Scintillation System Patents (Class 250/370.11)
  • Patent number: 9575188
    Abstract: A method for producing a scintillator array comprising fixing a scintillator substrate to a support plate via a double-coated adhesive sheet, at least an adhesive surface thereof to be in contact with the scintillator substrate being thermally peelable; providing the scintillator substrate with lattice-patterned grooves to form pluralities of scintillator cells; filling gaps between the scintillator cells with a liquid hardening reflector resin; curing the liquid hardening reflector resin by heating to form a resin-hardened scintillator cell body; and then peeling the double-coated adhesive sheet from the resin-hardened scintillator cell body by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo Nitta
  • Patent number: 9568617
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor panel on which a plurality of sensors are arrayed, a scintillator that is arranged over a base member and is made of an alkali halide, and a protective film configured to suppress deliquescence of the scintillator, wherein the protective film includes a first portion that covers a side face of the scintillator and an end of the scintillator on a side opposite to the base member, and a second portion that is smaller in a content of fluorine than the first portion and covers at least part of a surface of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Ichimura
  • Patent number: 9562979
    Abstract: A projection radiographic imaging apparatus includes a scintillator and an imaging array. The imaging array includes a plurality of pixels formed directly on a side of the scintillator. Each of the pixels includes at least one photosensor and at least one readout element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Tredwell, Roger S. Kerr, Robert W. Kulpinski
  • Patent number: 9562980
    Abstract: A scintillator panel includes: a flexible substrate; a phosphor arranged on the flexible substrate; and a thermal expansion compensation layer disposed between the flexible substrate and the phosphor, wherein a linear expansion coefficient of the thermal expansion compensation layer is greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the phosphor, and surfaces, of the thermal expansion compensation layer and of the flexible substrate, in contact with each other each contain an organic substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Keiko Itaya, Makoto Iijima
  • Patent number: 9559139
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a structure implemented in an X-ray imaging system are described. In one aspect, a structure implemented in an X-ray imaging system includes a silicon wafer including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The silicon wafer also includes an array of photodiodes on the first side of the silicon wafer with the photodiodes electrically isolated from each other as well as an array of grid holes on the second side of the silicon wafer. Each grid hole of the array of grid holes is aligned with a respective photodiode of the array of photodiodes. The structure also includes a layer of scintillating material disposed over the array of grid holes on the second side of the silicon wafer. The structure further includes a layer of reflective material disposed on the layer of scintillating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TERAPEDE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Madhukar B. Vora, Brian Rodricks
  • Patent number: 9541654
    Abstract: There is provided an x-ray scintillator (10) including a pore matrix having a plurality of pores formed in a substrate (1). Each of the pores is at least partially covered with a multi-layered coating including at least a reflective layer (2) and a protective layer (3). The at least partially coated pores are filled with scintillating material (4) for absorbing x-ray photons to produce secondary photons, preferably with a wavelength in the visible range. The reflective layer (2) of the multi-layered coating is arranged between the scintillating material (4) and the substrate (1) for reflecting the secondary photons, and the protective layer (3) of the multi-layered coating is arranged between the reflective layer (2) and the scintillating material (4) for protecting the reflective layer while allowing reflection of the secondary photons by the reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SCINT-X AB
    Inventors: Olof Svenonius, Anna Sahlholm, Peter Norlin
  • Patent number: 9529095
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a measuring device includes a plurality of scintillators, plurality of receiving elements, and a processor. The scintillators each convert incident radiation into light. The receiving elements each convert scintillation light received by a light receiving surface thereof into an electric signal. The processor acquires a value corresponding to an intensity of the incident radiation based on the electric signal. Each of the scintillators includes an incident surface on which the radiation is incident. The incident surface includes an inclination that has a predetermined angle with respect to the light receiving surface and that is asymmetric with respect to a center of the incident surface. The scintillators are arrayed on a plane including the light receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, Rei Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9526466
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-layer flat panel detector comprising a first conversion layer, a second conversion layer, at least one printed circuit board for receiving signals generated by the first or second direct conversion layers, and a processor for processing the signals to produce an image being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
    Inventors: Karim S. Karim, Nicholas Allec
  • Patent number: 9519069
    Abstract: CT detector modules are disclosed that include a module frame and a plurality of tileable detector sensors positioned on the module frame. Each of the tileable detector sensors includes an array of detector elements and a mounting structure directly or indirectly coupled to the detector elements to provide for a mounting and alignment of the detector sensor to the module frame. The mounting structure includes an alignment plate positioned generally opposite the array of detector elements, with the alignment plate having alignment pins forming a datum structure to align the detector sensor on the module frame and one or more threaded bosses configured to receive a fastener therein that secures the detector sensor to the module frame. The module frame includes keyed features that receive the alignment pins when the detector sensors are mounted on the module frame, so as to align the detector sensors on the module frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Baiju Zacharia Babu
  • Patent number: 9513383
    Abstract: A scintillator device includes a scintillator layer on a substrate and a foil layer that covers the scintillator layer. The foil layer overlaps an outer edge of the scintillator layer and is adhered to a portion of the substrate surrounding the scintillator layer to form at least part of a first moisture barrier between the scintillator layer and the surrounding environment. A sealant overlaps an outer edge of the foil layer onto a portion of the substrate surrounding the foil layer to form at least part of a second moisture barrier between the scintillator layer and the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Wanqing Cao
  • Patent number: 9496061
    Abstract: The invention provides radiographic image conversion panels which ensure a high image quality (brightness) of the obtainable radiographic images and have excellent moisture proofness. The radiographic image conversion panel includes a photoelectric conversion element and a scintillator layer including a phosphor and one or more activators, the phosphor being in the form of columnar crystal. The activator concentration in the thickness direction of the scintillator layer gives a profile curve having two or more peaks. The amount of activator or activators present in a region of the scintillator layer extending over a thickness of 100 ?m from a principal surface of the scintillator layer opposed to the photoelectric conversion element is 0.3 to 0.7 mol % (relative to the amount of phosphor base compound present in the region taken as 100 mol %).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takuji Hasegawa, Shigetami Kasai, Naoyuki Sawamoto
  • Patent number: 9484515
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor light emitting module and a method of manufacturing the same, which allow achieving high luminance light emission as well as lightweight and compact features. In a semiconductor light emitting module (101), a projecting portion (202) serving as a reflecting member is formed on a metal thin plate (102) to surround a semiconductor light emitting element (104). The semiconductor light emitting element (104) is connected to a printed board (103) by using a wire (201), for example. The projecting portion (202) is formed by pressing and bending the metal thin plate (102) from a back surface, for example, to surround the element and to be higher than the semiconductor light emitting element (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: S.E.I Inc., Shimane Prefectural Government
    Inventors: Satoshi Komatsubara, Kenichi Fukuda, Shinobu Otao, Toru Furuta
  • Patent number: 9466958
    Abstract: A coated conduit end with a perceivable demarcation quickly and reliably indicates how far conduit is screwed or inserted into a coated conduit fitting to form a conduit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: O'KOTE INC.
    Inventor: Ilan Bender
  • Patent number: 9442261
    Abstract: A radiation detector is provided including a photosensor, a scintillator, and a light guide arranged between the scintillator and the photosensor and configured to guide light from the scintillator to the photosensor, the light guide including a nano-composite that includes nanoparticles that determine a refractive index of the nano-composite. The nano-composite includes a polymer material and the nano-particles, wherein the nano-particles are uniformly distributed throughout the polymer material so that the refractive index of the nano-composite is uniform throughout the nano-composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jerry Wang
  • Patent number: 9442200
