KR102757564B1 - Resistive plate chamber using strip pairs for signal read-out - Google Patents

Abstract

A resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips includes: a plurality of first signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the x-axis direction on a first surface of a first substrate and arranged in parallel with each other; a plurality of first ground strips formed in the same shape as the first signal strips on a second surface opposite the first surface of the first substrate and arranged to face each other in pairs with the corresponding first signal strips; a plurality of second signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the y-axis direction perpendicular to the x-axis on a first surface of a second substrate spaced apart from the first surface of the first substrate and perpendicular to the x-axis and arranged in parallel with each other; a plurality of second ground strips formed in the same shape as the second signal strips on a second surface opposite the first surface of the second substrate and arranged to face each other in pairs with the corresponding second signal strips. In the present invention, the ground strips have a rectangular shape or a modified shape thereof, like the signal strips, thereby reducing noise of the resistance plate detector, and the signal strip pairs are formed facing each other in a perpendicular shape, thereby improving the plane position resolution in the x-axis and y-axis.

Description

{RESISTIVE PLATE CHAMBER USING STRIP PAIRS FOR SIGNAL READ-OUT}

The present invention relates to a resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips, and more particularly, to a technique for improving the in-plane position resolution of a resistive plate detector applied to TOF (Time-of-flight) PET (Positron Emission Tomography).

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) injects a drug combined with a radioactive isotope that emits positrons into the body, and then tracks the location of positron emission using a detector outside the body.

Through this tracking, the patient's condition can be investigated in a non-invasive way by examining the activity of drugs injected into the body. Accordingly, PET technology is widely used in various medical tests to determine the condition of patients such as cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and brain function.

PET observes two gamma rays emitted in nearly 180° directions when positrons emitted from radioactive substances injected into the body collide with surrounding electrons and annihilate each other, obtaining data corresponding to the line integral of the positron distribution and using the data to calculate an image of the positron distribution.

Specifically, if two detectors of PET detect gamma rays resulting from the same positron-electron collision at times t1 and t2, it means that there was a positron on the line-of-response (LOR) connecting the two detectors, and thus the line integral value of the positron distribution on the line-of-response can be obtained.

Filtered backprojection (FBP) or expectation-maximization (EM) methods are widely used as methods for calculating distribution images from the above-mentioned line integral values.

A method to improve image reconstruction by more accurately estimating the position of the positron at the LOR using the time-of-flight (TOF) t=t1-t2 information observed by the detector has been studied since the early days of PET development, but it was difficult to realize due to the low time resolution of PET at the time.

Improvements in PET-related technology since the 2000s have made it possible to apply it to image reconstruction using time resolution. Currently, pixels or strips are used as a method to acquire signals from resistive plate detectors with high time resolution.

However, when trying to implement the desired position resolution on a plane with a resistive plate detector, the pixel method requires a very large number of channels (n∝x∝y). In addition, the strip method can read signals with a relatively small number of channels (n∝x or n∝y), but the position resolution in the strip direction depends on the time resolution of the detector, so there is a problem of calculation time and load.

KR 10-2008-0009082 A

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention is conceived from this point, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a resistive plate detector that reads a signal using a pair of strips to improve the plane position resolution in the x-axis and y-axis.

According to one embodiment of the present invention for realizing the purpose described above, a resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips includes: a plurality of first signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the x-axis direction on a first surface of a first substrate and arranged parallel to each other; a plurality of first ground strips formed in the same shape as the first signal strips on a second surface opposite the first surface of the first substrate and arranged to face each other in pairs with the corresponding first signal strips; a plurality of second signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the y-axis direction perpendicular to the x-axis on a first surface of a second substrate spaced apart from the first surface of the first substrate and perpendicular to the x-axis and arranged parallel to each other; and a plurality of second ground strips formed in the same shape as the second signal strips on a second surface opposite the first surface of the second substrate and arranged to face each other in pairs with the corresponding second signal strips.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first signal strips and the plurality of second signal strips can be formed with the same shape, the same width, the same length, the same thickness, and the same spacing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first grounding strips and the plurality of second grounding strips can be formed with the same shape, the same width, the same length, the same thickness, and the same spacing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate and the second substrate may each include a connector.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the traces connecting one end of the first signal strips to the connector may be the same, and the lengths of the traces connecting the other end of the first signal strips to the connector may be the same.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the traces connecting one end of the second signal strips to the connector may be the same, and the lengths of the traces connecting the other end of the second signal strips to the connector may be the same.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the first signal strip and the second signal strip may have at least one resistive element and at least one capacitor element connected to both ends.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the resistor element and the capacitor element can be connected to a signal amplifier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the width and spacing of the plurality of first signal strips and the plurality of second signal strips and the plurality of first ground strips and the plurality of second ground strips can be adjusted according to the target input impedance of the signal amplifier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first signal strips, the plurality of second signal strips, the plurality of first ground strips and the plurality of second ground strips may each have a rectangular shape or a shape extending into a rectangle with both ends narrowing into a triangle.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a strip pair-based resistive plate detector for signal reading can be applied to TOF (Time-of-flight) PET (Positron Emission Tomography).

