Kinestatic charge detection using synchronous displacement of detecting device

Claim 1

An apparatus for detecting propagating energy comprising: means for defining a space upon which propagating energy is incident; medium means, disposed within said space, for interacting with said incident energy to produce secondary energy; first position-changing means for non-randomly changing the position of the secondary energy within said space relative to said medium means; second position-changing means for changing the position of said space synchronously with the change of position of said secondary energy; and detecting means for detecting the secondary energy in said space.

Claim 2

An apparatus for detecting propagating energy comprising: means for defining a space upon which propagating energy is incident; medium means, disposed within said space, for interacting with said incident energy to produce secondary energy; first position-changing means for non-randomly changing the position of the secondary energy within said space relative to said medium means; second position-changing means for changing the position of said space synchronously with the change of position of said secondary energy; and detecting means for detecting the secondary energy in said space.

Claim 12

An apparatus for detecting radiation comprising medium means for producing at least one charge carrier in response to radiation incident thereto; charge carrier displacing means for non-randomly changing non-randomly changing the position of said charge carrier relative to said medium means in a first direction; medium displacing means for changing the position of said medium means synchronously with the change in position of said charge carrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers in said medium.

Claim 13

An apparatus for detecting radiation comprising medium means for producing at least one charge carrier in response to radiation incident thereto; charge carrier displacing means for non-randomly changing non-randomly changing the position of said charge carrier relative to said medium means in a first direction; medium displacing means for changing the position of said medium means synchronously with the change in position of said charge carrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers in said medium.

Claim 23

An apparatus for storing information comprising: a medium; means for selectively producing charge carriers in said medium; means for preventing said charge carriers from recombining by biasing said charge carriers to move in a first direction; means for displacing said medium relative to said charge-carriers-producing means in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers within a predetermined portion of said medium.

Claim 24

An apparatus for storing information comprising: a medium; means for selectively producing charge carriers in said medium; means for preventing said charge carriers from recombining by biasing said charge carriers to move in a first direction; means for displacing said medium relative to said charge-carriers-producing means in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers within a predetermined portion of said medium.

Claim 27

An apparatus for integrating charge comprising; a medium; means for continuously directing radiation along a path passing through said medium, said medium producing secondary energy in proximity to said path in response to said radiation; means for maintaining said secondary energy in proximity to said path and for preventing said secondary energy from recombining with said medium; and means for measuring the amount of secondary energy in proximity to said path.

Claim 28

An apparatus for integrating charge comprising; a medium; means for continuously directing radiation along a path passing through said medium, said medium producing secondary energy in proximity to said path in response to said radiation; means for maintaining said secondary energy in proximity to said path and for preventing said secondary energy from recombining with said medium; and means for measuring the amount of secondary energy in proximity to said path.

Claim 40

An apparatus for detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of radiation, comprising: a first means for conducting electrical current; a second means for conducting electrical current; means for fixing the position of said second conducting means with respect to said first conducting means to define a gap therebetween; radiation source means for directing ionizing radiation into said gap; medium means, disposed within said gap, for ionizing in response to said radiation to produce charge carriers; charge carrier displacing means, electrically connected to said first and second conducting means, for inducing the charge carriers within said gap to drift at a velocity v drift in a first direction; moving means, coupled to at least one of said source means and said medium means, for moving said medium means relative to said source means in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of the velocity v drift of said drifting charge carriers; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers in said gap.

Claim 41

An apparatus for detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of radiation, comprising: a first means for conducting electrical current; a second means for conducting electrical current; means for fixing the position of said second conducting means with respect to said first conducting means to define a gap therebetween; radiation source means for directing ionizing radiation into said gap; medium means, disposed within said gap, for ionizing in response to said radiation to produce charge carriers; charge carrier displacing means, electrically connected to said first and second conducting means, for inducing the charge carriers within said gap to drift at a velocity v drift in a first direction; moving means, coupled to at least one of said source means and said medium means, for moving said medium means relative to said source means in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of the velocity v drift of said drifting charge carriers; and detecting means for detecting charge carriers in said gap.

