Patents Examined by Ruifeng Pu
  • Patent number: 10247795
    Abstract: A method that includes deriving a first power spectral density function of a signal input to a ripple cancellation filter; deriving a second power spectral density function of a signal concurrently output from the ripple cancellation filter; frequency shaping the first power spectral density according to a spectral rejection image of the ripple cancellation filter to obtain a test power spectral density; and indicating a degraded performance of the ripple cancellation filter in the event that the test and second power spectral density functions fail to match within pre-determined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Louis Martin Frigo, Melissa Jean Freeman, Margaret Ann Wiza, Douglas Link, Michael Thomas Rose, Scott Richard Weber, Andrew John Panos
  • Patent number: 10241176
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reconstructing magnetic resonance (MR) tissue parameter maps of a subject from magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) data acquired using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes providing MRF data acquired from a subject using an MRI system and performing an iterative, maximum-likelihood reconstruction of the MRF data to create MR tissue parameter maps of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Bo Zhao, Kawin Setsompop, Lawrence Wald
  • Patent number: 10237967
    Abstract: Among other things, an electronics assembly within an imaging system is provided. The electronics assembly includes a circuit board assembly through which a signal is delivered. The circuit board assembly defines a heat transfer opening between a first side and a second side. An electronics component is electrically coupled to the first side of the circuit board assembly. A heat transfer component supports the electronics component. The heat transfer component includes a base portion coupled to the electronics component and to the circuit board assembly. The heat transfer component includes a heat dissipation portion extending through the heat transfer opening of the circuit board assembly. The heat dissipation portion dissipates heat generated by the electronics component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Maillet, Jr., Garry Allen Fellows
  • Patent number: 10209325
    Abstract: A configurable coil arrangement for use with MRI-guided procedures is provided that facilitates optimal imaging for both pre-procedure planning and imaging of the target sites during the procedure. The coil arrangement includes a plurality of connected coil elements. Spacers connecting the coil elements can be adjustable and/or deformable to provide one or more openings in the coil arrangement of optimal size for accessing the subject within the imaged region. Individual coil elements can also be removed to provide access openings during such procedures, or left in the array for improved pre- and post-procedure image quality. The MRI system can be configured to detect configurations of the coil arrangement and modify imaging parameters to optimize image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Eva Rothgang, Volker Matschl, Arne Hengerer, Lars Lauer, Wesley David Gilson, Jonathan Lewin, Jan Fritz, Clifford Weiss, Katarzyna Macura, Paul Bottomley
  • Patent number: 10209327
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) amplification method, comprising: modulating a first digital carrier signal with a digital envelop signal to generate digital RF pulse signals having a first frequency, converting the digital RF pulse signals into analog RF pulse signals, amplifying the analog RF pulse signals to generate an RF output signal, converting an analog feedback signal sampled from the RF output signal into digital feedback signals; demodulating the digital feedback signals with a second digital carrier signal to generate an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal, and generating an amplitude setting signal for adjusting an amplitude of the digital envelop signal and a phase setting signal for adjusting a phase of the first digital carrier signal according to the I signal and the Q signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tingting Song, Xin Jiang, Jifeng Chen
  • Patent number: 10191427
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high-voltage power supply that supplies high-voltage electric power, a charging device that is charged by the electric power supplied from the high-voltage power supply, a photoconductor that carries an image to be formed on a recording medium, with the electric power supplied from the charging device, a temperature sensor disposed at a distant from the photoconductor that detects temperature inside the image forming apparatus, a humidity sensor disposed at a distant from the photoconductor that detects inside the image forming apparatus, and circuitry that outputs a signal for commanding an electric power value to the high-voltage power supply to cause the high-voltage power supply to supply the electric power with the electric power value, and controls supply of the electric power based on an electric power value feedback signal from the high-voltage power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuuji Nagamatsu
  • Patent number: 10185269
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor drum; an optical scanner, having a light source, configured to scan the photoconductor drum with light to form a latent image; a developer configured to develop an image, based on the latent image; a cycle detector configured to detect a rotation cycle of the photoconductor drum, to produce a cyclic signal indicative of the rotation cycle; a density detector configured to detect density of the image; a measurer configured to measure the rotation cycle at each rotation, based on the cyclic signal; a generator configured to generate, based on the density, a correcting value for correcting intensity of the light, the correcting value having a correction cycle based on a measurement result of the measurer; and an adjuster configured to adjust the correction cycle based on the rotation cycle measured at each rotation, so that the correction cycle matches the rotation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Muneaki Iwata
  • Patent number: 10180480
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sequence controller and a storage unit. The sequence controller acquires magnetic resonance signals of a target imaging part including cerebrospinal fluid flowing therein of a subject in a condition where a supply of oxygen is receivable, at a plurality of time phases in an oxygen inhalation process of the subject. The storage unit stores therein the magnetic resonance signals acquired at the time phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutaka Fushimi, Naotaka Sakashita
  • Patent number: 10175629
    Abstract: A drive transmission device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first drive transmitter having a first hollow body, a second drive transmitter having a second hollow body, a link device, and a releasing device. The link device links the first and second drive transmitters and includes a first inserting body with a projection, a second inserting body with a projection, and a link body. The first and second drive transmitters have respective grooves in the first and second hollow body in an axial direction. The second drive transmitter is disposed at an end portion of a shaft of a rotary body detachably attached to a housing of an image forming apparatus. The releasing device relatively moves the link device to the second drive transmitter in the axial direction and releases a link of the driving force between the rotary body and the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nieda
  • Patent number: 10175321
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method obtaining a magnetic resonance image of an object, comprising obtaining a first time evolution signal from a magnetic resonance signal from the object; performing a search of a compressed dictionary of magnetic resonance fingerprints to select a magnetic resonance fingerprint representative of the first time evolution signal, wherein the selected magnetic resonance fingerprint is an exact or approximate nearest neighbor match to the first time evolution signal; obtaining a magnetic resonance parameter associated with the selected fingerprint; generating the magnetic resonance image of the object from the obtained magnetic resonance parameter; and performing a second search of the compressed dictionary using the magnetic resonance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Xiao Chen, Mariappan S. Nadar, Christopher Cline, Boris Mailhe, Qiu Wang
  • Patent number: 10175313
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes a power transmitting unit, a signal receiving unit and an image reconstruction unit (62). The power transmitting unit wirelessly transmits electric power to an RF coil device by magnetically coupled resonant type wireless power transfer. The signal receiving unit wirelessly receives a digitized nuclear magnetic resonance signal wirelessly transmitted from the RF coil device. The image reconstruction unit obtains a nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the signal receiving unit, and reconstructs image data of an object on the basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10168661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a developing unit and a developing unit attaching portion that is provided in an apparatus main body. The developing unit and the developing unit attaching portion are provided with an insertion guide. The insertion guide makes the developing unit a state it is inclined from a normal posture so as to be moved on a position departed from a photoreceptor drum during a period from a start of insertion of the developing unit into the developing unit attaching portion until just before completion of the insertion, and makes, during a period from just before completion of the insertion until completion of the insertion, the developing unit turn according to an insertion operation of the developing unit so as to be brought close to the photoreceptor drum, whereby the developing unit is positioned so as to take the normal posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10168637
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, an optical scanner, a developing device, a density detector, and an exposure corrector. The photoconductor is rotatable in a direction of rotation. The optical scanner includes a light source, and drives the light source to form a latent image on a surface of the photoconductor. The developing device develops the latent image to form an image. The density detector detects variation in density of the image in the direction of rotation of the photoconductor. The exposure corrector generates exposure correction data for the optical scanner to reduce the variation in density. The exposure corrector adjusts output of the optical scanner according to the exposure correction data at a time different from a time when the exposure corrector updates the exposure correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Muneaki Iwata
  • Patent number: 10162025
