Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion device having a multiplying function and an image sensing device using the same. The photoelectric conversion device essentially comprises three layered structure: a carrier generation/multiplication layer composed of amorphous silicon to have both the function of absorbing light and generating carriers through optical excitation and the function of multiplying the generated carriers; an electron injection inhibiting layer composed of an amorphous silicon carbide of the p-type conductivity to inhibit injection of electrons into the carrier generation/multiplication layer; and a hole injection inhibiting layer composed of an amorphous silicon nitride of the n-type conductivity to inhibit injection of holes into the carrier generation/multiplication layer. The said carrier generation/multiplication layer is provided between said electron injection inhibiting layer and said hole injection inhibiting layer.

Abstract: Provided are an analyzing apparatus and an analyzing method for analyzing a sample by performing measurements using X-rays and measuring a gas generated from the sample.

Abstract: A system for capturing an image of transmitted radiation includes transmission of a disable signal to disable a bias light of a camera at a time prior to transmission of radiation, and acquisition of an image from the camera during transmission of the radiation and during deactivation of the bias light. In some embodiments, the disable signal is transmitted in response to the reception of a pre-radiation signal, the pre-radiation signal indicating that transmission of the radiation will commence approximately one frame scan time after the pre-radiation signal is received, and the disable signal is transmitted approximately when the pre-radiation signal is received.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transportation, remote and unattended mounting, and visual alignment and monitoring of protein crystals for synchrotron generated x-ray diffraction analysis. The protein samples are maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures at all times: during shipment, before mounting, mounting, alignment, data acquisition and following removal. The samples must additionally be stably aligned to within a few microns at a point in space. The ability to accurately perform these tasks remotely and automatically leads to a significant increase in sample throughput and reliability for high-volume protein characterization efforts. Since the protein samples are placed in a shipping-compatible layered stack of sample cassettes each holding many samples, a large number of samples can be shipped in a single cryogenic shipping container.

Abstract: A ray tracing kernel calibration procedure for the film simulation mode of digitized tomosynthesis in which the coordinate of the source position with respect to an energy source, e.g., x-ray radiation, is determined. Shadow images of registration markers are used to aid in computing the azimuth; computing the elevation angle; and using the elevation angle and azimuth to compute the coordinate of source position with respect to the sensor.

Abstract: The in vivo three component areal density composition of a patient along a transmitted x-ray beam is derived by raster-scanning a collimated x-ray beam across a bony region of the patient, with each point scanned at different energies, and using matrix equations with a priori spectra information to solve for the relative areal density of soft tissue, fat and bone.

Abstract: A device (4) comprises a container (40) for a liquid coolant (41) that is disposed between the axis (1) and the surface (30) facing the axis to co-rotate with the surface. The device is further provided with an atomizer nozzle (42) of the container, facing the surface, from which the coolant is discharged during rotation of the container due to the centrifugal force (F) acting upon the coolant of the container in the form of an atomized jet (43) that strikes the surface. The device cools a surface of an electronic device (3) that runs hot, the electronic device supplying the X-ray source of a computer tomograph with power and rotating about the axis of the gantry (2) of the tomograph.

Abstract: A fiber-flexure-substrate tray for transporting and protecting optical modules and optical module components. The fiber-flexture substrate tray may have a tray body for supporting an optical fiber and other components coupled to the optical fiber while the optical fiber and the other components are processed. In addition, the fiber-flexure-substrate tray may have a thermally conductive substrate holder coupled to the tray body for heat-treating other components coupled to the optical fiber. The tray body may have a support area designed to hold the optical fiber off of the thermally conductive substrate holder to thermally isolate the optical fiber. In addition, a component may be coupled to the tray to hold the optical fiber off of the thermally conductive substrate holder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for optimizing the time required for scanning a document with any conventional scanner. More specifically, the present invention will utilize calibration information from the initial power-up calibration or any other calibration, and the information from any previous scans to expedite or eliminate the need for future calibration requests. This process will save time for the user to obtain an optimal scan and increase the operable life span of the scanner by eliminating many repetitive scan cycles.

Abstract: A subject table for a mammography apparatus has a slot for an X-ray film cassette extending therethrough, as well as a locking mechanism for the cassette arranged in the slot. The locking mechanism has a spring-loaded arm carrying a first detent, and a second detent, at least one of the detents being spring-loaded such that the detents lie tightly against the narrow sides of the cassette when a cassette is introduced into the slot. For simplified removal or replacement of a cassette, the arm is displaceable in its longitudinal direction, and the second detent is displaceable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the arm. When the second detent is removed from the cassette by an operating manipulation, the spring loading of the first detent causes the cassette to be ejected from the slot to a sufficient extent to allow it to be grasped by the operator.

