Patents Examined by Don Wong
  • Patent number: 10022095
    Abstract: A support structure is disclosed. The support structure has at least one cover installed to cover a side of the support structure. The cover is raised pivotally by at least one primary support mechanism. The cover may be secured in place by an additional support mechanism. The additional support mechanism may be set in two different positions, one that allows for load on the primary support mechanism and another that does not allow for load on the primary support mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Bichler, Timothy Behlmer, Kenwood Dayton, Brandon Smith, Ronald Kulas, John Gilmore
  • Patent number: 10018748
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining characteristics of a fluid in a subterranean well include providing a production pipe extending into the subterranean well to convey the fluids from within the subterranean well to an earth's surface. An x-ray source is located on a first side of the production pipe. An x-ray beam is directed into the production pipe, into the fluids, and out of an opposite side of the production pipe as a resulting beam, with the x-ray source. A level of attenuation of the resulting beam is detected with an attenuation detector located on an opposite side of the production pipe. A fluorescence spectra of the resulting beam is detected with a scattered fluorescence detector located on the opposite side of the production pipe. A fluorescence peak of the resulting beam is detected with a peak fluorescence detector located on the opposite side of the production pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Michael John Black, Talha Jamal Ahmad, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10014148
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electron source and an X-ray source using the same. The electron source of the present invention comprises: at least two electron emission zones, each of which comprises a plurality of micro electron emission units, wherein the micro electron emission unit comprises: a base layer, an insulating layer on the base layer, a grid layer on the insulating layer, an opening in the grid layer, and an electron emitter that is fixed at the base layer and corresponds to a position of the opening, wherein the micro electron emission units in the same electron emission zone are electrically connected and simultaneously emit electrons or do not emit electrons at the same time, and wherein different electron emission zones are electrically partitioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Huaping Tang, Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Yonggang Wang, Zhanfeng Qin
  • Patent number: 10012604
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one X-ray source that emits X-rays toward a sample, an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detector that detects X-ray radiation scattered from the sample, an internal standard that emits scattered X-ray radiation in response to X-rays emitted from the at least one X-ray source, and a carriage assembly that translates the at least one X-ray source and XRF detector between a sample measurement position and an internal standard measurement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO GAMMA-METRICS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Bryan John Crosby, Simon Liemar, Peter William Hayles, Charlie Minghua Mao, Tejas Indravadanbhai Shah, Hao Zeng
  • Patent number: 10007012
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray tube, a rotating frame, a plurality of detector elements, a plurality of DAS elements, switching circuitry, and switching control circuitry. The X-ray tube generates X-rays. The X-ray tube is attached to the rotating frame. The plurality of detector elements detect X-rays. The plurality of DAS elements perform signal processing on output signals from the plurality of detector elements. The switching circuitry is provided between the plurality of detector elements and the plurality of DAS elements. The switching control circuitry controls the switching circuitry to switch the connections between the plurality of detector elements and the plurality of DAS elements for every rotation of the rotating frame at a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Michito Nakayama, Atsushi Hashimoto, Tomoe Sagoh, Takaya Umehara, Shuya Nambu, Koichi Miyama, Takashi Kanemaru, Keiji Matsuda, Machiko Iso
  • Patent number: 10007024
    Abstract: The techniques and device provided herein relate to regulating a source generator in X-ray based measurement for downhole applications. A source stream of photons is produced, via a generator of an X-ray system of a logging tool. A direct channel allows for the passage of a stream of photons, where a high energy filter filters a low energy part of the stream of photons. The resultant stream is measured by a reference detector to identify a high energy peak in a spectrum measurement derived based upon the resultant photon stream. From there, a normalized difference between a plurality of windows of the high energy peak is determined and subsequent output of the generator is based upon the normalized difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Avtandil Tkabladze
  • Patent number: 9989482
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for radiographic and computed tomography (CT) inspection of workpieces having increasingly complicated internal geometry. The disclosed methods are capable of distributing a contrast agent within the detailed internal geometry of, for example, an AM workpiece or precision cast turbine blade, followed by complete removal of the contrast agent and all residues thereof after inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Henry Abbott, Nicolas Kristopher Sabo
  • Patent number: 9986964
