Patent ID: 8269185

Claim:
A stacked crystal array for detecting photon emissions, comprising: a plurality of crystal slices; a plurality of interconnects having electrically conductive, spaced-apart and generally parallel elements joined by electrically conductive spacers extending generally orthogonally therebetween, the spacers being rotationally offset from each other by a predetermined angle; a plurality of electrical insulators; and an electrically insulative housing having a plurality of retainer slots, the crystal slices, insulators and interconnects being arranged to form an assembly wherein the crystal slices are coupled together in a parallel electrical circuit, the assembly being inserted into the housing with each of the spacers being located in and retained by corresponding retainer slots of the housing, wherein the assembly provides photon absorption comparable to a monolithic crystal having a thickness generally equivalent to the sum of the thicknesses of the crystal slices, and wherein the assembly is electrically biased to a voltage corresponding to a ratio of the thickness of the individual crystal slices to that of a monolithic crystal having a thickness generally equivalent to the sum of the thicknesses of the crystal slices.