    Abstract: In order to allow a determination of the position of a radio-frequency coil assembly, the radio-frequency coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging has a housing element with a wall, a first receiving coil and a second receiving coil, and the first receiving coil and the second receiving coil are arranged on two opposite sides of the wall of the housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Patent number: 10156531
    Abstract: The connectivity between different pore types in porous media is measured by using low-field nuclear magnetic (NMR) and fast field cycling NMR techniques. Due to the fluid exchange between connected pores, T1(T2) NMR relaxation times of proton nuclei of fluids in the different pore types are shifted. By comparing the T1(T2) NMR relaxation times of porous media samples which are 100% brine saturated with relaxation times for the samples containing brine and hydrocarbon in the different pore systems of the samples, the connectivity between the pores can be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung T. Kwak, Ali Abdullah Al-Yousef, Salah Hamad Al-Saleh
  • Patent number: 10156615
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that enables accurate SAR management using power consumption by an object (Pobject) that was calculated based on accurately acquired Q-factors. For this purpose, the present invention calculates Q-factors of each channel of a high-frequency antenna using measurement results of amplitudes of forward waves and reflected waves of each high-frequency signal between three or more different frequencies. An existing SAR monitor in an MRI apparatus is used for the amplitude measurement. Also, the Q-factors are calculated based on a circuit coefficient to be acquired by fitting the measurement results to a predetermined circuit model. Then, the power consumption by an object (Pobject) is calculated using the calculated Q-factors in order to manage the SAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideta Habara, Yoshihisa Soutome, Masahiro Takizawa, Yoshiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 10145909
    Abstract: A magnetism measuring device includes: a gas cell which includes a cell portion that has a main chamber, a reservoir, a communication hole which allows the main chamber and the reservoir to communicate with each other, and an opening provided in the reservoir, a sealing portion which seals the opening, an ampoule disposed in the reservoir, and an alkali metal gas which fills the main chamber and the reservoir. The ampoule is disposed at a predetermined position in the reservoir, and the opening is provided at a position that is distant from the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 10145911
    Abstract: An air ventilation device for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the air ventilation device comprising: —an electric motor-driven fan (30), —a fan housing (34) having at least one air intake opening (36) and at least one air outlet opening (38), wherein the fan (30) is arranged inside the fan housing (34) between the at least one air intake opening (36) and the at least one air outlet opening (38), —at least one ventilation duct (40) connected to the at least one air outlet opening (38), wherein the fan housing (34) is designed as an open-ended waveguide (24) for conveying electromagnetic waves having a cutoff frequency (fc) that is larger than a largest frequency of the emission spectrum that exceeds a predefined amplitude-related parameter, and wherein one end of the waveguide (24) serves as the at least one air intake opening (36), and the opposite end of the waveguide (24) serves as the at least one air outlet opening (38); and a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a scanner unit (10) th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Gernardus Jozef Mulder, Cornelis Leonardus Gerrardus Ham
  • Patent number: 10146155
    Abstract: A toner bottle closure includes a first closure member configured to be fixed to a toner bottle. The first closure member has an outlet opening for dispensing toner. A second closure member is movable relative to the first closure member along an axis between a closed position, in which the second closure member cooperates with the first closure member to close or seal the outlet opening, and an open position for dispensing the toner. The second closure member includes an impact damper, which projects at least partially in a direction parallel to the axis of movement. The impact damper is configured to deform plastically for damping a mechanical impact on the toner bottle closure. A rotation preventer is configured to prevent rotation of the second closure member around the axis of movement relative to the first closure member. A toner bottle including such a toner bottle cap is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Schulkes, Johannes H. A. Dinnissen
  • Patent number: 10145920
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods for determining and adjusting TI using single-line acquisition and automatic compartment detection. A method includes positioning a readout line of the MRI scanner through a compartment of interest of a region of interest in a subject. The method includes inverting magnetization within the readout line by playing an inversion pulse; and reading out data along the readout line after play of the inversion pulse. The method also includes determining a T1 value for each pixel along the readout line; determining the pixels that belong to first and second portions within the compartment of interest; determining a T1 value of each of the first and second portions by averaging the pixels within each portion; and determining an inversion time based on the determined T1 values such that the compartment of interest has a desired magnetization in an image to be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rehwald, Elizabeth Jenista, Raymond Kim, David Wendell