Patents Examined by Albert Gagliardi
  • Patent number: 6995376
    Abstract: A radiation detector formed using silicon-on-insulator technology. The radiation detector includes a silicon layer formed on an insulating substrate, wherein the silicon layer includes a PNPN structure, and a gate layer formed over the PNPN structure, wherein the gate layer includes a PN gate. Latch-up occurs in the radiation detector only in response to incident radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter E. Cottrell, Robert H. Dennard, Edward J. Nowak, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 6995373
    Abstract: By forming a redundant circuit of an extra wiring accompanied with no decrease in an aperture ratio for a photoelectric conversion element, the yield is prevented from being reduced due to wire breaking during a panel manufacturing process. A gate line Vg4 and a Vg redundant wiring are electrically insulated and are arranged so as to form a crossing G of the upper and lower lines. Since a Vg redundant wiring Y is formed concurrently with a Sig line, there is no need for additional manufacturing steps to form the Vg redundant wiring Y. If a breaking occurs in the gate line Vg4, the gate line Vg4 and the Vg redundant wiring Y are electrically connected to each other by irradiating the crossing G with a laser. Therefore, a gate drive pulse is also applied to a thin film transistor on the broken line through the Vg redundant wiring Y. Thus, any lowering in yield due to a breaking of the gate line Vg4 can be prevented without any decrease in the aperture ratio for the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6992293
    Abstract: This invention relates to a real-time infrared chemical imaging spectroscopic apparatus, including a light source for generating infrared radiation. A test sample absorbs a narrow-bandwidth infrared radiation as a result of a monochromator dispersing the infrared radiation and emits thermal radiation. IR camera collects the thermal radiation to form an image. As such, the present invention inspects the test sample in real time without a huge amount of complicated computation. Thus, the efficiency of inspection is increased and the optical design of the apparatus is more compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Chang Lee, Hau-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 6992280
    Abstract: The invention provides a test device or “phantom” for use in conjunction with medical imaging modalities. The phantom mimics the properties of joint particular cartilage. The phantom is useful for quality assurance of images of joints obtained using an array of medical imaging modalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Synarc, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. White, Manish Kothari, Richard A. Carano
  • Patent number: 6992297
    Abstract: An image sensor has a three-dimensional structure in which a sensor element array having a plurality of sensor elements consisting of CdTe, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, is mounted to an IC substrate via a connection layer. The connection layer has a plurality of stud bumps and a plurality of thin film layers. The stud bumps are formed on an electrode of each IC and are provided in the connection layer in order to fetch a signal detected by each sensor element. The thin film layers are formed at the distal end of each stud bump, and are electrically connected with an electrode of each sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Kuroda, Tadayuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6979827
    Abstract: A method of producing an authenticatable document includes providing a media having authentication fibers embedded therein, detecting a presence of at least one of the authentication fibers in the media, and printing authentication indicia on the media after detecting the presence of at least one of the authentication fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven H Walker
  • Patent number: 6979830
    Abstract: Methods and instrumentation for performing charge coupled device (CCD)-based confocal spectroscopy with a laser spot array are provided. The methods and instruments of the invention are useful in any spectroscopic application, including, but not limited to, microscopy and microvolume laser scanning cytometry (MLSC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: PPD Biomarker Discovery Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Louis J. Dietz, Ian Walton, Scott Norton
  • Patent number: 6974959
    Abstract: Storage film (10) serving to produce latent X-ray images in lieu of conventional X-ray film, containing storage particles (20) which are held together by a binding agent (22) and in which metastable electronic excited states can be produced. The refractive index of the binding agent (22) and the storage particles (20) are selected in such a way that they are equally high so that the storage layer (12) formed by the storage particles (20) and the binding agent (22) behave like an optically homogenous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Durr Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 6972425
    Abstract: The invention concerns a network system for radiographing radiation images. The network system includes a plurality of radiation-image reading apparatus to read the radiation images stored in radiation-image storing sheets, so as to generate image data sets each of which corresponds to each of the radiation images, and a plurality of controllers to register discrimination information sets each of which corresponds to each of the radiation-image storing sheets. Each of the controllers can display a radiation image for confirmation, when it receives an image data set corresponding to the radiation image. A radiation-image reading apparatus reads a discrimination information set recorded on a radiation-image storing sheet loaded into the radiation-image reading apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Tamakoshi, Masayuki Nakagawa, Hisashi Yonekawa, Yuhei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6972411
    Abstract: A method of determining that radiation is incident upon a radiation sensor comprising a plurality of radiation sensitive pixels includes the steps of monitoring an amount of current drawn by the pixels, and generating a signal indicating a presence of incident radiation which the amount of current exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Schick Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Schick, Stan Mandelkern, Valeriy Armencha
  • Patent number: 6969858
    Abstract: An infrared detection system for seeing multiple pixel scenes and/or connecting multiple detectors, within each communications path, includes a data processor, optical toggles and/or electrical switches, and a large number of pixels and detectors. For the spatial net, the data processor sends signals to the optical toggle and electric switches connecting neighboring pixels and other detector elements to the data processor. A single communications path serves several pixels and detector elements thereby minimizing interconnection congestion from the pixels to the processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Stewart A. Clark
  • Patent number: 6969861
    Abstract: A housing for accommodating a radiation detecting member, has a first plate member to which radiation is incident from an outside of the housing; a second plate member arranged opposite to the first plate member; a radiation detecting member provided between the first plate member and the second plate member and having a radiation receiving surface to detect the radiation having passed through the first plate member; and a scattering radiation shielding member arranged at a radiation receiving surface side of the radiation detecting member and to eliminate scattering radiation from the radiation before the radiation is detected by the radiation receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Shoji, Haruhiko Masutomi, Tomoko Saito, Masafumi Saito, Kouji Amitani, Masayuki Nakazawa, Yoshiyuki Ishimitsu
  • Patent number: 6967333
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for X-ray photography is structurally adapted to absorb external impacts and possible resultant deformations such as deflections of the cabinet so that the interior is protected against damage and remains intact if the cabinet is deformed by the external load. The two-dimensional image pickup apparatus comprises a substrate, two-dimensional photoelectric converters formed on the substrate and an apparatus cabinet containing the substrate and the photoelectric converters in the inside, at least part of the apparatus cabinet being deformable and capable of restore the original profile or a plurality of containers such as air bags being inserted into the gap between said substrate and said apparatus cabinet to prevent the inner wall surface of said apparatus cabinet and said substrate from contacting each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumio Hata
  • Patent number: 6967331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a target organ in a patient by SPECT, by using a gamma camera having a gamma detector, and by computer reconstructing the distribution of the radioactivity inside the patient's body from planar images, acquired along at least one linear orbit performed in a transverse direction, wherein said gamma detector is perpendicularly provided on its outer surface with a plurality of collimator septa in a mutually parallel arrangement and with at least one raised wall, extending in the longitudinal direction of the detector, transversely positioned to said septa and with a substantial portion extending beyond said septa, said wall and said septa together forming a so-called rake collimator. The invention further relates to said rake collimator as such and to a combination of a gamma detector and a rake collimator. The invention also relates to an equipment for performing the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventors: Adrianus A. Van Dulmen, Stéphan Walrand
  • Patent number: 6965109
    Abstract: In a multistage active infrared sensor, light emitters 11A, 11B, 11C emit infrared signals which contain distinct channel information. These light emitters 11A, 11B, 11C emit the infrared signals at different timings from each other. The sensor judges whether the infrared signals received by light receivers 12A, 12B, 12C contain channel information of opposite light emitters 11A, 11B, 11C. The sensor cancels any infrared signal which does not contain the channel information of the opposite light emitters 11A, 11B, 11C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Optex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 6965111
    Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion device, in order to suppress alteration of its properties during a long time use, lower the decrease of the S/N ratio due to a dark current output, and shorten image-pickup cycles, MIS type photoelectric conversion elements using an amorphous semiconductor material are connected with an electric power source for applying bias for photoelectric conversion, an electric power for resetting an accumulated electric charge, and a setting point for applying zero bias at the time of non-operation of the element through a switch. Emitted x-rays from an x-ray source, which is a first light source, come into collision against phosphor after being transmitted through an object body to be inspected and then are absorbed in the phosphor to be converted into visible light rays. The visible light rays from the phosphor are radiated to the photoelectric conversion elements. Prior to reading out of the x-ray image, an LED light source is lighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadao Endo
  • Patent number: 6965110
    Abstract: A high voltage distribution system and method for use with a cathode of a radiographic sensor device of a radiographic imaging apparatus are provided. The distribution system includes an insulated conductor formed on a first detector portion of the radiographic sensor device and communicating a high voltage to the cathode. The distribution system further includes an intermediate conduction portion communicating with the insulated conductor. The intermediate conduction portion includes a contact surface. The distribution system further includes a interconnect extending from a second portion of the radiographic sensor device. The separable interconnect communicates with an electrical voltage source and is positioned to come into contact with the intermediate conduction portion when the first detector portion of the radiographic sensor device is assembled to the second signal processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Caruba, Fred E. Macciocchi, George W. Dailey, John P. Valenta
  • Patent number: 6960778
    Abstract: A radiation image information recording/reading apparatus for detecting phosphorescent light from a side opposite of radiation irradiation on a stimulable phosphor sheet is downsized. The radiation image information recording/reading apparatus comprises an image recording unit for recording radiation image information on the sheet by irradiating the radiation representing image information on the sheet, an excitation light main scan means for main scan of the sheet by excitation light, photoelectric detection means for detecting the phosphorescent light emitted from the sheet, vertical scan means, and erasing means for releasing residual energy from the sheet prior to recording another image on the sheet after reading the information from the sheet. In the apparatus, the excitation light main scan means comprises a linear light source emitting the excitation light in the form of fan beams, and the photoelectric detection means comprises a line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Furue
  • Patent number: 6958479
    Abstract: A method of processing data from at least one spectrophotometer characterized by the steps of transferring the data from the spectrophotometer to a control processing unit, processing the data at the central processing unit, and transferring the processed data to the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventors: Geordie Robert Burling-Claridge, Peter James Davey, John C. M Lea
  • Patent number: 6956216
    Abstract: By forming a redundant circuit of an extra wiring accompanied with no decrease in an aperture ratio for a photoelectric conversion element, the yield is prevented from being reduced due to wire breaking during a panel manufacturing process. A gate line Vg4 and a Vg redundant wiring are electrically insulated and are arranged so as to form a crossing G of the upper and lower lines. Since a Vg redundant wiring Y is formed concurrently with a Sig line, there is no need for additional manufacturing steps to form the Vg redundant wiring Y. If a breaking occurs in the gate line Vg4, the gate line Vg4 and the Vg redundant wiring Y are electrically connected to each other by irradiating the crossing G with a laser. Therefore, a gate drive pulse is also applied to a thin film transistor on the broken line through the Vg redundant wiring Y. Thus, any lowering in yield due to a breaking of the gate line Vg4 can be prevented without any decrease in the aperture ratio for the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Ishii, Chiori Mochizuki