Patents Examined by Christopher Webb
  • Patent number: 7378676
    Abstract: Stimulable phosphor screens, sheets or panels having alkali metal halide storage phosphors have been disclosed, said phosphors showing emission of red light, after stimulation with an ultraviolet radiation source having a radiation emission maximum of 365 nm, wherein an intensity of red light is not higher than 10% of the blue light emission intensity, and wherein both emission intensities having been measured after stimulation of the said storage phosphors in the phosphor layer of the panel, having stored energy from radiation in the wavelength range shorter than 350 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7297951
    Abstract: A sensor system senses a scene and includes a dual-band imaging infrared detector lying on a beam path, wherein the infrared detector detects infrared images in a first infrared wavelength band and in a second infrared wavelength band; and a two-color cold-shield filter lying on the beam path between the infrared detector and the scene. The cold-shield filter defines a first aperture size for infrared light of the first infrared wavelength band, and a second aperture size larger than the first aperture size for infrared light of the second infrared wavelength band. The first infrared wavelength band has wavelengths less than wavelengths of the second infrared wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Chungte W. Chen, John S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7253420
    Abstract: A scanning microscope system includes an optical microscope observation unit that irradiates the sample with excitation light, and forms an optical image from fluorescence emitted from a sample. The system also includes a scanning map creator and a flying spot scanning observation unit. The scanning map creator creates a scanning map indicating a scanning region in which a substance to be scanned exists in the sample, based on brightness of pixels of the optical image. The flying spot scanning observation unit scans the scanning region of the sample with laser beam, and forms a scanning image based on fluorescence emitted from the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Motomura
  • Patent number: 7250605
    Abstract: A passive infra-red detector including at least three sub-detectors, each sub-detector being operative to receive infra-red radiation from a corresponding one of at least three sub fields-of-view, each sub field-of-view being exclusively defined by an optical element which does not define any other sub field of view, the sub fields-of-view being angled with respect to each other, adjacent ones of the sub fields-of-view being separated by a gap of no more than 30 degrees and at least one of the sub fields-of-view having at least one of the following characteristics: extending over no more then 45 degrees in azimuth; and including not more than three azimuthally distributed detection zones, and signal processing circuitry, operative to receive output signals from the sub detectors and to provide a motion detection output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Visonic Ltd.
    Inventors: Boris Zhevelev, Yaacov Kotlicki, Michael Lahat
  • Patent number: 7242009
    Abstract: A method for statistically distinguishing between two or more populations, such as between samples containing background and threat particles, is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method for statistically distinguishing is a method for processing a signal in a particle detection system. The method may include characterizing each particle detected by a signal vector. The method may further include calculating a weight of each particle detected using a weighting function of the signal vectors. The weighting function may be a functional of a threat particle probability distribution and a background particle probability distribution. The method may also include summing a total weight of all particles tested and generating an alarm signal if the total weight exceeds an alarm level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hach Ultra Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Wilson, James Brady
  • Patent number: 7238944
    Abstract: A detector for x-ray computer tomography scanners, includes a number of adjacent detector lines extending in an x direction, whereby each detector line is formed from a multitude of adjacent scintillator elements. In order to increase the resolution in the z direction and to simplify the design of the detector, the surface of the scintillator elements are partially covered, which further serves to reduce the size of the aperture in the z direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Bruder, Thomas Flohr, Karl Stierstorfer
  • Patent number: 7235808
    Abstract: A radiographic image reading method includes: scanning a photostimulable phosphor plate with excitation light by a scanning section such that a relative relationship between an average area S2 of column crystals of a photostimulable phosphor and an average area S1 of a beam of the excitation light emitted from a light source is S1?10×S2, the photostimulable phosphor plate comprising: a support; and a photostimulable phosphor layer comprising the column crystals of the photostimulable phosphor formed on a surface of the support, wherein radiation energy is stored in the photostimulable phosphor layer; and detecting photostimulated light by a detector, which is emitted from the photostimulable phosphor layer by the scanning with the excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuneo Sawazumi
  • Patent number: 7230244
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for the detection of terahertz radiation. In one embodiment, frequency modulated spectroscopy is performed on a swept source of coherent far infrared electromagnetic radiation that is focused on a target. A beam of radiation passes through a cell in which the target is housed, losing energy as certain frequencies are absorbed by contaminants in the target. A detector is positioned to determine how much energy is lost by the radiation (e.g., which frequencies fail to transmit through the cell), thereby indicating the presence of contaminants in the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Trotz, Peter James Coyle
  • Patent number: 7230245
    Abstract: A device for use with a source of radiation to provide a THz emission image representing a sample. The device comprises a substrate, a metallic probe having a tip adjacent to the substrate surface and a source of AC bias coupled between the probe tip and substrate. Radiation generated by the source of radiation is incident on the substrate surface in the vicinity of the probe tip and generates THz emission based at least on the AC bias coupled between the probe tip and substrate. A method for providing a THz emission image representing a sample is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Xi-Cheng Zhang, Tao Yuan, Jingzhou Xu, Haewook Han
  • Patent number: 7227167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system having a scanner and a memory layer. The memory layer comprises particles for storing X-ray information items, that can be excited by a stimulating radiation to emit an emission radiation corresponding to one of the X-ray information items and that are embedded in a medium and are distributed over the entire thickness of the memory layer. The scanner comprises an irradiating device for irradiating a linear region on the memory layer and a detector for the positionally resolved detection of emission radiation emitted by the memory layer along the linear region. To increase the sharpness of the X-ray information items to be detected with low losses in the intensity of the emission radiation, the medium can at least partially absorb components, directed both perpendicularly and parallel to the plane of the memory layer, of the emission radiation emitted by the individual particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Leblans, Robert Fasbender, Magath Niang, Clemens Herrmann, Rudy Van den Bergh
  • Patent number: 7217931
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus capable of improving an arrangement density of semiconductor radiation detectors and detector units thereof, each detector unit consisting of a plurality of combined substrates having a detector substrate which includes semiconductor radiation detectors and a signal processing substrate which includes integrated circuits, housed in a housing. The detector substrate protrudes outward from an opening of the housing. A plurality of detector units are attached to a ring-shaped unit support section in a circumferential direction thereof. More specifically, the detector substrate protrudes inward from the unit support section and the housing is attached to the unit support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichirou Ueno, Shinichi Kojima, Norihito Yanagita, Kensuke Amemiya, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Kazuma Yokoi, Takafumi Ishitsu
  • Patent number: 7211801
    Abstract: A radiation detector comprises a plurality of detector units and x-ray absorption members placed between the respective detector units. An individual detector unit includes a sensor element and read-out circuitry. The x-ray absorption members have a wider portion and a narrower portion and the read-out circuitry is accommodated at the narrower portion of the x-ray absorption member. Hence, the read-out circuitry is shielded from incident x-rays by the wider portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 7208735
    Abstract: Infrared radiation from a plurality of locations associated with a process is measured by a field device, which includes a plurality of input channels, a plurality of IR sensors, and a data processor. The infrared radiation from the locations associated with the process is received by the input channels and the intensity of the infrared radiation is measured by the IR sensors to produce representative sensor signals. The data processor produces an output as a function of selected sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Rosemount, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Lazaro Sierra, Marcos Antonio Peluso, Loren Michael Engelstad, William Thomas Anderson
  • Patent number: 7205553
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for reading fluorescence signals from an array of chemical moieties (such as different sequence peptides or polynucleotides, for example different DNA sequences). In the method the spatial sequence of scanned locations need not be the same as the temporal sequence. For example, a later illuminated line may be spatially closer to an earlier illuminated line than is a temporally intervening illuminated line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas N. Dorsel, Glenda C. Delenstarr, Kenneth L. Staton, George P. Tsai
  • Patent number: 7202482
    Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus comprising a semiconductor detector unit in which a plurality of semiconductor radiation detection elements are installed on a detector mounted substrate in a matrix to constitute a detector unit. A plurality of detector units are releasably mounted on a fixing substrate. This mounting is carried out mating a coupling screw with a threaded hole formed in the detector mounted substrate, the coupling screw being inserted through a through-hole formed in the fixing substrate. The detector mounted substrate is provided with a pair of positioning pins. The positioning pins are inserted into positioning holes, respectively, formed in the fixing substrate, to position the detector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokoi, Hiroshi Kitaguchi, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Takafumi Ishitsu, Kensuke Amemiya
  • Patent number: 7199369
    Abstract: A radiation detector of the present invention has at least one radiation measuring component and a radiation detector surface. A layer of protective covering substantially covers the radiation detector surface and protects the at least one radiation measuring component. The layer of protective covering preferably includes a protective material sub-layer and may include an optional coating sub-layer. The radiation detector surface may be, for example, a scintillator, cover glass, or chip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Met One Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Heverly
  • Patent number: 7196345
    Abstract: A quantity of imparted erasing energy, which is to be imparted to a stimulable phosphor sheet in order to erase residual radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet, is adjusted by use of an image recording sensitivity in a next radiation image recording operation, which is to be performed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and an energy level of the residual radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet. The quantity of the imparted erasing energy is adjusted such that, as the image recording sensitivity in the next radiation image recording operation, which is to be performed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, becomes high, and as the energy level of the residual radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet becomes high, the quantity of the imparted erasing energy is set to be large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Shimada
  • Patent number: 7183555
    Abstract: A sensing arrangement for sensing charged particles and/or quanta of electromagnetic radiation has a sensor device (12) and amplifier circuitry (14). The sensor device (12) provides a sensor signal to an imput mode (vin) of the amplifier (14) to cause the level at the amplifier output mode (vout) to change. A negative feetback device (T1) responds to the change in level of the output node (Vour) to vary the feedback effect to increase the loop again of said amplifier circuitry (14). A current mirror (T2,T3) resets the input node (vin) to its initial level. Single particle and integrating sensor arrangements are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: European Organization for Nuclear Research
    Inventor: Pierre Jarron
  • Patent number: 7180075
    Abstract: An X-ray detector is for a CT device and includes a phosphor layer for generating electromagnetic radiation as a function of the occurrence of X-radiation, and a photodetector layer for detecting the electromagnetic radiation generated by the phosphor layer. The phosphor layer includes ceramic material and the photodetector layer includes organic material. A process is further for producing an X-ray detector, including the steps of producing a phosphor layer from a ceramic material and applying a photodetector layer made from an organic material to the phosphor layer via a spinning, printing or beam/jet process or by sticking it on as a film. It is optionally possible to provide a further process step for polishing the surface of the phosphor layer before applying the photodetector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Bjoern Heismann, Juergen Leppert, Thomas Von Der Haar
  • Patent number: 7166844
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for using discrete photon counting to produce transmission radiographic images of a target object with improved spatial resolution and high system sensitivity. The system comprises a radiation source for directing photons at a target object and a detector array for receiving photons passing through the target in order to provide an image of the target density. The detector array is configured to enhance spatial resolution and maintain high system sensitivity. To correct the parallax effect that may be induced by such configuration of the detector array, a process can be computer implemented or program coded to parallax correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome E. Gormley, Hector Camacho, Frank H. Cardone