Abstract: A pixel for detecting incident radiation (In) over a large area with high sensitivity and low power consumption. The pixel comprises a semiconductor substrate (1), covered by a thin insulating layer (2), on top of which a dendritic or arborescent gate structure (3) is arranged. The dendritic gate (3) is electrically connected at two or more contacts (C1, C2) with voltage sources, leading to the flow of a current and a position-dependent potential distribution in the gate (3). Due to the use of arborescent structures and various materials (31, 32), the pixel can be optimized for a certain application, in particular in terms of the electric field distribution, the RC time constant, the power consumption and the spectral sensitivity. Due to its compact size, the photo sensor can be arranged in linear or two-dimensional manner for the realization of line and area sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 18, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2011
Assignee:
MESA Imaging AG
Inventors:
Bernhard Büttgen, Felix Lustenberger, Peter Seitz
Abstract: CD-GISAXS achieves reduced measurement times by increasing throughput using longer wavelength radiation (˜12×, for example) such as x-rays in reflective geometry to increase both the collimation acceptance angle of the incident beams and the scattering signal strength, resulting in a substantial combined throughput gain. This wavelength selection and geometry can result in a dramatic reduction in measurement time. Furthermore, the capabilities of the CD-GISAXS can be extended to meet many of the metrology needs of future generations of semiconductor manufacturing and nanostructure characterization, for example.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 6, 2007
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2011
Assignee:
Xradia, Inc.
Inventors:
Wenbing Yun, Yuxin Wang, Srivatsan Seshadri, Kenneth W. Nill
Abstract: For each of a number of landmarks in an image an initial position of the landmark is defined. Next a neighborhood around the initial position, comprising a number of candidate locations of the landmark is sampled and a cost is associated with each of the candidate locations. A cost function expressing a weighted sum of overall gray level cost and overall shape cost for all candidate locations is optimized. A segmented anatomic entity is defined as a path through a selected combination of candidate locations for which combination the cost function is optimized.
Abstract: A device for determining the position of a structure (3) on an object (2) in relation to a coordinate system is disclosed. The object (2) is placed on a measuring table (20) which is movable in one plane (25a), wherein a block (25) defines the plane (25a). At least one optical arrangement (40, 50) is provided for transmitted light illumination and/or reflected light illumination. The optical arrangement (40, 50) comprises an illumination apparatus (41, 51) for reflected light illumination and/or transmitted light illumination and at least one first or second optical element (9a, 9b), wherein at least part of the at least one optical element (9a, 9b) extends into the space (110) between the block (25) and an optical system support (100). The block (25) and/or the optical system support (100) separates the illumination apparatus (41, 51) spatially from the plane (25a) in which the measuring table (20) is movable.
Abstract: This invention relates to signal transmitting engineering. The use of the inventive method demodulation of a signal of multiple position frequency manipulation with equidistant frequency spreading allows to reduce the threshold of demodulation and to ensure a quality of demodulation, which is at least identical to that of a quasi-optimal demodulator.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2011
Assignee:
Igor Borisovich Dounaev
Inventors:
Igor Borisovich Dounaev, Alexander Vladimirovich Grigoriev, Leonid Alexeevich Letunov
Abstract: The invention relates to signal transmitting engineering. The use of the inventive method in systems for transmitting and receiving quadrature amplitude-modulation signals (QAM) exhibiting a low carrier frequency synchronization threshold makes it possible to decrease a demodulation threshold by means of said low carrier frequency synchronization threshold. The result is attainable by supplementing a burst of M m-level sensitive QAM symbols by predetermined symbols, one part of which remains constant form one burst to another and the other part is periodically invertible in certain bursts, thereby the QAM signal components corresponding to the additional predetermined symbols (whose frequencies are known) are extracted on a receiving side. The inversion frequency is determined according to said components, thereby making it possible to eliminate the ambiguity of the receiving frequency synchronization control and to approach the Shannon's threshold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 27, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2011
Inventors:
Igor Borisovich Dounaev, Alexander Vladimirovich Grigoriev, Leonid Alexeevich Letunov
Abstract: A method for canceling the impact of the physical property variability on the image quality performance of a digital imaging system, obtained during quality control (QC) analysis using a serial numbered quality control (QC) target by applying physical property deviation controlled behavior model corrections to the raw image quality performance. The serial numbered QC-target used for the QC analysis comprises target-specific, measured physical property data encoded in- or outside of QC-target.
Abstract: A method and system of setting up a data link between medical appliances (M1-M6) and a computer system (1) in which for each of the medical appliances (M1-M6) at least one communication protocol (P1-P6) is stored together with the communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . . ) assigned to this communication protocol (P1-P6). The method comprises the following steps: setting communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . . ) of a communication protocol (P1-P6); receiving data from a medical appliance (M1-M6); checking whether the data received from the medical appliance (M1-M6) correspond to sample data which are characteristic for the communication protocol (P1-P6); repetition of steps a. to c. with other communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . .
Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 25, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
MESA Imaging AG
Inventors:
Rolf Kaufmann, Thierry Oggier, Simon Neukom, Michael Lehmann
Abstract: The present invention relates to radiography, including medical radiography, specifically to the apparatus for controlling the technical characteristics of digital radiographic devices, and is intended to maintain self-diagnostics of digital X-ray detectors. The self-diagnostics system of digital X-ray detectors comprises a radiographic screen positioned in the radiation pathway from the radiographic source, an optical transfer system for transmitting an image from the screen to the photosensitive CCD-matrix-based sensor, and incorporates at least three test structures installed in the emission plane of a radiographic screen. The technical result is achieved due to the fact that the test structures are positioned outside the radiographic screen emitting surface and are provided with controlled sources of primary radiation installed so that each test structure is located in the direct ray path from the said sources.
Abstract: A module for a tester for the testing of circuit boards is described. Such testers have a basic grid on which an adapter and/or a translator may be arranged in order to connect contact points of the basic grid with circuit board test points of a circuit board to be tested. The module comprises a support plate and a contact board. The contact board is formed by a rigid circuit board section which is described as the basic grid element, and at least one flexible circuit board section. Provided on the basic grid element are contact points which each form part of the contact points of the basic grid. The basic grid element is mounted at an end face of the support plate, and the flexible circuit board section is bent in such a way that at least part of the other section of the contact board is parallel to the support plate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 15, 2009
Date of Patent:
February 22, 2011
Assignee:
atg Luther & Maelzer GmbH
Inventors:
Andreas Guelzow, Victor Romanov, Volker Goldschmitt, Werner Mueller, Ruediger Dehmel, Uwe Rothaug
Abstract: An integrated sensor chip comprises at least one pixel. The at least one pixel comprises: one or several integration regions for receiving and storing photogenerated charges; a modulation region that moves the photogenerated charges to be stored in the at least two integration regions; and sense nodes, in which each of the sense nodes is associated with one of the integration regions, into which the photogenerated charges are moved from the integration regions during a readout stage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 17, 2008
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignee:
MESA Imaging AG
Inventors:
Thierry Oggier, Michael Lehmann, Bernhard Buettgen
Abstract: The invention relates to sorption materials for removing of heavy metal ions from ground water and surface aquifer systems, and can be used by enterprises in chemical and metallurgical industry which utilize etching and galvanic technologies. The sorbent for removing of heavy metal ions from water is composed of ground zeolite and nanophase material, where the nanophase material consists of nanophase iron hydroxide and nanophase boehmite in the following ratio, mass %: Nanophase iron hydroxide 12-18 Nanophase boehmite ?5-13 Ground zeolite the rest. Technical result is the enhanced purification effectiveness of the sorbent due to a wider range of heavy metals it can absorb when purifying highly contaminated water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 2009
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2011
Inventors:
Vladimir N. Lisetskiy, Tatyana A. Lisetskaya, Lidija N. Merkuscheva
Abstract: A new pixel in semiconductor technology comprises a photo-sensitive detection region (1) for converting an electromagnetic wave field into an electric signal of flowing charges, a separated demodulation region (2) with at least two output nodes (D10, D20) and means (IG10, DG10, IG20, DG20) for sampling the charge-current signal at least two different time intervals within a modulation period. A contact node (K2) links the detection region (1) to the demodulation region (2). A drift field accomplishes the transfer of the electric signal of flowing charges from the detection region to the contact node. The electric signal of flowing charges is then transferred from the contact node (K2) during each of the two time intervals to the two output nodes allocated to the respective time interval. The separation of the demodulation and the detection regions provides a pixel capable of demodulating electromagnetic wave field at high speed and with high sensitivity.
Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing resist profiled elements. According to the invention, an electron beam lithography system is used to produce an electron beam, the axis of the beam being essentially perpendicular to a resist layer in which the resist profiled element is to be produced. The electron beam can be adjusted in terms of the electron surface dose in such a way that a non-orthogonal resist profiled element can be produced as a result of the irradiation by the electron beam.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2011
Assignees:
Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Vistec Electron Beam GmbH
Inventors:
Wittich Kaule, Rainer Plontke, Ines Stolberg, Andreas Schubert, Marius Dichtl
Abstract: An interferometer system includes an optical bench and at least two mirror structures, being patterned from one or more layers on the optical bench and erected to extend substantially perpendicularly to the bench to define two interferometer arms to provide a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) interferometer. The MEMS interferometer is further implemented in a Fourier transform spectrometer, which includes a common housing containing the interferometer and a gas cell, possibly including a preconcentrator.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2011
Assignee:
Block Engineering, LLC
Inventors:
David Reyes, E. Robert Schildkraut, Jinhong Kim
Abstract: To address counterfeit problems, for example, we propose a secure, flexible, and cost-effective authentication solution that can be integrated into conventional distribution logistic systems. The proposed solution for product authentication and distribution channel validation comprises three major components: 1) machine-readable Raman-active chemical taggant; 2) a taggant reader; and 3) a taggant eraser. The proposed solution is to control and validate the distribution channel by authenticating the origin of products. Authentication is accomplished by verification of distinct taggants associated with the articles, such as on its label, along with other product distribution information in optical, spatial-encoding indicia, such as a barcode. The taggant information is used to identify, validate, and distinguish the origin of the source of the articles, such as goods or products.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 12, 2005
Date of Patent:
January 25, 2011
Assignee:
Axsun Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Xiaomei Wang, Dale C. Flanders, Petros Kotidis, Christopher C. Cook
Abstract: An apparatus for storage and liberation of compressed hydrogen or other gases is provided. The apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber that includes a cartridge comprising an array of hollow microcylinders defining cavities for storage compressed gas. Each microcylinder has at least one end sealed with a plug made of an easily meltable alloy. The apparatus also includes a gas liberating tool configured for controllable liberating the gas from the cartridge into the chamber; and a control system operatively coupled to the discharge valve and liberating tool, and configured for controlling operation thereof. According to another aspect of the invention, there are provided a system and method for filling a cartridge having an array of hollow microcylinders having open ends. The filling includes placing the cartridge into a chamber of an autoclave, and compressing the gas in the chamber, thereby providing permeation of the gas through the open ends into cavities of the microcylinders.
Abstract: A method and a device for measuring dielectric characteristics by generating a microwave signal, dividing the signal into reference and sounding signals, irradiating a body with the microwave signal, receiving the reflected, reference and total signals and in detecting said signals. The irradiation is carried out by a waveguide wave, the wave number of which in the free space filled with dielectric, is selected within a range from 1.0 to 1.07 the propagation number of the waveguide wave.
Abstract: The gas-metal arc welding of metal-core wile electrodes in the pure Ar shielding gas for carbon steel, low alloy steel, and ferritic stainless steel is described. Such shielding gas provides several benefits not realized ??the gas-metal arc welding process with solid wires. When compared to standard argon/oxygen containing gas mixtures normally used for metal cored wires, these benefits include reduced silicate islands on the weld surface for improved weld appearance, reduced welding fume, and lower weld spatter, all of which provide easier clean-up after the welding operation. Benefits also include reduced arc penetration desirable for welding on thinner materials or handling poor joint fit-up. Lower voltage requirement further makes it possible to weld on thinner materials. Lower oxygen content in the weld deposits provide better toughness and easier welding in all-positions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2004
Date of Patent:
January 4, 2011
Assignee:
Hobart Brothers Company
Inventors:
Steve Barhorst, Joseph Bundy, Daryl Duncan