Patents by Inventor Steven Jude Duclos
Steven Jude Duclos 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: 7626178Abstract: An integrated radiation detector having a pulse-mode operating photosensor optically coupled to a gamma sensing element and a neutron sensing element is disclosed. The detector includes pulse shape and processing electronics package that uses an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a charge to digital converter (QDC) to determine scintillation decay times and classify radiation interactions by radiation type. The pulse shape and processing electronics package determines a maximum gamma energy from the spectrum associated with gamma rays detected by the gamma sensing element to adaptively select a gamma threshold for the neutron sensing element. A light pulse attributed to the neutron sensing element is a valid neutron event when the amplitude of the light pulse is above the gamma threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adrian Ivan, Steven Jude Duclos, Daniel Bruno McDevitt, James Richard Williams, Brent Allen Clothier, Jeffrey Seymour Gordon
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Patent number: 7608829Abstract: A scintillation detector comprising nano-scale particles of a scintillation compound embedded in a plastic matrix is provided. The nano-scale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. Methods are provided for preparing the nano-scale particles. The particles may be coated with organic compounds or polymers prior to incorporation in the plastic matrix. A technique for matching the refractive index of the plastic matrix with the nano-scale particles by incorporating nano-scale particles of titanium dioxide is also provided. The scintillator may be coupled with one or more photodetectors to form a scintillation detection system. The scintillation detection system may be adapted for use in X-ray and radiation imaging devices, such as digital X-ray imaging, mammography, CT, PET, or SPECT, or may be used in radiation security detectors or subterranean radiation detectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, James Scott Vartuli, Brent Allen Clothier, Steven Jude Duclos, Mohan Manoharan, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifford Bueno
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Patent number: 7586252Abstract: A phosphor admixture includes a phosphor powder and a number of radiation capture electron emitters. The emitters are dispersed within the phosphor powder. A phosphor screen includes phosphor particles, radiation capture electron emitters and a binder. The emitters and phosphor particles are dispersed within the binder. An imaging assembly includes a phosphor screen configured to receive incident radiation and to emit corresponding optical signals. An electronic device is coupled to the phosphor screen. The electronic device is configured to receive the optical signals from the phosphor screen and to generate an imaging signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Bueno, Steven Jude Duclos, David Michael Hoffman, John Michael Cuffe
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Patent number: 7576329Abstract: Scintillator materials based on certain types of halide-lanthanide matrix materials are described. In one embodiment, the matrix material contains a mixture of lanthanide halides, i.e., a solid solution of at least two of the halides, such as lanthanum chloride and lanthanum bromide. In another embodiment, the matrix material is based on lanthanum iodide alone, which must be substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide. The scintillator materials, which can be in monocrystalline or polycrystalline form, also include an activator for the matrix material, e.g., cerium. To further improve the stopping power and the scintillating efficiency of these halide scintillators, the addition of bismuth is disclosed. Radiation detectors that use the scintillators are also described, as are related methods for detecting high-energy radiation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng
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Publication number: 20090140150Abstract: An integrated radiation detector having a pulse-mode operating photosensor optically coupled to a gamma sensing element and a neutron sensing element is disclosed. The detector includes pulse shape and processing electronics package that uses an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a charge to digital converter (QDC) to determine scintillation decay times and classify radiation interactions by radiation type. The pulse shape and processing electronics package determines a maximum gamma energy from the spectrum associated with gamma rays detected by the gamma sensing element to adaptively select a gamma threshold for the neutron sensing element. A light pulse attributed to the neutron sensing element is a valid neutron event when the amplitude of the light pulse is above the gamma threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Adrian Ivan, Steven Jude Duclos, Daniel Bruno McDevitt, James Richard Williams, Brent Allen Clothier, Jeffrey Seymour Gordon
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Patent number: 7541589Abstract: A scintillator composition is described, including a matrix material and an activator. The matrix material includes at least one lanthanide halide compound. The matrix can also include at least one alkali metal, and in some embodiments, at least one alkaline earth metal. The composition also includes a praseodymium activator for the matrix. Radiation detectors that include the scintillators are disclosed. A method for detecting high-energy radiation with a radiation detector is also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng
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Publication number: 20080296503Abstract: A scintillator composition includes a matrix material, where the matrix material includes an alkaline earth metal and a lanthanide halide. The scintillator composition further includes an activator ion, where the activator ion is a trivalent ion. In one embodiment, the scintillator composition includes a matrix material represented by A2LnX7, where A includes an alkaline earth metal, Ln includes a lanthanide ion, and X includes a halide ion. In another embodiment, the scintillator composition includes a matrix material represented by ALnX5, where A includes an alkaline earth metal, Ln includes a lanthanide ion, and X includes a halide ion. In these embodiments, the scintillator composition includes an activator ion, where the activator ion includes cerium, or bismuth, or praseodymium, or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng
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Publication number: 20080241041Abstract: Crystalline scintillator materials comprising nano-scale particles of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides and metal oxysulfides are provided. The nano-scale particles are less than 100 nm in size. Methods are provided for preparing the particles. In one method, used to form oxyhalides and oxysulfides, metal salts are dissolved in water, and then precipitated out as fine particles using an aqueous base. After the particles are separated from the solution, they are annealed under a flow of a water saturated hydrogen anion gas, such as HCl or H2S, to form the crystalline scintillator particles. The other methods take advantage of the characteristics of microemulsion solutions to control droplet size, and, thus, the particle size of the final nano-particles. For example, in one method, a first micro-emulsion containing metal salts if formed. The first micro-emulsion is mixed with an aqueous base in a second micro-emulsion to form the final nano-scale particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Brent Allen Clothier, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, Alok Srivastava, Stanley John Stoklosa, Steven Jude Duclos, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani
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Publication number: 20080237470Abstract: A scintillation detector comprising nano-scale particles of a scintillation compound embedded in a plastic matrix is provided. The nano-scale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. Methods are provided for preparing the nano-scale particles. The particles may be coated with organic compounds or polymers prior to incorporation in the plastic matrix. A technique for matching the refractive index of the plastic matrix with the nano-scale particles by incorporating nano-scale particles of titanium dioxide is also provided. The scintillator may be coupled with one or more photodetectors to form a scintillation detection system. The scintillation detection system may be adapted for use in X-ray and radiation imaging devices, such as digital X-ray imaging, mammography, CT, PET, or SPECT, or may be used in radiation security detectors or subterranean radiation detectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, James Scott Vartuli, Brent Allen Clothier, Steven Jude Duclos, Mohan Manoharan, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifford Bueno
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Publication number: 20080131347Abstract: Disclosed herein are scintillator compositions that comprise pre-scintillator compositions that are mixed with cerium and/or praseodymium halides. The scintillator compositions comprise solid solutions of the pre-scintillator compositions that are mixed with cerium and/or praseodymium halides and are eventually fired. Disclosed herein too are methods of manufacturing the scintillator compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro
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Patent number: 7368719Abstract: Disclosed herein are scintillating materials, methods for their manufacture, and method for their use. In one embodiment, a scintillator comprises the formula A2LnBX6, wherein A comprises thallium (Tl), a Group IA element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing, Ln comprises cerium, B comprises a Group IA element, and X comprises iodine (I) or an iodine compound, wherein the iodine compound comprises iodine (I) and an element selected from the group consisting of fluoride (F), chloride (Cl), bromide (Br), and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. Also disclosed are radiation detectors and methods for their use.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro
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Patent number: 7335891Abstract: A sensing element or detector activated by radiation comprising a first scintillator activated by gamma radiation; and a neutron sensing layer comprising a second scintillator activated by neutron radiation.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Timothy Albert Kniss, Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Thomas Francis McNulty, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Kent Charles Burr, Adrian Ivan, Thomas Robert Anderson
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Patent number: 7329875Abstract: A method of manufacturing a detector array for an imaging system, the method comprising providing a pixelated scintillator having a plurality of lost molded pixels comprising a scintillator material adapted to detect radiation.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kevin Paul McEvoy, James Scott Vartuli, Stephen Thomas Tedeschi, Steven Jude Duclos, Martin Kin-Fei Lee, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, James Anthony Brewer, Robert Joseph Lyons, Mohandas Nayak
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Publication number: 20080001086Abstract: Disclosed herein are scintillating materials, methods for their manufacture, and method for their use. In one embodiment, a scintillator comprises the formula A2LnBX6, wherein A comprises thallium (Tl), a Group IA element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing, Ln comprises cerium, B comprises a Group IA element, and X comprises iodine (I) or an iodine compound, wherein the iodine compound comprises iodine (I) and an element selected from the group consisting of fluoride (F), chloride (Cl), bromide (Br), and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. Also disclosed are radiation detectors and methods for their use.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro
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Publication number: 20080001087Abstract: A scintillator composition is described, including a matrix material and an activator. The matrix material includes at least one lanthanide halide compound. The matrix can also include at least one alkali metal, and in some embodiments, at least one alkaline earth metal. The composition also includes a praseodymium activator for the matrix. Radiation detectors that include the scintillators are disclosed. A method for detecting high-energy radiation with a radiation detector is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng
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Patent number: 7310405Abstract: A scintillator pack comprises an array of scintillator pixels and an x-ray absorbing layer disposed in inter-scintillator regions between the scintillator pixels. The x-ray absorbing layer acts to absorb x-rays and protect underlying regions of the inter-scintillator regions. The x-ray absorbing layer may be formed by a number of methods including casting and melt infiltration.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Steven Jude Duclos
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Publication number: 20070284534Abstract: Scintillator compositions are set forth in this disclosure. The scintillators include a matrix material which includes at least one lanthanide halide, along with at least one alkaline earth metal or lead. An activator for the matrix such as lead is also described. Radiation detectors which employ the scintillators are discussed, along with related methods for detecting high-energy radiation with a scintillation detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2006Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo
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Patent number: 7252789Abstract: A scintillator composition comprising a garnet represented by (M1-x-yNxAy)3(Al5-a-bCaDb)O12, where M comprises yttrium, or terbium, or gadolinium, or holmium, or erbium, or thulium, or ytterbium, or lutetium, or combinations thereof, where N comprises additives including a lanthanide, or an alkali metal, or an alkaline earth metal, or combinations thereof, where A comprises a suitable activator ion including cerium, or europium, or praseodymium, or terbium, or ytterbium, or combinations thereof, where C or D comprises lithium, or magnesium, or gallium, or an element from group IIIa, or IVa, or Va, or IIId transition metal, or IVd transition metal, or combinations thereof, where x ranges from about 0 to about 0.90, y ranges from about 0.0005 to about 0.30, and a sum of a and b ranges from about 0 to 2.0.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Steven Jude Duclos
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Patent number: 7202477Abstract: A scintillator composition is disclosed, containing a solid solution of at least two cerium halides. A radiation detector for detecting high-energy radiation is also described herein. The detector includes the scintillator composition mentioned above, along with a photodetector optically coupled to the scintillator. A method for detecting high-energy radiation with a scintillation detector is also described, wherein the scintillation crystal is based on a mixture of cerium halides.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng, Lucas Lemar Clarke
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Patent number: 7141794Abstract: A scintillator composition of a halide perovskite material of at least one ABX3 type halide perovskite, at least one activator for the matrix material and optionally at least one charge compensator to assist the incorporation of the activator in the perovskite lattice and any reaction products thereof. Radiation detectors that use the scintillators are also described, as are related methods for detecting high-energy radiation and method of producing an activated halide-perovskite based scintillator crystal.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Venkatesan Manivannan