High resolution, hard X-ray digital imagers for non-destructive testing applications

我们提议的战略合作伙伴基金将用于开发用于内阁数字x射线系统的新型高性能图像传感器，这将大大有利于加拿大的制造业。x射线柜系统是一种交钥匙设备，通常包括x射线源、样品台和x射线探测器，它们都安装在一个屏蔽的外壳中。这些系统的便携性、性能和成本使它们在无损检测（NDT）应用中具有吸引力，在这种应用中，在制造环境中检查毫微米级内部缺陷的完整产品。通过将x射线敏感非晶半导体材料（如非晶硒）与互补金属氧化物半导体（CMOS）集成像素阵列相结合，我们将创建x射线检测和测量技术，与现有无损检测技术相比，该技术将提供更好的分辨率、识别能力、准确性和数据捕获速度。这些改进将提高加拿大汽车、航空航天和电子设备制造商使用的生产效率和质量控制，这些制造商依赖于2-D和3-D无损检测进行完整性验证、故障分析、工艺验证和原型评估。该项目是与Teledyne DALSA （T-DALSA）合作进行的，Teledyne DALSA是一家总部位于安大略省滑铁卢的加拿大公司，在加拿大各地设有设计和制造中心。我们的研究包括在制造和信息技术行业培养工程研究生。这些高素质的人才（HQP）对于保持加拿大在全球的技术优势至关重要。

Our proposed Strategic Partnership Grant will lead to the development of new high-performance image sensors for cabinet digital X-ray systems that will significantly benefit Canada's manufacturing sector. X-ray cabinet systems are turnkey devices normally comprising an X-ray source, sample stage, and X-ray detector all housed in a shielded enclosure. The portability, performance, and cost of these systems make them attractive for use in non-destructive test (NDT) applications where intact products in a manufacturing environment are inspected for micrometre-scale internal defects. By combining X-ray-sensitive amorphous semiconductor materials such as amorphous selenium with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated pixel arrays, we will create X-ray inspection and measurement technology that will provide better resolution, recognition, accuracy, and speed of data capture compared to existing technologies used for NDT. These improvements will enhance productivity and quality control in processes used by Canadian automotive, aerospace, and electronic device manufacturers that rely on 2-D and 3-D NDT for integrity verification, failure analysis, process validation, and prototype evaluation. This project is being carried out in collaboration with Teledyne DALSA (T-DALSA), a Canadian company with headquarters in Waterloo, ON and that has design and manufacturing centers across Canada. Our research involves training graduate engineering students in the manufacturing and information technology industries. Such highly-qualified personnel (HQP) are essential to maintaining Canada's technological advantage globally.