Patents Examined by Albert Gagliardi
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Patent number: 6563117Abstract: An article including a multi-well plate that has an infrared radiation (“IR”) reflective coating disposed over the surface of the wells. In some embodiments, the wells have a parabolic or near parabolic shape. In additional embodiments, the wells, which have a parabolic or near parabolic shape, are truncated at or near a focal plane of the well. In some further embodiments, the wells have a hemispheric shape or a truncated hemispheric shape. IR imaging systems that incorporate the multi-well plates described herein exhibit improved sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Inventor: Ilya Feygin
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Patent number: 6559452Abstract: An image input apparatus having a plurality of sensors each including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, is provided. The image input apparatus includes: a first group including one or a plurality of pixel areas; and a second group including a plurality of pixel areas arranged adjacently to each other surrounding one or the plurality of pixel areas of the first group, as viewed along an image input direction, wherein the plurality of pixel areas of the second group are arranged nearer to an image input surface than one or the plurality of pixel areas of the first group.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2000Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuaki Tashiro
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Patent number: 6555838Abstract: An apparatus and method for radiographic image includes a plurality of light emitting diodes two of which produce light in the optical or visible wavelengths, another one of which produces light in an infrared wavelength so that pumping light can be supplied to a variety of radiographic substrate media. The pumping light is supplied to the medium by a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a linear array as the medium is scanned beneath the fibers. A second plurality of linear optical fibers picks up phosphorescent emissions from the radiographic medium due to the pumping light excitation and supplies the emissions to a photodiode or other optical receiver where the light intensity is translated into an electrical signal. The signal is sent to a processor which generates an image signal. The image signal may then be converted into an image representative of the latent x-ray image on the radiographic medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Essex Electro Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Troy W. Livingston, Michael Monahan
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Patent number: 6552334Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining the standoff of a well logging instrument from the wall of a wellbore and the shape of the wellbore itself. The methods include measuring a compensated gamma-gamma formation density at a rotary orientation proximate a bottom of the wellbore, and measuring an apparent density at at least one other rotary orientation. The apparent density is related to the compensated density, a density of a fluid disposed between the logging instrument and a wall of the wellbore, and the standoff. Repeated measurements at a plurality of axial positions along the wellbore provide a log of the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Darwin V. Ellis, Mohammed Doghmi
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Patent number: 6552346Abstract: A system and method of density detection in a target object involve irradiating the target object, detecting a first and second discrete number of photons penetrating the target object through respective first and second prescribed volumes and entering respective first and second radiation detectors. First and second numbers of photons detected by the first and second radiation detectors are counted, and a display output signal is generated in response to the first and second numbers. A graphical representation of the densities within the first and second volumes of the target object is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Science Applications International CorporationInventors: Victor V. Verbinski, Scott T. Smith, Kenneth H. Valentine, Victor J. Orphan
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Patent number: 6552348Abstract: A detector for use in a dedicated PET scanner for cancer applications, particularly breast cancer applications, using a LSO scintillator, a lightguide coupling arrangement, and an efficient way to construct the scintillator array, which provides a flexible imaging system for breast cancer applications with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution in a compact, cost effective, design.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Simon R. Cherry, Johannes Czernin, Niraj K. Doshi, Yiping Shao, Robert W. Silverman
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Patent number: 6552347Abstract: The invention concerns a method, a sensor and a radiographic imaging system in real time for discriminating the low energy ionizing radiation, corresponding at least partially to dispersion radiation, thereby eliminating their contribution in the sensed image, so as to increase the contrast, for relatively reduced amounts of incident radiation. In the figure is presented a radiographic system more particularly designed for radiotherapy, basically consisting of an accelerator (1) emitting a collimated beam (3) of photons and in particular of X-rays towards a patient lying down (2). The patient is positioned so as to enable the best possible localization not only of the collimated gamma or X-ray beam impact but its depth as well and the localization of the portion where the major part of the dose is to be delivered.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Bio-Scan S.A.Inventor: Zlatimir Dimcovski
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Patent number: 6552349Abstract: A radiation detector includes a slit collimator. A radiation detector receives radiation which has been received in each of the slits. The aspect ratio of the detector is approximately three, and each semiconductor radiation detector has a transverse dimension which is less than that of its respective slit. A reconstruction processor generates an image indicative of the radiation received by the detectors. The detector may be rotated about a fixed axis. Alternately, the detector may be translated in coordination with its rotation to provide a substantially square field of view.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Daniel Gagnon, Christopher G. Matthews
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Patent number: 6548813Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting an object-to-be-printed and aims at providing an apparatus for detecting an object-to-be-printed which is capable of discriminating whether the object-to-be-printed is plain paper or special paper. The apparatus includes an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays 4 radiated by heating the object-to-be-printed 1 with heating means 2 and is capable of discriminating whether the object-to-be-printed is plain paper or special paper.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Fujikawa, Takeshi Masutani, Koji Nomura, Junji Kajiwara, Yasuhiko Yokota
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Patent number: 6545281Abstract: The detection efficiency, or sensitivity, of a neutron detector material such as of Si, SiC, amorphous Si, GaAs, or diamond is substantially increased by forming one or more cavities, or holes, in its surface. A neutron reactive material such as of elemental, or any compound of, 10B, 6Li, 6LiF, U, or Gd is deposited on the surface of the detector material so as to be disposed within the cavities therein. The portions of the neutron reactive material extending into the detector material substantially increase the probability of an energetic neutron reaction product in the form of a charged particle being directed into and detected by the neutron detector material.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Douglas McGregor, Raymond Klann
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Patent number: 6541775Abstract: A portable information device such as a portable telephone, portable electronic mail device or portable navigator capable of measuring UV-rays with no deterioration of the display function is provided. In the device, a UV-ray sensor is disposed in an information display region. The UV-sensor has light sensitivity only to UV-rays and preferably has a light receiving surface made of a compound semiconductor.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeru Yagi
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Patent number: 6538252Abstract: In a method for determining alignment of line formations of a web, a radiation source emitting radiation and a detector with numerous radiation sensors for sensing the radiation are provided. The radiation source and the detector are reciprocated together simultaneously transversely across the web. During reciprocation across the web, at least one measuring location of the web is irradiated by the radiation source and measured values, based on local radiation intensities are measured by the radiation sensors of the detector. The measured values are communicated to a computer. The computer generates, based on the measured values and the relative positions of the radiation sensors to one another, a local structural image of the at least one measuring location of the web.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: PLEVA GmbHInventors: Ralf Pleva, Harry Pleva
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Patent number: 6538251Abstract: A radiation source assembly and transducer incorporating same are suitable for use in measuring spectral absorption properties of a substance to be analyzed, such as a gas. The radiation source assembly has an optical axis. A measuring radiation source provides radiation in the direction of the axis and a reference radiation source provides radiation in the direction of the axis. An optical diffuser is spaced from the radiation sources along the axis. Radiation from the measuring radiation source and radiation from the reference radiation source are applied to the diffuser and the diffuser forms an exiting radiation beam for the assembly from the radiation of the measuring radiation source and reference radiation source. The exiting radiation beam extends along the axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Instrumentarium Corp.Inventors: Kurt P. Weckström, Matti Huiku
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Patent number: 6534779Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a rectangular stimulable phosphor sheet with change of its conveyed course composed of a pair of longitudinal guide plates curved to form an arc, each guide plate being arranged in parallel to each other with a space approximately corresponding to the width of the phosphor sheet; a series of rollers which are so arranged along each of the guide plates to allow advancement of the phosphor sheet between a guide space formed by the guide plate and these rollers; and a pair of driving rollers which are arranged in the vicinity of one ends on imaginary plane extended from the pair of the curved guide plates.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuhiro Kohda, Masakazu Nakajo, Hideki Suzuki, Hiroshi Chikugo
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Patent number: 6534768Abstract: A hemispherical detector comprising a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a substantially contiguous array, the array being substantially in the shape of a half-sphere, the half-sphere defining a closed end and an open end, the open end defining a substantially circular face. Also provided is a method for constructing a hemispherical detector comprising the steps of making a press mold of the desired shape of the hemispherical detector, pouring a material into the press mold to form a cast, finishing the cast to remove any defects, coating the cast with a coating material, and attaching a plurality of photodetectors to the cast.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Euro-Oeltique, S.A.Inventors: Emil W. Ciurczak, Kevin C. Bynum
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Patent number: 6534774Abstract: A first chopper between a laser device and a semiconductor substrate chops an excitation light at a specific frequency, and a second chopper between the first chopper and the semiconductor substrate chops the excitation light at a variable frequency higher than the first chopper. A photoluminescence light emitted by the semiconductor substrate when the semiconductor substrate is intermittently irradiated with the excitation light is introduced into a monochromator. A controller obtains the decay time constant T of the photoluminescence light from variation of the average intensity of the photoluminescence light when gradually increasing the chopping frequency of the excitation light by controlling the second chopper, and computes the life time &tgr; of the semiconductor substrate from an expression “&tgr;=T/C”, where C is a constant.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Silicon CorporationInventors: Takeshi Hasegawa, Terumi Ito, Hiroyuki Shiraki
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Patent number: 6528795Abstract: A device for determining the photon energy E1 and direction cone angle of incident gamma ray includes a radiation detector for receiving an incident gamma ray having an unknown photon energy E1 and an unknown direction and for scattering the gamma ray with two Compton scattering interactions and a subsequent scattering or absorption interaction. The detector provides three outputs, each output corresponding to one of the Compton scattering and the subsequent scattering or absorption interactions, to a processor, which is programmed to calculate the photon energy E1 and direction cone angle of the incident gamma ray based on these outputs.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: James D. Kurfess, Richard Kroeger, W. Neil Johnson, Bernard Phlips
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Patent number: 6521892Abstract: A thermal imager system for use in a vehicle utilizes an uncooled microbolometer detector array (19), optics (13) for conducting scene radiation to the array within a sensor module (12) which is separate from an image processing and display unit (39), to provide a small, direct view sensor module (12) that may be oriented for forward viewing. The sensor module (12) is mounted external to the vehicle and the image processing and display unit (39) is mounted internal to the vehicle, and the two are connected by a noise immune bidirectional digital communication path or harness (37). The optics (13) consist exclusively of refractive optical components (14, 16) providing a straight line radiation path from the scene to the array (19).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignees: Thomson-CSF Optronics Canada Inc., Thomson-CSF Optronique Canada Inc.Inventors: Michael Emanuel, Branislav Kovacevic, Marcela Faina-Cherkaoui, Hubert Caron, Leslie Wrobel
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Patent number: 6507025Abstract: A system for detecting and graphically displaying a contents of a fast-moving target object comprises: a radiation source, having a position such that at least a portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source passes through the fast-moving target object, the fast-moving target object having a variable velocity and acceleration while maintaining a substantially constant distance from the radiation source and being selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle, a cargo container and a railroad car; a velocity measuring device configured to measure the variable velocity of the fast-moving target object; a detector array comprising a plurality of photon detectors, having a position such that at least some of the at least a portion of the radiation passing through the target object is received thereby, the detector array having a variable count time according to the variable velocity and a grid unit size; a counter circuit coupled to the detector array for discretely counting a number of photons enterinType: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Science Applications International CorporationInventors: Victor V. Verbinski, Kenneth H. Valentine, Eric Ackermann, Victor J. Orphan, Jeff Adams
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Patent number: 6504168Abstract: Stimulating rays produced by a line light source are linearly irradiated onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, and light emitted from the linear area of the sheet upon stimulation is photoelectrically converted by a line sensor. Outputs of several pixel regions of the line sensor, which are adjacent to one another along the length direction of the linear area of the sheet and have widths taken in the length direction of the linear area of the sheet such that a sum of the widths is equal to the width of one pixel in a final image, are added together in order to constitute an image signal component representing one pixel in the final image.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda