Patent ID: 8270567

Claim:
An X-ray imaging device, comprising: an X-ray detection section including (i) an X-ray conversion layer having a first surface into which an X-ray enters and a second surface opposite to the first surface and made of an X-ray converter material for generating electric charges upon an incidence of the X-ray, (ii) a first charge injection blocking layer formed on the first surface of the X-ray conversion layer, and (iii) a second charge injection blocking layer formed on the second surface of the X-ray conversion layer; a cold electron source having a plurality of electron emission sections arranged in a matrix form, each of the electronic emission sections being capable of emitting electrons toward the second charge injection blocking layer of the X-ray detection section; a light-shielding section for shielding visible light from entering into the X-ray detection section; a voltage application section for applying a voltage to the X-ray conversion layer of the X-ray detection section to generate an electric field which induces avalanche multiplication; an electron source drive section for driving the plurality of electron emission sections of the cold electron source in sequence so that the electrons are emitted; and a read section for electronically detecting the electric charges generated by the incidence of the X-ray into the X-ray conversion layer and then neutralized by the electrons emitted from the plurality of electron emission sections, wherein the voltage application section generates an average electric field of between 0.1×10 8 V/m and 0.6×10 8 V/m in the X-ray conversion layer of the X-ray detection section.