    Abstract: There are provided a method for manufacturing a radiation image detection device, which can cover a scintillator without damaging the scintillator and which can easily form a scintillator protection film with a peripheral portion having a high adhesion to a substrate, and the radiation image detection device. A scintillator protection film that covers a planar scintillator provided on a photoelectric conversion panel is brought into close contact with a scintillator and the photoelectric conversion panel by a planar member having a surface with an irregular shape, and an irregular shape is formed on the scintillator protection film along the irregular shape of the planar member. A distance S between recesses of the irregular shape, the diameter D of the columnar crystal, and the width W of the peripheral portion satisfy the relationship of “D?S?W”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotaka Watano
  • Patent number: 9411057
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging system can include an X-ray source that projects a beam of X-ray radiation and an X-ray detector positioned to receive the beam of X-ray radiation at a location. The X-ray detector can include: (i) a monolithic substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, (ii) a scintillation layer arranged upon the first side and including a first region and a second region, the first region having a first X-ray sensitivity and the second region having a second X-ray sensitivity different than the first X-ray sensitivity, and (iii) a photosensor array arranged upon the second side. The X-ray source and X-ray detector can be configured to adjust the location at which the X-ray detector receives the beam of X-ray radiation such that the location is primarily within the first region or the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Helm, Shuanghe Shi
  • Patent number: 9400334
    Abstract: A scintillator can include a photosensor surface and a side surface adjacent to the photosensor surface. The photosensor surface can be adapted to provide scintillating light to a photosensor. In an embodiment, the scintillator can have grooves along the side surface, wherein the grooves have lengths extending in a direction toward the photosensor surface. In another embodiment, the scintillator can include a reflector and a clear adhesive between the scintillator and reflector. In a particular embodiment, the reflector is substantially white and has a gloss value of at least 50. The scintillator can be in the form of a scintillator element of an array or in the form of a single scintillator. The scintillator can be coupled to a photosensor within a radiation detection apparatus. For an array, a process of forming the array can include forming grooves along one or more side surfaces during a fabrication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Louis Perna
  • Patent number: 9395453
    Abstract: A radiation sensor includes a scintillation layer configured to emit photons upon interaction with ionizing radiation and a photodetector including in order a first electrode, a photosensitive layer, and a photon-transmissive second electrode disposed in proximity to the scintillation layer. The photosensitive layer is configured to generate electron-hole pairs upon interaction with a part of the photons. The radiation sensor includes pixel circuitry electrically connected to the first electrode and configured to measure an imaging signal indicative of the electron-hole pairs generated in the photosensitive layer and a planarization layer disposed on the pixel circuitry between the first electrode and the pixel circuitry such that the first electrode is above a plane including the pixel circuitry. A surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode at least partially overlaps the pixel circuitry and has a surface inflection above features of the pixel circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan, University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventor: Larry E. Antonuk
  • Patent number: 9377350
    Abstract: A light sensor having a chemically resistant and robust reflector stack is disclosed. The reflector stack is formed over a substrate, and includes an adhesion layer, a patterned reflector layer over the adhesion layer, and a smoothing layer over the patterned reflector layer. The patterned reflector layer has a substantially flat top surface. A conformal passivation layer covers the reflector stack. An absorbing layer is situated above the reflector stack and separated from the reflector stack. The absorbing layer is supported by vias over the substrate. The absorbing layer is connected to at least one resistor, where a resistance of the at least one resistor varies in response to light absorbed by the absorbing layer. The vias are disposed on via landing pads on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Howard, Jeff Rose, Arjun Kar-Roy, Michael J. DeBar
  • Patent number: 9373653
    Abstract: An image sensor package includes a crystalline handler having opposing first and second surfaces, and a cavity formed into the first surface. At least one step extends from a sidewall of the cavity, wherein the cavity terminates in an aperture at the second surface. A cover is mounted to the second surface and extends over and covers the aperture. The cover is optically transparent to at least one range of light wavelengths. A sensor chip is disposed in the cavity and mounted to the at least one step. The sensor chip includes a substrate with front and back opposing surfaces, a plurality of photo detectors formed at the front surface, and a plurality of contact pads formed at the front surface which are electrically coupled to the photo detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Optiz, Inc.
    Inventor: Vage Oganesian
  • Patent number: 9362341
    Abstract: There is set forth herein a method for making an apparatus for use in X ray detection comprising fabricating a first layered assembly 10 comprising a scintillator and first electrode layer, and laminating the first layered assembly 10 onto a second layered assembly 20 wherein the second layered assembly has a thin film transistor (TFT) array, wherein the TFT array includes a second electrode layer, wherein at least one of the first layered assembly and the second layered assembly includes an organic photodiode (OPD) absorber layer and wherein the laminating is absent use of an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Judy Couture, Gautam Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 9354186
    Abstract: An apparatus having an X-ray sensor assembly with X-ray blocking pixels divided by X-ray transmitting gaps with the X-ray blocking pixels casting an X-ray blocking shadow; and a die containing signal processing electronics, with the signal processing electronics positioned substantially entirely within the X-ray blocking shadow. A method for detecting the alignment between the X-ray sensor assembly and the die is disclosed. Also disclosed is an X-ray computed tomography machine having a printed circuit board (“PCB”), a die embedded in the PCB, and a signal source wherein signals are routed to and from the die by traces on at least one of the surfaces of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eduardo Bartolome, Sreenivasan K. Koduri
  • Patent number: 9348035
    Abstract: An X-ray detector includes a light sensor configured to receive light energy from a scintillator receiving X-rays. The light sensor includes a grid of pixels having a light reception surface oriented toward the scintillator and configured to receive light from the scintillator. Each pixel includes a diode assembly, a control assembly and a capacitor assembly. The diode assembly is disposed on the light reception surface and is configured to produce electric charge responsive to light received by the diode assembly. The diode assembly includes plural diodes selectably configurable in plural combinations, wherein an amount of the electric charge produced by the diode assembly varies based on a selection of diode combination. The control assembly is operably connected to the diode assembly and configured to selectably configure the diodes. The capacitor assembly is operably connected to the diode assembly and configured to receive and store the electric charge from the diode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Paul Richard Granfors
  • Patent number: 9322938
    Abstract: A detector module for a radiation detector is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the detector module includes a converter layer with contacts, arranged distributed over an area on the rear side, for transmitting electrical signals, wherein the contacts are routed, by way of rewiring, to target contacts on a target region that is smaller than this area. This provides the conditions for simple and secure signal routing between the contacts on the converter layer and readout electronics. In particular, this is successful if a substrate layer used for stabilization purposes has a cutout for the target region, through which cutout the target contacts are directly connected to the signal-routing lines of readout electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Kämmerer, Thomas Reichel, Stefan Wirth
  • Patent number: 9312423
    Abstract: A photo detector and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The photo detector includes a first substrate and a photo conversion element. The first substrate has a sensor element array for receiving a light with a spectrum in a specific wavelength range. The photo conversion element is disposed on the sensor element array, where the photo conversion element includes a photo conversion material layer and a doped photo conversion material column structure layer. A luminescent spectrum of the doped photo conversion material layer column structure layer is overlapped with the spectrum in a specific wavelength range, and a luminescent spectrum of the photo conversion material layer is non-overlapped with the spectrum in a specific wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Te-Ming Chen, Chin-Mao Lin
  • Patent number: 9304210
    Abstract: An X-ray detector includes a panel including a plurality of photo-sensing pixels, the photo-sensing pixels being configured to detect an X-ray and to perform photoelectric conversion to output electrical signals, and a read-out integrated circuit connected to the panel, the read-out integrated circuit being configured to read out the electrical signals from the photo-sensing pixels and to generate a self-triggering signal based on the read-out electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Hun Yoon, Man Seung Cho
  • Patent number: 9285489
    Abstract: An x-ray detector assembly is disclosed that includes a mounting substrate having a plurality of electrical contacts, the mounting substrate comprising one of an integrated circuit and a circuit board. The x-ray detector assembly also includes a first electrode patterned on a first portion of a top surface of the mounting substrate, wherein the first electrode is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts. An organic photodiode layer is formed atop the first electrode and has a bottom surface electrically connected to the first electrode. A second electrode is coupled to a top surface of the organic photodiode layer and a scintillator is coupled to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Judy Couture, Marc Schaepkens, Abdelaziz Ikhlef
  • Patent number: 9268032
    Abstract: A sensing element for electromagnetic wave detection, electrical radiography imaging system applying the element and method thereof is provided. The sensing element may include a substrate, an active component on the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes on the substrate, a plurality of second electrodes on the substrate, a first blocking layer, a photo-conversion layer on the first blocking layer, and a third electrode on the photo-conversion layer. The plurality of first electrodes is coupled together. The plurality of first electrodes is interlaced with the plurality of second electrodes and is coupled together. The first blocking layer is on the active component, the plurality of first electrodes, and the plurality of second electrodes. The photo-conversion layer is for absorbing electromagnetic wave transmitted through an object being imaged by a radiography imaging system and generates electric charges collected by the plurality of first and second electrodes, and the third electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ming-Huan Yang, Bo-Wen Xiao, Chien-Ju Lee, Wen-Tung Wang, Wei-Ben Wang
  • Patent number: 9269741
    Abstract: The present invention provides a production method of a radiation image detector, comprising a scintillator panel preparation step, a composite rigid plate preparation step of bonding a flexible polymer film to a rigid plate with an adhesive to prepare the composite rigid plate, a preparation step of a scintillator panel provided with a composite rigid plate of bonding the composite rigid plate to a scintillator panel to prepare the scintillator panel provided with a composite rigid plate, and a preparation step of a radiation image detection member of opposing the surface of the photoelectric conversion base plate in which the photoelectric conversion elements are disposed to the surface of the side of the scintillator layer of the scintillator panel provided with the composite rigid plate and bonding the photoelectric conversion base plate to the scintillator panel to prepare a radiation image detection member; whereby there are provided a production method of a radiation image detector which can be easily
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Furui, Yoko Hirai
  • Patent number: 9268045
    Abstract: A neutron detector with a unique neutron detecting element is disclosed. The neutron detecting element has an inner cylindrical neutron scintillator where a neutron detection body including a ZnS phosphor, and a neutron converter material which contains 6Li or 10B is arranged outside of the cylindrical substrate; a scintillator fluorescence detection body made by placing coiled wavelength shift fibers where two wavelength shift fibers are wound in parallel along the cylindrical substrate on said inner cylindrical neutron scintillator; and an outer cylindrical neutron scintillator where a neutron detection body is arranged inside of the cylindrical substrate, the outer cylindrical neutron scintillator being arranged on the scintillator fluorescence detection body. The fluorescence signals converted into pulse signals by two optical detectors are led to a coincidence circuit, and when two fluorescence signals are measured simultaneously during the predetermined period of time, a neutron signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Chichibu Fuji Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakamura, Noriaki Tsutsui, Atsushi Sakaue, Masaki Katagiri
  • Patent number: 9257474
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate having a surface over which a plurality of photodiodes are formed, and a protection film that is transparent, has a water-proofing property, and includes a side wall part vertical to the surface of the substrate and a ceiling part covering a region surrounded by the side wall part, the side wall part and the ceiling part surrounding a region where the plurality of photodiodes are arranged over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Miyazawa, Yutaka Ooka
  • Patent number: 9255997
    Abstract: A radiological image detection apparatus includes a radiological image conversion panel and a sensor panel. A sealant that is disposed between a substrate of the radiological image conversion panel and a substrate of the sensor panel and surrounds a scintillator in the radiological image conversion panel and a pixel array in the sensor panel to form an isolated space on the inside of the sealant. The scintillator includes a columnar portion including a group of columnar crystals formed by growing crystals of the phosphor in columnar shapes and a surface configured by a set of tips of the columnar crystals is disposed in close contact with the pixel array without being bonded to the pixel array. Both of the substrate of the radiological image conversion panel and the substrate of the sensor panel are flexible, and the isolated space is depressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 9239394
    Abstract: A detector for detecting ionizing radiation comprises a scintillator 10 selected to emit light in response to incidence thereon of radiation to be detected, at least one detector 16 for detecting said emitted light, and at least one optical waveguide 12 for transmitting said emitted light to said detector 16. The optical waveguide typically comprises a flexible solid or hollow fiber that can be incorporated into a flexible mat or into a fiber-reinforced structure, so that the detector is integrated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Michael Dunleavy, Sajad Haq, Douglas Beverley Stevenson King, Nicholas Giacomo Robert Colosimo, Jonathan Alexander Silvie, Philip Lawrence Webberley
  • Patent number: 9232926
    Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging device including: a radiographic imaging device main body; and a protective cover that is removably applied to a surface of the radiographic imaging device main body, a thickness including the radiographic imaging device main body in the state in which the protective cover is applied being at most 16 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Noguchi, Yusuke Kitagawa, Takeyasu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9192786
    Abstract: A method of treating an object with radiation that includes generating volumetric image data of an area of interest of an object and emitting a therapeutic radiation beam towards the area of interest of the object in accordance with a reference plan. The method further includes evaluating the volumetric image data and at least one parameter of the therapeutic radiation beam to provide a real-time, on-line or off-line evaluation and on-line or off-line modification of the reference plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: William Beaumont Hospital
