Abstract: An ?-ray measuring apparatus is provided for accurately analyzing the energy of a trace of ?-rays emitted from a sample in a short time using semiconductor detectors which excel in energy resolution. The ?-ray measuring apparatus comprises an ?-ray detector including a plurality of semiconductor detectors, an adder for adding output signals from the respective semiconductor detectors, an anticoincidence counter for anticoincidently counting the output signals from the respective semiconductor detectors, and a peak analyzer for analyzing an energy distribution of the ?-rays based on an addition of the output signals from the semiconductor detectors which are not anticoincidently counted. Since the output signals from the plurality of semiconductor detectors are added to increase the area of a sample under measurement and also remove background noise, the ?-ray measuring apparatus can more accurately analyze the energy of the ?-rays while reducing a measuring time.

Abstract: A plastic identifying method of the present invention is provided with a step (i) of obtaining a first infrared absorption spectrum by irradiating infrared light of a predetermined wave number onto an item to be identified that contains plastic and measuring the intensity of the infrared light that is totally reflected by this item, and a step (ii) of identifying the plastic contained in the item to be identified by matching the first infrared absorption spectrum with a group of infrared absorption spectra that have been measured for predetermined materials, wherein the predetermined materials are a group of materials containing plastics, and each infrared absorption spectrum in this group of infrared absorption spectra is obtained by irradiating infrared light of a predetermined wave number onto a predetermined material, and measuring the intensity of the infrared light that is totally reflected by that material, and matching is carried out by comparing peaks in the first infrared absorption spectrum with pe

Abstract: A portable radiation detector using a high-purity germanium crystal as the sensing device. The crystal is fabricated such that it exhibits a length to width ratio greater than 1:1 and is oriented within the detector to receive radiation along the width of said crystal. The crystal is located within a container pressurized with ultra-pure nitrogen, and the container is located within a cryostat under vacuum.

Abstract: Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu2+ storage phosphor crystal particles in form of a cylinder suitable for use in flat storage phosphor panels have been provided, wherein said particles have an average cross-section in the range from 1 ?m up to 30 ?m and an average length, measured along the casing of said cylinder, in the range from 100 ?m up to 1000 ?m.

Abstract: An infrared sensor package has a dielectric support which is molded from a plastic material to have a sensor mount for securing a pyroelectric element as well as an IC mount for securing an IC chip that processes a signal from the pyroelectric element. The support is molded over to be integral with metal parts. The metal parts include sensor conductors for interconnection of the pyroelectric element with the IC chip, and I/O conductors for interconnection of the IC chip with I/O pins. The sensor conductors as well as the I/O conductors are both molded into and integrally with the dielectric support.

Abstract: A continuously variable diaphragm or swappable fixed aperture for use in thermal infrared cameras, which aperture or diaphragm can be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The invention contemplates mounting aperture control means, if necessary, in a vacuum or extending the control mechanism through a vacuum in a thermally isolated manner to avoid radiation load on the photocell. The inventive method implements such a diaphragm and control system. The invention makes possible the object of using a single thermal infrared camera under a wide variety of target-scene radiation conditions that may be rapidly changing, with interchangeable or zoom camera lenses requiring matching or different size cold stops, and under other such dynamic situations.

Abstract: A detector for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) energy uses incidence reflectance of the EUV beam off the detector to both capture a small but controllable fraction of the EUV energy and to redirect most of the energy to its target. In one embodiment, a reflective coating of material on a sensor surface is used. In another embodiment, a multi-layer reflector on a sensor is used. A method of making the multi-layer reflector/sensor is also described.

Abstract: An inline air handler system and associated method of use is disclosed. This includes a member, at least one sensor operatively attached to the member, at least one ultraviolet light operatively attached to the member, at least one electronic input device, at least one electronic output device, a control unit, which includes a processor, that is electronically in communication with the at least one sensor, the at least one ultraviolet light, the at least one electronic input device and the at least one electronic output device, a water purification mechanism that includes an ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the ultraviolet radiation chamber can be positioned adjacent to at least one ultraviolet light. The air filtration unit and the member are positioned in a chamber located within a heating, ventilation, evaporative cooling and/or air conditioning system.

Abstract: Apparatus for the inspection of cargo containers for nuclear materials comprising one or more arrays of modules comprising grounded, closed conductive tubes filled with an ionizing gas mixture such as, but not limited to, Argon:CO2. A wire is suspended along each tube axis and electrically connected at both ends of the tube. A positive, dc high voltage is supplied to one end of the wire and an amplifier is attached to the other end through a capacitance to decouple the amplifier from the high voltage. X-rays, gamma rays or neutrons produced by nuclear material and passing through the tube ionize the gas. The electrons from the gas ionization process are accelerated toward the wire surface due to the wire's electrical potential. The acceleration of the electrons near the wire's surface is sufficient to ionize more gas and produce an amplification of electrons/ions that create a surge of current large enough to be detectable by the amplifier.

Abstract: A method of imaging an object comprising emitting ultraviolet light having a single intensity on the object, converting light fluoresced by the object into electrical charges comprising a scanned image of the object, and generating a data set defining the scanned image is provided. An apparatus for imaging a document surface comprising a first illumination device operable to emit ultraviolet light of a single intensity onto the document surface, and a photosensitive device operable to receive fluoresced light emitted by the document surface and convert the received light into electrical signals comprising a scanned image of the document surface is provided.

