Patents Examined by Chih-Cheng Glen Kao
  • Rotating anode x-ray tube
    Patent number: 7065178
    Abstract: A rotating anode x-ray tube has a rotating anode contained in a vacuum-sealed housing with a compartment for a cathode projecting from a cover of the housing opposite the rotating anode. To improve the durability, a transition part connecting the compartment with the cover has high-temperature stability that is greater than that of the cover or of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jutta Rother, legal representative, Peter Rother, deceased
  • Method for adjusting gap between two objects and exposure method using the same, gap adjusting apparatus, and exposure apparatus
    Patent number: 7062010
    Abstract: There is provided a method of making a gap between first and second objects have a predetermined value. The method includes steps of introducing light to an entry window on the first object, detecting an intensity of light from an exit window on the first object, the exit window being at such a position that light would enter through the entry window of the first object, reflect on the second object, and then enter the exit window of the first object if the gap has the predetermined value, and positioning the second object, with respect to a direction concerning the gap, based on an intensity of light detected in the detecting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Matsumoto
  • X-ray reflectometry of thin film layers with enhanced accuracy
    Patent number: 7062013
    Abstract: A method for inspection of a sample that includes a first layer having a known reflectance property and a second layer formed over the first layer. The method includes directing radiation toward a surface of the sample and sensing the radiation reflected from the surface so as to generate a reflectance signal as a function of elevation angle relative to the surface. A feature due to reflection of the radiation from the first layer is identified in the reflectance signal. The reflectance signal is calibrated responsively to the identified feature and to the known reflectance property of the first layer. The calibrated reflectance signal is analyzed to determine a characteristic of the second layer. Other enhanced inspection methods are disclosed, as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Jordan Valley Applied Radiation Ltd.
    Inventors: David Berman, Alex Dikopoltsev, Dileep Agnihotri
  • Cargo container tomography scanning system
    Patent number: 7062011
    Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography scanning system adapted to scan air cargo containers or other larger containers for detection of explosives, drugs, and other contraband. The system includes a table that rotates about an axis of rotation for supporting a cargo container, an X-ray source movable parallel to the rotation axis of the table on one side of the table, and an X-ray detector movable parallel to the rotation axis of the table on another side of the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Tybinkowski, Ronald Swain
  • X-ray microscope apparatus
    Patent number: 7039157
    Abstract: An X-ray microscope apparatus includes an X-ray generator, a photocathode disposed on a path of X-rays for producing electrons when irradiated with X-rays generated by the X-ray generator, an electron image enlarging device having an acceleration anode for accelerating electrons produced by the photocathode and a magnetic lens for enlarging and focusing an electron beam of electrons emitted by the photocathode, an electron beam detecting device for detecting the electron beam focused thereon by the electron image enlarging device; and an image processing device for processing an electron image formed by the electron beam detecting device. The X-ray microscope apparatus can be formed in compact construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadao Fujii, Mikio Muro, Eiji Sato
  • Method and apparatus for evaluating integrated circuit packages having three dimensional features
    Patent number: 7034272
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and an apparatus for evaluating objects having three dimensional features. One method involves using both two dimensional data sets to improve the processing of three dimensional data sets. The two dimensional data set can be used to pre-qualify the three dimensional data set, or may be used to locate that data within the three dimensional data set that is characteristic of the three dimensional feature. The invention may include a sensor configured to capture both three dimensional and two dimensional data. The present invention provides for an efficient technique to evaluate three dimensional data. The present invention also solves heretofore unrecognized problems associated with geometric distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick F. Leonard, Victor Scarpine, Frank Evans
  • Methods and system for detecting components of plaque
    Patent number: 7031426
    Abstract: A method including detecting components of plaque using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Maria Iatrou, Ricardo Scott Avila, Peter Michael Edic, Jiang Hsieh, James Walter LeBlanc, Xiaoye Wu
  • Adaptive opto-emission imaging device and method thereof
    Patent number: 7030384
    Abstract: An adaptive opto-emission imaging device includes a detector having a detector face and a back surface. The detector detects radiation emanating from an object positioned in the direction of the detector face, and produces a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation. An image capturing device such as a video camera provided at the detector face of the detector produces a live visual image of the object. A display device provided at the back surface of the detector displays the radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or the live visual image of the object. The adaptive opto-emission imaging device greatly reduces the amount of computation and time to provide real time image guidance, for example to physicians using the device to perform an image-guided surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell D. Burckhardt, Douglas J. Wagenaar
  • Large package x-ray apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7029174
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding multiple x-ray cassettes for imaging a target including multiple layers of x-ray cassettes wherein the x-ray cassettes in successive layers are positioned in partial overlapping relationship such that when the target and x-ray cassettes are exposed to x-rays, a continuous image of the target is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bernard I. Mattingly, Jr., Miguel A. DeLeon, Charles D. Pipes, Jr.
  • Mechanical damper for air pad instability
    Patent number: 7023952
    Abstract: In a diagnostic imaging apparatus, a stationary gantry (24) and a rotating gantry (22) are interfaced by a plurality of air bearing elements (40). Lower air bearing elements bear the weight of the rotating gantry (22) which induce air hammering phenomena at a characteristic vibration frequency. To counteract the air hammering, a damping assembly (44) is mounted to at least one lower bearing element (40). The damping assembly (44) includes a damping mass (46) and an elastomeric connector (48) that are tuned to a frequency near the air hammer frequency to absorb the vibrational energy and damp the air hammer vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics
    Inventor: William C. Brunnett
  • Method and apparatus for calibrating volumetric computed tomography systems
    Patent number: 7016456
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining a geometry of a scanning volumetric computed tomographic (CT) system having a rotation axis, a rotational plane, an x-ray source and a detector. The method includes scanning a phantom having a series of spatially separated discrete markers with the scanning volumetric computed tomographic system, wherein the markers are configured on a supporting structure of the phantom so as to permit separate identification of each marker in a collection of projection images. The method further includes locating images of the markers in each projection, using the located marker images to assign marker locations to tracks, and using the assigned tracks, determining a relative alignment between the detector, the source, and the rotation axis of the scanning volumetric computed tomographic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samit Kumar Basu, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man
  • Ionic pre-concentration XRF identification and analysis device, system and method
    Patent number: 7016462
    Abstract: A device, system and method for detecting and measuring concentrations of elements in fluids comprises: flowing a fluid through a central flow interelectrode gap of an ionic preconcentration cell separating an upper high specific surface area electrode from a lower high specific surface area electrode of the ionic preconcentration cell by a predetermined interelectrode gap width; and applying a voltage differential between the upper high surface area electrode and the lower high surface area electrode while the fluid is flowing through the central flow interelectrode gap. As such, this cell that utilizes its inherent capacitance for double layer formation to extract ultra-trace levels of ionic contaminants from fluids in order to enhance detection by x-ray fluorescence analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignees: InterScience, Inc., KMD Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Keville, Daniel D. Dietrich
  • Multiple grooved x-ray generator
    Patent number: 7012989
    Abstract: An X-ray tube has a metal-ceramic envelope having rotatably mounted therein an anode disk, which may be axially translatable and provided with a peripheral rim surface wherein a focal track spiral groove (or multiple annular grooves) is disposed. The groove(s) include a focal spot(s) area spaced from an electron emitting cathode(s), which is associated with a beam-forming structure and an X-ray transparent window mounted within an insulating structure aligned with the focal spot area. The insulating structure incorporates a multiplicity of imbedded annular electrodes which control an accelerating electric field, and which are structurally and operationally integrated into a power-control assembly that provides the electrical power and control signals necessary for the functioning of the X-ray tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Parker Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Holland, Timothy Holland, Joseph Suffredini
  • Imaging method and apparatus with exposure control
    Patent number: 7006598
    Abstract: According to a radiation imaging apparatus, any separate AEC sensor need not be prepared. Additionally, the apparatus main body can be made compact. To accomplish this, the radiation imaging apparatus has a first optical conversion element that converts incident radiation into an electrical signal, and generates image information on the basis of the electrical signal output from the first optical conversion element. Below a portion that is aligned to the gap between the first optical conversion elements, a plurality of second optical conversion elements which detect the incident amount of the radiation from the gap are formed. Exposure control for the radiation or control of the optical conversion elements is executed on the basis of the detection result by the second optical conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiko Morii, Masakazu Morishita, Osamu Tsujii, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii
  • Integrated digital dental x-ray system
    Patent number: 7006600
    Abstract: An integrated digital x-ray diagnostic system and a method for conducting dental radiography which includes optimizing exposure settings based on certain physical parameters of a patient, communicating the operational status of the x-ray generator and the exposure settings directly to the a CCD sensor without radiation sensitive detector elements, and supplying various viewing stations with image data thereby improving dental office workflow. The activation of the sensor and the x-ray source are coordinated so as to avoid pre-integration of charge in the image sensor, and at the same time reduce risk of over-exposure to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Progeny, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan P. Krema, George Stantchev, Lyubomir Cekov, Mark Greenwood
  • Optical measuring device
    Patent number: 7003075
    Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring device by which, even if a radiation intensity from a light source, a beam size or a beam intensity distribution of the light source changes, an optical characteristic of an optical element to be measured can be measured very precisely. In a measuring device according to the present invention, to this end, light from a light source is diffracted by a diffracting grating to thereby resolve the same into plural light beams, and by using different light beams, the object to be measured is measured and the intensity of incident light from the light source is measured. With this structure, even if the light from the light source changes, the intensity of the light from the light source is specified concurrently, and therefore, the optical characteristic of the object to be measured can be measured very accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Miyake, Fumitaro Masaki
  • Upright CT scanner
    Patent number: 7003070
    Abstract: In an upright CT scanner, an X-ray source and a two-dimensional digital X-ray detector are mounted on a rotating platform with a vertical axis of rotation. During scanning, the X-ray source and the detector are on opposite sides of the rotational axis for orbiting about a body to thereby scan it with pyramid-shaped X-ray beam. During scanning, the source and detector can be jointly translated along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis and parallel to the detector surface, to scan a specific part of a body that is not centered or a body that is too large. The mounting height and distance of source and the detector can also be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventors: William Barry Chen, Jason Andrew Chen
  • Rotatable bucky with detent
    Patent number: 6997608
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a bucky about an axis between a first and second position. The apparatus includes a base member stationarily disposed on the bucky and having a first and second rotational position; a first and second absorption member; and a first and second assembly. The first assembly is disposed at the first position and is slidably mounted relative to the base member. It includes a first detent adapted to receive a roller when the bucky is in the first position. The first assembly is disposed intermediate the first absorption member and base member such that the first absorption member biases the first assembly toward the base member. The second assembly is disposed at the second position and is slidably mounted relative to the base member. It includes a second detent adapted to receive a roller when the bucky is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Eugene Sisto, Friedrich Ueffinger, James W. Sekol
  • Connection of on an add/drop node
    Patent number: 6999654
    Abstract: An add/drop node of an optical WDN-network which has two fiber paths for light of a plurality of channels propagating in opposite directions comprises two add/drop modules (231, 23r) for each of the channels. All the modules are identically constructed. Each module comprises an add device (251, 25r) for adding light to one of the paths and a drop device (27r, 271) for deflecting a portion of light from a second one of the paths. A module comprises a house (41) enclosing the add device and the drop device. A first fixed connector (53, 73) is attached to the house for connection in the first path and to a an optical fiber (45, 65) which extends freely from the house and has a first free connector (43, 63) at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lars Egnell, Bengt Johansson, Fredrik Liden, Fredrik Lindgren, Dag Bonnedal, Ola Hulten
  • Method, system and storage medium for reference normalization for blocked reference channels
    Patent number: 6996206
    Abstract: A method for performing reference normalization for an image created by an imaging system. The imaging system includes a radiation detector array with a right and left edge. The method includes receiving a projection dataset created by the imaging system in response to a varying x-ray tube current. The projection dataset includes a view and predicted fluxes are calculated for the set of reference channels within the view. A right set of reference channels are located proximate at the right edge of the detector array and a left set of reference channels are located proximate to the left edge of the detector array. The method also includes calculating average actual fluxes for the sets of reference channels. Based on the predicted reference fluxes and the average fluxes, a reference correction value for the view is determined. The correction value is applied for the reference correction of the view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Fang Frank Dong, Jian ying Li, Edward Chao, Scott Matt McOlash