Patents Examined by Mindy Vu
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Patent number: 9024264Abstract: A smart sensor for maintaining constant gain in a photosensor despite temperature is disclosed. The smart sensor receives temperature data from a temperature sensor, then compares the temperature data to a lookup table of temperatures corresponding to voltages which, when applied to a photosensor at that temperature, will produce a desired gain. The smart sensor then applies the voltage from the lookup table to the photosensor, to yield a desired gain from the photosensor. The smart sensor is particularly applicable to SiPMs used in PET/MRI imaging systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Nan Zhang, Matthias Schmand
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Patent number: 9006674Abstract: A radioactive ray detecting apparatus provides for reduction of the dead area or region where radioactive rays cannot be detected, even if disposing the radioactive ray detectors to be dense or crowded. The radioactive ray detecting apparatus satisfies the following relationships, when assuming that distance between semiconductor elements is “XG1”, while the distance from the semiconductor element of one of the radioactive ray detectors up to the semiconductor element of other radioactive ray detectors is “XG2”, and distance between the semiconductor elements alighted in a Y-direction is “YG1”, and a horizontal pitch of a predetermined pixel pitch to be used as the radioactive ray detector is “a” and a vertical pitch thereof is “b”, width of a surface of each of plural numbers of semiconductor elements is “c” and length thereof is “d”, respectively: c=a?(XG1+XG2)/2 d=b?YG1=2e+(n?2)f.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.Inventors: Juhyun Yu, Naoyuki Yamada, Shinichi Inoue, Akihiro Hiruta, Chihiro Ohkubo
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Patent number: 9000388Abstract: A connection substrate 13 includes a base material 130 formed by stacking a plurality of dielectric layers 130a to 130f and a plurality of through conductors 20 provided penetrating through the dielectric layers 130c to 130f adjacent to each other. A plurality of radiation shielding films 21a to 23a formed integrally with each of the plurality of through conductors 20 and separated from each other are provided at two or more interlayer parts in the dielectric layers 130c to 130f. A region PR1 of the radiation shielding film 21a (21b) formed integrally with one through conductor 20 in one interlayer part projected onto a virtual plane normal to a predetermined direction and a region of the radiation shielding film 22b or 22c (22c) formed integrally with another through conductor 20 in another interlayer part projected onto the virtual plane do not overlap each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K. K.Inventors: Fumiyuki Tokura, Mitsutoshi Sugiya, Shigeru Suzuki, Takashi Tonbe
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Patent number: 9000384Abstract: A method of fabricating a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (e.g. TlBr)-based radiation detector having halide-treated surfaces and associated methods of fabrication, which controls polarization of the mixed ionic-electronic MIEC material to improve stability and operational lifetime.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Adam Conway, Patrick R. Beck, Robert T. Graff, Art Nelson, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Stephen A. Payne, Lars Voss, Hadong Kim
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Patent number: 9000375Abstract: Methods and systems for real time, in situ monitoring of fluids, and particularly the determination of both the energy content and contaminants in a gas or oil transmission facility, are provided. The system may include two separate scanning sources to scan two different, but overlapping, NIR ranges, or may involve two separate scans from a single scanning spectroscopy source. The first scan ranges from approximately 1550 nm up through 1800 nm and a second scan concurrently scans at a high resolution across a band from approximately 1560-1610 nm, the wavelength of interest for hydrogen sulfide (though similar scans are contemplated in alternative wavelength ranges for alternative contaminants). The second scan may provide very narrow (0.005 nm) step resolution over just the wavelength of interest for the contaminant and may scan at a substantially higher power level.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: JP3 Measurement, LLCInventors: Joseph Paul Little, III, Matthew R. Thomas, Jie Zhu
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Patent number: 8993968Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a scintillator material, a scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material that comprises chromophores. Additional embodiments provide a scintillator material, scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material having one, two, three, or more, organic dyes dissolved therein wherein the polymer material having the one, two, three, or more dyes dissolved therein comprises chromophores. At least one of the dyes, termed the base dye, has a concentration in the range 0.5 to 3.5 mol/L. In a specific embodiment, the base dye has a concentration in the range 1.0 to 3.0 mol/L. This base dye concentration is high enough to achieve a substantial triplet-triplet state annihilation rate despite the negligible diffusion of the dye in the rigid polymer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Nanoptics, IncorporatedInventors: James K. Walker, Youngwook Noh, Richard T. Farley
