Patent ID: 7030386

Claim:
An x-ray detector, comprising: at least one detector element including an electrically conductive plate substrate with a first planar surface and an upper edge and a lower edge, at least two electrically conductive elongate strip electrodes spaced from each other, each electrically conductive elongate strip electrode being mounted on an insulator interposed between the electrically conductive elongate strip electrode and the first planar surface of the electrically conductive plate substrate; the electrically conductive plate substrate being made of a high density metal and the at least one detector element being oriented with respect to a source of x-rays so that the electrically conductive plate substrate is aligned in a direction of a flux of incident x-rays in order for x-rays entering the upper edge of the electrically conductive plate substrate to travel through a length of the electrically conductive plate substrate thereby increasing the probability of absorption of the x-rays by the electrically conductive plate substrate; a power supply for applying a bias voltage between each electrically conductive plate substrate and the electrically conductive strip electrodes; and a detector for detecting an electrical current generated by displacement of electrical charges produced in an ionization medium located in spaces between the electrically conductive plate substrate and the electrically conductive elongate strip electrodes, which in turn are produced by high energy electrons which are generated by x-rays absorbed in the electrically conductive plate substrate.