Claim 59

An apparatus for detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of ionizing radiation, comprising: means for defining a chamber, said chamber-defining means including window means for admitting ionizing radiation into the chamber along at least a first path; medium means, disposed in said chamber, for ionizing in response to said admitted radiation to produce plural charge carrier pairs, each of said charge carrier pairs comprising a positive charge carrier and a negative charge carrier; a first electrically-conductive electrode disposed within said chamber, said first electrode including means for defining a first substantially planar surface contacting said medium means; plural respective electrically-conductive collection electrodes disposed in said chamber, each of said plural collection electrodes including means for defining a substantially planar surface contacting said medium means, said planar surfaces defined by said plural collection electrodes contained in a common plane disposed a fixed distance from said first surface; means, electrically connected to said first electrode and to each of said plural collection electrodes, for producing a substantially constant, uniform electric field between said first electrode first surface and said plane, the direction of said electric field being substantially perpendicular to the path of said radiation, the electric field causing one of the positive and negative charge carriers of each of said charge carrier pairs to drift in a first direction toward said plane at a substantially constant drift velocity v drift ; chamber moving means, mechanically coupled to said chamber, for moving said chamber in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a constant velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of v drift ; current sensing means for sensing the current flowing in said plural collection electrodes resulting from charges produced on said collection electrodes by said charge carriers; and signal processing means, connected to said current sensing means, for determining the spatial resolution in two dimensions of said radiation admitted into said chamber in response to the amplitude with respect to time of current sensed by said current sensing means.

Claim 60

An apparatus for detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of ionizing radiation, comprising: means for defining a chamber, said chamber-defining means including window means for admitting ionizing radiation into the chamber along at least a first path; medium means, disposed in said chamber, for ionizing in response to said admitted radiation to produce plural charge carrier pairs, each of said charge carrier pairs comprising a positive charge carrier and a negative charge carrier; a first electrically-conductive electrode disposed within said chamber, said first electrode including means for defining a first substantially planar surface contacting said medium means; plural respective electrically-conductive collection electrodes disposed in said chamber, each of said plural collection electrodes including means for defining a substantially planar surface contacting said medium means, said planar surfaces defined by said plural collection electrodes contained in a common plane disposed a fixed distance from said first surface; means, electrically connected to said first electrode and to each of said plural collection electrodes, for producing a substantially constant, uniform electric field between said first electrode first surface and said plane, the direction of said electric field being substantially perpendicular to the path of said radiation, the electric field causing one of the positive and negative charge carriers of each of said charge carrier pairs to drift in a first direction toward said plane at a substantially constant drift velocity v drift ; chamber moving means, mechanically coupled to said chamber, for moving said chamber in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a constant velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of v drift ; current sensing means for sensing the current flowing in said plural collection electrodes resulting from charges produced on said collection electrodes by said charge carriers; and signal processing means, connected to said current sensing means, for determining the spatial resolution in two dimensions of said radiation admitted into said chamber in response to the amplitude with respect to time of current sensed by said current sensing means.

Claim 65

A method of detecting propagating energy comprising the steps of: (1) defining a space upon which propagating energy is incident; (2) producing secondary energy in a medium within said space by interacting said medium with propagating energy incident thereon; (3) non-randomly changing the position of said secondary energy relative to said medium; (4) changing the position of said space synchronously with the change in position of said secondary energy; and (5) detecting the secondary energy in said space.

Claim 66

A method of detecting propagating energy comprising the steps of: (1) defining a space upon which propagating energy is incident; (2) producing secondary energy in a medium within said space by interacting said medium with propagating energy incident thereon; (3) non-randomly changing the position of said secondary energy relative to said medium; (4) changing the position of said space synchronously with the change in position of said secondary energy; and (5) detecting the secondary energy in said space.

Claim 76

A method of detecting radiation comprising the steps of: (1) producing at least one charge carrier in a medium in response to radiation incident to the medium; (2) non-randomly changing the position of said charge carrier relative to said medium in a first direction; (3) changing the position of said medium synchronously with the change in position of said charge carrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and (4) detecting charge carriers in said medium.

Claim 77

A method of detecting radiation comprising the steps of: (1) producing at least one charge carrier in a medium in response to radiation incident to the medium; (2) non-randomly changing the position of said charge carrier relative to said medium in a first direction; (3) changing the position of said medium synchronously with the change in position of said charge carrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and (4) detecting charge carriers in said medium.

Claim 87

A method of storing information comprising the steps of: (1) selectively producing charge carriers in a medium with a charge carrier producing means; (2) preventing said charge carriers produced by said producing step (1) from recombining by biasing said charge carriers to move in a first direction; (3) displacing said medium relative to said charge carrier producing means in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and (4) detecting charge carrier within a predetermined portion of said medium.

Claim 88

A method of storing information comprising the steps of: (1) selectively producing charge carriers in a medium with a charge carrier producing means; (2) preventing said charge carriers produced by said producing step (1) from recombining by biasing said charge carriers to move in a first direction; (3) displacing said medium relative to said charge carrier producing means in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and (4) detecting charge carrier within a predetermined portion of said medium.