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Patent number: 8987670Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for thermally protecting a scintillator crystal of a scintillation detector are provided. In one example, a thermally-protected scintillator may include a scintillator crystal and a thermal protection element, which may partially surround the scintillator crystal. The thermal protection element may be configured to prevent the scintillator crystal from experiencing a rate of change in temperature sufficient to cause cracking or non-uniform light output, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2009Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Christian Stoller, Robert A. Adolph, Bradley Albert Roscoe
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Patent number: 8987676Abstract: A method for handling soiled bank notes is disclosed. The method includes directing a bank note to an ultraviolet detector; transmitting an ultraviolet signal from the ultraviolet detector to the bank note; receiving a reflected ultraviolet signal from the bank note at the ultraviolet detector; analyzing the reflected ultraviolet signal; identifying a soiling level for the bank note based on analysis of the reflected ultraviolet signal; and handling the bank note based on the identified soiling level. Analyzing the reflected ultraviolet signal can include comparing a characteristic of the reflected ultraviolet signal with calibration data. The calibration data can be stored in a computer-readable medium. The bank note is identified as a soiled bank note if the identified soiling level exceeds a threshold soiling level.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Toshiba International CorporationInventor: Sohail Kayani
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Patent number: 8981318Abstract: A device and system for measuring the multidimensional distribution of a sample tagged with a short life fluorescent label. The substance applied to a sample holder can be scanned with an optical point source excitation and read back optical stage. The sample can be excited at each of a plurality of points with a fast, e.g., nanosecond pulse of light. The resulting fluorescence can be detected after the excitation is extinguished. A detection gate window can be optimized to maximize the fluorescence signal detected for a predetermined amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Gene Capture, Inc.Inventor: Marc L. Pusey
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Patent number: 8975583Abstract: A 3D wafer-integration uncooled infrared (IR) microbolometer focal plane array (FPA) sensor includes a first die with an FPA of uncooled IR microbolometers, a second die signal-processing layer. The dies are vertically aligned, stacked with 3D wafer bonding, and interconnected. Interconnection include vertical electrical interconnects. Separate optimized manufacturing processes are used for die, so that additional processing costs of the FPA die are leveraged and 3D integration is completed at wafer level, minimizing total device cost and maximizing die count per wafer.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Rosanne H. Tinkler, Richard J. Blackwell, Jr.
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Patent number: 8957378Abstract: A THz radiation detector comprising a vertical antenna separated from a suspended platform by an isolating thermal air gap for concentrating THz radiation energy into a smaller suspended MEMS platform upon which a thermal sensor element is located. THz photon energy is converted into electrical energy via a thermally isolated air gap between plates of a coupling capacitor separated by a plurality of nano-tip spacers that determine the gap distance. The capacitor couples energy from the antenna to the thermal sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dan Corcos, Michel Despont, Danny Elad, Bernd Gotsmann, Lukas Kull, Thomas E. Morf
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Patent number: 8952341Abstract: A low rare earth mineral photoluminescent structure for generating long-persistent luminescence that utilizes at least a phosphorescent layer comprising one or more phosphorescent materials having substantially low rare earth mineral content of less than about 2.0 weight percent, and one or more fluorescent layers is disclosed. Further disclosed are methods for fabricating and using the inventive low rare earth mineral photoluminescent structure. A low rare earth mineral photoluminescent composition for generating long-persistent luminescence that utilizes at least one or more phosphorescent materials having substantially low rare earth mineral content of less than about 2.0 weight percent and one or more fluorescent materials is also disclosed, as well as, the methods for fabricating and using the inventive low rare earth mineral photoluminescent composition.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Performance Indictor, LLCInventors: Edward D. Kingsley, Satish Agrawal
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Patent number: 8937287Abstract: A self-referencing radiation detector to test the radiochemical purity of a sample radiopharmaceutical solution. In some embodiments, the self-referencing radiation detector measures the radioactivity of a sample radiopharmaceutical solution before the sample radiopharmaceutical solution is passed through a high performance liquid chromatography column. The radiation detector then measures the radioactivity of each separated molecularly distinct species from the high performance liquid chromatography column. The radiochemical purity of the sample radiopharmaceutical solution is calculated by comparing the measured radioactivity of separated molecularly distinct species from said high performance liquid chromatography column to the measured radioactivity of the sample radiopharmaceutical solution before the sample radiopharmaceutical solution is passed through the high performance liquid chromatography column.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: ABT Molecular Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Anthony M. Giamis
