Patents by Inventor Ling Jian Meng
Ling Jian Meng has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11269084Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device comprising: a first micro-camera-element comprising a first sensor area and a first aperture element, the first aperture element having a first structural configuration, the first aperture element and the first sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining first imaging data having first characteristics, and the first characteristics comprising first imaging resolution and first angular coverage; a second micro-camera-element comprising a second sensor area and a second aperture element, the second aperture element having a second structural configuration, the second aperture element and the second sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining second imaging data having second characteristics, the second characteristics comprising second imaging resolution and second angular coverage, and the first imaging resolution differing from the second imaging resolution, thType: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni
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Publication number: 20200096652Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device comprising: a first micro-camera-element comprising a first sensor area and a first aperture element, the first aperture element having a first structural configuration, the first aperture element and the first sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining first imaging data having first characteristics, and the first characteristics comprising first imaging resolution and first angular coverage; a second micro-camera-element comprising a second sensor area and a second aperture element, the second aperture element having a second structural configuration, the second aperture element and the second sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining second imaging data having second characteristics, the second characteristics comprising second imaging resolution and second angular coverage, and the first imaging resolution differing from the second imaging resolution, thType: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni
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Patent number: 8866097Abstract: A gamma ray detector apparatus comprises a solid state detector that includes a plurality of anode pixels and at least one cathode. The solid state detector is configured for receiving gamma rays during an interaction and inducing a signal in an anode pixel and in a cathode. An anode pixel readout circuit is coupled to the plurality of anode pixels and is configured to read out and process the induced signal in the anode pixel and provide triggering and addressing information. A waveform sampling circuit is coupled to the at least one cathode and configured to read out and process the induced signal in the cathode and determine energy of the interaction, timing of the interaction, and depth of interaction.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventor: Ling-Jian Meng
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Publication number: 20140226784Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving, from each panel of a plurality of panels positioned at differing viewing angles of a target object, a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) projections from fractional views of a volume of interest of the target object, wherein the plurality of 2D projections of fractional views provided by each panel are generated from a plurality of apertures and corresponding plurality of sensors used by each panel to sense gamma rays generated by the target object, and generating, from the plurality of 2D projections of the fractional views, a three-dimensional (3D) image of a 3D section of the target object. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventor: Ling Jian Meng
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Publication number: 20130284938Abstract: A gamma ray detector apparatus comprises a solid state detector that includes a plurality of anode pixels and at least one cathode. The solid state detector is configured for receiving gamma rays during an interaction and inducing a signal in an anode pixel and in a cathode. An anode pixel readout circuit is coupled to the plurality of anode pixels and is configured to read out and process the induced signal in the anode pixel and provide triggering and addressing information. A waveform sampling circuit is coupled to the at least one cathode and configured to read out and process the induced signal in the cathode and determine energy of the interaction, timing of the interaction, and depth of interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventor: Ling-Jian Meng
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Patent number: 8565376Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a collimator having at least one aperture and a fluorescence detector. The collimator can be positioned next to a compound. The compound can emit fluorescence X-rays when impacted by an X-ray beam generated by an X-ray source. The collimator can absorb at least a first portion of the fluorescence X-rays emitted by the compound and release at least a second portion of the fluorescence X-rays at the at least one aperture. The second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture have known directional information based on a position of the collimator. The fluorescence detector can detect the second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture. A three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution of the compound can be determined from the fluorescence X-rays detected and the directional information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventor: Ling Jian Meng
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Patent number: 8017917Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an ionizing radiation sensor having a first scintillator for generating photons from incoming ionizing radiation, an imaging intensifier for amplifying the photons, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) coupled to the imaging intensifier for sensing the amplified photons generated by the imaging intensifier. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventor: Ling-Jian Meng
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Publication number: 20110188629Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a collimator having at least one aperture and a fluorescence detector. The collimator can be positioned next to a compound. The compound can emit fluorescence X-rays when impacted by an X-ray beam generated by an X-ray source. The collimator can absorb at least a first portion of the fluorescence X-rays emitted by the compound and release at least a second portion of the fluorescence X-rays at the at least one aperture. The second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture have known directional information based on a position of the collimator. The fluorescence detector can detect the second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture. A three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution of the compound can be determined from the fluorescence X-rays detected and the directional information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventor: LING JIAN MENG
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Publication number: 20090140157Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an ionizing radiation sensor having a first scintillator for generating photons from incoming ionizing radiation, an imaging intensifier for amplifying the photons, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) coupled to the imaging intensifier for sensing the amplified photons generated by the imaging intensifier. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventor: Ling-Jian MENG
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Patent number: 7202478Abstract: A scintillation spectrometer provides improved resolution by ensuring that photons generated by scintillation events occurring in different locations within the scintillation material generate similar light profiles on the photo-detector, thereby making the output signal less sensitive to the initial interaction site and enabling more effective de-convolution of raw data. This is achieved in different ways, such as by: limiting the exit window of the scintillation crystal, introducing a spacer between the scintillation crystal and the detector window, or providing a crystal that is longer than necessary to stop gamma rays.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Symetrica LimitedInventors: David Ramsden, Ling-Jian Meng, Oleg Ivanov, Sergei Ignatov
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Publication number: 20060027754Abstract: A scintillation spectrometer provides improved resolution by ensuring that photons generated by scintillation events occurring in different locations within the scintillation material generate similar light profiles on the photo-detector, thereby making the output signal less sensitive to the initial interaction site and enabling more effective de-convolution of raw data. This is achieved in different ways, such as by: limiting the exit window of the scintillation crystal, introducing a spacer between the scintillation crystal and the detector window, or providing a crystal that is longer than necessary to stop gamma rays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: David Ramsden, Ling-Jian Meng, Oleg Ivanov, Sergei Ignatov
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Patent number: 6940071Abstract: Different geometries of scintillation spectrometers are disclosed which provide improved resolution over prior art scintillation spectrometers. By ensuring that photons generated by scintillation events occurring in different locations within the scintillation material generate similar light profiles on the photo-detector, the output signal is made less sensitive to the initial interaction site. This can be achieved in a number of ways, such as: by limiting the exit window of the scintillation crystal to a smaller detector, by introducing an optical spacer (94) between the scintillation crystal and detector (99), and/or by making the crystal longer than necessary to stop the gamma rays. A principal advantage of these new geometries is that deconvolution of the raw-data is more effective, thus improving resolution.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: University of SouthamptonInventors: David Ramsden, Ling-Jian Meng, Oleg Ivanov, Sergei Ignatov
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Patent number: 6881959Abstract: Method and system for generating an image of the radiation density of a source of photons located in an object wherein Compton scattering and non-Compton scattering events are detected and contained within data used for image reconstruction. The system includes a multiple pinhole collimator, a position sensitive scintillation detector as used in standard Gamma cameras, and a silicon pad detector array inserted between the collimator and the scintillation detector. The problem of multiplexing, normally associated with multiple pinhole systems, is reduced by using the extra information from the detected Compton scattering events. For properly selected pinhole spacing, this leads to a significantly improved image quality. A valuable enhancement can be achieved when adding only a small fraction of gamma rays with reduced angular ambiguity. The system does not require a highly optimized Compton camera behind the collimator.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Ling Jian Meng, Neal H. Clinthorne, W. Leslie Rogers, David K. Wehe
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Publication number: 20040084624Abstract: Method and system for generating an image of the radiation density of a source of photons located in an object wherein Compton scattering and non-Compton scattering events are detected and contained within data used for image reconstruction. The system includes a multiple pinhole collimator, a position sensitive scintillation detector as used in standard Gamma cameras, and a silicon pad detector array inserted between the collimator and the scintillation detector. The problem of multiplexing, normally associated with multiple pinhole systems, is reduced by using the extra information from the detected Compton scattering events. For properly selected pinhole spacing, this leads to a significantly improved image quality. A valuable enhancement can be achieved when adding only a small fraction of gamma rays with reduced angular ambiguity. The system does not require a highly optimized Compton camera behind the collimator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Ling Jian Meng, Neal H. Clinthorne, W. Leslie Rogers, David K. Wehe
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Publication number: 20040000645Abstract: Different geometries of scintillation spectrometer are disclosed which provide improved resolution over prior art scintillation spectrometers. By ensuring that photons generated by scintillation events occurring in different locations within the scintillation material generate similar light profiles on the photo-detector, the output signal is made less sensitive to the initial interaction site. This can be achieved in a number of ways, such as: by limiting the exit window of the scintillation crystal to a smaller detector, by introducing an optical spacer (94) between the scintillation crystal and detector (99), and/or by making the crystal longer than necessary to stop the gamma rays. A principal advantage of these new geometries is that deconvolution of the raw-data is more effective, thus improving resolution.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: David Ramsden, Ling-Jian Meng, Oleg Ivanov, Sergei Ignatov