    Inventors: Di Yan, Alvaro Martinez
  • Patent number: 9188681
    Abstract: An ion detector (1) comprising a semi-conductor avalanche photodiode (4) and a scintillation layer (2), the scintillation layer having a thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 00 mm, the scintillation layer arranged to generate photons towards the photodiode resulting from ions impinging on the scintillation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ISIS INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Brouard, Claire Vallance, Andrei Nomerotski, Renato Turchetta
  • Patent number: 9182508
    Abstract: A neutron detector composed of a matrix of scintillating particles imbedded in a lithiated glass is disclosed. The neutron detector detects the neutrons by absorbing the neutron in the 6Li isotope which has been enriched from the natural isotopic ratio to a commercial ninety five percent. The utility of the detector is optimized by suitably selecting scintillating particle sizes in the range of the alpha and the triton. Nominal particle sizes are in the range of five to twenty five microns depending upon the specific scintillating particle selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 9174238
    Abstract: A particle has a permanent dipole moment, a film includes the particle, and a method of forming the film includes aligning the particle on a surface. The particle has a permanent dipole moment and includes heterogeneous materials, wherein a positive pole is located in a first material and a negative pole is located in a second material different from the first material. The method includes aligning a particle such that the particle has one dipole moment direction. The film includes the aligned particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-sang Cho, Dae-young Chung, Sang-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9168008
    Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned, the rotatable gantry having a detector mounting surface, an x-ray source attached to the gantry and configured to project an x-ray beam toward the object, a plurality of detector modules each mounted within one field-of-view (FOV) and mounted directly to the detector mounting surface of the rotatable gantry, a data acquisition system (DAS) configured to receive outputs from at least one of the plurality of detector modules, and a computer programmed to acquire projections of imaging data of the object from the DAS, and generate an image of the object using the imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 9159849
    Abstract: A semiconductor detector head comprises a detector chip having a front side and a back side, and a substrate on the back side of said detector chip. Contact points are located on at least one of said substrate and said detector chip. A first set of contact pins protrude on an opposite side of said substrate than said detector chip. At least one of the contact pins of said first set is conductively coupled to at least one of said contact points. A base plate holds a second set of contact pins that protrude from said base plate towards the contact pins of said first set. Electric connections are made between matching pairs of contact pins of said first and second sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Analytical Oy
    Inventor: Veikko Kämäräinen
  • Patent number: 9158009
    Abstract: A reflective resin sheet is bonded to one face of a supporting substrate transmitting a radiation ray and a resin sheet of the same material as that of the reflective resin sheet to the other face of the supporting substrate. A phosphor layer converting a radiation ray into visible light is formed additionally on the reflective resin sheet formed on one face of the supporting substrate. The phosphor layer is enclosed with an additional moisture-proof layer and the reflective resin sheet. It is possible to obtain a scintillator panel higher in sensitivity characteristics, stabilized in quality and more cost-effective by placing the reflective resin sheet between the supporting substrate and the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuya Yoshida, Hiroshi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9153416
    Abstract: A method of investigating a sample using a charged-particle microscope is disclosed. By directing an imaging beam of charged particles at a sample, a resulting flux of output radiation is detected from the sample. At least a portion of the output radiation is examined using a detector, the detector comprising a Solid State Photo-Multiplier. The Solid State Photo-Multiplier is biased so that its gain is matched to the magnitude of output radiation flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Petr Hlavenka, Marek Uncovsky
  • Patent number: 9146325
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation detector 1 capable of improving reliability associated with radiation detection. The radiation detector 1 includes: a supporting substrate 2 that can transmit radiation there-through; a scintillator layer 3 formed on one principal surface 2a of the supporting substrate 2, the scintillator layer 3 including an incident surface 3a on which radiation is incident and an emission surface 3b emitting light generated by the incident radiation and on a side opposite to the incident surface 3a; and a light detection portion 5 disposed on an emission surface side of the scintillator layer 3 for detecting light emitted from the emission surface 3b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hirotake Osawa, Yutaka Kusuyama, Shintaro Toyama, Masanori Yamashita, Munenori Shikida
  • Patent number: 9134437
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation detecting device, including: a scintillator which emits light when radiation is irradiated thereto; and a photosensor array having light receiving elements for receiving the emitted light which are two-dimensionally arranged, in which: the scintillator has a phase separation structure for propagating the light emitted inside the scintillator in a light propagating direction, the phase separation structure being formed by embedding multiple columnar portions formed of a first material in a second material; the radiation is irradiated to the scintillator from a direction which is not in parallel to the light propagating direction; and the light emitted inside the scintillator is propagated through the scintillator in the light propagating direction and is received by the photosensor array which is placed so as to face an end face of the scintillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasaki, Nobuhiro Yasui, Toru Den
