Patents Examined by Hoon K. Song
  • Patent number: 11703464
    Abstract: A method for evaluating an array of high aspect ratio (HAR) structures on a sample includes illuminating the sample with an x-ray beam along a first axis parallel to within two degrees to the HAR structures in the array and sensing a first pattern of small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) scattered from the sample while illuminating the sample along the first axis. The sample is illuminated with the x-ray beam along a second axis that is oblique to the HAR structures in the array, and a second pattern of the SAXS scattered from the sample is sensed while illuminating the sample along the second axis. Information is extracted with respect to the HAR structures based on the first and second patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BRUKER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Alex Dikopoltsev, Matthew Wormington, Yuri Vinshtein, Alexander Krokhmal
  • Patent number: 11697029
    Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus for an animal comprises a treatment part including an accommodation space for placing an animal, an irradiation part including an electron generator and a linear accelerator coupled to one side of the electron generator and disposed in a direction perpendicular to the treatment part, the linear accelerator being configured to emit radiation toward the treatment part, and an image acquisition part located at a preset interval from the treatment part along an irradiation direction of the radiation and configured to obtain an image of an irradiation area when the radiation is applied, wherein the radiation has an output of 1 MeV to 2 MeV so as to be applied to a diseased part located within a predetermined distance range from epidermis of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences
    Inventors: Seung Woo Park, Mun Sik Choi, Hae June Lee, Su Chul Han, Jong Hyun Back
  • Patent number: 11690583
    Abstract: X-ray detectors for generating digital images are disclosed. An example digital X-ray detector includes: a scintillation screen; a reflector configured to reflect light generated by the scintillation screen; and a digital imaging sensor configured to generate a digital image of the light reflected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Amine Belarbi, Jason Bourn, Paul Benson
  • Patent number: 11684324
    Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a gantry, one or more columns, a processing circuitry, and, and a supporting and moving mechanism. The gantry includes an imaging system related to imaging a patient. The one or more columns are each configured to support the gantry so as to be movable in a vertical direction. The processing circuitry generates an image on the basis of an output from the imaging system. The supporting and moving mechanism is configured to support the patient from underneath, while being installed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the gantry. The processing circuitry controls the moving of the supporting and moving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shouichi Nakagawa, Yohei Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 11678852
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a camera to capture a camera image of a target disposed on an examination table; an X-ray source to generate and radiate X-rays; a memory to store imaging protocols; a display; and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information regarding a selection of an imaging protocol, identify a position of an imaging region of the target based on the camera image, the imaging region corresponding to the selection of the imaging protocol and the camera image being acquired with the examination table at a first distance from the X-ray source, control the display to display the camera image of the target and an indicator indicating the imaging region on the camera image based on the identified position, and control the X-ray source to radiate the X-rays toward the target disposed on the examination table at a second distance from the X-ray source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho Jun Lee, Geun Tae Bae, Ju Hwan Kim, Sung Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 11660473
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are radiotherapy systems and methods that can display a workflow-oriented graphical user interface(s). In an embodiment, a system comprises a radiotherapy machine comprising: a couch; and a gantry having a camera in communication with a server, wherein the server is configured to: present for display, in real time on a screen associated with the radiotherapy machine, images received from the camera, wherein when the gantry changes its orientation, the camera revises at least one of its orientations, such that images transmitted to the server maintain an original orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Filip Vojan, Brian Spatola
  • Patent number: 11654301
    Abstract: A system to determine the isocenter of a LINAC includes apparatus and processes. One embodiment does this by determining the axis of rotation for the collimator, the gantry, and may include the couch. In another embodiment only determining the axis of the rotation of the collimator is required. The system and apparatus enable the tracking of the translation-rotation of mechanical components attached to the LINAC to compute the axis of rotation of gantry, collimator and couch. Based on the data collected related to these axes the LINAC isocenter is determined. The primary apparatus utilized in the system includes a single emitter module, a signal receiver module, and a positioning module. The system also includes an isocenter target module and a gravity module to determine a gravity vector relative to the signal receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Aktina Corp.
