Patents by Inventor Shigeru Izumi

Shigeru Izumi 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: 7260176
    Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processing circuit and method used in an industrial X-ray CT apparatus for processing an output signal of a semiconductor X-ray sensor which detects a pulsed X-ray emitted from an accelerator and passed through an object to be inspected. The circuit includes a first resistor having one terminal connected to the X-ray sensor and an other terminal connected to ground, a first capacitor having one end terminal connected to a connection point of the X-ray sensor and the first resistor, an operational amplifier having an inverting input connected to an other terminal of the first capacitor, and an integrator having a second resistor and a second capacitor each connected to the operational amplifier in parallel. The circuit is configured so that at least bias conditions of the X-ray sensor and the first capacitor are returned to a steady state after irradiation of the pulsed X-ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20070009082
    Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processing circuit and method used in an industrial X-ray CT apparatus for processing an output signal of a semiconductor X-ray sensor which detects a pulsed X-ray emitted from an accelerator and passed through an object to be inspected. The circuit includes a first resistor having one terminal connected to the X-ray sensor and an other terminal connected to ground, a first condenser having one end terminal connected to a connection point of the X-ray sensor and the first resistor, an operational amplifier having an inverting input connected to an other terminal of the first condenser, and an integrator having a second resistor and a second condenser each connected to the operational amplifier in parallel. The circuit is configured so that at least bias conditions of the X-ray sensor and the first condenser are returned to a steady state after irradiation of the pulsed X-ray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 7151262
    Abstract: To provide a radioactive gas measurement apparatus that is simply constructed and can efficiently measure Xe-133 in a radioactive gas on-line under the condition that the radioactive gas is mixed with interference N-13, an apparatus is provided for measuring a radiation emitted from Xe-133, including an anticoincidence counter circuit 13 that conducts counting if it receives an output of a main detector 1 when it does not receive outputs of scintillation detectors 2 and 9, and a gate circuit 14, a plate-shaped semiconductor detector is used as the main detector 1, and a material not emitting a characteristic X ray in the range from 70 to 90 keV is used for a shielding structure. In particular, the thickness of the semiconductor detector 1 is set to fall within a range from 2 mm to 7 mm, thereby improving the analysis precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Shigeru Izumi, Tetsuya Matsui, Akihisa Kaihara
  • Publication number: 20060278828
    Abstract: To provide a radioactive gas measurement apparatus that is simply constructed and can efficiently measure Xe-133 in a radioactive gas on-line under the condition that the radioactive gas is mixed with interference N-13, an apparatus is provided for measuring a radiation emitted from Xe-133, including an anticoincidence counter circuit 13 that conducts counting if it receives an output of a main detector 1 when it does not receive outputs of scintillation detectors 2 and 9, and a gate circuit 14, a plate-shaped semiconductor detector is used as the main detector 1, and a material not emitting a characteristic X ray in the range from 70 to 90 keV is used for a shielding structure. In particular, the thickness of the semiconductor detector 1 is set to fall within a range from 2 mm to 7 mm, thereby improving the analysis precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Shigeru Izumi, Tetsuya Matsui, Akihisa Kaihara
  • Patent number: 7113563
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit removes a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and integrates the output signal of the X-ray sensor having the DC component removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20060034420
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit removes a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and integrates the output signal of the X-ray sensor having the DC component removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 6975700
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor, and an integration circuit for integrating the output signal of the X-ray sensor from which the DC component is removed by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 6928138
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of the output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and a circuit for obtaining a difference between a voltage corresponding to a current including a dark current generated in the X-ray sensor by incidence of the X-ray and a voltage corresponding to the dark current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 6925143
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray semiconductor sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray semiconductor sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of the output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor, and an integration circuit for integrating an output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor from which the DC component is removed by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Patent number: 6859511
    Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processor including capacitors 114 for removing DC components (dark currents) from output signals of semiconductor sensors 21 to 2n detecting pulse-like X-rays passed through an object, and integrators (each of which is constituted by a combination of an operational amplifier 115, a resistor 116 and a capacitor 117) for integrating the output signals of the X-ray sensors after removal of the DC components by the capacitors 114. By this, a value proportional to the average number of photons in X-rays can be obtained even in the case where a small number of incident photons are given, and an X-ray CT system using the X-ray sensor signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20040264633
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor, and an integration circuit for integrating the output signal of the X-ray sensor from which the DC component is removed by the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20040234024
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of the output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor and a circuit for obtaining a difference between a voltage corresponding to a current including a dark current generated in the X-ray sensor by incidence of the X-ray and a voltage corresponding to the dark current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20040223582
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray semiconductor sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray semiconductor sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of the output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor, and an integration circuit for integrating an output signal of the X-ray semiconductor sensor from which the DC component is removed by the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20020154729
    Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processor including capacitors 114 for removing DC components (dark currents) from output signals of semiconductor sensors 21 to 2n detecting pulse-like X-rays passed through an object, and integrators (each of which is constituted by a combination of an operational amplifier 115, a resistor 116 and a capacitor 117) for integrating the output signals of the X-ray sensors after removal of the DC components by the capacitors 114. By this, a value proportional to the average number of photons in X-rays can be obtained even in the case where a small number of incident photons are given, and an X-ray CT system using the X-ray sensor signal processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh, Noriyuki Sadaoka, Tarou Takagi, Kouji Kuwabara, Shouhei Numata
  • Publication number: 20020084420
    Abstract: To provide a radioactive gas measurement apparatus that is simply constructed and can efficiently measure Xe-133 in a radioactive gas on-line under the condition that the radioactive gas is mixed with interference N-13, an apparatus is provided for measuring a radiation emitted from Xe-133, including an anticoincidence counter circuit 13 that conducts counting if it receives an output of a main detector 1 when it does not receive outputs of scintillation detectors 2 and 9, and a gate circuit 14, a plate-shaped semiconductor detector is used as the main detector 1, and a material not emitting a characteristic X ray in the range from 70 to 90 keV is used for a shielding structure. In particular, the thickness of the semiconductor detector 1 is set to fall within a range from 2 mm to 7 mm, thereby improving the analysis precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Shigeru Izumi, Tetsuya Matsui, Akihisa Kaihara
  • Patent number: 6366636
    Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processor including capacitors 114 for removing DC components (dark currents) from output signals of semiconductor sensors 21 to 2n detecting pulse-like X-rays passed through an object, and integrators (each of which is constituted by a combination of an operational amplifier 115, a resistor 116 and a capacitor 117) for integrating the output signals of the X-ray sensors after removal of the DC components by the capacitors 114. By this, a value proportional to the average number of photons in X-rays can be obtained even in the case where a small number of incident photons are given, and an X-ray CT system using the X-ray sensor signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamimura, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Atsushi Yamagoshi, Katsutoshi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6333962
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection apparatus has a radiation source, a radiation detector, a radiation source diver, a detector driver, a drive controller, a delay circuit, a radiation signal processing circuit, a memory, a computer, a display device, and an input device. The radiation detector consists of one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of detectors having a long collimator whose pores are in parallel with the radiation angle of the radiation emitted in an angular pattern from the radiation source, whereby a transmission image of a large size structure can be obtained at high speed and with a high resolution. Furthermore, the detect position in an inspection object can be specified by analyzing a plurality of specified transmission images using the inspection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Miyai, Katsutoshi Sato, Yasuko Aoki, Yukiya Hattori
  • Patent number: 6327328
    Abstract: An X ray CT system wherein radiation is irradiated on an object to be inspected during rotation of the object to obtain image data, in which case a rotary center of the object is set at a plurality of different positions in an angle of an angular pitch angle of radiation detectors for each turn, and a tomographic image is reconstructed from data on the X-ray passed through the objected obtained by rotating the object by a polurality of turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Satoh, Shigeru Izumi
  • Patent number: 6049586
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection apparatus has a radiation source, a radiation detector, a radiation source diver, a detector driver, a drive controller, a delay circuit, a radiation signal processing circuit, a memory, a computer, a display device, and an input device. The radiation detector consists of one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of detectors having a long collimator whose pores are in parallel with the radiation angle of the radiation emitted in an angular pattern from the radiation source, whereby a transmission image of a large size structure can be obtained at high speed and with a high resolution. Furthermore, the detect position in an inspection object can be specified by analyzing a plurality of specified transmission images using the inspection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Miyai, Katsutoshi Sato, Yasuko Aoki, Yukiya Hattori
  • Patent number: 5933473
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection apparatus has a radiation source, a radiation detector, a radiation source diver, a detector driver, a drive controller, a delay circuit, a radiation signal processing circuit, a memory, a computer, a display device, and an input device. The radiation detector consists of one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of detectors having a long collimator whose pores are in parallel with the radiation angle of the radiation emitted in an angular pattern from the radiation source, whereby a transmission image of a large size structure can be obtained at high speed and with a high resolution. Furthermore, the detect position in an inspection object can be specified by analyzing a plurality of specified transmission images using the inspection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Shigeru Izumi, Hiroshi Miyai, Katsutoshi Sato, Yasuko Aoki, Yukiya Hattori