Of Material Other Than Germanium, Diamond, Or Silicon Patents (Class 250/370.12)
  • Patent number: 8183533
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray, gamma ray, and particle radiation for nuclear medicine, radiographic imaging, material composition analysis, high energy physics, container inspection, mine detection and astronomy. The invention provides detection systems employing one or more detector modules comprising edge-on scintillator detectors with sub-aperture resolution (SAR) capability employed, e.g., in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy. The invention also provides edge-on imaging probe detectors for use in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, or for use in nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Sigurd Nelson
  • Patent number: 8158949
    Abstract: A radiation detector characterized by includes a photoelectric conversion element, a scintillation layer which converts radioactive rays to fluorescence, the scintillation layer being formed on the photoelectric conversion element, and a reflective film formed on the scintillation layer, the reflective film containing light-scattering particles for reflecting the fluorescence from the scintillation layer and a binder material binding the light-scattering particles, and having depletion portions without being filled with the binder material, the depletion portions being formed in a periphery of the light-scattering particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Homma, Shinetsu Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20120080607
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a radiation detector comprising a substrate layer of detector material; a set of readout electronics deposited and integrated on one side of the substrate layer; and a contact layer deposited on a side of the substrate layer opposite the set of readout electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Karim Sallaudin Karim
  • Patent number: 8115175
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray, gamma ray, and particle radiation for nuclear medicine, radiographic imaging, material composition analysis, high energy physics, container inspection, mine detection and astronomy. The invention provides detection systems employing one or more detector modules comprising edge-on scintillator detectors with sub-aperture resolution (SAR) capability employed, e.g., in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy. The invention also provides edge-on imaging probe detectors for use in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, or for use in nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Sigurd Nelson
  • Patent number: 8115174
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray, gamma ray, and particle radiation for nuclear medicine, radiographic imaging, material composition analysis, high energy physics, container inspection, mine detection and astronomy. The invention provides detection systems employing one or more detector modules comprising edge-on scintillator detectors with sub-aperture resolution (SAR) capability employed, e.g., in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy. The invention also provides edge-on imaging probe detectors for use in nuclear medicine, such as radiation therapy portal imaging, or for use in nuclear remediation, mine detection, container inspection, and high energy physics and astronomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Sigurd Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120018647
    Abstract: A method of determining the presence of 99Tc in a container includes the steps of (a) subjecting the exterior of the container to neutron bombardment of sufficient energy to assure passage of the neutrons to the interior of the container; and (b) observing the emission or non-emission of gamma radiation from the container at energy levels of about 540 keV and about 591 keV as an indicator of the presence or non-presence, respectively, of 99Tc within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Celestino Abrego, David Nichols
  • Patent number: 8093559
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-terminal infrared detector capable of detecting a plurality of bands, such as three bands, over the visible and short-wave infrared bands. Detection of three colors enables one to construct composite imagery that provide significantly added contract in comparison to typical grayscale images. In some variations, the device includes multiple absorber and barrier layers that consist of distinct engineered semiconductor alloys which are closely lattice matched to InP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Rajesh D. Rajavel
  • Publication number: 20120001083
    Abstract: Demultiplexing systems and methods are discussed which may be small and accurate without moving parts. In some cases, demultiplexing embodiments may include optical filter cavities that include filter baffles and support baffles which may be configured to minimize stray light signal detection and crosstalk. Some of the demultiplexing assembly embodiments may also be configured to efficiently detect U.V. light signals and at least partially compensate for variations in detector responsivity as a function of light signal wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Jamie Knapp