  • Patent number: 9128196
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a conversion element and a transistor. A drive unit performs a reset operation at a plurality of times, by supplying a conducting voltage to gates of the transistors, successively, one row by one row, an operation of stopping the supplying of the conducting voltage responsive to detecting the irradiation of the radiation to perform an accumulation operation and, after the reset operation, a read out operation. During the reset operation, a period between the supplying the conducting voltage to the gates of the transistors in one row and the supplying the conducting voltage subsequently to the gates of the transistors in another row is different from a period between the supplying the conducting voltage to the gates of the transistors in the another row and the supplying the conducting voltage subsequently to the gates of the transistors in further another row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu
  • Patent number: 9121955
    Abstract: A single photon counting detector system has a layer of photosensitive material and an N×M array of photo-detector diodes. Each photo-detector diode has a bias potential interface and a diode output interface. The bias potential interface is connected to bias potential. An N×M array of high gain, low noise readout unit cells is provided, one readout unit cell for each photo-detector diode. Each readout unit cell has an input interface connected to the diode output interface, a high-gain voltage amplifier with an integration capacitor at least two parallel lines of digital counters, each having a comparator with an individually selectable threshold and a gateable section to determine the counting intervals of the digital counters. A multiplexer allows access to the readout cell unit either on a per pixel basis or for several pixels in parallel to read out the digital counter to a data processor transferring the data off chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Bernd Schmitt, Anna Bergamaschi, Aldo Mozzanica, Roberto Dinapoli
  • Patent number: 9117562
    Abstract: The steps of the method to make the scintillator panel are providing a first support having thereon a phosphor layer; dividing the first support the phosphor layer into a plurality of scintillator panel sections each having a first support section and a phosphor layer section thereon; providing an adhesive member between a side of the first support section of each of the plurality of the scintillator panel sections and a side of a second support; adhering the plurality of the scintillator panel sections onto the second support; forming a protective layer on a whole surface of the plurality of the scintillator panel sections except a portion of the scintillator panel sections which is contacted with the adhesive member; and separating the scintillator panel sections with their protective layer thereon from the second support. The separated scintillator panel sections with their protective layer are then adhered to light receiving element to form the flat panel detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventors: Keiko Itaya, Tadashi Arimoto
  • Patent number: 9116246
    Abstract: A thermal neutron detector and method employ Gd-containing nanoscintillators. Thermal neutron radiation is detected by observing scintillation events from the nanoscintillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Brian A. Akins, John B. Plumley, Antonio C. Rivera, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Jose M. Vargas, Nathan J. Withers
  • Patent number: 9118850
    Abstract: A camera system uses one or more image sensor IC chips each having multiple pixel arrays on the same semiconductor substrate (i.e., “multiple pixel arrays on a chip”). In one embodiment, such a camera system includes: (a) optical components that create multiple images in close physical proximity of each other (e.g., within a few millimeters or centimeters); and (b) a single sensor substrate (“chip”) containing multiple 2-dimensional pixel arrays that are aligned to capture these multiple images, so as to convert the multiple images into electrical signal. The pixel arrays can be manufactured using a CCD or a CMOS compatible process. For manufacturing reasons, such a chip is typically two centimeters or less on a side. However, large chips can also be made. Optional electronic components for further signal processing of the captured images may be formed either on the sensor chip (i.e., in a “system-on-a-chip” implementation), or in a separate back-end application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Capso Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiafu Luo, Kang-Huai Wang, Gordon C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9081104
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus includes a sensor panel which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a scintillator layer disposed above the photoelectric conversion unit and configured to convert radiation into light, a reflection layer disposed above the scintillator layer and configured to reflect part of light generated by the scintillator layer toward the sensor panel; and a protective layer which covers the scintillator layer from above the reflection layer. The scintillator layer is fixed on the sensor panel. The reflection layer is fixed on the protective layer. Part of the protective layer is bonded to the sensor panel with an adhesive material so as to seal the scintillator layer and the reflection layer with the protective layer and the sensor panel. An upper surface of the scintillator layer includes a portion which is not fixed to the reflection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Sawada, Masato Inoue, Shinichi Takeda, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe