plurality of electrically conductive structures ( 2 , 2 â€²) disposed on said support element ( 1 ), wherein said structures are electrically insulated from one another, wherein each of said structures ( 2 , 2 â€²) is adapted to be electrically connected to an electronic read-out device, wherein said structures are adapted to receive a beam of particles having a direction which forms an angle of incidence (Î±) relative to said support element ( 1 ), wherein a trough ( 3 ) is disposed between each two successive structures ( 2 , 2 â€²) as viewed in the beam direction, wherein an at least partial overlap exists between each two successive structures in the beam direction, wherein an aspect ratio of a height (h) of said structures ( 2 , 2 â€²) to a width (b) of said trough ( 3 ) is at least 0.5, and wherein the aspect ratio is h/b>tan Î±.