  • Patent number: 8080803
    Abstract: A detector module is disclosed including a plurality of directly converting detector submodules, each with a back contact, and a scattered radiation collimator spanning the detector submodules. For contacting the back contacts, a contacting unit is provided in at least one embodiment and designed so that a contact connection is established between the contacting unit and the counter-electrodes by way of assembly-related proximity of the scattered radiation collimator and the counter-electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Freund, Peter Hackenschmied, Peter Kämmerer, Claus Pohan
  • Patent number: 8070987
    Abstract: Semiconductor materials suitable for being used in radiation detectors are disclosed. A particular example of the semiconductor materials includes tellurium, cadmium, and zinc. Tellurium is in molar excess of cadmium and zinc. The example also includes aluminum having a concentration of about 10 to about 20,000 atomic parts per billion and erbium having a concentration of at least 10,000 atomic parts per billion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kelvin Lynn, Kelly Jones, Guido Ciampi
  • Publication number: 20110211668
    Abstract: The invention relates to converter element (100) for a radiation detector, particularly for a Spectral CT scanner. The converter element (100) comprises at least two conversion cells (131) that are at least partially separated from each other by intermediate separation walls (135) which affect the spreading of electrical signals generated by incident radiation (X). The conversion cells (131) may particularly consist of a crystal of CdTe and/or CdZnTe. Said crystal is preferably grown by e.g. vapor deposition between preformed separation walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Steadman Booker, Matthias Simon, Christoph Herrmann, Bernd Menser, Jens Wiegert, Klaus Juergen Engel, Christian Baeumer, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 7928401
    Abstract: In a radiation detecting system including an electric voltage imparting electrode through which a bias electric voltage is applied, a recording photoconductive layer which comprises a-Se and generates electric charges in response to receipt of projection of radiation, a carrier collecting electrode, a charge storing portion which stores electric charges generated in the recording photoconductive layer and a switching element for reading out charge signal stored in the charge storing portion, superposed one on another in this order, an organic resin dielectric layer which is not smaller than 0.01 ?m and smaller than 1 ?m in thickness, not lower than 1012 ?cm in specific resistance and 6×10?6 to 1.5×10?4/° C. in thermal expansion coefficient is provided between the recording photoconductive layer and the electric voltage imparting electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fumito Nariyuki, Shinji Imai
  • Patent number: 7917192
    Abstract: Tomography by emission of positrons (pet) system dedicated to examinations of human body parts such as the breast, axilla, head, neck, liver, heart, lungs, prostate region and other body extremities which is composed of at least two detecting plates (detector heads) with dimensions that are optimized for the breast, axilla region, brain and prostrate region or other extremities; motorized mechanical means to allow the movement of the plates under manual or computer control, making it possible to collect data in several orientations as needed for tomographic image reconstruction; an electronics system composed by a front-end electronics system, located physically on the detector heads, and a trigger and data acquisition system located off-detector in an electronic crate; a data acquisition and control software; and an image reconstruction and analysis software that allows reconstructing, visualizing and analyzing the data produced during the examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: FFCUL/BEB-Fundacao Da Faculdade De Ciencias Da Universidade De Lisboa, Instituto De Biofisica E Engenharia Biomedia, Universidade De Coimbra/Faculdade De Medicina-Instituto Biomedico De Investigaceo Da Luz E Imagem, Inesc Inovacao-Instituto De Novas Tecnologia (INOV), Inegi-Instituto De Engenharla Mecanica E Gestao Industrial, Tagusparque-Sociedade De Promocao E Desenvolvimento Do Parque De Ciencias E Tecnologia Da Area De Lisboa, S.A., Lip-Laboratorio de Instrumentacao e Fisica Experimental de Particulas, Hgo Hospital Garcia De Horta, Servicios De Medicina Nuclear
    Inventor: João Manuel Coelho Dos Santos Varela
  • Patent number: 7915747
    Abstract: A substrate for forming a semiconductor layer includes a plurality of linear convexes or grooves on a surface of the substrate by crystal growth. The plurality of linear convexes or grooves are formed along a direction of a cleavage plane of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Keiichi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20100163837
    Abstract: A Gunn diode includes an active layer having a top and a bottom, a first contact layer disposed adjacent to the top of the active layer, a second contact layer disposed adjacent to the bottom of the active layer, wherein the first and second contact layers are more heavily doped than the active layer, and at least one outer contact layer disposed at an outer region of at least one of the first and second contact layers, the at least one outer contact layer being more heavily doped than the first and second contact layers, wherein the first and second contact layers, the active layer, and the at least one outer contact layer include a base material that is the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Technische Universitaet Darmstadt
    Inventors: Oktay Yilmazoglu, Kabula Mutamba, Dimitris Pavlidis, Tamer Karduman
  • Publication number: 20100163739
    Abstract: In a radiation detecting system including an electric voltage imparting electrode through which a bias electric voltage is applied, a recording photoconductive layer which comprises a-Se and generates electric charges in response to receipt of projection of radiation, a carrier collecting electrode, a charge storing portion which stores electric charges generated in the recording photoconductive layer and a switching element for reading out charge signal stored in the charge storing portion, superposed one on another in this order, an organic resin dielectric layer which is not smaller than 0.01 ?m and smaller than 1 ?m in thickness, not lower than 1012 ?cm in specific resistance and 6×10?6 to 1.5×10?4/° C. in thermal expansion coefficient is provided between the recording photoconductive layer and the electric voltage imparting electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumito NARIYUKI, Shinji IMAI
  • Publication number: 20100163740
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is composed of a SiC crystal. A metal film having a desired area and serving as an incident surface onto which X-rays are made incident is formed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate. An electrode having the shape of a circle is formed at the central portion of the other surface of the semiconductor substrate. A ring-shaped electrode is formed in a portion near the circumference of the semiconductor substrate so as to surround the electrode. A predetermined direct voltage is applied to the metal film and the ring-shaped electrode. A voltage of a ground level is applied to the electrode. X-rays (?-rays) that are made incident onto the metal film cause the generation of electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor substrate. The generated electrons are collected at the electrode and drawn as electric signals from an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hideharu Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7737411
    Abstract: An nBn detector is described where for some embodiments the barrier layer has a concentration gradient, for some embodiments the absorption layer has a concentration gradient, and for some embodiments the absorption layer is a chirped strained layer super lattice. The use of a graded barrier or absorption layer, or the use of a chirped strained layer super lattice for the absorption layer, allows for design of the energy bands so that the valence band may be aligned across the device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sarath D. Gunapala, David Z. Ting, Cory J. Hill, Sumith V. Bandara
  • Patent number: 7728301
    Abstract: An X-ray detector includes: a semiconductor substrate to generate charged particles by an irradiation of an X-ray; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in matrix on an X-ray incident surface of the semiconductor substrate and applied with a first electric potential to detect the charged particles; and a platy electrode provided on a surface opposite to the X-ray incident surface of the semiconductor substrate and applied with a second electric potential different from the first electric potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaki Atsuta, Yujiro Hara, Hideyuki Nakao
  • Publication number: 20100116999
    Abstract: New sensors, pixel detectors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are disclosed. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use solid state detectors. Each channel or pixel of the readout chip employs low noise preamplifier at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors, detectors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for different applications. Some of these applications may require fast data acquisition, some others may need ultra high energy resolution, and a separate portion may require very high contrast. The embodiments described herein addresses these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: NOVA R&D, INC.