According to a resistive plate detector that reads a signal using such a pair of strips, the signal strips and the ground strips are formed on two opposite sides of the substrate with the same shape, and the signal strips are arranged to face each other in a vertical direction, thereby improving the plane position resolution of the x-axis and y-axis of the resistive plate detector. Accordingly, by applying the resistive plate detector according to the present invention to TOF-PET, a device with high performance at low cost can be manufactured.

In addition, in the present invention, the ground is in the form of a strip rather than a single plane, so that the amplified signal does not spread widely from the ground but exits in a straight line along the ground strip, thereby reducing signal noise.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a specific perspective drawing of the resistance plate detector of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an example of another form of the strips of Figure 2.
Fig. 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional circuit diagram of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an exemplary planar circuit diagram of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2.
Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of the resistance plate detector of Figure 2.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an exemplary first substrate of the resistance plate detector of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an exemplary second substrate of the resistance plate detector of FIG. 2.

The detailed description of the present invention set forth below refers to the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from one another, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and features described herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not intended to be limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled, if any. Like reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar functionality throughout the several aspects.

When elements or layers are referred to as being "on" or "on" another element or layer, this includes not only directly on the other element or layer, but also whether there are other layers or elements intervening therebetween. Conversely, when elements or layers are referred to as being "directly on" or "directly above" an element, this means that there are no other intervening elements or layers.

The spatially relative terms "below," "beneath," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like can be used to easily describe the relationship of one element or component to another element or component, as illustrated in the drawings. The spatially relative terms should be understood to include different orientations of the elements when used or operated in addition to the orientations depicted in the drawings. For example, if an element illustrated in the drawings is flipped, an element described as "below" or "beneath" another element may be placed "above" the other element. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both the above and below orientations. The elements may also be oriented in other directions, and thus the spatially relative terms may be interpreted according to the orientation.

Although the terms first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements, components, and/or sections, it is to be understood that these elements, components, and/or sections are not limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one element, component, or section from other elements, components, or sections. Thus, it should be understood that a first element, a first component, or a first section referred to hereinafter may also be a second element, a second component, or a second section within the technical spirit of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular includes the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and/or elements.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this specification may be used with a meaning that can be commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries shall not be ideally or excessively interpreted unless explicitly specifically defined.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. When describing with reference to the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a specific perspective view of the resistive plate detector of FIG. 1.

The resistive plate detector (1) according to the present invention is a device that improves the plane position resolution of the x-axis and y-axis by applying TOF-PET (Time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography). The resistive plate detector (1) may be a separate device or a module of a part of the device.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a resistance plate detector (1) according to the present invention includes a plurality of first signal strips (110), a plurality of first ground strips (130), a plurality of second signal strips (330), and a plurality of second ground strips (310) formed in pairs on both sides of a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (30).

In the present invention, the first substrate (10) may be referred to as an x-plane and has a second surface (13) opposite the first surface (11). The second substrate (30) may be referred to as a y-plane and has a second surface (31) opposite the first surface (33).

For example, the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (30) may be PCB (Printed Circuit Board) substrates having a dielectric constant ε and a predetermined thickness (d). In addition, the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (30) may be formed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance (D).

In the present invention, the upper surface of the first substrate (10) is defined as the first surface (11), and the lower surface is defined as the second surface (13). In addition, the lower surface of the second substrate (30) facing the first surface (11) of the first substrate (10) is defined as the first surface (33), and the upper surface of the second substrate (30) is defined as the second surface (31). However, the above definitions are defined as examples for convenience of explanation, and the upper, lower, left, and right of the substrate or surface may be changed depending on the location.

A plurality of first signal strips (110) are formed in a strip shape extending in the x-axis direction on the first surface (11) of the first substrate (10) and are arranged parallel to each other.

The plurality of first signal strips (110) may be formed in an extended rectangular shape or a modified shape thereof, and may be formed with the same shape, the same width (w), the same length (l), and the same thickness (t). In addition, the plurality of first signal strips (110) may be formed at equal intervals on the first surface (11) of the first substrate (10).

For example, the width (w) of the first signal strip (110) may be 4 mm, the length (l) of the first signal strip (110) may be 160 mm, the thickness (t) of the first signal strip (110) may be 0.5 Oz, and the spacing between the first signal strips (110) may be 1 mm. However, these dimensions may be changed depending on the design.

A plurality of first ground strips (130) are formed on the second surface (13) of the first substrate (10) in the same shape as the plurality of first signal strips (110) and are arranged to face each corresponding first signal strip in pairs.

