1. A radiation detector comprising:
a scintillator layer configured to absorb radiation emitted from a radiation source and to emit optical photons in response to the absorbed radiation;
a photodetector layer configured to absorb the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer; and
a reflector configured to reflect the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer towards the photodetector layer and to absorb select wavelengths of optical photons associated with an afterglow emitted by the scintillator layer.
2. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises at least one absorbing material configured to absorb specific wavelengths of the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
3. The radiation detector of claim 2, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of absorbing materials, wherein each absorbing material is configured to absorb specific wavelengths of the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
4. The radiation detector of claim 2, wherein the at least one absorbing material comprises a dye or an absorbing pigment.
5. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a single layer.
6. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises multiple layers.
7. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a cast reflector.
8. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a reflective metallic film.
9. The radiation detector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a composite reflector.
10. The radiation detector of claim 9, wherein the composite reflector comprises a reflective metallic film layer and a TiO2-binder layer, and the TiO2-binder layer comprises at least one absorbing material configured to absorb specific wavelengths of the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
11. An imaging system comprising:
a radiation source configured to emit radiation;
a radiation detector configured to detect the emitted radiation, the radiation detector comprising:
a scintillator layer configured to absorb the emitted radiation and to emit optical photons in response to the absorbed radiation;
a photodetector layer configured to absorb the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer; and
a reflector configured to reflect the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer towards the photodetector layer, wherein the reflector comprises at least one absorbing material configured to absorb select wavelengths of optical photons associated with an afterglow emitted by the scintillator layer.
12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises a single layer.
13. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises multiple layers.
14. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises a cast reflector.
15. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises a reflective metallic film.
16. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises a composite reflector.
17. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein the composite reflector comprises a reflective metallic film layer and a TiO2-binder layer, and the TiO2-binder layer comprises the at least one absorbing material.
18. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the reflector is disposed about the scintillator layer.
19. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the at least one absorbing material comprises a dye or absorbing pigment material configured to absorb the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
20. A radiation detector comprising:
a reflector configured to be disposed about a scintillator layer and to reflect optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer towards a photodetector layer, wherein the reflector comprises at least one absorbing material configured to absorb select wavelengths of optical photons associated with an afterglow emitted by the scintillator layer.
21. The radiation detector of claim 20, wherein the at least one absorbing material comprises a dye or absorbing pigment configured to absorb specific wavelengths of the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
22. The radiation detector of claim 20, wherein the radiation detector comprises a plurality of absorbing materials, wherein each absorbing material is configured to absorb specific wavelengths of the select wavelengths associated with the afterglow.
23. The radiation detector of claim 20, wherein the reflector comprises a cast reflector, a reflective metallic film, or a composite reflector.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of supporting a solar panel array comprising:
providing a plurality of columns including a grouping of spaced first, second and third columns, and a grouping of spaced fourth, fifth and sixth columns;
providing a pair of first support cables connected between the first, second and third columns, the pair of first support cables comprising a first upper support cable and a first lower support cable;
providing a pair of second support cables connected between the fourth, fifth and sixth columns, the pair of second support cables comprising a second upper support cable and a second lower support cable;
providing a plurality of compression members disposed between the pair of first support cables and between the pair of second support cables;
disposing the pair of first support cables such that the first upper support cable is above the first lower support cable between the first and second columns, and is below the first lower support cable between the second and third columns;
securing one or more solar panel receivers to the pair of first support cables and to the second pair of support cables; and
securing a plurality of solar panels to each panel receiver.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing the pair of second support cables such that the second upper support cable is above the second lower support cable between the fourth and fifth columns, and is below the second lower support cable between the fifth and sixth columns.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of compression members are in compression.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of first support cables are generally parallel in their respective axial directions.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of first support cables form an inflection point at the second column.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of first support cables form a convex profile shape between the first column and the second column.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the array of solar panel receivers do not follow the convex shape of the pair of first support cables between the first column and the second column.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of first support cables is suspended continuously between the first, second and third columns.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the solar panel receivers form an array of solar panel receivers, the array of solar panel receivers generally forming a plane.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one end of the first upper support cable and the first lower support cable is secured to the ground.
11. A system for supporting a solar panel array, the system comprising:
a plurality of columns including a grouping of spaced first, second and third columns, and a grouping of spaced fourth, fifth and sixth columns;
a pair of first support cables connected between the first, second and third columns, the pair of first support cables comprising a first upper support cable and a first lower support cable;
a pair of second support cables connected between the fourth, fifth and sixth columns, the pair of second support cables comprising a second upper support cable and a second lower support cable;
a plurality of compression members disposed between the pair of first support cables and between the pair of second support cables;
one or more solar panel receivers secured to the pair of first support cables and to the second pair of support cables; and
a plurality of solar panels secured to each panel receiver;
wherein the pair of first support cables is disposed such that the first upper support cable is above the first lower support cable between the first and the second columns, and is below the first lower support cable between the second and third columns.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of second support cables is disposed such that the second upper support cable is above the second lower support cable between the fourth and fifth columns, and is disposed below the second lower support cable between the fifth and sixth columns.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of compression members are in compression.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of first support cables are generally parallel in their respective axial directions.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of first support cables form an inflection point at the second column.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of first support cables form a convex profile shape between the first column and the second column.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the array of solar panel receivers do not follow the convex shape of the pair of first support cables between the first column and the second column.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of first support cables is suspended continuously between the first, second and third columns.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the solar panel receivers form an array of solar panel receivers, the array of solar panel receivers generally forming a plane.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one end of the first upper support cable and the first lower support cable is secured to the ground.