With Optics Patents (Class 250/368)
  • Publication number: 20140151565
    Abstract: A neutron detector is disclosed that includes a generally elongate sealed housing. A scintillator based neutron detection assembly is positioned within the elongate housing. The scintillator based neutron detection assembly includes a reflective portion, a plurality of optical fibers, and a scintillator portion. A fiber guide is connected with an end of said scintillator based neutron detection assembly and an end of the at least one bundle of fibers from the plurality of optical fibers is positioned in an output port in the fiber guide. A sensor assembly is included and is connected with the end of the bundle of fibers. An output connector is located on a front end of the generally elongate sealed housing for transmitting an output voltage in response to a neutron event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Forgas, Joshua Liechty, Craig R. Kline
  • Patent number: 8735828
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring radiation levels in vivo in real time. Apparatus and methods include a scintillating material coupled to a retention member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: A. Sam Beddar, Tina Marie Briere, Louis Archambault
  • Patent number: 8692204
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates a method of detecting a patterned electron beam. The patterned electron beam is focused onto a grating with a pattern that has a same pitch as the patterned electron beam. Electrons of the patterned electron beam that pass through the grating un-scattered are detected. Another embodiment relates to focusing the patterned electron beam onto a grating with a pattern that has a second pitch that is different than a first pitch of the patterned electron beam. Electrons of the patterned electron beam that pass through the grating form a Moiré pattern that is detected using a position-sensitive detector. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kojima, Christopher F. Bevis, Joseph Maurino, William M. Tong
  • 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: 20140084174
    Abstract: Photonic crystal scintillators and their methods of manufacture are provided. Exemplary methods of manufacture include using a highly-ordered porous anodic alumina membrane as a pattern transfer mask for either the etching of underlying material or for the deposition of additional material onto the surface of a scintillator. Exemplary detectors utilizing such photonic crystal scintillators are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo D. Torres, Lindsay T. Sexton, Roderick E. Fuentes, José Cortes-Concepción
  • Publication number: 20140070106
    Abstract: An illumination device includes at least four semiconductor radiation sources (18) for emitting optical radiation in respectively different emission wavelength ranges. At least one color splitter (22.1, 22.2, 22.3), which is reflective for optical radiation of the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is assigned to each of at least three of the semiconductor radiation sources (18). The semiconductor radiation sources (18) and the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) are arranged such that the optical radiation, which is emitted in each case from each of the semiconductor radiation sources (18), is coupled into a common illumination beam path section (24). In each case, one collimating unit (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4), which collimates the optical radiation emitted by the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is arranged in the beam path sections from the semiconductor radiation sources (18) to the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Carl-Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Westphal, Daniel Bublitz
  • Patent number: 8669528
    Abstract: A flat panel radiation detector is disclosed, comprising a scintillator panel provided on a support with a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals and a protective layer sequentially in this order, and the scintillator panel being coupled with a planar light receiving element having plural picture elements which are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the difference between to average void fraction of an edge portion of the phosphor layer and the average void fraction of a base portion is not less than 5% and not more than 25%, and the void fraction decreases from the base portion to the edge portion. There is provided a flat panel radiation detector with a phosphor layer which exhibits enhanced physical resistance to shock and is superior in sharpness and emission efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiko Itaya, Takehiko Shoji
  • Publication number: 20140061482
    Abstract: A wavelength shifting material is optically coupled to one of a scintillator and a solid-state photomultiplier and transmits photons along and about a straight linear path. The wavelength shifting material enhances photon sensing performance of the solid state photomultiplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James A. Wear, Sergei Dolinsky, Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140042327
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor panel including a sensor array on which a plurality of sensors arranged in an array form and a scintillator layer provided on the sensor array, and a unit configured to perform signal processing based on a signal from the sensor array, wherein the sensor array includes a peripheral region and a central region located inside the peripheral region, the scintillator layer is disposed over the peripheral region and the central region so as to have uniform luminance efficiency with respect to the sensor array, and the unit performs the signal processing by using only signals from sensors disposed in the central region, of signals from the plurality of sensors, output from the sensor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Masato Inoue, Shinichi Takeda, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe
  • Patent number: 8637826
    Abstract: A radiation detection system can include optical fibers and a material disposed between the optical fibers. In an embodiment, the material can include a fluid, such as a gas, a liquid, or a non-Newtonian fluid. In another embodiment, the material can include an optical coupling material. In a particular embodiment, the optical coupling material can include a silicone rubber. In still another embodiment, the optical coupling material has a refractive index less than 1.50. In still another embodiment, the radiation detection system can have a greater signal:noise ratio, a light collection efficiency, or both as compared to a conventional radiation detection system. Corresponding methods of use are disclosed that can provide better discrimination between neutrons and gamma radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter R. Menge
  • Patent number: 8633444
    Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) detector module includes an array of scintillation crystal elements and a plurality of photosensors arranged to at least partially cover the array of scintillation crystal elements. The photosensors are configured to receive light emitted from the array of scintillation crystal elements. The module includes a transparent adhesive arranged between the array of scintillation crystal elements and the plurality of photosensors. The transparent adhesive extends directly from a surface of at least one of the scintillation crystal elements to a surface of at least one of the photosensors and is configured to distribute the light emitted from one of the scintillation crystal elements to more than one of the photosensors. A method of manufacturing the module includes various steps utilizing a fixture. A PET scanner uses multiple modules arranged circumferentially around an area to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kent C. Burr, Daniel Gagnon, Zhengyan Wang
  • Publication number: 20130341506
    Abstract: A system for electron pattern imaging includes: a device for converting electron patterns into visible light provided to receive an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) pattern from a sample and convert the EBSD pattern to a corresponding light pattern; a first optical system positioned downstream from the device for converting electron patterns into visible light for focusing the light pattern produced by the device for converting electron patterns into visible light; a camera positioned downstream from the first optical system for obtaining an image of the light pattern; an image intensifier positioned between the device for converting electron patterns into visible light and the camera for amplifying the light pattern produced by the device for converting electron patterns into visible light; and a device positioned within the system for protecting the image intensifier from harmful light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Reinhard Buchhold, Brent Hammell, Joseph A. Nicolosi, Peter Antonie de Kloe
  • Publication number: 20130341519
    Abstract: The present invention provides a boron-containing gas film fast-neutron detector. The fast-neutron detector comprises a package piece having a hollow cavity; a plastic scintillator array provided in the cavity and comprising a plurality of plastic scintillator units, a gap existing between adjacent plastic scintillator units; and a boron-containing gas filled into and gas-tightly sealed in the hollow cavity, the boron-containing gas forming a boron-containing gas film in the gap between the adjacent plastic scintillator units. The fast-neutron detector of the present invention completely does not require use of scarce and expensive 3He gas, nor needs a complicated boron film coating process, improves credibility of signal coincidence, and is adapted for measurement of environment background neutrons and extensively adapted for detection of radioactive substance at sites such as customs ports, harbors and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicants: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuanjing Li, Yigang Yang, Qinjian Zhang, Yi Liu, Yang Tai
  • Patent number: 8614421
    Abstract: A method and system of constructing and assembling a radiological imaging sensor having a transparent crystalline substrate plate, such as a glass or sapphire plate, for use in assembling the radiological imaging sensor using either a clear fiber optic plate of a dark fiber optic plate with ultraviolet curable adhesives. The transparent glass substrate plate may further include at least one crystalline sapphire strip disposed in an aperture therewithin. Flexible cable connections are provided by wire bonding to the imaging die substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Teledyne DALSA Inc.