    Inventors: Tümay Tümer, Martin Clajus
  • Patent number: 7709803
    Abstract: At least part of a readout pattern including carrier collecting electrodes, capacitors, thin-film transistors, data lines and gate lines is formed by vapor deposition or printing. This is formed separately from a semiconductor thick film. The semiconductor thick film and readout pattern constitute a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) is mounted in a case to form a unit. A weight reduction is achieved by using the semiconductor thick film in place of a conventional glass substrate. The FPD manufactured in this way is free from great restrictions in time of transport and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Adachi
  • Patent number: 7687780
    Abstract: A semiconductor detector for ionizing electromagnetic radiation, neutrons, and energetic charged particles. The detecting element is comprised of a compound having the composition I-III-VI2 or II-IV-V2 where the “I” component is from column 1A or 1B of the periodic table, the “II” component is from column 2B, the “III” component is from column 3A, the “IV” component is from column 4A, the “V” component is from column 5A, and the “VI” component is from column 6A. The detecting element detects ionizing radiation by generating a signal proportional to the energy deposited in the element, and detects neutrons by virtue of the ionizing radiation emitted by one or more of the constituent materials subsequent to capture. The detector may contain more than one neutron-sensitive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC, Fisk University
    Inventors: Zane W. Bell, Arnold Burger
  • Publication number: 20100065748
    Abstract: A detector of periodic packets of X photons, each packet having a duration shorter than 0.1 nanosecond, comprising a sensor comprising a semiconductor element of type III-V biased in a negative differential resistance region, said sensor being arranged in a resonant cavity tuned to a multiple of the packet repetition frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITY
    Inventors: José GOULON, Gérard GOUJON, Andrei ROGALEV, Fabrice WILHELM
  • Patent number: 7652261
    Abstract: A device for detecting radiation includes a substantially transparent substrate with one or more substantially transparent scintillating films patterned onto the surface and with one or more integrated waveguides such that radiation of differing species may be detected by an optical light detector and such that the composition of the radiation may be analyzed. A scintillating material for detecting individual species of radiation and including one or more groups of nanoparticles mixed with a fast electron scintillating material and extruded into a transparent film such that a light pulse is emitted when said transparent film is exposed to the species of radiation targeted by the nanoparticle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Louisiana Tech University Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Chester S. Wilson, Scott M. Pellegrin
  • Patent number: 7649179
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photo-responsive device having a photo-sensitive layer is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: a) providing a clean substrate inside an evacuated evaporation chamber; b) evaporating lead oxide (PbO) from a first crucible to form a seeding layer on the surface of the substrate; c) affecting upon the seeding layer such that only tetragonal lead oxide forms the seeding layer and/or such that the initially grown orthorhombic lead oxide forming the seeding layer is transformed into tetragonal lead oxide; and d) continuing to evaporate lead oxide until the final thickness of the photo-sensitive layer has been deposited onto the substrate. As a result the method yields a photo-responsive device comprising a photo-sensitive layer of lead oxide, which entirely consists of tetragonal lead oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Simon, Detlef Uwe Wiechert, Claus Feldmann
  • Patent number: 7608201
    Abstract: Inorganic scintillator material of formula AnLnpX(3p+n) in which has a very low nuclear background noise and is particularly suitable as a detector scintillator for coating weight or thickness measurements, in the fields of nuclear medicine, physics, chemistry and oil exploration, and for the detection of dangerous or illicit materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Cristaux et Detecteurs
    Inventor: Alain Iltis
  • Publication number: 20090256080
    Abstract: A radiation detection, localization, and identification system uses a searching algorithm to identify geometric correlation of hypothetical solutions to Compton Imaging. Geometric correlation of correct associations of gamma ray energies with each detected event yields the identity and location of radiation sources. The system's detector is an array of radiation detectors networked to act as a single detection system. This network has wide area of view and high sensitivity to radiation sources since no collimation is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventor: Raymond P. DeVito
  • Patent number: 7554092
    Abstract: An X-ray detector for detecting X rays includes a semiconductor for generating electric charges therein upon X-ray incidence, and electrodes formed on opposite sides of the semiconductor for application of a predetermined bias voltage. The semiconductor is amorphous selenium (a-Se) doped with a predetermined quantity of an alkali metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Shindengen Sensor Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Toshiyuki Sato, Takayuki Nakayama, Yoichiro Shimura, Kazuhiko Shima