Abstract: An x-ray system is controlled to obtain a view of an area of a patient that is larger than a field of view of an x-ray detector. Individual images are obtained of portions of the area of the subject that, when combined, can be used to get a view of the area of the subject. Positions of individual images are determined. The positions are preferably calculated to avoid placing structures that tend to move or that are dose sensitive in an area of overlap of the individual images. Also, the positions are preferably calculated to reduce overall exposure to a subject, especially by reducing unnecessary double exposure.

Abstract: A compact X-ray source is disclosed, improving controllability and insulation from unwanted high voltage effects. In one aspect, an active variable conductance device (130, 330) connected in series with the cathode is used in a closed loop, feedback arrangement to control the cathode beam current; the current flowing through the device to the cathode being directly sensed and compared with a desired current level. The result of the comparison is used to control the conductance of the device, thereby directly influencing the cathode current. A second aspect provides an extension of a Faraday cage, whereby the secondary winding of a transformer used to supply power to components within the cage is shielded within a coaxial, tubular member connected to the cage and extending outwardly from it.

Abstract: An image comparison method and an interpolation method to determine the image offset corresponding to the extreme value of the comparison contributes to systematic errors in estimating the displacement of the surface from the images. The systematic errors are rejected by correlation-based comparison systems and methods which reduce the curvature of the correlation function for offsets that bound the extreme value, and by interpolation systems and methods that are relatively insensitive to the asymmetry of the correlation function value points selected as the basis for the interpolation. These systems and methods allow fast, highly accurate, displacement determinations using relatively simplified calculations and relatively few correlation function value points.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for imaging an organ of a patient that includes steps of: scanning a volume of a patient's body including an organ of the patient with a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system having a radiation source and detector coupled to a rotating gantry, the detector array having a z-direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the gantry and an x-direction transverse to the z-direction; acquiring attenuation data from a plurality of staggered half detector segments of the detector array; and reconstructing an image including the patient's organ using the acquired attenuation data.

Abstract: A fiber-type optical coupler has two optical fibers including a core on which a slanting Bragg diffraction grating is formed and a first cladding and a second cladding bordered with a boundary plane close to the core. The two optical fibers are placed by approximating the boundary plane almost contacting the core, making respective optical axes almost parallel and also making slanting directions of the respective Bragg diffraction gratings almost parallel. A wave vector of the slanting Bragg diffraction grating is located in a plane made by a normal set up on the boundary plane almost contacting the core and the optical axis of the core, and an angle ? made by the wave vector and the optical axis is 0 degree<?<90 degrees. In addition, a refractive index of the second cladding is lower than that of the first cladding.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device which includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector which are mounted at a respective end of a common holding device. The holding device being attached to the room by way of a supporting device. In order to realize a more flexible construction of such X-ray devices that are widely used and are usually provided with a holding device in the form of a C-arm and nevertheless maintain a high positioning accuracy. The invention further relates to a supporting device constructed with a plurality of hinged, serially interconnected supporting members. The supporting device is formed notably by a serial manipulator, for example, a conventional robot arm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for converting light into a surface plasmon polariton on a plasmon supporting nanostructure and then controlling the emission of the re-emitting light. A circuit component is also described that is constructed of a nanostructure, which is comprised of at least one plasmon supporting metal. The metal can propagate the light, as a surface plasmon polariton, through the one-dimensional nanostructure and re-emit the light. The metal is a plasmon supporting metal, for example but not limited to, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

Abstract: The invention is based on a method for examining structures on a semiconductor substrate. The structures are imaged with X-radiation in an X-ray microscope. The wavelength of the X-radiation is established as a function of the thickness of the semiconductor substrate in such a way that both a suitable transmission of the X-radiation through the semiconductor substrate and a high-contrast image are obtained. As a result, the structures can be observed continuously with short exposure times, high resolution and even while they are in operation.

Abstract: An X-ray diagnostics installation has an X-ray tube, a voltage generator, a solid state X-ray detector, an image system and a playback device. The solid state X-ray detector is fashioned flexible and includes a flexible housing, a flexible substrate with a matrix of thin-film transistors (TFT), and a flexible X-ray converter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning device for a position measuring system for scanning a scale graduation with a probe, which can be brought into operative connection with the scale graduation and is supplied with electric power over electrical connections; an electronic module, which is coupled over electric connections to the probe; a housing for the electronic module for thermally shielding the electronic module from the surroundings; and means for limiting the supply of current to the probe. Pursuant to the invention, the electrical connections, leading to the probe, within the housing of the electronic module, have at least one fuse, which interrupts the flow of current to the probe when the temperature produced as a result of the current flow exceeds a specifiable value. The housing the electronic module forms the housing of the fuse.