Performance analysis of a 127-micron pixel large-area TFT/photodiode array with boosted fill factor

​Sensor fill factor is one of the key pixel design requirements for high performance imaging arrays. In our conventional imaging pixel architecture with a TFT and a photodiode deposited in the same plane, the maximum area that the photodiode can occupy is limited by the size of the TFT and the surrounding metal lines. A full fill factor array design was previously proposed using a continuous sensor layer1 . Despite the benefits of 100% fill factor, when applied to large-area applications, this array design suffers from high parasitic line capacitances and, thus, high line noise. We have designed and fabricated an alternative pixel structure in which the photodiode is deposited and patterned over the TFT, but does not overlap with the lines underneath. Separating the diode from the TFT plane allows extra space for an additional TFT which can be used for pixel reset and clipping excessive charge in the photodiode developed under high illumination. This reduces memory effect by 250%. The yield and the reliability are expected to improve as well since the TFTs and lines are buried underneath the diode. With the increased fill factor, we collect 50% more electrons per pixel, thereby improving the signal to noise ratio. The maximum signal to noise ratio is achieved when the increased signal and the undesirable parasitic capacitance on the data line are best optimized. Linearity, sensitivity, leakage, and MTF characteristics of a prototype X-ray imager based on this architecture are presented.

Electronic noise analysis of a 127-micron pixel TFT/photodiode array

In this paper we examine origins of electronic noise in a 127-micron pixel thin film transistor (TFT)/photodiode image sensor array. The imaging array is a 1536 data line by 1920 gate line amorphous Silicon (a-Si) sensor array connected to low noise charge amplifiers and 14-bit electronics. We measure the contributions of A/D converters, charge amplifiers, data-line resistance and capacitance, and pixel switching to the overall electronic noise of 1040 e – per pixel. Noise power spectra are evaluated for each dark offset image. When suitably filtered linear power supplies are used for supplying gate and bias voltages to the array, the noise power spectra are identical in the x and y directions, i.e., row correlated noise is negligible. Noise measurements taken under different band-pass conditions correlate well with data-line resistance generated Johnson noise. No variations in noise along the data lines and a slight reduction in noise along the gate lines suggest only small transmission line effects. Pixel noise was measured as a function of frame time, yielding a component of noise due to TFT switching and a frame time dependent component modeled as pixel leakage current shot noise. It was found that this shot noise current was three times higher than leakage currents derived from dark offset difference images.

High Performance Amorphous Silicon Image Sensor for X-ray Diagnostic Medical Imaging Applications

Following our previous report concerning the development of a 127 µm resolution, 7.4 million pixel, 30 x 40 cm2 active area, flat panel amorphous Silicon (a-Si) x-ray image sensor, this paper describes enhancements in image sensor performance in the areas of image lag, linearity, sensitivity, and electronic noise. New process improvements in fabricating a-Si thin film transistor (TFT)/photodiode arrays have reduced first-frame image lag to less than 2%, and uniformity in photoresponse to < 5% over the entire 30 x 40 cm2 active area. Detailed analysis of image lag vs. time and x-ray dose will be discussed. An improved charge amplifier has been introduced to suppress image cross-talk artifacts caused by charge amplifier saturation, and system linearity has been optimized to eliminate banding effects among charge amplifiers. Preliminary sensitivity improvements through the deposition of CsI(Tl) directly on the arrays are reported, as well as overall imaging characteristics of this improved image sensor.

Amorphous Silicon TFT X-Ray Image Sensors

This paper will review electronic device characteristics of recently developed large-area, amorphous Silicon (a-Si) TFT/photodiode x-ray image sensors, and discuss some of the imaging characteristics which such devices can achieve.

Large-Area Amorphous Silicon TFT-Based X-Ray Image Sensors for Medical Imaging and Non-Destructive Testing

Large-format digital x-ray image sensors are a recent development in the fields of medical imaging and non-destructive testing. Such image sensors have become practical through the emergence of large-area, amorphous Silicon (a-Si) TFT and photodiode technologies (1,2). This paper will review the fundamental requirements for such x-ray image sensors, and discuss some of the device requirements for TFTs and photodiodes which serve as the basic components in each pixel.