Abstract: A method for generating electricity along a roadway is provided. The method includes actuating an energy transfer assembly coupled to the roadway, wherein the energy transfer assembly is actuated by a force acting upon the roadway. The method also includes generating electricity at a generator coupled to the energy transfer assembly, the generator being driven by actuation of the energy transfer assembly.

Abstract: A method for generating electricity along a roadway is provided. The method includes actuating an energy transfer assembly coupled to the roadway, wherein the energy transfer assembly is actuated by a force acting upon the roadway. The method also includes generating electricity at a generator coupled to the energy transfer assembly, the generator being driven by actuation of the energy transfer assembly.

Abstract: A single-slice data acquisition system (DAS) for a CT imaging system is time-multiplexed to measure more than one signal over the DAS standard sampling time interval. In one embodiment, a detector element includes a scintillator and two photodiodes aligned with respective portions of the scintillator. Each photodiode generates a signal based on the scintillator output. The signal from one of the photodiodes is subjected to a time-dependent gain during consecutive sampling intervals. The gain-adjusted signal and the signal from the other photodiode are combined, and the combined signal is processed to obtain an estimate of the z-derivative of the signal. The estimated z-derivative is then used to generate a high quality image.

Abstract: The present invention is, in one aspect, an imaging system having a detector that has multiple detector cells extending along a z-axis, the detector being configured to collect multiple slices of data; and a scalable data acquisition system configured to convert signals from the detector to digital form, the scalable data acquisition system having a plurality of converter boards each with a plurality of channels, the channels and detector cells having an interweaved coupling to reduce susceptibility to band artifact.

Abstract: Image artifacts are reduced in a volumetric CT scanner system by decreasing the detector pitch along one or both dimensions of a 2D detector array. Four different embodiments for reducing detector pitch without reducing the size of each detector element are disclosed.

Abstract: An x-ray computed tomography system for helically scanning a patient translates the patient as projections of the patient at various beam angles are obtained. The projection data are weighted prior to reconstruction to account for multiply measured projection data and the deviation of the cone beam from a parallel beam approximation.

Abstract: An x-ray computed tomography system for helically scanning a patient translates the patient as projections of the patient at various beam angles are obtained. A cone beam reconstruction method, which accounts for the divergence of the rays of a fan beam of x-rays, is used to reconstruct multiple narrow slices which are combined to provide a larger slice with an improved slice profile. The conical shape of the fan beam causes some voxels to be scanned more than once for a given beam angle and this extra data is weighted and combined with its counterpart data to improve the quality of the image.

Abstract: A 3rd generation CT system produces gain calibration factors (.gamma.) for each channel of a detector array while a scan is being performed. Redundant views are acquired during the scan but the x-ray intensity values in the second view are shifted to the adjacent detector channel by focal spot wobbling the x-ray source. Gain calibration factors (.gamma.) are calculated using the ratio (.beta.) of x-ray intensity values measured at adjacent detector channels.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a linear detector array which measures x-rays passing through a patient from an x-ray source. A mask disposed over the detector array has staggered segments that block x-rays and divide the detector array into a pair of slice planes. Signals from the detector elements receiving x-rays in respective ones of the two slice planes are used to separately reconstruct a slice image for each of the two slice planes.

Abstract: A CT apparatus employing a cone beam of x-rays reduces image artifacts by employing full as opposed to half scans of less than 360.degree.. The present invention recognizes that rays of a cone beam that cross the imaging plane are not redundant with opposing rays in the scan, as is the case with the rays within the imaging plane. In a second embodiment, half scans of less than 360.degree. are obtained using in-plane and cross-plane rays of the cone beam and the data from the in-plane rays is used to estimate the missing data from that collected with the cross-plane rays.

Abstract: An x-ray computed tomography system for helical scanning, translates a patient as projections of the patient at various beam angles are obtained and employs a detector array having multiple rows displaced along the direction of translation. The intensity signals from the multiple rows are combined to produce a composite projection having an improved beam profile along the translation direction. The composite projection is generated by adding together intensity signals obtained for detector elements in each column, at a given beam angle, and for related columns measuring rays having angles differing by x radians or an integer multiple thereof. The intensity signals are selected so that their points of acquisition cluster closely about the position of the desired slice plane.