    Inventors: Anton van Arendonk, Andrey Lomako, Weidong Tang, Brian Benwell
  • Publication number: 20130334430
    Abstract: An assembly for a charged particle detection device of high detection efficiency is described. The assembly comprising a metal grid for applying attractive potential to lure charged particles; a scintillator disc to absorb the energy from impinging charged particle and reemit the energy in form of light or photons; a light guide to transmit light or photons; and a photomultiplier tube (PMT) cohere with the end of light guide to receive light or photons from light guide and convert it into current signal. A light guide with a bullet-head-shaped front portion ensures total reflection of light propagating within the light guide. A frustum-cone-shaped scintillator disc releases the light that originally trapped in the scintillator disc due to the shape of scintillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Hermes Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhibin Wang, Wei He, Fumin He
  • Patent number: 8610077
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a fluence monitoring detector for use with a multileaf collimator on a radiotherapy machine having an x-ray radiation source. The fluence monitoring detector includes a plurality of scintillating optical fibers, each scintillating optical fiber configured to generate a light output at each end thereof in response to incident radiation pattern thereon from the radiation source and multileaf collimator, a plurality of collection optical fibers coupled to the opposing ends of the scintillating optical fibers and operable to collect the light output coming from both ends of each scintillating optical fiber, and a photo-detector coupled to the collection optical fibers and operable to converts optical energy transmitted by the collection optical fibers to electric signals for determining actual radiation pattern information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Universite Laval
    Inventors: Luc Beaulieu, Luc Gingras, Mathieu Goulet
  • Patent number: 8598532
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of radiation conversion elements (32) that convert radiation to light, and a reflector layer (34) disposed around the plurality of radiation conversion elements. The plurality of radiation conversion elements may consist of two radiation conversion elements and the reflector layer is wrapped around the two radiation conversion elements with ends (40, 42) of the reflector layer tucked between the two radiation conversion elements. The reflector layer (34) may include a light reflective layer (50) having reflectance greater than 90% disposed adjacent to the radiation conversion elements when the reflector layer (34) is disposed around the plurality of radiation conversion elements, and a light barrier layer (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Steven E. Cooke, Andreas Thon
  • Patent number: 8586933
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive detector (120) includes a scintillator array (124) coupled with a photosensor array (140) via an adhesive laminate (144). The photosensor (140) has a plurality of dixels (136). The adhesive laminate (144) includes a material free region that extends through the adhesive laminate (144) from the scintillator array (124) to the photosensor array (140) and that is located between a pair of adjacent dixels (136).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Simha Levene, Gerardus F. C. M. Lijten
  • Patent number: 8575556
    Abstract: A first embodiment can comprise increasing three-dimensional spatial resolution of gamma scintillation events in scintillator plates wherein the increase is by inserting a fiberoptic plate light guide between one or more photodetectors and the scintillator and optically coupling the fiberoptic plate light guides to the photodetectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Stanislaw Majewski, Raymond Raylman
  • Patent number: 8552385
    Abstract: Provided are a radioactive contamination monitoring device and a radioactive contamination monitoring method for enabling easy detection of radiation from an object to be monitored in a little surrounding space. The radioactive contamination monitoring device comprises a radiation detection unit, a photoelectric conversion unit for converting the light generated in the radiation detection unit to electricity, and a signal processing unit connected to the photoelectric conversion unit. The radiation detection unit includes a quadrangular prism-shaped light guide bar having a rectangular cross-section and a scintillator attached only to two adjacent side faces of the four side faces of the light guide bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Power Systems Radiation Techno-Service Co., Ltd., Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Nakashima, Tetsuo Goto, Kenzo Ogawa, Kanji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130256539