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Patent number: 8927938Abstract: A device for detecting alpha-particles, like those emanating from radon. The device includes an electronic circuit (100) having a detection/conversion cell (102) with a forward biased diode (D) with its n-type layer grounded and the input of which is electrically connected to the p-type layer of the diode (D). The cell is designed to recover the charge emitted by the diode (D) and to convert this charge into a representative voltage constituting a dosage signal. The device further includes a comparison circuit (160) designed to compare the level of the dosage signal with a threshold level, and a control circuit (170) to control a protection device in response to the level of the voltage (V) exceeding the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Inventor: Grégory Jean
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Patent number: 8921801Abstract: A ?-radiation detection system that includes at least one semiconductor detector such as HPGe-Detector, a position-sensitive ?-Detector, a TOF Controller, and a Digitizer/Integrator. The Digitizer/Integrator starts to process the energy signals of a ?-radiation sent from the HPGe-Detector instantly when the HPGe-Detector detects the ?-radiation. Subsequently, it is determined whether a coincidence exists between the ?-particles and ?-radiation signal, based on a determination of the time-of-flight of neutrons obtained from the ?-Detector and the HPGe-Detector. If it is determined that the time-of-flight falls within a predetermined coincidence window, the Digitizer/Integrator is allowed to continue and complete the energy signal processing. If, however, there is no coincidence, the Digitizer/Integrator is instructed to be clear and reset its operation instantly.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLCInventors: Istvan Dioszegi, Cynthia Salwen, Peter Vanier
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Patent number: 8916826Abstract: A diode sensor matrix including a multitude of diodes is configured to detect, in a first measuring cycle, a first sensor value at a first diode or at diodes of a first group of diodes while operating the first diode and/or the diodes of the first group in the flow direction and operating the diodes, which share an anode or cathode or terminal with the first diode or with any of the diodes of the first group, in the reverse direction, and to detect, in a second measuring cycle, a second sensor value at a second diode among the diodes which share an anode or cathode terminal with the first diode or with any of the diodes of the first group, while operating the second diode in the flow direction and operating the first diode or a diode from the first group in the reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Renee Lerch, Piotr Kropelnicki
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Patent number: 8916830Abstract: An X-ray detector panel comprises: a substrate; a transistor including a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, an active layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the active layer and separated from each other; a photodiode including a first electrode connected to the drain electrode of the transistor, a photoconductive layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the photoconductive layer; an interlayer insulating layer including a first interlayer insulating layer covering the transistor and the photodiode, the first interlayer insulating layer being formed of an insulating material having a band gap energy of about 8 eV to about 10 eV; a data line disposed on the interlayer insulating layer and contacting the source electrode of the transistor via the interlayer insulating layer; a bias line disposed on the interlayer insulating layer and contacting the secondType: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: James Lim, Kwan-Wook Jung, Dong-Hyuk Kim, Jea-Eun Ryu
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Patent number: 8907292Abstract: A tungstate-based scintillating material and a method for using a tungstate-based scintillating material is provided. In addition, a radiation detector and an imaging device incorporating a tungstate-based scintillating material are provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Thomas Juestel, Cornelis Reinder Ronda
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Patent number: 8907289Abstract: A subatomic particle detection apparatus includes a scintillator to scintillate if struck by subatomic particles, and to scintillate if subjected to mechanical stresses, the scintillator to emit an electrical discharge if scintillating due to the mechanical stresses. A detector is optically coupled to the scintillator to detect scintillations by the scintillator. Furthermore, an antenna is associated with the scintillator and/or the detector to detect the electrical discharge. In addition, circuitry is coupled to the detector and the antenna to determine whether the scintillator scintillated due to the mechanical stresses, based upon the antenna detecting the electrical discharge.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Peter David Wraight
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Patent number: 8901512Abstract: There is provided a particle detector that can increase a detection sensitivity to fluorescence emitted from biogenic particles. A particle detector for detecting biogenic particles includes a substrate having a principal surface and configured to collect the biogenic particles on the principal surface, a light emitting element configured to irradiate particles collected on the principal surface with excitation light, and a light receiving element configured to receive fluorescence emitted from the particles when the particles are irradiated with the excitation light from the light emitting element. An optical axis of the Fresnel lens and a ray direction of the excitation light intersect with each other. The principal surface is a mirror surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Fujita, Haruki Kamiyama, Kazushi Fujioka, Hiroki Okuno