Patents by Inventor Paul Granfors

Paul Granfors 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).

  • Patent number: 9772409
    Abstract: An X-ray detector assembly comprising a light attenuator of electro-chromic material, the electro-chromic material having a first electrode layer electrically coupled to a first surface of the electro-chromic material and a second electrode layer electrically coupled to a second surface of the electro-chromic material, wherein the second surface is disposed opposite the first surface, and the light attenuator having a controllable light transmission rate. The X-ray detector further comprising a scintillator deposited on the first electrode layer and a photo detector deposited on the second electrode layer. The photo detector having a sensing surface adjacent to the second electrode layer of the light attenuator. A variable power supply is electrically coupled to the first and second electrode layers of the light attenuator to provide a controllable voltage across the first and second electrode layers to control the light transmission rate of the light attenuator in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Granfors, James Liu
  • Publication number: 20160187499
    Abstract: An X-ray detector assembly comprising a scintillator, a photo detector with a sensing surface, and a light attenuator that has a controllable light transmission rate and is located between the scintillator and the sensing surface of the photo detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Granfors, James Liu
  • Patent number: 8324586
    Abstract: A configurable flat panel multi resolution X-ray detector is disclosed herewith. The detector comprises: a detector array having a plurality of rows and columns of detector elements; scan electronics designed to activate the detector array for reading data from the detector array and readout electronics associated with the scan electronics to read the data from the detector elements. At least one of the detector array, scan electronics and readout electronics is configured to achieve multi resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kay Schmidt, Paul Granfors, Stephen Metz
  • Publication number: 20100288948
    Abstract: A configurable flat panel multi resolution X-ray detector is disclosed herewith. The detector comprises: a detector array having a plurality of rows and columns of detector elements; scan electronics designed to activate the detector array for reading data from the detector array and readout electronics associated with the scan electronics to read the data from the detector elements. At least one of the detector array, scan electronics and readout electronics is configured to achieve multi resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kay Schmidt, Paul Granfors, Stephen Metz
  • Publication number: 20070223654
    Abstract: Systems, processes and apparatus are described through which non-destructive imaging is achieved, including a process for variable binning of detector elements. The process includes accepting input data indicative of image quality goals and descriptors of an imaging task, as well as parameters characterizing a test subject, relative to non-destructive imaging of an internal portion of the test subject and determining when the non-destructive imaging system is capable of achieving the image quality goals using binning of more than four pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Aufrichtig, John Lamberty, Paul Granfors
  • Patent number: 7005663
    Abstract: Sampling methods and systems that shorten readout time and reduce lag in amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detectors are described. Embodiments comprise: (a) activating a reset switch to discharge any residual signal being held in a feedback capacitor; (b) deactivating the reset switch; (c) activating a field effect transistor; (d) sampling an electrical signal from the amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, while the field effect transistor is activated; (e) activating a reset switch, after the electrical signal has been sampled and while the field effect transistor is still activated, to discharge any residual signal being held in the feedback capacitor; (f) deactivating the field effect transistor, while the reset switch is still activated; (g) deactivating the reset switch; and (h) repeating steps (c)–(g) as necessary to obtain a predetermined radiographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Manat Maolinbay, Paul Granfors, Richard Aufrichtig, Richard Cronce
  • Publication number: 20050206769
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing power consumption of a medical imaging detector by the use of triggering signals, environmental condition data, and/or determination of a variable time interval triggering event that is unique for each power consumption state. Systems and methods are provided for managing power and temperature of a device, after receiving a request for a function to be performed by the device determining an “on” trigger component, an “off” trigger component, associated circuits for performing the received function, providing power to the associated circuits upon the occurrence of the “on” trigger component, and removing power to the associated circuits upon the occurrence of the “off” trigger component. Further, an instruction is described for determining and displaying a variable time interval that is indicative of a time to change from one state to a desired state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ken Kump, John Lamberty, Aaron Haen, Paul Granfors, Jason Ertel, Jibril Odogba, David Neumann, Donald Langler, Ping Xue, Habib Vafi, Scott Petrick
  • Publication number: 20050207534
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing power consumption of a medical imaging detector by the use of triggering signals, environmental condition data, and/or determination of a variable time interval triggering event that is unique for each power consumption state. Systems and methods are provided for managing power and temperature of a device, after receiving a request for a function to be performed by the device determining an “on” trigger component, an “off” trigger component, associated circuits for performing the received function, providing power to the associated circuits upon the occurrence of the “on” trigger component, and removing power to the associated circuits upon the occurrence of the “off” trigger component. Further, an instruction is described for determining and displaying a variable time interval that is indicative of a time to change from one state to a desired state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Petrick, Donald Langler, Paul Granfors, Ken Kump, Aaron Haen, Jibril Odogba, Jason Ertel, David Neumann, John Lamberty, Ping Xue, Habib Vafi
  • Publication number: 20050175254
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the potential of an x-ray imaging system to create images with scintillator hysteresis artifacts includes examining an x-ray image to measure two signal levels for two areas of interest, then determining a difference between the two signal levels and comparing the difference to a threshold. The signal levels can be measured by determining an amount of electrical charge discharged in photodiodes of the detector. If the difference in signals is greater than the threshold amount, then the possibility exists that scintillator hysteresis artifacts may be produced in images. In addition, the present invention also provides for the elimination or reduction in magnitude of scintillator hysteresis artifacts in images produced by an x-ray imaging system. After the possibility of scintillator hysteresis artifacts is detected, the detector can be irradiated with an x-ray flux to eliminate or reduce the magnitude of the artifacts in images produced by the x-ray imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Granfors, Manat Maolinbay, Richard Aufrichtig
  • Publication number: 20050098731
    Abstract: Spatially patterned light-blocking layers for radiation imaging detectors are described. Embodiments comprise spatially patterned light-blocking layers for an amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, wherein the spatially patterned light-blocking layer blocks light from a predetermined number of switching elements in the detector, wherein the predetermined number comprises less than all of the switching elements in the detector. These light-blocking layers may block light from each switching element in a predetermined arrangement of switching elements that are read out last, or in any other suitable pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Granfors, Richard Aufrichtig, Douglas Albagli
  • Publication number: 20050040352
    Abstract: Sampling methods and systems that shorten readout time and reduce lag in amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detectors are described. Embodiments comprise: (a) activating a reset switch to discharge any residual signal being held in a feedback capacitor; (b) deactivating the reset switch; (c) activating a field effect transistor; (d) sampling an electrical signal from the amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, while the field effect transistor is activated; (e) activating a reset switch, after the electrical signal has been sampled and while the field effect transistor is still activated, to discharge any residual signal being held in the feedback capacitor; (f) deactivating the field effect transistor, while the reset switch is still activated; (g) deactivating the reset switch; and (h) repeating steps (c)-(g) as necessary to obtain a predetermined radiographic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Manat Maolinbay, Paul Granfors, Richard Aufrichtig, Richard Cronce