    Abstract: An ion detector for detecting positive ions and negative ions, includes a housing provided with an ion entrance to make the positive ions and the negative ions enter, a conversion dynode which is disposed in the housing and to which a negative potential is applied, a scintillator which is disposed in the housing and has an electron incident surface which is opposed to the conversion dynode and into which secondary electrons emitted from the conversion dynode are made incident, a conductive layer which is formed on the electron incident surface and to which a positive potential is applied, and a photodetector which detects light emitted by the scintillator in response to incidence of the secondary electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Masahiro KOTANI, Takayuki OHMURA, Motohiro SUYAMA, Hiroshi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130234032
    Abstract: An assembly for a charged particle detection unit is described. The assembly comprises a scintillator disc, a partially coated light guide a thin metal tube for allowing the primary charged particle beam to pass through and a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The shape of scintillator disc and light guide are redesigned to improved the light signal transmission thereafter enhance the light collection efficiency. A light guide with a conicoidal surface over an embedded scintillator improved the light collection efficiency of 34% over a conventional design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Hermes-Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhibin Wang, Wei He, Qingpo Xi, Shuai Li, Fumin He
  • Patent number: 8530847
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a scintillation article includes a detector housing having a window cavity and a window disposed within the window cavity. The window cavity defining a window opening at an external surface of the housing that has a greater width than a width of the window, and wherein a surface of the window is directly bonded to an interior surface of the detector housing at a bond joint comprising a diffusion bond region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Frank
  • Publication number: 20130208857
    Abstract: A detector and methods for inspecting material on the basis of scintillator coupled by wavelength-shifting optical fiber to one or more photo-detectors, with a temporal integration of the photo-detector signal. An unpixelated volume of scintillation medium converts energy of incident penetrating radiation into scintillation light which is extracted from a scintillation light extraction region by a plurality of optical waveguides. This geometry provides for efficient and compact detectors, enabling hitherto unattainable geometries for backscatter detection and for energy discrimination of incident radiation. Additional energy-resolving transmission configurations are enabled as are skew- and misalignment compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: AMERICAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: AMERICAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130193332
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can have optical coupling material capable of absorbing wavelengths of light within approximately 75 nm of a wavelength of scintillating light of a scintillation member of the radiation detection apparatus. In an embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed between a photosensor of the radiation detection apparatus and the scintillation member. In a particular embodiment, the composition of the optical coupling material can include a dye. In an illustrative embodiment, the dye can have a corresponding a* coordinate, a corresponding b* coordinate, and an L* coordinate greater than 0. In another embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed along substantially all of a side of the photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Peter R. Menge
  • Publication number: 20130187055
    Abstract: A scintillation detection unit for the detection of back-scattered electrons for electron and ion microscopes having a column with longitudinal axis, in which the scintillation detection unit consists of body and at least one system for processing the light signal comprising a photodetector or a photodetector preceded with additional optical members where the body is at least partly made of scintillation material and is at least partly situated in a column of an electron or ion microscope and is made up of at least one hollow part. The height of the body of scintillation detection unit measured in the direction of longitudinal axis is greater than one-and-a-half times the greatest width measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow part with the greatest width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: Crytur Spol S.R.O., TESCAN A.S.
    Inventors: Martin Zadrazil, Silvie Dokulilova, Karel Blazek, Petr Horodyský
  • Patent number: 8481952
    Abstract: A scintillation reflector can include a specular material having a first and second surface, and a first diffuse material arranged adjacent to the first surface of the specular material and proximal to the scintillator surface. The composite reflector may surround at least a portion of a scintillator surface as provide in a scintillation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Menge, Louis Perna
  • Publication number: 20130168556
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a radiation monitor. In one embodiment, a radiator monitor comprises a housing, a detector material having an adjustable density in the housing, an optical coupler adjacent the detector material to receive Cherenkov energy generated in the detector material, a photodetector coupled to the optical coupler, and a processing module coupled to the photodetector to determine whether a detection threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brandon W. Blackburn, Kevin Perry
  • Patent number: 8476610
    Abstract: A multi-view composite collimator includes a first parallel collimator segment having a plurality of collimator channels oriented at a first slant angle and a second parallel collimator segment adjacent to the first parallel collimator segment having a plurality of collimator channels oriented at a second slant angle different from the first slant angle and a bridging collimating element is provided between the first and second parallel collimator segments, wherein radiation can pass through the bridging collimating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Eric Hawman, Gengsheng Zeng
  • Patent number: 8476595
    Abstract: A gamma ray imager includes a chamber containing a scintillation liquid such as xenon and several mutually optically isolated interaction modules immersed in the scintillation liquid within the chamber. Multiple photodetectors optically coupled to the modules separately detect scintillation light resulting from gamma ray interactions in the modules. Charge readout devices coupled to the modules provide time projection chamber-class detection of ionization charges produced by gamma ray interactions within the modules. A signal processor connected to the multiple photodetectors and charge readout devices analyzes signals produced by gamma ray interactions within the modules and calculates from the signals gamma ray energy and gamma ray angle. The calculations use Compton scattering formula inversion and also use anti-correlation of prompt scintillation light signals from gamma ray interactions and charge signals from gamma ray interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Daniel McKinsey, Alessandro Curioni
  • Patent number: 8461540
    Abstract: Even when a radiation detector contacts a pipe arrangement or another member that is an object to be monitored, the damage of the detector is prevented without impairing the detection performance. An inside-tube-wall radioactive contamination monitor comprises: a rod-like light guide bar having a polygonal cross-section; a plurality of scintillators secured to the outer circumferential surface of the light guide bar; a net-like protective tube worn so as to cover the outer circumference of the scintillators with a space between the surfaces of the scintillators and the tube; and a guide portion attached to an end of the net-like protective tube, supporting an end of the light guide bar, and having a shape the diameter of which decreases as approaching the end. The monitor includes: a photoelectric conversion unit coupled to the base end of the net-like protective tube and incorporating a photoelectric conversion element; and a signal processing unit connected to the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Power Systems Radiation Techno-Service Co., Ltd., Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Nakashima, Tetsuo Goto, Kenzo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8455835
    Abstract: A radiation detection system for detecting the presence and location of a radiation source includes an optical fiber bundle having fibers of different lengths, a radiation sensitive material, a stimulating source and an optical detector. The stimulating source stimulates the radiation sensitive material and the radiation sensitive material releases a light output, while the light output provides a readout signal for each fiber corresponding in intensity to the radiation received from the radiation source. The optical detector receives the readout signal such that the variations in intensity of the readout signals along the length of the bundle determine the presence and general location of the radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel K. Angell, Thomas K. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20130099125
    Abstract: A thermal neutron monitor includes at least one neutron scintillator sheet interposed between light guides. Scintillation light emitted in opposite transverse directions is captured by the light guides and conveyed to a common detector. The sandwiched geometry of the monitor avoids the need to provide multiple detectors and permits construction of a relatively inexpensive, compact monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Lee GRODZINS
  • Patent number: 8426823
    Abstract: In nuclear imaging, when a gamma ray strikes a scintillator, a burst of visible light is created. That light is detected by a photodetector and processed by downstream electronics. It is desirable to harness as much of the burst of light as possible and get it to the photodetector. In a detector element (18), a first reflective layer (44) partially envelops a scintillation crystal (34). The first reflective layer (44) diffuses the scintillated light. A second reflective layer (46) and a support component reflective layer (48) prevent the light from leaving the scintillation crystal (34) by any route except a light emitting face (36) of the scintillator (34). In another embodiment, a light concentrator (50) is coupled to the scintillator (34) and channels the diffuse light onto a light sensitive portion of a photodetector (38). The reflective layers (44, 46, 48) and the concentrator (50) ensure that all or nearly all of the light emitted by the scintillator (34) is received by the photodetector (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Volkmar Schulz, Carsten Degenhardt, Jerome J. Griesmer, Steven E. Cooke
  • Patent number: 8426827
    Abstract: A detector and associated method are provided including a first scintillation material having a light yield temperature dependence and an output at a first energy level, a second scintillation material having a light yield temperature dependence similar to the first material and an output at a second energy level, and detection circuitry. The first and second outputs are responsive to radiation emitted from an ionizing radiation source. The detection circuitry includes a photo multiplier tube configured to convert photon outputs from the first and second scintillating materials to electrical pulses, a counter circuit configured to count the electrical pulses generated in the photo multiplier tube by the first and second materials, and a gain control circuit configured to monitor the electrical pulses generated in the photomultiplier tube by the second material and adjust a gain of the detector upon detecting a drift in the output of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Bonaventure Cahill
  • Publication number: 20130087713
    Abstract: A scintillator panel 1 and a radiation image sensor 10 which can achieve higher resolution and higher luminance are provided. The scintillator panel 1 comprises a radiation transmitting substrate 3, adapted to transmit a radiation therethrough, having entrance and exit surfaces 3a, 3b for the radiation; a scintillator 4, adapted to generate light in response to the radiation incident thereon, comprising a plurality of columnar bodies grown as crystals on the exit surface 3b; an FOP 6, arranged on an opposite side of the scintillator 4 from the exit surface 3b, for propagating the light generated by the scintillator 4; and a double-sided tape 5, disposed between the scintillator 4 and the FOP 6, for adhesively bonding the scintillator 4 and the FOP 6 together and transmitting therethrough the light generated by the scintillator 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Shintaro Toyama, Yutaka Kusuyama, Masanori Yamashita, Hirotake Osawa, Munenori Shikida
  • Patent number: 8410449
    Abstract: A family of photodetectors includes at least first and second members. In one embodiment, the family includes members having different pixel sizes. In another, the family includes members having the same pixel size. The detection efficiency of the detectors is optimized to provide a desired energy resolution at one or more energies of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Thon, Thomas Frach
  • Patent number: 8405034
    Abstract: A neutron measurement apparatus 1A includes a neutron detection unit 10, a photodetection unit 20 that detects scintillation light emitted from the neutron detection unit 10, a light guide optical system 15 that guides the scintillation light from the neutron detection unit 10 to the photodetection unit 20, and a shielding member 30 which is located between the neutron detection unit 10 and the photodetection unit 20 for shielding radiation passing in a direction toward the photodetection unit 20. Further, a scintillator formed of a lithium glass material in which PrF3 is doped to a glass material 20Al(PO3)3-80LiF is used as a neutron detection scintillator composing the neutron detection unit 10. Thereby, the neutron detection scintillator and the neutron measurement apparatus which are capable of suitably performing neutron measurement such as measurement of scattered neutrons from an implosion plasma can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Osaka University, TOKAI UNIVERSITY Educational System
    Inventors: Hiroshi Azechi, Nobuhiko Sarukura, Yasunobu Arikawa, Mitsuo Nakai, Hirofumi Kan, Takahiro Murata, Toshihisa Suyama, Shigeru Fujino, Yoshiyuki Usuki, Hideki Yoshida, Akira Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20130068953
    Abstract: A flat panel radiation detector is disclosed, comprising a scintillator panel provided on a support with a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals and a protective layer sequentially in this order, and the scintillator panel being coupled with a planar light receiving element having plural picture elements which are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the difference between to average void fraction of an edge portion of the phosphor layer and the average void fraction of a base portion is not less than 5% and not more than 25%, and the void fraction decreases from the base portion to the edge portion. There is provided a flat panel radiation detector with a phosphor layer which exhibits enhanced physical resistance to shock and is superior in sharpness and emission efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventors: Keiko Itaya, Takehiko Shoji
  • Patent number: 8399844
    Abstract: A detector made of a detector assembly including a detector housing comprising a reflective interior surface relative to a wavelength of fluoresced electromagnetic radiation, and a scintillator contained within the detector housing. The detector further including a photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled to the detector housing, wherein a portion of the PMT is contained within the detector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Lance J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8368026
    Abstract: A scintillator for an imaging device includes a plate made of a material capable of emitting photons according to an incident radiation. The scintillator further includes at least one block of a second material capable of emitting photons according to the incident radiation. The plate and the block are assembled via the edge of the plate by connecting means that absorbs all or some of the photons emitted by the plate and the block. A scintillator module and an imaging device with such a scintillator, and a method of manufacturing a scintillator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: David Partouche-Sebban, Isabelle Abraham
  • Patent number: 8369483
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for multi-resolution x-ray image capture. In one embodiment, a method includes repositioning an image capture assembly of an x-ray image capture apparatus from a first position to a second position, the first position corresponding to a first pixel density resolution and the second position corresponding to a second pixel density resolution; activating an x-ray source; and obtaining a digital x-ray image of a subject from an imaging sensor of the image capture assembly, the digital x-ray image having the second pixel density resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: William Eugene Campbell
  • Patent number: 8350224
    Abstract: A scintillator arrangement for detecting X-ray radiation includes a plurality of pixels separated from one another by reflectors and made of a scintillator ceramic, doped in particular by cerium, for converting the X-ray radiation into visible light. In at least one embodiment, the reflectors are designed for absorbing light with a wavelength range which corresponds to a selected emission band of the scintillator ceramic. Thus, the concentration of cerium in the scintillator ceramic can be reduced and this leads to an increased light yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Leppert
  • Publication number: 20130001424
    Abstract: An optical fiber can include a polymer and a scintillation quencher. The optical fiber can be a member of a radiation sensor or radiation detecting system. The scintillation quencher can include a UV-absorber or a scintillation resistant material. In one embodiment, the radiation sensor includes a scintillator that is capable of generating a first radiation having a wavelength of at least about 420 nm; and a scintillation quencher is capable of absorbing a second radiation having a wavelength of less than about 420 nm. The optical fiber including a scintillation quencher provides for a method to detect neutrons in a radiation detecting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Kusner
  • Patent number: 8344335
    Abstract: A dosimeter for radiation fields is described. The dosimeter includes a scintillator a light pipe having a first end in optical communication with the scintillator and a light detector. The light pipe may have a hollow core with a light reflective material about the periphery of the hollow core. The dosimeter may further include a light source that generates light for use as a calibrating signal for a measurement signal and/or for use to check the light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Simon Fleming, Justin Elsey, Susan Law, Natalka Suchowerska, Jamil Lambert, David Robert McKenzie
  • Patent number: 8344328
    Abstract: A position detector includes a photodetector having photodetecting elements; and a scintillator crystal having uniaxial optical anisotropy. The scintillator crystal is continuous in a uniaxial direction, is disposed on the photodetector such that the uniaxial direction is not perpendicular to the normal to a photodetecting surface, and has a length at least three times the pitch of the photodetecting elements. The uniaxial anisotropy allows at least 4% of scintillation light emitted from a region farthest above the photodetecting surface to reach the photodetecting elements, and allows from 4% to 35% of scintillation light emitted from a region closest to the photodetecting surface to reach the photodetecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Den, Tatsuya Saito, Nobuhiro Yasui, Ryoko Horie
  • Publication number: 20120326043
    Abstract: A neutron detection apparatus can include a neutron sensor and a photosensor optically coupled to the neutron sensor. In an embodiment, the photosensor includes a box-and-line photomultiplier, and in another embodiment, the photosensor includes a box-and-grid photomultiplier. The neutron detection apparatus provide unexpectedly better pulse shape analysis, pulse shape discrimination, or both. In a particular embodiment, the neutron may also be configured to detect gamma rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Artan Duraj
  • Publication number: 20120318990
    Abstract: A radiation detection panel including a photoelectric conversion element that detects fluorescence by a phosphor layer, the radiation detection panel comprising: a base material for supporting the phosphor layer, including the photoelectric conversion element; and a protective film for covering the phosphor layer, wherein the phosphor layer is formed on a surface and at least one lateral face of the base material, and an angle between the surface and the at least one lateral face is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Tsujii, Masato Inoue, Takashi Ogura, Noriaki Oguri