    Inventors: Nicholas Zacharopoulos, Milan Markovic, David Fenyes
  • Patent number: 11652007
    Abstract: A method includes illuminating a wafer by an X-ray, detecting a spatial domain pattern produced when illuminating the wafer by the X-ray, identifying at least one peak from the detected spatial domain pattern, and analyzing the at least one peak to obtain a morphology of a transistor structure of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su-Horng Lin, Chi-Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 11650335
    Abstract: A method for determining position and energy in scintillation detectors includes determining a photoconversion energy and a photoconversion position of particles triggering scintillation events, in an iteration-free manner, calculated from a distribution of scintillation light released by one or more of the scintillation events. The distribution of scintillation light is scanned by a photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Lerche, Wenwei Bi, Nadim Joni Shah
  • Patent number: 11641863
    Abstract: A method for processing food products (12) includes transporting the food products by a first conveyor (11), an X-ray unit (13) positioned between the intake end and the discharge end of the first conveyor to acquire a first set of product-specific data relating to the food product transported. At least one first optical camera (17), assigned to the first conveyor, is used to acquire a second set of product-specific data relating to the food product. A control unit (18) is used to receive and integrate the first and second data sets to analyze the composition of the food product and determine parameters for the food product. Based on the determined parameters of the food product, the food product is cut with a cutting unit, under the control of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: John Bean Technologies Corporation, Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: George R. Blaine, Jon A. Hocker, Alexander Steffens
  • Patent number: 11642550
    Abstract: After accessing optimization information for a particular patient and for a particular radiation treatment platform, a control circuit generates an optimized radiation treatment plan by processing the optimization information using direct-aperture-optimization that includes fluence-based sub-optimization. By one approach, the control circuit includes the fluence-based sub-optimization in at least some, but not necessarily all, iterations of the direct-aperture-optimization. By one approach, the control circuit is configured to include only a few iterations of the fluence-based sub-optimization when including the fluence-based sub-optimization in at least some, but not necessarily all, iterations of the direct-aperture-optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems International AG
    Inventors: Jarkko Y. Peltola, Tuomas Tallinen, Mikko Vainio
  • Patent number: 11642093
    Abstract: For calibration of internal dose in nuclear imaging, the dose model used for estimating internal dose in a patient is calibrated. One or more values of the dose model (e.g., a physics simulation, dose kernels, or a transport model) are set based on measured dose. The dose may be measured relative to specific tissues and/or isotopes, providing for tracer and tissue specific calibration. For example, dose from the tracer to be injected into the patient is estimated from emissions as well as measured by a dosimeter in a tissue mimicking tissue mimicking object. These doses are used to calibrate the dose model, which calibrated dose model is then used to determine internal dose for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Hans Vija, Michal Cachovan, Miesher Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11638568
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to execute multi-pass imaging scans for improved quality and workflow. An imaging scan can be segmented into multiple passes that are faster than the full imaging scan. Data received by an initial scan pass can be utilized early in the workflow and of sufficient quality for treatment setup, including while the another scan pass is executed to generate data needed for higher quality images, which may be needed for treatment planning. In one embodiment, a data acquisition and reconstruction technique is used when the detector is offset in the channel and/or axial direction for a large FOV during multiple passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Accuray, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Gagnon, Chuanyong Bai, Zhicong Yu
  • Patent number: 11639905
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide pipe scanning systems suitable for performing integrity and reliability inspection of pipelines, including insulated and non-insulated pipelines. The pipe scanning system may include a track disposed about a surface of the pipeline (e.g., on top of the insulation for insulated pipelines or on top of the pipe for non-insulated pipelines) and a scanning device mounted on the track via a drive carriage. The drive carriage includes components to facilitate movement of the drive carriage and the scanning device along the track such that the scanning device travels about the circumference of the pipeline. The scanning device includes an x-ray emitter and a digital x-ray detector that may capture media content indicative of a scanned section of the pipeline (e.g., a 360° circumferential scan), and the media content may be analyzed to detect the presence of one or more defects, such as corrosion under insulation (CUI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Mistras Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John Musgrave, Elliott Morris, Kelly Morris