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining characteristics of an intraoral dental imaging sensor. A method includes providing an intraoral dental imaging sensor having a housing and a magnetic field sensor disposed in or on the housing, placing the intraoral dental imaging sensor in a holder, positioning the intraoral dental imaging sensor and at least part of the holder in a mouth of a patient, attaching a reference magnet to the patient, receiving, by an electronic processor, magnetic field data from the magnetic field sensor, determining, by the electronic processor, information including a position of the intraoral dental imaging sensor in the mouth of the patient based at least in part on the magnetic field data, and detecting x-rays by the intraoral dental imaging sensor to produce image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DENTAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott David Kravis, Jeremy Charnegie, Adam T. Palermo
  • Patent number: 9976972
    Abstract: A thermal control apparatus adapted for use with a pressurized air supply for controlling temperature of a component includes a vortex tube having an inlet adapted for connection with the pressurized air supply, a cold air outlet, and a hot air outlet, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cold air outlet of the vortex tube, the heat exchanger being in thermal contact with the component and thereby controlling the temperature of the component. The heat exchanger further includes a post-heat-exchange exhaust air outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust air inlet adapted to direct the exhaust air along an outside of the vortex tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO GAMMA-METRICS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Bryan John Crosby, Simon Liemar
  • Patent number: 9974499
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system includes: multiple radiation imaging apparatuses each including a radiation detecting panel and an enclosure enveloping the radiation detecting panel. The multiple radiation imaging apparatuses are arrayed so that a part of each of the radiation imaging apparatuses spatially overlap as seen from a radiation irradiation side, and a radiation image is acquired based on image signals from each of the multiple radiation imaging apparatuses. The enclosure of at least one radiation imaging apparatus of the multiple radiation imaging apparatuses is formed so that a radiation transmittance of the enclosure which defines the overlapping region is higher than a radiation transmittance of the enclosure which defines a different region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoki Tagawa, Kensuke Kobayashi, Hidetomo Suwa, Masataka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9974626
    Abstract: A system for performing a scanning session of a patient's body, the system comprising: a radiation source; a radiation sensor; a patient positioner for placing the patient between the radiation source and the radiation sensor in a fixed position during each scan; at least one Pseudo-Random Grid (PRG) comprising randomly spaced perpendicular gridlines, the PRG being at least partially radiopaque and positioned between the radiation source and the radiation sensor in a fixed manner with respect to the patient positioner during the scanning session, wherein at least one of said radiation source and said radiation sensor is configured to move independently, and wherein at least one of said radiation source and said radiation sensor is moved to multiple different positions during the scanning session such that energy emitted from the radiation source passes through said PRG and said patient's body and collected by a surface of said radiation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CMT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Dmitry Samsonov, Ami Ben Hayun
  • Patent number: 9968311
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system includes a holding unit configured to hold a plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses configured to convert radiation emitted onto the plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses into image signals. The radiation imaging system is configured to obtain a long radiographic image based on the image signals respectively from the plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses. The holding unit is configured to hold the plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses having imaging areas of different sizes, in such a manner that the plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses is partially overlapped with each other spatially, by a predetermined overlapping area as viewed from a radiation incident side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoki Tagawa, Masataka Suzuki, Ryo Suzaki, Shichihei Sakuragi
  • Patent number: 9968316
    Abstract: A process for deploying an anti-scattering grid in a mammograph is provided. The mammograph comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation for taking mammographic images of a patient, a radiation detector comprising a network of sensors arranged periodically with a first pitch, and an anti-scattering grid arranged between the source and the detector, the anti-scattering grid comprising radiation adsorbing strips arranged parallel to each other and distributed periodically with a second pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Colin Auclair, Carlos Martinez Ferreira, Remy Andre Klausz, Henri Souchay, Mathias Cisaruk
  • Patent number: 9952163
    Abstract: A method of X-ray imaging includes passing an X-ray beam through a pre-sample mask 8 with a plurality of apertures 32, through a sample 10, and then through a detector mask 6 with aligned apertures 34. The beams are detected. The detector mask 6 and pre-sample mask 8 are moved with respect to one another to identify the position of maximum intensity and then moved to two further positions on equal and opposite spacings on either side of the maximum. Images are acquired and a transmission image, refraction image and scattering image calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: UCL BUSINESS PLC
    Inventors: Marco Endrizzi, Alessandro Olivo, Paul Diemoz, Thomas Millard, Fabio Vittoria
  • Patent number: 9949710
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus and a control method for the same. The control method for the X-ray imaging apparatus includes acquiring a mask image by irradiating an object with X-rays, determining a movement of the object based on the mask image, generating a plurality of X-ray images of mutually different energy bands when the movement of the object is detected, and generating a single X-ray image of a single energy band when the movement of the object is not detected, and acquiring a blood vessel X-ray image based on the generated X-ray image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Goo Kang, Young Hun Sung, Seok Min Han
  • Patent number: 9949707
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system, which includes a plurality of radiographic imaging apparatuses each configured to acquire a radiographic image and a processing unit configured to combine a plurality of the radiographic images acquired from the plurality of radiographic imaging apparatuses to generate a stitched image, includes a correction image data determination unit configured to determine correction image data based on an irradiation condition of radiation to be emitted from the radiation source, and an image correction unit configured to correct an area of the stitched image corresponding to an area in which the plurality of radiographic imaging apparatuses overlap, by using the correction image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihiko Miyachi
  • Patent number: 9943275
    Abstract: A tomographic imaging system includes a source configured to irradiate an object; a first image sensor including a first semiconductor substrate having a first face upon which a monolithic first pixel array is located; and a gantry configured to hold the first image sensor and rotate the image sensor around the object about a first rotation axis, the first pixel array including a first plurality of pixels configured to receive light that travels through or from the object based on the irradiation, the first plurality of pixels of the first pixel array being arranged in one or more rows and a plurality of columns such that, a total number of the one or more rows is less than a total number of the plurality of columns, and the one or more rows extend in a first direction, the first image sensor being arranged such that an angle between the first direction and a second direction is greater than 45 degrees and equal to or less than 90 degrees, the second direction being a direction parallel to the rotation axis o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Makoto Shizukuishi
  • Patent number: 9943283
    Abstract: A CT system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the CT system includes a stationary part, including a stationary part, including a plurality of non-rotating components; a rotatable part configured to rotate about a system axis during operation, including at least one x-ray detector, the at least one x-ray detector being modular in design and including a plurality of detector modules, the detector modules each including a plurality of detector pixels; a wireless data transmission system, to transmit at least detector information relating to a measured x-ray radiation from the rotatable part to the stationary part, the wireless data transmission system including at least one radio unit with a transmitter/receiver and at least one radio antenna, integrated in a plurality of the detector modules, to transmit at least the detector information; and at least one radio unit including a radio antenna and a receiver/transmitter, arranged on the stationary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thorsten Ergler, Michael Hosemann
  • Patent number: 9933530
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a photon detector includes a photoelectric converter, a voltage supplier, a potential variation detector, and an adjustor. The photoelectric converter performs photoelectric conversion based on an incident photon and outputs current corresponding to number of photons. The voltage supplier supplies a voltage to the photoelectric converter. The potential variation detector detects potential variation of a cathode of the photoelectric converter. The adjustor adjusts a potential of an anode of the photoelectric converter based on the potential variation detected by the potential variation detector so that variation in a potential difference between the cathode and the anode of the photoelectric converter is reduced, and outputs current from the photoelectric converter to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kimura, Hideyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 9931089
    Abstract: A radiation irradiation apparatus includes a radiation source that irradiates, with radiation, a subject to be examined, a camera that obtains a photographic image of the subject to be examined by performing photography on the subject to be examined, a monitor that displays the photographic image, a housing that houses the radiation source, the camera and the monitor with a display direction of the photographic image directed in a second direction opposite to a first direction that is an irradiation direction of the radiation and a photography direction of the photographic image, and plural grasp units that project in directions different from the first and second directions and are attached to positions of the housing facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fumito Nariyuki, Ryosuke Ogura, Yuzo Aoshima