Claim 91

A method of integrating charge comprising the steps of: (1) continuously directing radiation along a path passing through a medium; (2) producing secondary energy in said medium in proximity to said path in response to said radiation; (3) maintaining said secondary energy in proximity to said path and preventing said secondary energy from recombining with said medium; and (4) measuring the amount of secondary energy in proximity to said path.

Claim 92

A method of integrating charge comprising the steps of: (1) continuously directing radiation along a path passing through a medium; (2) producing secondary energy in said medium in proximity to said path in response to said radiation; (3) maintaining said secondary energy in proximity to said path and preventing said secondary energy from recombining with said medium; and (4) measuring the amount of secondary energy in proximity to said path.

Claim 104

A method of detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of radiation, comprising: (1) producing ionizing radiation at a radiation source; (2) directing said ionizing radiation produced by said producing step (1) into a gap defined between a first means for conducting electrical current and a second means for conducting electrical current, said first and second conducting means fixed in position with respect to one another; (3) ionizing a medium disposed within said gap in response to said radiation directed by said radiation directing step (2) to produce charge carriers in said gap; (4) inducing the charge carriers produced by said ionizing step (3) to drift at a velocity v drift in a first direction; (5) moving said medium relative to said source in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of the velocity v drift of said drifting charge carriers; and (6) detecting charge carriers in said gap.

Claim 105

A method of detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of radiation, comprising: (1) producing ionizing radiation at a radiation source; (2) directing said ionizing radiation produced by said producing step (1) into a gap defined between a first means for conducting electrical current and a second means for conducting electrical current, said first and second conducting means fixed in position with respect to one another; (3) ionizing a medium disposed within said gap in response to said radiation directed by said radiation directing step (2) to produce charge carriers in said gap; (4) inducing the charge carriers produced by said ionizing step (3) to drift at a velocity v drift in a first direction; (5) moving said medium relative to said source in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of the velocity v drift of said drifting charge carriers; and (6) detecting charge carriers in said gap.

Claim 122

A method of detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of ionizing radiation, comprising the steps of: (1) admitting ionizing radiation into a chamber along at least a first path via a window defined in the chamber; (2) ionizing a medium disposed within said chamber in response to said radiation admitted by said radiation admitting step (1) to produce plural charge carrier pairs, each of said charge carriers pairs comprising a positive charge carrier and a negative charge carrier; (3) producing a substantially uniform, constant electric field between a first substantially planar surface contacting said medium, said first surface defined by an electrically conductive electrode disposed with said chamber, and a plane containing planar surfaces defined by plural respective electrically conductive collection electrodes disposed in said chamber, said planar surfaces contacting said medium, said plane disposed a fixed distance from said first electrode, the direction of said electric field being substantially perpendicular to the path of said radiation, said electric field causing one of the positive and negative charge carriers of each of said charge carrier pairs to drift in a first direction toward said plane at a substantially constant drift velocity v drift ; (4) moving said chamber in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a constant velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of v drift ; (5) sensing the currents flowing in said plural collection electrodes resulting from charges produced on said collection electrodes by said charge carriers; and (6) determining the spatial distribution in two dimensions of said radiation admitted into said chamber in response to the amplitude with respect to time of the currents sensed by said currents sensing step (5).

Claim 123

A method of detecting the spatial distribution and intensity of ionizing radiation, comprising the steps of: (1) admitting ionizing radiation into a chamber along at least a first path via a window defined in the chamber; (2) ionizing a medium disposed within said chamber in response to said radiation admitted by said radiation admitting step (1) to produce plural charge carrier pairs, each of said charge carriers pairs comprising a positive charge carrier and a negative charge carrier; (3) producing a substantially uniform, constant electric field between a first substantially planar surface contacting said medium, said first surface defined by an electrically conductive electrode disposed with said chamber, and a plane containing planar surfaces defined by plural respective electrically conductive collection electrodes disposed in said chamber, said planar surfaces contacting said medium, said plane disposed a fixed distance from said first electrode, the direction of said electric field being substantially perpendicular to the path of said radiation, said electric field causing one of the positive and negative charge carriers of each of said charge carrier pairs to drift in a first direction toward said plane at a substantially constant drift velocity v drift ; (4) moving said chamber in a second direction opposite to said first direction at a constant velocity v scan having a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of v drift ; (5) sensing the currents flowing in said plural collection electrodes resulting from charges produced on said collection electrodes by said charge carriers; and (6) determining the spatial distribution in two dimensions of said radiation admitted into said chamber in response to the amplitude with respect to time of the currents sensed by said currents sensing step (5).