  • Patent number: 7550734
    Abstract: A heterodyne terahertz transceiver comprises a quantum cascade laser that is integrated on-chip with a Schottky diode mixer. An antenna connected to the Schottky diode receives a terahertz signal. The quantum cascade laser couples terahertz local oscillator power to the Schottky diode to mix with the received terahertz signal to provide an intermediate frequency output signal. The fully integrated transceiver optimizes power efficiency, sensitivity, compactness, and reliability. The transceiver can be used in compact, fieldable systems covering a wide variety of deployable applications not possible with existing technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Lee, Michael C. Wanke
  • Patent number: 7550735
    Abstract: GaTe semiconductor is used as a room-temperature radiation detector. GaTe has useful properties for radiation detectors: ideal bandgap, favorable mobilities, low melting point (no evaporation), non-hygroscopic nature, and availability of high-purity starting materials. The detector can be used, e.g., for detection of illicit nuclear weapons and radiological dispersed devices at ports of entry, in cities, and off shore and for determination of medical isotopes present in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen A. Payne, Arnold Burger, Krishna C. Mandal
  • Patent number: 7510671
    Abstract: The inorganic scintillator of the invention is an inorganic scintillator capable of producing scintillation by radiation, which is a crystal comprising a metal oxide containing Lu, Gd, Ce and Si and belonging to space group C2/c monoclinic crystals, and which satisfies the condition specified by the following inequality (1A), wherein ALu represents the number of Lu atoms in the crystal and AGd represents the number of Gd atoms in the crystal. {ALu/(ALu+AGd)}<0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kurashige, Naoaki Shimura, Hiroyuki Ishibashi, Keiji Sumiya, Tatsuya Usui, Shigenori Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090001277
    Abstract: GaTe semiconductor is used as a room-temperature radiation detector. GaTe has useful properties for radiation detectors: ideal bandgap, favorable mobilities, low melting point (no evaporation), non-hygroscopic nature, and availability of high-purity starting materials. The detector can be used, e.g., for detection of illicit nuclear weapons and radiological dispersed devices at ports of entry, in cities, and off shore and for determination of medical isotopes present in a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen A. Payne, Arnold Burger, Krishna C. Mandal
  • Patent number: 7439517
    Abstract: In a solid state radiation detector which includes an electrostatic recording section having a photoconductive layer that shows conductivity when exposed to recording light, and is constructed to receive recording light representing image information to record the image information in the detector, and to output image signals representing the recorded image information, the photoconductive layer is swept by an amount of major carrier greater than or equal to an amount of current that flows through the photoconductive layer at the time of recording to facilitate the recombination of minor carriers (residual charges) accumulated in the photoconductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Imai
  • Publication number: 20080237481
    Abstract: Improved corrosion resistance for direct X-ray imaging detectors is obtained by providing a pixelated, electrically conductive barrier layer between the X-ray sensitive material and the pixel electrodes. Each barrier layer can cover part or all of its corresponding pixel electrode. In cases where pixel electrodes makes contact to underlying circuitry through vertical vias, it is preferred for the barrier layers to cover the via sections of the pixel electrodes. The barrier layers for each pixel electrode can be spaced apart from each other, or they can all be included within a continuous film on top of the pixel electrodes. Such a continuous film can be pixelated by spatially modulating its properties (e.g., thickness, doping) to significantly reduce lateral conductivity from pixel to pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain, William Wei-Yu Yao, Richard Weisfield
  • Publication number: 20080230710
    Abstract: In a radiation detector, electrodes are provided on both sides of a photoconductive layer for recording. When the photoconductive layer for recording is irradiated with radiation during application of a predetermined bias voltage between the electrodes, electric charges are generated within the photoconductive layer for recording. Then, the generated electric charges are detected as an electric signal by the radiation detector. As the material for the photoconductive layer for recording, amorphous selenium having a coordination number of 1.95±0.02 is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Noda, Takashi Matsui, Yoshiko Hara
  • Patent number: 7297954
    Abstract: The inorganic scintillator of the invention has the chemical composition represented by CexLnySizOu (where Ln represents at least two elements selected from among Y, Gd and Lu. 0.001?x?0.1, 1.9?y?2.1, 0.9?z?1.1, 4.9?u?5.1) and emits fluorescence upon incidence of radiation, wherein the maximum peak wavelength in the intensity spectrum of the emitted fluorescence is a peak in the range between 450 nm and 600 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kurashige, Hiroyuki Ishibashi, Tatsuya Usui, Shigenori Shimizu, Naoaki Shimura
  • Patent number: 7265354
    Abstract: A high-energy radiation detector is disclosed which uses a semiconductor material to absorb high-energy radiation and emit secondary light in response. The semiconductor is designed to be largely transparent for the interband light it emits so that the generated secondary photons can reach the semiconductor surface, to be detected by a suitable photo-detector. The semiconductor thus plays a role of a scintillator with the emitted light registered by a photo-detector. Two different device embodiments are disclosed. The first embodiment employs a uniform bulk slab of the appropriately chosen semiconductor, such as n-doped InP. Its principal advantage lies in the simplicity and low cost. The second device employs a multi-layer heterostructure. The principal advantage of the second type detector is the possibility of a substantial enhancement in the efficiency of absorption of the primary high-energy radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventors: Alexander Kastalsky, Serge Luryi, Boris Spivak
  • Patent number: 7233006
    Abstract: The invention concerns an inorganic scintillator material of general composition M1-xCexCl3, wherein: M is selected among lanthanides or lanthanide mixtures, preferably among the elements or mixtures of elements of the group consisting of Y, La, Gd, Lu, in particular among the elements or mixtures of elements of the group consisting of La, Gd and Lu; and x is the molar rate of substitution of M with cerium, x being not less than 1 mol % and strictly less than 100 mol %. The invention also concerns a method for growing said monocrystalline scintillator material, and the use of said scintillator material as component of a scintillating detector in particular for industrial and medical purposes and in the oil industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Stichting Voor de Technische Wetenschappen
    Inventors: Pieter Dorenbos, Carel Wilhelm Eduard Van Eijk, Hans-Ulrich Gudel, Karl Wilhelm Kramer, Edgar Valentijn Dieuwer Van Loef
  • Patent number: 7227152
    Abstract: A device to measure a radiation dose, in particular an x-ray radiation dose, which absorbs radiation and provides an absorption-conditional output signal representing a measurement for the dose, has at least one absorption structure disposed on a foil-like carrier, made from thin-film layers disposed on top of one another that form at least one thin-film diode structure that supplies the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Martin Hoheisel
  • Patent number: 7196333
    Abstract: A detector of radiation uses a composite material, and process manufactures the detector. The detector includes layers (6) of a semiconducting composite material including a host matrix made of a polymer and semiconducting-type guest particles dispersed through the host matrix, means (22–26) for creating an electric field in the layers, and a stack of sheets (4) of a first material emitting particles by interaction with the radiation, the layers alternating with the sheets, each of the layers being associated with one of the sheets, the stack having opposite faces, each containing the edges of the sheets and layers. The means for creating includes, for each layer, a group of parallel and conductive tracks (22) which extend from one face to the other, parallel to this layer, and which are in contact with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Gerstenmayer, Jean-Michel Nunzi
  • Patent number: 7196332
    Abstract: A monolithic solid-state detector using a staggered arrangement of pixels in multiple rows improves spatial resolution without requiring reduction in pixel size. Parallelogram shapes of CZT monolith allow tiling in one dimension without inefficient zones between monoliths. A scanning device using linear array of detectors with non-rectangular shape and staggered rows of detection elements such that no dead zones occur within a scan field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James A. Wear, Robert A. Washenko, Randall K. Payne
  • Patent number: 7170065
    Abstract: A method for detecting single photons of high energy radiation using a detector comprising an array of pixels, each pixel including a charge receptive substrate. The method includes the operations of capturing high energy photons with the pixel array, collecting the charges generated in each pixel by the charge receptive substrate of that pixel, reading out the collected charges and analyzing the read out charges. In addition, a system for detecting single photons of high energy radiation is described. The system includes a pixel array in which each pixel includes a polycrystalline photoconductive film deposited on a charge receptive substrate. The system further includes low noise electronics for reading out the charges generated by high energy photons when the latter interact with the film. Additionally, the system includes a data processor in communication with the low noise electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventors: Ofer Dagan, Barry Neal Breen, Haim Hermon, Robert A. Street
  • Patent number: 7157716
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor radiation detector and radiation detection apparatus capable of improving energy resolution and the semiconductor radiation detection apparatus includes a semiconductor radiation detector and a signal processing circuit which processes a radiation detection signal output from the semiconductor radiation detector. The semiconductor radiation detector is provided with anode electrodes A and cathode electrodes C disposed so as to face each other with semiconductor radiation detection elements placed in-between. The semiconductor radiation detection element is made up of a single crystal of thallous bromide containing trivalent thallium (e.g., tribromobis thallium). The semiconductor radiation detector containing such a semiconductor radiation detection element reduces lattice defects in the single crystal and thereby increases charge collection efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Kensuke Amemiya, Kazuma Yokoi, Yuuichirou Ueno, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Norihito Yanagita, Shinichi Kojima, Keitaro Hitomi, Tadayoshi Shoji
  • Patent number: 7002158
    Abstract: A high-purity InSb single crystal not artificially doped with impurities is used as a radiation detecting medium. In order to obtain diode characteristics, a Au.Pd alloy is used to form a surface barrier layer. At 4.2 K, the device resistance of the thus fabricated solid-state radiation detector was as large as 1.4 k? and the rise time of output signals from a charge-sensitive preamplifier was as short as 0.4 ?s, indicating reduced trapping of electrons or positive holes. The detector was also capable of measuring ?-ray spectra over the temperature range from 2 K to 50 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Masaki Katagiri, Tatsuya Nakamura, Ikuo Kanno, Osamu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6995375
    Abstract: A radiation detector for detecting a spatial distribution of incident radiation includes a radiation-sensitive semiconductor, a common electrode formed on one surface of the semiconductor for receiving a bias voltage, a plurality of split electrodes formed on the other surface of the semiconductor for outputting, as electric signals, charges generated within the semiconductor by the incident radiation, and a light irradiating mechanism for emitting light at least during a detection of the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Toshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 6952016
    Abstract: A radiation detector comprises a boron-doped diamond substrate (10) having an overlayer (12) of diamond epitaxially grown on surface (14) of the substrate (10). The top surface (16) of the layer (12) is provided with an interdigitated electrode array (18) in electrical contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Andrew John Whitehead
  • Patent number: 6849336
    Abstract: The surfaces of an amorphous carbon substrate 10 of a scintillator panel 1 have undergone sandblasting, and an Al film 12 serving as a reflecting film is formed on one surface. A columnar scintillator 14 for converting incident radiation into visible light is formed on the surface of the Al film 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Takuya Homme, Toshio Takabayashi, Hiroto Sato
  • Publication number: 20040247079
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation detecting unit and an image-display controlling unit. The radiation detecting unit has radiation detectors, arranged in a two-dimensional array, for detecting radiation transmitted through an object as electrical signals. The image-display controlling unit radiographs radiation images of the object, detected as the electrical signals by the radiation detecting unit, at a predetermined frame rate as continuous images in a plurality of frames and displays a processed image given by subtracting an m-th image from an (m+1)-th image in synchronous with either the m-th image or the (m+1)-th image that does not undergo the subtraction in a display, where m is a natural number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadao Endo
  • Publication number: 20040238743
    Abstract: On a front face of a substrate transparent to the radiation considered, pixels are confined in a stack of absorbent semi-conducting material layers by a network of channels. An insulating layer covers the bottom and the side walls of the channels. An electrically conducting layer covers the insulating layer on the bottom and on the side walls of the channels confining at least a part of the pixels. The conducting layer can be voltage polarized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Olivier Gravrand, Jacques Baylet
  • Publication number: 20040232347
    Abstract: A radiation detection and imaging system, which includes at least one radiation detecting and imaging element comprising a planar substrate, a surface of which has been seeded with mercuric iodide grains having a diameter in the range of about 0.01-1.0 micron, before being subjected to a step of deposition thereon of a layer of polycrystalline mercuric iodide having a thickness of up to about 3000 microns. A process for preparing an element such as the one described. A planar substrate, wherein a surface thereof has been seeded with mercuric iodide grains having a diameter in the range of about 0.01-1.0 micron. A physical vapor deposition method for preparing a radiation detecting and imaging element comprising a planar substrate by deposition of a film of mercuric iodide having a maximum thickness of about 3000 microns on a surface on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Leonid Melekhov, Asaf Zuck, Haim Hermon