Patent ID: 7495225

Claim:
A method of detecting ionizing radiation utilizing a pixelated semiconductor substrate such that each pixel comprises a central region and a region of variable response, said method comprising: substantially blocking the ionizing radiation from reaching the region of variable response utilizing a collimating mask that deposited on at least one of a surface of the semiconductor substrate and of a thickness so that the collimating mask is suitable as a general purpose collimator, and a cathode electrode substantially covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate; collimating the ionizing radiation, wherein said collimating includes aligning a plurality of apertures of a first collimator with a corresponding opening in the collimating mask and the central region, with a gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask, and aligning a plurality of apertures of a stacking collimator with a corresponding aperture in said first collimator; and receiving the ionizing radiation at the central region, with the gap between said first collimator and the collimating mask.