In other words, the first signal strip (110) and the first ground strip (130) formed on the first substrate (10) can be formed to correspond to each other on opposite sides of the overlapping position by matching one to one. For example, the pairs of corresponding first signal strips (110) and first ground strips (130) can be formed in a total of 32 pairs, thereby forming 32 channels.

Similarly, a plurality of first ground strips (130) are formed in a strip shape extending in the x-axis direction on the second surface (13) of the first substrate (10) and are arranged parallel to each other.

The plurality of first ground strips (130) may be formed in an extended rectangular shape or a modified shape thereof, and may be formed with the same shape, the same width (w), the same length (l), and the same thickness (t). In addition, the plurality of first ground strips (130) may be formed at equal intervals on the second surface (13) of the first substrate (10).

A plurality of second signal strips (330) are formed in a strip shape extending in the y-axis direction perpendicular to the x-axis on the first surface (33) of the second substrate (30) and are arranged parallel to each other.

Accordingly, in the present invention, first signal strips (110) formed on the first surface (11) of the first substrate and a plurality of second signal strips (330) formed on the first surface (33) of the second substrate (30) are formed to face each other in a perpendicular manner (i.e., in a grid shape).

Therefore, the resistance plate detector (1) according to the present invention can simultaneously read signals in both the x-axis and y-axis directions, thereby improving the plane position resolution.

The plurality of second signal strips (330) may be formed in an extended rectangular shape or a modified shape thereof, similar to the plurality of first signal strips (110), and may be formed with the same shape, the same width (w), the same length (l), and the same thickness (t). In addition, the plurality of second signal strips (330) may be formed at equal intervals on the first surface (33) of the second substrate (30).

A plurality of second ground strips (310) are formed on the second surface (31) of the second substrate (30) in the same shape as the second signal strips (330) and are arranged to face each corresponding second signal strip (330) in pairs.

In other words, the second signal strip (330) and the second ground strip (310) formed on the second substrate (30) can be formed to correspond to each other on opposite sides of the overlapping position by matching one to one. For example, the pairs of corresponding second signal strips (330) and second ground strips (310) can be formed in a total of 32 pairs, thereby forming 32 channels.

Similarly, a plurality of second ground strips (310) are formed in a strip shape extending in the y-axis direction on the second surface (31) of the second substrate (30) and are arranged parallel to each other.

The plurality of second ground strips (310) may be formed in an extended rectangular shape or a modified shape thereof, and may be formed with the same shape, the same width (w), the same length (l), and the same thickness (t). In addition, the plurality of second ground strips (310) may be formed at equal intervals on the second surface (31) of the second substrate (30).

Figure 3 is an example of another form of the strips of Figure 2.

In Fig. 2, a plurality of first signal strips (110), a plurality of first ground strips (130), a plurality of second signal strips (330), and a plurality of second ground strips (310) are illustrated in a rectangular shape extending along the x-axis or the y-axis. However, this shape is only an example, and may be modified into other shapes.

For example, it may have a modified rectangular shape, such as a shape in which both ends are narrowed into triangles, as in Fig. 3. In this case, refraction caused by a change in width when a signal is transmitted from a strip to a trace can be reduced.

In Fig. 3, the first signal strip (110) is described as a representative example, but the first ground strip (130), the second signal strip (330), and the second ground strip (310) may also be changed to the same form.

Fig. 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional circuit diagram of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an exemplary planar circuit diagram of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a schematic planar diagram of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the first signal strip (110) and the second signal strip (330) may have at least one resistor element and at least one capacitor element connected to both ends.

In other words, a capacitor (C11) and a resistor (R11) can be connected to one end of the first signal strip (110), and a capacitor (C12) and a resistor (R12) can be connected to the other end.

Although the first signal strip (110) is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second signal strip (330) is also connected to a resistor and a capacitor. In addition, two or more resistor elements or capacitor elements may be connected, and their positions may also be changed.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (30) may each further include a connector. The connector may be formed in an extension of the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (30), and the positions shown in FIG. 6 are exemplary, and the design of changing the positions is freely possible.

The capacitor (C11) and resistor (R11) at both ends and the capacitor (C12) and resistor (R12) are connected to a signal amplifier (not shown). The signal amplifier, resistor (R11) or resistor (R12) can be formed on a connector (see FIG. 6) formed on the substrate (10).

The width and spacing of the first ground strip (130), the second signal strip (330), and the second ground strip (310) can be adjusted according to the target input impedance of the signal amplifier.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing an exemplary first substrate of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing an exemplary second substrate of the resistance plate detector of Fig. 2.

Referring to FIG. 7, an example of a plurality of first signal strips (110) formed in parallel and extending in the x-axis direction on a first surface (11) of a first substrate (10) is shown.