  • Patent number: 11633628
    Abstract: A radiotherapy dose rate monitor system includes an electrode configured to be impinged by radiotherapy radiation, and a current measurement circuit configured to measure a current through the electrode. An emission of secondary electrons emitted from the electrode provides a majority of current through the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Pawlak
  • Patent number: 11633627
    Abstract: A Cherenkov-based or thin-sheet scintillator-based imaging system uses a radio-optical triggering unit (RTU) that detects scattered radiation in a fast-response scintillator to detect pulses of radiation to permit capture of Cherenkov-light or scintillator-light images during pulses of radiation and background images at times when pulses of radiation are not present without need for electrical interface to the accelerator that provides the pulses of radiation. The Cherenkov images are corrected by background subtraction and used for purposes including optimization of treatment, commissioning, routine quality auditing, R&D, and manufacture. The radio-optical triggering unit employs high-speed, highly sensitive radio-optical sensing to generate a digital timing signal which is synchronous with the treatment beam for use in triggering Cherenkov light or scintillator light imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, DOSEOPTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramanan Krishnaswamy, Petr Bruza, Jr., Michael Jermyn, Brian W. Pogue, David Gladstone, Lesley A. Jarvis, Irwin Tendler
  • Patent number: 11624717
    Abstract: There is presented an apparatus for identifying a sample. Such an apparatus may be used to detect unwanted items as part of a security screening system. The apparatus includes a platform for receiving the sample, at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter, a plurality of detectors and a calculator. The electromagnetic radiation emitter is adapted to provide a plurality of conical shells of radiation. Each conical shell has a characteristic propagation axis associated with it. The detectors are arranged to detect radiation diffracted by the sample upon incidence of one or more conical shells of radiation. Each detector is located on the characteristic propagation axis associated with a corresponding conical shell. The calculator is adapted to calculate a parameter of the sample based on the detected diffracted radiation. The parameter includes a lattice spacing of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: The Nottingham Trent University, Cranfield University
    Inventors: Paul Evans, Keith Rogers
  • Patent number: 11624773
    Abstract: Systems and methods for semiconductor design evaluation. IC layout information of a circuit design is received, and the circuit design is decomposed into smaller circuit pieces. Each circuit piece has IC layout information and a netlist. For each circuit piece, a set of strike models is selected based on the layout information and the net-list of the circuit piece and received radiation environment information. Each strike model has circuit components with voltage values corresponding to a respective particle strike. For each selected strike model of a circuit piece: a radiation susceptibility metric is determined by comparing functional results of simulation of the of the strike model with functional results of simulation of the circuit piece. For each circuit piece, a radiation susceptibility metric is determined based on the radiation susceptibility metrics generated for each selected strike model of the circuit piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Michel D Sika
  • Patent number: 11619597
    Abstract: A system for non-destructive evaluation of an object uses a spherical coordinate system to control two robotic arms. In some examples, the system includes a radiation source coupled to one robotic arm, a radiation detector coupled to the other robotic arm; and a control unit configured to determine, based on input, a first position located on a first surface of a first sphere within the spherical coordinate system; determine, based on the input, a second position located on a second surface of a second sphere within the spherical coordinate system, wherein the second position is located opposite a midpoint of the spherical coordinate system from the first position; and control a motion of the source robotic arm and the detector robotic arm such that the radiation source and the radiation detector move to different ones of the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Caleb N. Hay, Jackson Turner, Sean Lin, Sean M. Anderson, Kirk Guillaume, Matthew James Johnson
  • Patent number: 11617554
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, comprising: causing emission of characteristic X-rays of a chemical element in an object by directing radiation to the object; capturing images of the object using the radiation that has transmitted through the object; capturing images of the chemical element in the object using the characteristic X-rays; reconstructing a three-dimensional image of the object based on the images of the object; determining a three-dimensional distribution of the chemical element in the object based on the images of the chemical element; and superposing the three-dimensional image of the object and the three-dimensional distribution of the chemical element in the object to form a superposed image of the object. The radiation directed to the object comes from multiple radiation sources. The images are captured with multiple image sensors. The radiation sources and the image sensors are stationary with respect to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu