Plural Electric Signalling Means Patents (Class 250/366)
  • Publication number: 20140138548
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods comprising a positron emission tomography detector having a first rectangular cross-section crystal block positioned between a first pentagonal cross-section crystal block and a second pentagonal cross-section crystal block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Hongdi LI, Wai-Hoi WONG, Yuxuan ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20140138549
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray detecting device including a scintillator panel, an adhesive layer, an imaging device panel, and so on. The scintillator panel includes a substrate through which an X-ray passes, a reflective layer formed on the substrate and configured to allow penetration of the X-ray and reflect visible light, and a scintillator layer formed on the reflective layer and configured to convert the X-ray into the visible light. The adhesive layer is formed on the scintillator layer of the scintillator panel. The imaging device panel is coupled on the adhesive layer and has a plurality of light receiving elements and a plurality of electrode pads installed at a surface thereof directed toward the adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: AbyzR Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Sung HUH, Tae Kwon HONG, Gi Youl HAN
  • Publication number: 20140138547
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a high energy photon includes a scintillator material having an array of scintillator pixels, a photon transducer bonded to the scintillator material, and an integrated circuit coupled to the photon transducer. Each scintillator pixel is configured to receive a high energy photon and to scintillate upon interacting with the received high energy photon to generate a scintillation photon. The photon transducer is configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of detecting the high energy photon upon the photon transducer interacting with the scintillation photon generated by a scintillator pixel in the array of scintillator pixels. The integrated circuit is configured to receive the electrical signal and to provide an output signal having information related to detecting the high energy photon and identifying the scintillator pixel that interacted with the high energy photon to generate the scintillation photon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Matthew D. Chambers
  • Patent number: 8729481
    Abstract: A radiation diagnosis apparatus, which employs a reduced number of data acquisition units while showing the same effect as that of the related art (PET, SPECT or x-ray CT) includes: a first radiation detector; a second radiation detector an inverter formed at an output terminal of the first radiation detector; a discriminator for receiving a common signal from the first and second radiation detector and outputting a control signal corresponding to the input common signal; and a data acquisition unit and indentifying an output signal of which detector of the first and second detectors the input signal is according to a polarity difference of the input signal, to provide a radiation diagnosis apparatus which employs a reduced number of data acquisition units while showing the same effect as that of the related art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Hyun Suk Yoon, Jae Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8729482
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation detector with improved n/? discrimination and usable even under high counting rate conditions with a reduced load on a signal-processing system. The detector capable of distinguishing neutron and gamma-ray events includes: a scintillator; an optical filter; a first photodetector to which a first part of light emitted from the scintillator is introduced via the optical filter; and a second photodetector to which a second part of light emitted from the scintillator is introduced not via the optical filter, wherein, for a set of two wavelengths A and (A+B) nm, the scintillator emits at least a light of A nm and a light of (A+B) nm when irradiated by gamma-ray, and emits a light of A nm and does not emit a light of (A+B) nm when irradiated by neutrons; and the optical filter blocks the light of A nm and transmits the light of (A+B) nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Tokuyama Corporation, National University Corporation Nagoya University
    Inventors: Kenichi Watanabe, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Atsushi Yamazaki, Akira Uritani, Tetsuo Iguchi, Kentaro Fukuda, Noriaki Kawaguchi, Sumito Ishizu, Akira Yoshikawa, Takayuki Yanagida
  • Patent number: 8729478
    Abstract: Embodiments of radiographic imaging apparatus and methods for operating the same can include a first scintillator, a second scintillator, a plurality of first photosensitive elements, and a plurality of second photosensitive elements. The plurality of first photosensitive elements receives light from the first scintillator and has first photosensitive element characteristics chosen to cooperate with the first scintillator properties. The plurality of second photosensitive elements are arranged to receive light from the second scintillator and has second photosensitive element characteristics different from the first photosensitive element characteristics and chosen to cooperate with the second scintillator properties. Further, the first scintillator can have first scintillator properties and the second scintillator can have second scintillator properties different from the first scintillator properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Tredwell, Mark E. Shafer, Robert W. Kulpinski, Timothy J. Wojcik
  • Publication number: 20140124675
    Abstract: An X-ray detection device includes an X-ray detection panel having a plurality of gate-lines, a plurality of data-lines, a plurality of bias-lines, a plurality of pixel circuits, a gate driving circuit that sequentially provides a gate signal to the pixel circuits via the gate-lines when an X-ray detecting operation is performed, a readout integrated circuit that performs a readout operation of a detection signal that is output from the pixel circuits via the data-lines when the X-ray detecting operation is performed, a bias driving circuit that provides a forward-bias voltage or a reverse-bias voltage to the pixel circuits via the bias-lines, and an operation control circuit that controls a forward-biasing operation and an initializing operation to be simultaneously performed on the pixel circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chul-Woo Shin, Kyung-Hun Yoon
  • Publication number: 20140124676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106), having a scintillator (120) for generating electromagnetic radiation (202) in response to the action of incident radiation (200). The scintillator (120) has two opposing end faces (121; 122) and a lateral wall (123) between the end faces (121; 122). The radiation detector has, in addition, a conversion system (160) located on the lateral wall (123) of the scintillator (120), said system comprising a plurality of channels (165). Each channel (165) has a photocathode section (130; 131; 132) for generating electrons (204) in response to the action of electromagnetic radiation (202) that is generated by the scintillator (120), said electrons being multipliable by impact processes in the channels (165). A detection system (170) for detecting electrons (204) that have been multiplied in the channels (165) of the conversion system (160) is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Harry Hedler, Timothy Hughes, Martin Spahn, Stefan Wirth
  • Publication number: 20140124659
    Abstract: Borehole logging tools and systems that include a scintillator positioned to interact with scattered source neutrons that are received from a target formation. The scintillator emits luminescence in response to interaction with the scattered neutrons. The scintillator includes an aluminofluoride host material (e.g., LiCAF). In a specific embodiment, the aluminofluoride host material is doped with europium. In a further specific embodiment, a processor distinguishes scattered neutrons from gamma rays based upon identifying a peak within an output signal from the scintillator. In yet another specific embodiment, a system includes a first scintillator and a second scintillator. The processor subtracts luminescence generated by the second scintillator from luminescence generated by the first scintillator to identify a neutron response of the first scintillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Berheide, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jing Qian, Timothy Spillane
  • Publication number: 20140117244
    Abstract: A scintillator has a two-dimensional array of a plurality of columnar crystals which converts radiation into light, and a covering portion covering the two-dimensional array. The covering portion includes connecting portions configured to partially connect the columnar crystals while partially forming cavities in gaps between the columnar crystals in the two-dimensional array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ichimura, Satoshi Okada, Yohei Ishida, Akiya Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20140117245
    Abstract: An indirect x-ray imager including one or more semi-transparent layers that reduce lateral spreading of light produced by the scintillator layer. The semi-transparent layers may be one or more layers above and/or below the scintillator, which the light generated by the scintillator goes through prior to being received by an array of photosensors. The semi-transparent layers may have a light transparency that is proportional to the pixel pitch of the photosensor, and/or proportional to a thickness of the layers. The semi-transparent layers have a light transparency that allows a high percent of the light to be received across the thickness of the layer, but restrains most of the light from being received across a lateral distance of more than one pixel pitch. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan P. Mollov
  • Publication number: 20140110591
    Abstract: The invention proposes a device (10) for characterizing an ionizing radiation used in an ambient medium having a first refraction index (n1), the device (10) comprising: a scintillator material (12) delimited by a wall (28), the scintillator material (12) generating photons under the effect of an ionizing radiation, the scintillator material (12) having a second refraction index (n2), and a guide layer (16) in contact with at least part of the wall (28), the guide layer (16) guiding, toward a predetermined zone, the photons generated by the scintillator material (12) and having an angle of incidence relative to the part of the wall (28) greater than or equal to the arcsin of the ratio of the first refraction index (n1) to the second refraction index (n2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Vincent REBOUD, Stefan Landis
  • Patent number: 8704184
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radiological image detection apparatus includes: bonding a phosphor to a sensor panel constructed such that a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged on a substrate; connecting a wiring member to a connection portion that is provided on a front face of the sensor panel opposite to the phosphor and that is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion elements; covering with a first protective film the connection portion connected to the wiring member; peeling off the substrate from the sensor panel in which the first protective film is formed; and covering, with a second protective film having a moisture prevention property, at least a part corresponding to the connection portion in a rear face of a sensor portion exposed when the substrate is peeled off from the sensor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 8704187
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiographic imaging including, provided at an insulating substrate, sensor portions for radiation detection that generate charges due to receive radiation or light converted from radiation, first signal lines that are connected to the sensor portions for radiation detection and through which flow electric signals that correspond to the charges generated at the sensor portions for radiation detection, and second signal lines having a substantially same wiring pattern as the first signal lines. Detection of radiation is carried out on the basis of a difference between an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, or a difference between values of digital data obtained by digitally converting an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Publication number: 20140103220
    Abstract: An electronic cassette includes a first radiation detector for still imaging and a second radiation detector for fluoroscopic imaging. The first radiation detector includes a first photo detection device and a luminous device. The luminous device generates visible light by absorbing radiation transmitted through the first photo detection device. The first radiation detector detects the visible light generated by the luminous device. The second radiation detector is constituted by the luminous device and a second photo detection device disposed downstream of the luminous device in an optical path direction of the radiation. The second photo detection device detects the visible light generated by the luminous device. The second radiation detector is changed over to the first radiation detector, so that still imaging can be started by rapid setting during operation of fluoroscopic imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori OHTA, Naoyuki NISHINO, Naoto IWAKIRI, Haruyasu NAKATSUGAWA, Kouichi KITANO
  • Publication number: 20140103219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106), having a scintillator (120) for generating electromagnetic radiation (202) in response to the action of incident radiation (200). The scintillator (120) has two opposing end faces (121; 122) and a lateral wall (123) between the end faces (121; 122). The radiation detector has, in addition, a photocathode section (130) that is located on the lateral wall (123) of the scintillator (120) and that generates electrons (204) in response to the action of electromagnetic radiation (202) that is generated by the scintillator (120), a microchannel plate (161; 162) comprising a plurality of channels (165), for multiplying the electrons (204) that have been generated by the photocathode section (130) and a detection system (171; 172) for detecting the electrons (204) that have been multiplied by means of the microchannel plate (161; 162).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Harry Hedler, Timothy Hughes, Martin Spahn, Stefan Wirth
  • Publication number: 20140097341
    Abstract: The invention relates to an in-column back-scattered electron detector, the detector placed in a combined electrostatic/magnetic objective lens for a SEM. The detector is formed as a charged particle sensitive surface, preferably a scintillator disk that acts as one of the electrode faces forming the electrostatic focusing field. The photons generated in the scintillator are detected by a photon detector, such as a photo-diode or a multi-pixel photon detector. The objective lens may be equipped with another electron detector for detecting secondary electrons that are kept closer to the axis. A light guide may be used to offer electrical insulation between the photon detector and the scintillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Lubomír Tuma, Petr Hlavenka, Petr Sytar, Radek Ceska, Bohuslav Sed'a
  • Patent number: 8692205
    Abstract: A combined method for detecting and positioning high energy radiation, belonging to the radiation detection and imaging technology field, comprises: arranging scintillation crystals for capturing high energy radiation into a regular array; assembling a plurality of PMTs with different sizes into a combined array where smaller PMT is located at the center of larger PMTs; forming a combined high energy radiation detector by bonding the scintillation crystal array and the combined PMT array with an optical adhesive; when a high energy gamma ray is incident into the scintillation crystal array, scintillation light is generated and amplified by the combined PMT array into electrical pulse signals; then obtaining the position coordinates, energy and time of the high energy gamma ray by processing the electrical pulse signals. The method provides more effective and uniform high-energy radiation detection, has higher spatial and energy resolution, and simultaneously has high-speed response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Shanghai Center for Biomedical Engineering
    Inventor: Shuping Xie
  • Publication number: 20140091226
    Abstract: A photosensor testing apparatus can be used to test photosensors. A light module can produce simulating light that corresponds to scintillating light of a scintillator or a derivative of the scintillating light. A photosensor under test can produce an output that can be analyzed. A particular photosensor can be determined to have a higher quantum efficiency, a higher signal-to-noise ratio, or another performance criterion and selected for use in a radiation detection apparatus having the scintillator that can produce the scintillating light. The photosensor testing apparatus can provide a more accurate way of selecting a photosensor as compared to only analyzing an emission spectrum and data sheets and other information for the photosensors under consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Artan Duraj, John M. Frank
  • Publication number: 20140091225
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation imaging apparatus including a sensor substrate on which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, a scintillator base on which a scintillator layer for converting radiation into light with a wavelength detectable by the photoelectric conversion elements is arranged, and which is adhered to the sensor substrate so that the scintillator layer is arranged between the sensor substrate and the scintillator base, and a sealing member configured to fix an edge portion of the scintillator base and the sensor substrate, and spaced apart from the scintillator layer, wherein the scintillator base includes a bent portion for reducing a stress that acts on the sealing member in a region between an outer edge of a region in which the scintillator layer is arranged and the edge portion fixed by the sealing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshito Sasaki, Satoshi Okada, Yohei Ishida, Akiya Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20140091224
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a light emitting device and a light sensing device optically coupled to the light emitting device via a first layer and a second layer. In an embodiment, the first layer can have a first thickness and a first index of refraction with a value greater than 0 and the second layer can have a second thickness and a second index of refraction with a value less than 0. In a particular embodiment, the light emitting device can include a scintillator and the light sensing device can include a photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Peter R. Menge
  • Publication number: 20140091223
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a scintillation pixel array, a radiation sensing apparatus, a scintillation apparatus, and methods of making a scintillation pixel array wherein scintillation pixels have beveled surfaces and a reflective material around the beveled surfaces. The embodiments described herein can reduce the amount of cross-talk between adjacent scintillation pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Peter R. Menge
  • Patent number: 8686369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to imaging devices. Technical solutions—creation of highly manufacturable assemblage of flat panel x-ray detectors, and providing high quality images. The flat panel x-ray detector comprises a light-blocking split housing consisting of a bottom and top parts; in the housing sequentially along the incident radiation pathway are installed an elastic radiotransparent layer, x-ray screen on the substrate and sensors being fastened to the mounting base. Sensors are fastened on the mounting base with a possibility to be removed with a possibility to be removed by means of additionally set on the sensor substrates intermediate elements. To fix the screen it is additionally introduced a bar inside which the edge of said screen substrate is fixed, and the bar is fastened to mounting base with a possibility to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Zakrytoe akcionernoe obshchestvo “Impul's”
    Inventors: Vol'demar Osval'dovich Reboni, Yury Arnol'dovich Veip, Vitaly Valer'evich Jurenja, Yury Gennad'evich Leont'ev
  • Publication number: 20140084169
    Abstract: A method for improving timing response in light-sharing scintillation detectors is disclosed. The method includes detecting an event, by a plurality of photo sensors, from a scintillation crystal. The method then includes sampling and digitizing the photo sensor outputs by an analog-to-digital converter. Then the method includes correcting associated timing data, by a processor, for each of the photo sensor outputs based on a lookup table. The method then includes selectively time shifting the photo sensor outputs based on the lookup table to generate corrected photo sensor outputs. The method then includes summing the corrected photo sensor outputs by the processor. The method then includes generating an event time, by the processor, for the detected event based on the sum of the corrected photo sensor outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Mehmet Aykac, Michael Loope, Mark Musrock
  • Publication number: 20140084173
    Abstract: On the front side of an n-type semiconductor substrate, p-type regions are two-dimensionally arranged in an array. A high-concentration n-type region and a p-type region are disposed between the p-type regions adjacent each other. The high-concentration n-type region is formed by diffusing an n-type impurity from the front side of the substrate so as to surround the p-type region as seen from the front side. The p-type region is formed by diffusing a p-type impurity from the front side of the substrate so as to surround the p-type region and high-concentration n-type region as seen from the front side. Formed on the front side of the n-type semiconductor substrate are an electrode electrically connected to the p-type region and an electrode electrically connected to the high-concentration n-type region and the p-type region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tatsumi YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140084172
    Abstract: On the front side of an n-type semiconductor substrate, p-type regions are two-dimensionally arranged in an array. A high-concentration n-type region and a p-type region are disposed between the p-type regions adjacent each other. The high-concentration n-type region is formed by diffusing an n-type impurity from the front side of the substrate so as to surround the p-type region as seen from the front side. The p-type region is formed by diffusing a p-type impurity from the front side of the substrate so as to surround the p-type region and high-concentration n-type region as seen from the front side. Formed on the front side of the n-type semiconductor substrate are an electrode electrically connected to the p-type region and an electrode electrically connected to the high-concentration n-type region and the p-type region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tatsumi YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 8674312
    Abstract: A device for detecting ionizing radiation includes a radiation interaction region configured to generate light in response to an interaction with the ionizing radiation, an optical gain medium region in optical communication with the radiation interaction region and configured to amplify the light, and an energy source coupled to the optical gain medium region and configured to maintain a state of population inversion in the optical gain medium region. The optical gain medium region has an emission wavelength that corresponds with a wavelength of the light generated by the radiation interaction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Piotr Szupryczynski, Matthias Schmand, Mark Andreaco, James Corbeil
  • Patent number: 8674311
    Abstract: Evaporation methods and structures for depositing a scintillator film on a surface of a substrate. A radiation detection device including a doped lanthanum halide polycrystalline scintillator formed on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Nagarkar, Valeriy Gaysinskiy
  • Patent number: 8674313
    Abstract: An X-ray image detection device includes a scintillator, a data integration processing unit and a plurality of X-ray image sensors. The X-ray image sensors are arranged in a matrix form and located on the back of the scintillator and connected to the data integration processing unit. Each X-ray image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, and each pixel has a dual driving pixel structure and includes two thin film transistors and two thin film photodiodes. The source electrodes of the thin film transistors are connected to the cathodes of the thin film photodiodes respectively, and the gate electrodes are connected to an odd row driving line and an even row driving line respectively, and the drain electrodes are connected to a common signal output line. Both anodes of the two thin film photodiodes are connected to a common ground wire of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shanghai Iray Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-guang Cao, Zhi-li Cui
  • Publication number: 20140070105
    Abstract: A scintillator, which can prevent a data error due to light diffusion or spreading by improving light collimation, a method of fabricating the same and an X-ray detector including the scintillator are disclosed. The scintillator includes a substrate and a scintillator layer fanned on the substrate and having columnar crystals and non-columnar crystals, wherein each of the columnar crystals has an aspect ratio of 80:1 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Soo Lee, Jang Won Moon
  • Publication number: 20140064446
    Abstract: An x-ray absorptiometry apparatus and method utilize a radiation source having a beam opening angle of less than or equal to 30 milliradians in at least one dimension, an array of scintillator units to receive radiation from the radiation source with the beam angle after the radiation has passed through a body being imaged and at least one solid-state photomultiplier to receive photons from the array of scintillator units and to produce electrical signal based on the photons. In one implementation, an optical area transmission passage modifier is employed in a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system. In one implementation, the array of scintillator units are arranged in staggered rows. In yet another implementation, the solid-state photomultiplier includes a plurality of solid-state photomultipliers arranged in rows. In one implementation, a single solid-state photomultiplier receive photons from a plurality of scintillators of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James A. Wear, Sergei Dolinsky, Randall Payne, Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar
  • Publication number: 20140061484
    Abstract: A radiation image pickup device includes: an image pickup section having a plurality of pixels and generating an electric signal according to incident radiation, the plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and one or a plurality of transistors of a predetermined amplifier circuit; and a correction section subjecting signal data of the electric signal obtained in the image pickup section to predetermined correction process. The correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring an input-output characteristic of the amplifier circuit in each of the plurality of pixels and initial data on the input-output characteristic, and performs the correction process by the pixel individually, by using a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiru Senda, Tsutomu Tanaka, Tsutomu Harada
  • Publication number: 20140061485
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor panel including a sensor array, a scintillator layer disposed on the sensor panel so as to cover the sensor array, and a housing having a side wall facing a side surface of the sensor panel and containing the sensor panel and the scintillator layer, wherein the scintillator layer protrudes, at at least one side of the sensor panel, from the side toward the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kazumi Nagano, Satoshi Okada, Keiichi Nomura, Yohei Ishida
  • Patent number: 8664608
    Abstract: Provided are sensors and methods for detecting thermal neutrons. Provided is an apparatus having a scintillator for absorbing a neutron, the scintillator having a back side for discharging a scintillation light of a first wavelength in response to the absorbed neutron, an array of wavelength-shifting fibers proximate to the back side of the scintillator for shifting the scintillation light of the first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, the wavelength-shifting fibers being disposed in a two-dimensional pattern and defining a plurality of scattering plane pixels where the wavelength-shifting fibers overlap, a plurality of photomultiplier tubes, in coded optical communication with the wavelength-shifting fibers, for converting the light of the second wavelength to an electronic signal, and a processor for processing the electronic signal to identify one of the plurality of scattering plane pixels as indicative of a position within the scintillator where the neutron was absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Lloyd G. Clonts, Ronald G. Cooper, Morris Lowell Crow, Jr., Bruce W. Hannan, Jason P. Hodges, John D. Richards, Richard A. Riedel
  • Patent number: 8664612
    Abstract: A scintillator detector of high-energy radiation comprising a semiconductor slab that is composed of alternating layers of barrier and well material. The barrier and well material layers are direct bandgap semiconductors. Bandgap of the well material is smaller than the bandgap of the barrier material. The combined thickness of the well layers is substantially less than the total thickness of said slab. The thickness of the barrier layers is substantially larger than the diffusion length of minority carriers. The thickness of the well layers is sufficiently large to absorb most of the incident scintillating radiation generated in the barrier layers in response to an ionization event from interaction with an incident high-energy particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Serge Luryi, Arsen Subashiev
  • Publication number: 20140056405
    Abstract: To achieve a radiation detection panel capable of outputting a signal for generating an accurate pixel signal regardless of the performance of a conversion unit, a detection circuit that outputs a signal used for generating a pixel signal includes a first output circuit that outputs a signal due to afterglow, and a second output circuit that outputs a signal including both a signal based on radiation emission and a signal due to afterglow. Transistors using an oxide semiconductor material for a channel formation region are used as some transistors included in the first and second output circuits. In the radiation detection panel having this structure, the signal (a first signal or a second signal) can be held in each output circuit; therefore, after all output circuits hold the signal (the first signal or the second signal), the first signal and the second signal can be sequentially output from detection circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Takayuki IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20140054467
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensor units each including a plurality of photoelectric converters, a substrate configured to support the plurality of sensor units, and a scintillator, wherein the scintillator comprises scintillator grains configured to convert radiation into light and a binder configured to make the scintillator grains adhere to each other, and the scintillator includes first portions provided between the plurality of sensor units and a second portion provided on the plurality of sensor units and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichi Takeda, Masato Inoue, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe, Shoshiro Saruta
  • Publication number: 20140054466
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of obtaining image data with a small amount of X-ray irradiation is provided. The imaging device obtains an image using X-rays and includes a scintillator and a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix and overlapping with the scintillator. The use of a transistor with an extremely small off-state current in the pixel circuits enables leakage of electrical charges from a charge accumulation portion to be reduced as much as possible, and an accumulation operation to be performed substantially at the same time in all of the pixel circuits. The accumulation operation is synchronized with X-ray irradiation, so that the amount of X-ray irradiation can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KUROKAWA, Takayuki IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20140050296
    Abstract: A Data Measurement and Acquisition System (DMAS) for multi-slice X-ray CT systems and multi-slice X-ray CT systems using the DMAS are disclosed; wherein the DMAS comprises a plurality of X-ray scintillators, a plurality of photodiode modules, a plurality of digitizing cards, one or more motherboards, and an arced support structure for mounting and securing the photodiode modules, the digitizing cards, and the motherboard(s); wherein the multi-slice X-ray CT systems comprises one or more X-ray sources, and one or more DMAS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: ZHENGRONG YING
  • Publication number: 20140048713
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a detector configured to detect X-rays from an X-ray source. The detector includes multiple photodetector elements. The imaging system also includes an anti-scatter grid disposed over the detector, wherein the anti-scatter grid includes multiple radiation absorbing elements. At least a portion of one or more of the radiation absorbing elements of the multiple radiation absorbing elements is disposed on each photodetector element, and a total area of each respective portion of the one or more radiation absorbing elements disposed on each photodetector element is substantially equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Richard Larry Anderton
  • Publication number: 20140048712
    Abstract: A radiation detector includes a scintillator layer configured to absorb radiation emitted from a radiation source and to emit optical photons in response to the absorbed radiation. The radiation detector also includes a photodetector layer configured to absorb the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer. The radiation detector further includes a reflector configured to reflect the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer towards the photodetector layer and to absorb select wavelengths of optical photons associated with an afterglow emitted by the scintillator layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: David Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8653471
    Abstract: A detector array (110) of an imaging system (100) includes a radiation sensitive detector (114, 116) that detects radiation and generates a signal indicative thereof. A current-to-frequency (I/F) converter (202) converts the signal to a pulse train having a frequency indicative of the signal for an integration period. Circuitry (120) generates a first moment and at least one higher order moment based on the pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N. V.
    Inventors: Roland Proksa, Christoph Herrmann, Walter Ruetten
  • Publication number: 20140042328
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided. The detector includes a scintillator layer configured to absorb radiation emitted from a radiation source and to emit optical photons in response to the absorbed radiation. The detector also includes a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) light imager that is configured to absorb the optical photons emitted by the scintillator layer. The CMOS light imager includes a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface is disposed opposite the second surface. The scintillator layer contacts the first surface of the CMOS light imager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, David Ellis Barker
  • Publication number: 20140042329
    Abstract: A radiographic apparatus includes a scintillator configured to convert radiation into first light, a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each configured to convert the first light into an electrical signal, and a light detection unit configured to detect the first light. In such a radiographic apparatus, the photoelectric conversion unit and the light detection unit are arranged to sandwich the scintillator therebetween, and the light detection unit includes a light guide plate, a photodetector arranged on a side face of the light guide plate, and a light reflection section arranged to reflect the first light toward the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Okada, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20140042310
    Abstract: A system and method for correcting vignetting distortion in an imaging sensor of a multi-camera flat panel X-Ray detector. A scintillator converts X-Ray radiation generated by an X-Ray source into detectable radiation. A displacement unit generates, during a calibration phase, relative displacement between the X-Ray detector and an X-Ray source at a plane parallel to the scintillator. The imaging sensor acquires, during the calibration phase, a first and a second partial images, the first partial image is acquired before the relative displacement is generated, and the second partial image is acquired after the relative displacement is generated. A relative displacement measurement unit measures the relative displacement. Coefficients of a preliminary inverse vignetting function are calculated based on differences between corresponding pixels of the two partial images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Eduard Batkilin, Irina Karelin, Alex Feldman
  • Patent number: 8648310
    Abstract: An indirect x-ray imager including one or more semi-transparent layers that reduce lateral spreading of light produced by the scintillator layer. The semi-transparent layers may be one or more layers above and/or below the scintillator, which the light generated by the scintillator goes through prior to being received by an array of photosensors. The semi-transparent layers may have a light transparency that is proportional to the pixel pitch of the photosensor, and/or proportional to a thickness of the layers. The semi-transparent layers have a light transparency that allows a high percent of the light to be received across the thickness of the layer, but restrains most of the light from being received across a lateral distance of more than one pixel pitch. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan P. Mollov
  • Patent number: 8648311
    Abstract: A radiation detector including a scintillator structure comprising a first plane and a second plane which are not positioned on the same plane, the scintillator structure having an optical waveguiding property in a direction between the first plane and the second plane; and a two-dimensional light receiving element formed of multiple pixels which are disposed parallel to either one of the first plane and the second plane. The radiation detector includes at least one smoothness-deteriorate region which is positioned in one of the first plane and the second plane of the scintillator structure and has an area of 1/6 or more of a light receiving area of each of the multiple pixels. The region is repaired by an optically transparent material so as to be smoothed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamaki Kobayashi, Tatsuya Saito, Nobuhiro Yasui, Toru Den
  • Patent number: 8649012
    Abstract: An optical gas sensor with a light-emitting diode (2), a photosensor (8), a measuring section between the light-emitting diode and the photosensor, and a control and analyzing unit (16), which is set up to determine the concentration of a gas in the measuring section from the light intensity measurement by the photosensor. The control and analyzing unit (16) is set up to measure the forward diode voltage over the light-emitting diode at a constant current, to determine the temperature of the light-emitting diode from the detected forward diode voltage over the light-emitting diode by means of a preset temperature dependence of the forward diode voltage, and to apply a correction function as a function of the light-emitting diode temperature determined, with which the measurement is converted to that of a preset temperature of the light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Udo Beckmann, Livio Fornasiero
  • Publication number: 20140034838
    Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabricate the devices and/or structures. Further, the micro-devices and/or micro-structures can be fabricated on planar or nonplanar surfaces through use of a series of production casting processes and intermediate molds. The use of precision stack lamination can allow the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures. Moreover, via certain molding and/or casting materials, molds having cavities with protruding undercuts also can be fabricated. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Mikro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Appleby, Iain Fraser, James E. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20140034837
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a phosphor layer configured to convert an incident radiant ray into light, a first imaging substrate arranged on a side of a first surface, on which the radiant ray is incident, of the phosphor layer and having, on the side of the first surface, a first pixel area including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for converting the light into an electric signal, and a second imaging substrate arranged on a side of a second surface of the phosphor layer and having, on the side of the second surface, a second pixel area including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for converting the light into an electric signal, wherein the second imaging substrate is arranged so that the second pixel area is located opposite a pixel non-formation area, where the first pixel area is not formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Takeda, Masato Inoue, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe