Patents Examined by Chih-Cheng Kao
  • Patent number: 11979972
    Abstract: A liquid metal jet X-ray source including an electromagnetic pump for pumping the liquid metal. The electromagnetic pump includes a core having a core diameter and an outer yoke with a thickness of at least 20% of the core diameter. Preferably, the thickness of the outer yoke is at least 20% of the core diameter plus 6% of a radial distance between an outside of the core and an inside of the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Björn Hansson, Per Takman, Ulf Lundström, Tomi Tuohimaa
  • Patent number: 11971369
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a rock sample inspection method. The method may include preparing a sample of formation rock by encapsulating the sample, inserting the sample into a vessel body as part of a test assembly, enclosing the sample within an low compressibility fluid, applying pressure to an interior of the vessel body by tightening a compression screw employing a piston acting on said low compressibility fluid, monitoring the pressure, conducting a test on the sample, and recording results of the test for further analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Abraham S. Grader
  • Patent number: 11974383
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a feedback or a reference value of a tube voltage applied to a radiation source of a radiation device for generating radiation rays. The method may also include determining, based on the feedback or the reference value of the tube voltage, a specific value of a focusing parameter associated with a focusing device of the radiation device. The method may further include causing the focusing device to shape a focus of the radiation rays according to the determined value of the focusing parameter. The focus of the radiation rays may satisfy an operational constraint under the specific value of the focusing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guoping Zhu, Jinglin Wu, Tieshan Zhang, Siming Chen, Xu Chu
  • Patent number: 11963809
    Abstract: The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to provide a facilitated and space-saving X-ray imaging apparatus, an imaging arrangement (10) for X-ray imaging is provided that comprises a lower movable support arrangement (12) movably holding an X-ray source (14), and an upper movable support arrangement (16) movably holding an X-ray detector (18). The lower movable support arrangement is configured to be mounted to a floor (20), and the upper movable support arrangement is configured to be mounted to a ceiling (22). The lower movable support arrangement comprises a lower boom (24) rotatably attached to a lower base (26). The lower boom comprises two rotatably connected lower arms (28), and the lower base is rotatable around a vertical axis (30). The upper movable support arrangement comprises an upper boom (32) rotatably attached to an upper base (34). The upper boom comprises two rotatably connected upper arms (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Adrianus Wilhelmus Van Pinxteren, Robertus Johannes Adrianus Van Loon, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 11957495
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an imaging device configured to capture a camera image of a target; a controller configured to stitch a plurality of X-ray images of respective divided regions of the target to generate one X-ray image of the target; and a display configured to display a settings window that provides a GUI for receiving a setting of an X-ray irradiation condition for the respective divided regions, and display the camera image in which positions of the respective divided regions are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho Jun Lee, Ju Hwan Kim, Se Hui Kim, Seung-Hoon Kim, Si Won Park, Phill Gu Jung, Duhgoon Lee, Myung Jin Chung, Do Hyeong Hwang, Sung Jin Park
  • Patent number: 11963284
    Abstract: An imaging system (202) includes an X-ray radiation source (210) configured to emit radiation that traverses an examination region. The imaging system further includes a controller (220). The controller is configured to control an X-ray tube peak voltage of the X-ray radiation source to switch between at least two different X-ray tube peak voltages during a kVp switched spectral scan. The controller is further configured to control a grid voltage of the X-ray radiation source to follow the X-ray tube peak voltage during the spectral scan. The controller adjusts the grid voltage based on a predetermined mapping between a currently applied X-ray tube peak voltage and a corresponding grid voltage for a given focal spot size, thereby maintaining the given focal spot size throughout the spectral scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Heiner Daerr, Bernd Rudi David
  • Patent number: 11961694
    Abstract: An x-ray source includes an optical communications link to provide a galvanically isolated communication between a system controller and a gun controller. In specific examples, the link is provided through one or more fibers. In addition, the gun controller is preferably remote programmed by the system controller during startup. This addresses the problem of reprogramming a processor in a hard to access location/environment. A watchdog timer is also useful for the gun digital processor of the gun controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc.
    Inventor: Claus Flachenecker
  • Patent number: 11963286
    Abstract: An X-ray source including: a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target moving along a flow axis; an electron source configured to provide an electron beam; and a liquid target shaper configured to shape the liquid target to include a non-circular cross section with respect to the flow axis, wherein the non-circular cross section has a first width along a first axis and a second width along a second axis, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width, and wherein the liquid target includes an impact portion being intersected by the first axis; wherein the x-ray source is configured to direct the electron beam towards the impact portion such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target within the impact portion to generate X-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Björn Hansson, Per Takman, Yuli Wang, Shiho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11955307
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides an electron emitter apparatus having a first ring of field-effect emitter needles, the field-effect emitter needles of the first ring forming a first emitter surface on an inner side of the first ring; and a second ring of field-effect emitter needles, the field-effect emitter needles of the second ring forming a second emitter surface on an inner side of the second ring, wherein the first ring and the second ring are arranged in such that the first emitter surface and the second emitter surface form a substantially contiguous three-dimensional overall emitter surface, the substantially contiguous three-dimensional overall emitter surface defining a hollow channel along a longitudinal axis of the electron emitter apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventors: Christoph Jud, Peter Hackenschmied, Joerg Freudenberger, Peter Geithner, Anja Fritzler
  • Patent number: 11951330
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Corey Zankowski, Sasa Mutic
  • Patent number: 11955308
    Abstract: Methods and systems for realizing a high speed, rotating anode based x-ray illumination source suitable for high throughput x-ray metrology are presented herein. A high speed rotating anode includes a water cooled rotating platen supported by radial and thrust air bearings employing cascaded differential pumping. A very high bending stiffness of the rotating assembly is achieved by spacing radial air bearings far apart and locating a rotary motor and thrust bearings between the radial air bearings. The high bending stiffness increases the mechanical stability of the rotating assembly during high speed operation, and thus decreases vibration at the location of impingement of the electron beam on the rotating anode material. In some embodiments, magnetic thrust bearings are employed and the air gap is controlled to maintain a desired gap over an operational range of up to three millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventor: Michel Pharand
  • Patent number: 11948951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wide spectrum multi-band detection structure with selective absorption enhancement and its preparation method. The structure comprises a plurality of sub-pixel units capable of detecting incident light in different bands. Each sub-pixel unit is composed of a square well-shaped microstructure array and a metal lower electrode (2), a photosensitive layer (3) and an upper electrode (4) on the surface thereof. The size and array spacing of square well-shaped microstructures in different sub-pixel units are determined according to the detection bands of the sub-pixel units where they are located. The upper openings of the square well-shaped microstructures are hollow to form a resonant cavity, and the adjacent square well-shaped microstructures in the same sub-pixel unit form a resonant cavity, thus solving the problem that the detector structure in the prior art cannot simultaneously realize visible light-near infrared multi-band absorption enhancement detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Xi An Technological University
    Inventors: Huan Liu, Weiguo Liu, Yan An, Minyu Bai, Jun Han, Zhuoman Wang, Jiaxing Hu, Changlong Cai
  • Patent number: 11923166
    Abstract: In a cylindrical guard electrode (5) provided on the outer peripheral side of an electron generation part (31) of an emitter (3), a distal end section (5A) 5 positioned in the emission direction of an electron beam (L1) from the electron generation part (31) includes: a distal end inner-peripheral-side part (A1) having an inner-peripheral-side curved surface portion (a1) convex in the emission direction; a distal end outer-peripheral-side part (A2) having an outer-peripheral-side curved portion (a2) convex in the emission direction; and a 10 distal end middle part (A3) positioned between the distal end inner-peripheral-side (A1) and the distal end outer-peripheral-side part (A2). The distal end middle part (A3) has a flat surface portion (a3) between the inner-peripheral-surface portion (a1) and the outer-peripheral-side curved surface portion (a2) so as to extend in the direction therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Hayashi, Rena Takahashi, Hayato Ochi
  • Patent number: 11923165
    Abstract: A radiation tube that is used in a radiation source for radiography includes: an electron emitting unit that includes a cathode unit having an emitter electrode which emits electrons and a gate electrode; an anode unit that has an anode surface facing the cathode unit and collides with the electrons to generate radiation; a constant voltage supply unit that supplies a constant driving voltage to the gate electrode; and a vacuum tube that accommodates the constant voltage supply unit, the electron emitting unit, and the anode unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayoshi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11911207
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a C-arm registration system employing a controller (70) for registering a C-arm (60) to a X-ray ring marker (20). The X-ray ring marker (20) includes a coaxial construction of a chirp ring (40) and a centric ring (50) on an annular base (30). In operation, the controller (70) acquires a baseline X-ray image illustrative of the X-ray ring marker (20) within a baseline X-ray projection by the C-arm (60) at a baseline imaging pose, derives baseline position parameters of the X-ray ring marker (20) within the baseline X-ray projection as a function of an illustration of the centric ring (50) within the baseline X-ray image, and derives a baseline twist parameter of the X-ray ring marker (20) within the baseline X-ray projection as a function of the baseline position parameters and of an illustration of the chirp ring (40) within the baseline X-ray image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Alexandru Patriciu, Alyssa Torjesen, Molly Lara Flexman, Ashish Sattyavrat Panse, Marcin Arkadiusz Balicki, Ronaldus Frederik Johannes Holthuizen
  • Patent number: 11901152
    Abstract: Some example embodiments provide an x-ray tube for a stereoscopic imaging having an evacuated x-ray tube housing; an electron emitter apparatus in the x-ray tube housing, the electron emitter apparatus including a first field effect emitter with a first emitter surface and a second field effect emitter with a second emitter surface, at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface being segmented such that a portion of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface can be set relative to the respective overall emitter surface by selectively switching emitter segments of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface; an anode unit in the x-ray tube housing, the anode unit configured to generate x-ray radiation for the stereoscopic imaging as a function of electrons striking two focal points; and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Geithner, Jörg Freudenberger, Christoph Jud, Anja Fritzler, Josef Deuringer, Peter Hackenschmied
  • Patent number: 11901153
    Abstract: An x-ray apparatus includes a vacuum chamber that includes a window for exit of x-rays. Electrons are generated at a cathode within the vacuum chamber and accelerated toward a target anode associated with the window. An x-ray generating layer is included as a surface of the target anode to receive the electrons emitted by the cathode and to create x-rays. A blocking path blocks over 70% of the free electrons reaching said target anode from continuing on to exit through the window, while allowing x-rays leaving the x-ray generating layer to continue along the selectively blocking path to exit through the window. The x-ray apparatus is capable of operating at low voltage and relatively high power to reduce the necessary shielding and the corresponding weight of the apparatus yet allow more ready absorption of x-rays by items being irradiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: PCT Ebeam and Integration, LLC
    Inventors: Karl E. Swanson, John Charles Drenter, Paul Michael Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11896846
    Abstract: A method for delivering radiation treatment may include defining a preliminary trajectory including a plurality of control points. Each control point may be associated with position parameters of a gantry and a couch. The method may also include generating a treatment plan based on the preliminary trajectory by optimizing an intensity and position parameters of a collimator and MLC leaves for each control point. The method may also include decomposing the treatment plan into a delivery trajectory including the plurality of control points. Each of the plurality of control points may be further associated with the optimized intensity, the optimized position parameters of the collimator and the MLC leaves, an output rate, and a motion parameter of each of the gantry, the couch, the collimator, and the MLC leaves. The method may further include instructing a radiation delivery device to deliver the treatment plan according to the delivery trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Johannes Stahl, Jonathan Maltz
  • Patent number: 11898973
    Abstract: Disclosed is an X-ray fluorescence analyzer instrument for analyzing the elemental composition of a sample, including: a measurement chamber including air and a measurement aperture sealed by a sample window; a radiation source inside the measurement chamber to invoke secondary radiation from the sample adjacent to the sample window exterior of the measurement chamber; a radiation detector having its receiver inside the measurement chamber, the radiation detector receiving the secondary radiation from the sample window and providing a measurement signal describing intensity of the received radiation; a controller analyzing composition of the sample based on an energy spectrum of the measurement signal based on a calibration established at a reference air density inside the measurement chamber; and a device adjusting a volume of the measurement chamber restoring the reference air density inside the measurement chamber after a change in air density inside the measurement chamber to maintain calibration validity
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH ANALYTICAL SCIENCE FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Oleg Shirokobrod
  • Patent number: 11894209
    Abstract: A component part in a vacuum area of an X-ray tube with an opening through which an electron beam is guided. The component part includes a base body made of a first material, wherein the first material is a metal. Arranged on a surface forming the opening is a second material having an atomic number which is smaller than an atomic number of the first material. A target support is attached to an end of the component part. The target support supports a target which is aligned with a lens diaphragm formed at the end of the component part. The target support has a base body made of a first material which is a metal, and a second material formed on a surface of the base body that is selectively exposed to the electron beam and which extends between the target and the lens diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: COMET AG
    Inventor: André Schu