Abstract: A thermal infrared sensor device includes a substrate having a concave portion, a temperature detecting portion connected to the substrate via a supporting leg held at an upper portion of a space within the concave portion, an infrared reflecting film covering at least a portion of the supporting leg without being thermally connected to the temperature detecting portion, and an absorbing hood portion held opposite the infrared reflecting film and thermally connected to the temperature detecting portion, without being thermally connected to the infrared reflecting film, and extending laterally, in a plate shape, covering at least a portion of the infrared reflecting film.

Abstract: A tunable bolometer device for detecting infrared light (IR) from a target at specific frequencies and in a broadband mode. The device may have an array of pixels of which each is controllable to be sensitive to a particular wavelength of light that is selected and detected. The detection of particular frequencies on a pixel level may result in spectral analysis of the target. Further, each pixel of the bolometer via an associated etalon may be tuned to detect a different frequency of IR or be switched to broadband detection of IR. The device may be packaged in an integrated vacuum package where the etalon array becomes the topcap which is bonded to the wafer containing the bolometer array.

Abstract: Storage capacitor design for a solid state imager. The imager includes several pixels disposed on a substrate in an imaging array pattern. Each pixel includes a photosensor coupled to a thin film switching transistor. Several scan lines are disposed at a first level with respect to the substrate along a first axis and several data lines are disposed at a second level along a second axis of the imaging array. Several data lines disposed at a second level with respect to the substrate along a second axis of the imaging array pattern. Each pixel comprises a storage capacitor coupled parallel to the photosensor, the storage capacitor comprising a storage capacitor electrode and a capacitor common electrode.

Abstract: A vehicle information providing apparatus determines and displays the range of presence of a person or other object based on the characteristics of images recorded by infrared cameras. An image processing unit carries out brightness change search processing in the infrared camera image zone represented by a gray scale using a search area wherein the size of a first detected area detected by binarization and correlation operation serves as the reference. In addition, the parallax between the first detected area and the searched area having a change in brightness is compared, a search area having a parallax that differs from that of the first searched area is eliminated, and a search area having a parallax identical to that of the first searched area is provided a highlighted display as an object identical to that of the first detected area.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus comprising an area sensor in which detecting elements are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate, and a reference supply circuit, for supplying a reference voltage to the detecting elements, which comprises a regulator for regulating the reference voltage. A low-pass filter is arranged between the regulator and the detecting elements. The reference voltage is supplied through the low-pass filter from the reference supply circuit.

Abstract: In a case where X-ray imaging is carried out by using a scintillator (4), a plurality of CCD chips to be driven by means of TDI are arranged, and a horizontal charge compressing vertical shift register row (2c) that is narrow in width is interposed between an imaging region (2vv) and a horizontal shift register (2h), whereby a space is created near the charge transfer direction terminal of the horizontal shift register (2h). By providing an amplifier (7) in this space, an increase in space of the device with respect to the imaging region can be prevented.

Abstract: Photoconductive devices (1,2) comprising MgxZn1?xO, that is preferably epitaxially deposited on a substrate (21), optionally also including a buffer layer (22), wherein x has a value such that the layer is sensitive to UV light. The a MgZnO device (2) having predetermined electrical and optical properties and first and second electrodes (3) deposited on a surface of the device, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode. A voltage source (4) is connected across the first and second electrodes to create an electric field within the device. In operation, when the surface of the device upon which the electrodes are deposited is subjected to a photon emission, electron-hole pairs are created within the device and flow within the device because of the electric field.

Abstract: According to this invention, silicon-based photodetectors using waveguides formed with silicide regions can have high speed and high efficiency for near IR applications. Utilizing the unique properties of silicides, the proposed method provides a simple and elegant way to implement a photodetector design in which photogenerated carriers travel perpendicular to the direction of light propagation. Therefore, the speed and quantum efficiency of the photodetector may be optimized independently. This device configuration may be implemented in one of the two approaches: (a) waveguides formed through surface silicidation of a silicon-based layer of a substrate (b) waveguides formed through silicidation of ridge waveguide side-walls of a silicon-based layer of a substrate; The use of mature silicon technology promises low cost of production and other benefits.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method and system for improved x-ray image data acquisition using a digital x-ray detector. The method and system include defining groups of scan lines in a detector, associating data lines in the detector with the groups of scan lines, and reading image data from the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. The scan lines are connected with a plurality of pixels. A region of interest may be defined in the detector. The pixels obtain image data regarding the region of interest. The image data may be read from at least one scan line in each of the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. Alternatively, the image data may be read from alternating groups of the scan lines using the associated data lines. Image data may also be binned from adjacent pixels read using a plurality of data lines.

Abstract: Unpredictable response variations of the output value signals from radiometer or receiver channels due to noise are minimized when composing a millimeter wave image. The image is composed from composition signals which are each related to the corresponding output value signals from the channels. Some composition signals are weighted by a weighting factor which is different from a weighting factor used for weighting other composition signals. Preferably, the reciprocal of the standard deviation of variations of the output value signals from each channel is used as the weighting factor for deriving the composition signals from the output value signals from that channel. The intensity of each pixel of the image is composed by adding the weighted composition signals associated with that pixel.