Unlike in FIG. 7, the traces (111) connecting one end of the first signal strip (110) and the connector may have the same length. Similarly, the traces (113) connecting the other end of the first signal strip (110) and the connector may have the same length.

Referring to FIG. 8, an example of a plurality of second signal strips (330) formed in parallel and extending in the y-axis direction on the first surface (33) of the second substrate (30) is shown.

Unlike in FIG. 8, the traces (311) connecting one end of the second signal strip (330) and the connector may have the same length. Similarly, the traces (313) connecting the other end of the second signal strip (330) and the connector may have the same length.

When the lengths of the traces are the same, the position of the signal can be easily determined by calculating the time-of-flight (TOF).

According to a resistive plate detector that reads a signal using such a pair of strips, the signal strips and the ground strips are formed on two opposite sides of the substrate with the same shape, and the signal strips are arranged to face each other in a vertical direction, thereby improving the plane position resolution of the x-axis and y-axis of the resistive plate detector. Accordingly, the resistive plate detector according to the present invention can be applied to TOF-PET to manufacture a device with high performance at low cost.

In addition, in the present invention, the ground is in the form of a strip rather than a single plane, so that the amplified signal does not spread widely from the ground but exits in a straight line along the ground strip, thereby reducing signal noise.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which was initially limited to the study of Parkinson's disease, operates based on crystal scintillators and optical intensifiers. This device is increasingly being used for cancer diagnosis. TOF-PET and whole-body PET, which combine time measurement functions, are being developed, but these are very expensive equipment.

Recently, it has been reported that it is possible to manufacture a high-performance TOF-PET at low cost by replacing the crystal scintillator and the optical amplifier with a resistive plate detector. However, the whole-body PET based on the resistive plate detector proposed by the RPC-PET research team in Europe has not yet been realized. It is expected that the resistive plate detector of the present invention can be applied to TOF-PET to manufacture a device with high performance at low cost.

1: Resistance plate detector
10: 1st substrate
30: Second substrate
11: First side of the first substrate
13: Second side of the first substrate
110: 1st signal strip
130: 1st ground strip
31: Second side of the second substrate
33: First side of the second substrate
310: 2nd ground strip
330: 2nd signal strip
111, 113, 311, 313: Trace

Claims (11)

A plurality of first signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the x-axis direction on a first surface of a first substrate and arranged parallel to each other;
A plurality of first ground strips formed in the same shape as the first signal strips on a second side opposite the first side of the first substrate and arranged facing each other in a position where they overlap and match in pairs with the corresponding first signal strips;
A plurality of second signal strips formed in a strip shape extending in the y-axis direction perpendicular to the x-axis on a first surface of a second substrate spaced apart from the first surface of the first substrate and arranged parallel to each other; and
A plurality of second ground strips formed in the same shape as the second signal strips on a second surface opposite the first surface of the second substrate and arranged facing each other in a position where they overlap and match in pairs with the corresponding second signal strips;
A resistive plate detector that reads a signal using strip pairs, wherein a plurality of first ground strips formed on a first substrate and a plurality of second ground strips formed on a second substrate are arranged perpendicular to each other.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector for reading signals using strip pairs, wherein a plurality of first signal strips and a plurality of second signal strips are formed with the same shape, the same width, the same length, the same thickness, and the same spacing.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector for reading a signal using strip pairs, wherein a plurality of first ground strips and a plurality of second ground strips are formed with the same shape, the same width, the same length, the same thickness, and the same spacing.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector that reads signals using strip pairs, each of the first and second substrates including a connector.
In paragraph 4,
A resistive plate detector that reads signals using pairs of strips, wherein the traces connecting one end of the first signal strips to the connector are of equal length, and the traces connecting the other end of the first signal strips to the connector are of equal length.
In paragraph 4,
A resistive plate detector that reads signals using pairs of strips, wherein the traces connecting one end of the second signal strips to the connector are of equal length, and the traces connecting the other end of the second signal strips to the connector are of equal length.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector for reading a signal using a pair of strips, each of the first signal strip and the second signal strip having at least one resistive element and at least one capacitor element connected at both ends.
In Article 7,
A resistive plate detector that reads a signal using strip pairs, with resistive and capacitor elements connected to a signal amplifier.
In Article 8,
A resistive plate detector for reading a signal using strip pairs, wherein the width and spacing of a plurality of first signal strips and a plurality of second signal strips and a plurality of first ground strips and a plurality of second ground strips are adjusted according to the target input impedance of a signal amplifier.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector for reading signals using strip pairs, wherein a plurality of first signal strips, a plurality of second signal strips, a plurality of first ground strips and a plurality of second ground strips each have a rectangular shape or a shape extending into a rectangle with both ends narrowing into a triangle.
In the first paragraph,
A resistive plate detector that reads signals using strip pairs, applied to TOF (Time-of-flight) PET (Positron Emission Tomography).

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