Patents Assigned to Nova R&D, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130044248
    Abstract: New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely 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 all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: NOVA R & D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Martin Clajus, Robert F. Calderwood, Gerard Visser
  • Patent number: 8120683
    Abstract: An integrated application specific integrated circuit having a detection layer, a time delayed integration capability, data acquisition electronics, and a readout function is provided for detecting breast cancer in women. The detection layer receives x-ray radiation and converts the received energy to electron pairs, one of which is received by pixels. The time delay integration is on the chip and a part of the readout architecture. The detector may be a hybrid silicon detector (SiPD), a CdZnTe detector, or a GaAs detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nova R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O Tumer, Shi Yin, Dale G. Maeding, James Asbrock, Martin Yaffe, Gordon Mawdsley, James Mainprize
  • Publication number: 20110248765
    Abstract: A readout electronics scheme is under development for high resolution, compact PET (positron emission tomography) imagers based on LSO (lutetium ortho-oxysilicate, Lu2SiO5) scintillator and avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays. The key is to obtain sufficient timing and energy resolution at a low power level, less than about 30 mW per channel, including all required functions. To this end, a simple leading edge level crossing discriminator is used, in combination with a transimpedance preamplifier. The APD used has a gain of order 1,000, and an output noise current of several pA/?Hz, allowing bipolar technology to be used instead of CMOS, for increased speed and power efficiency. A prototype of the preamplifier and discriminator has been constructed, achieving timing resolution of 1.5 ns FWHM, 2.7 ns full width at one tenth maximum, relative to an LSO/PMT detector, and an energy resolution of 13.6% FWHM at 511 keV, while operating at a power level of 22 mW per channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: NOVA R&D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Martin Clajus, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20110218432
    Abstract: SPECT pixel detectors could be mounted onto moving subjects, such as small rats, to allow live scanning and/or imaging of moving subjects in their natural environment. Solid state monolithic pixel detectors are used for compactness and portability. The pixel detector is designed to be directly read out by integrated circuits and could be flip-chip mounted on the integrated circuit. The detector systems can also wirelessly transmit image data to save space and for ease of portability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: NOVA R&D, INC.
    Inventor: Tumay O. Tumer
  • Patent number: 7868665
    Abstract: New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely 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 all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O Tumer, Martin Clajus, Robert F Calderwood, Gerard Visser
  • Patent number: 7818047
    Abstract: A readout electronics scheme is under development for high resolution, compact PET (positron emission tomography) imagers based on LSO (lutetium ortho-oxysilicate, Lu2SiO5) scintillator and avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays. The key is to obtain sufficient timing and energy resolution at a low power level, less than about 30 mW per channel, including all required functions. To this end, a simple leading edge level crossing discriminator is used, in combination with a transimpedance preamplifier. The APD used has a gain of order 1,000, and an output noise current of several pA/?Hz, allowing bipolar technology to be used instead of CMOS, for increased speed and power efficiency. A prototype of the preamplifier and discriminator has been constructed, achieving timing resolution of 1.5 ns FWHM, 2.7 ns full width at one tenth maximum, relative to an LSO/PMT detector, and an energy resolution of 13.6% FWHM at 511 keV, while operating at a power level of 22 mW per channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O Tumer, Martin Clajus, Gerard Visser
  • 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: 7634061
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nova R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tümay O. Tümer, Martin Clajus
  • Publication number: 20090290680
    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: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: NOVA R & D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Martin Clajus
  • Patent number: 7417472
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tümay O. Tümer, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20070057699
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: NOVA R & D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay Tumer, Gerard Visser
  • Patent number: 7126386
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tümay O. Tümer, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20040239377
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: NOVA R & D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Gerard Visser
  • Patent number: 6720812
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O Tumer, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20040017224
    Abstract: New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely 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 all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: NOVA R & D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Martin Clajus, Robert F. Calderwood, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20030141906
    Abstract: A multi-channel integrated circuit is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive amplifier at its input followed by other circuitry such as shaper, pole-zero, peak hold, different comparators, buffers and digital control and readout. Each channel produces a self-trigger and a fast timing output. Channel-to-channel time differences are also recorded. Integrated circuit also provides a large dynamic range to facilitate large range of applications. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has different, externally selectable, operational modes including a sparse readout mode in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are read out. The sparse readout mode results in increased data throughput, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: NOVA R&D, INC.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Gerard Visser
  • Publication number: 20030105397
    Abstract: A readout electronics scheme is under development for high resolution, compact PET (positron emission tomography) imagers based on LSO (lutetium ortho-oxysilicate, Lu2SiO5) scintillator and avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays. The key is to obtain sufficient timing and energy resolution at a low power level, less than about 30 mW per channel, including all required functions. To this end, a simple leading edge level crossing discriminator is used, in combination with a transimpedance preamplifier. The APD used has a gain of order 1,000, and an output noise current of several pA/{square root}Hz, allowing bipolar technology to be used instead of CMOS, for increased speed and power efficiency. A prototype of the preamplifier and discriminator has been constructed, achieving timing resolution of 1.5 ns FWHM, 2.7 ns full width at one tenth maximum, relative to an LSO/PMT detector, and an energy resolution of 13.6% FWHM at 511 keV, while operating at a power level of 22 mW per channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: NOVA R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Martin Clajus, Gerard Visser
  • Patent number: 5943388
    Abstract: A CdZnTe solid state detector application specific integrated circuit is used for detection of radiation. The chip and circuitry is under control of a main computer which provides control signals to a solid state detector chip module which provides threshold level and count information to the computer for processing into an image. The processed image may be a tomographic image and/or a multispectral image wherein image colors represent different energy bands of received x-rays. The information used from different energy band images is used to identify different materials contained in an object being scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Nova R & D, Inc.
    Inventor: Tumay O. Tumer
  • Patent number: 5696458
    Abstract: A multi-channel readout chip is provided in which each channel has an analog section and a digital section. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge amplifiers with self trigger and calibration capabilities to provide timing information with better than 20 nanosecond precision. The trigger threshold can be adjusted to provide energy discrimination. The chip has a sparse readout function in which only the channels which have received signals greater than a preselected threshold value are readout, thus providing fast data acquisition capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Nova R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tumay O. Tumer, Bo Pi, Frank L. Augustine