A method for estimating the start time of an electronic pulse generated in response to a detected event, for example the start time for pulses received in response to photon detection in positron emission tomography, includes providing a detector that detects an external event and generates an electronic analog pulse signal. A parameterized ideal curve shape is selected to represent analog pulse signals generated by the detector. Upon receiving an analog pulse signal, it may be filtered, and then digitized, and normalized based on the area of the digital signal. Using at least one point of the normalized digital pulse signal, a curve from the parameterized ideal curve shape is selected, that best represents the received analog pulse signal, and the selected curve is used to estimate the pulse start time.
展开▼
