Abstract: Neutron detectors, advanced detector process techniques and advanced compound film designs have greatly increased neutron-detection efficiency. One embodiment of the detectors utilizes a semiconductor wafer with a matrix of spaced cavities filled with one or more types of neutron reactive material such as 10B or 6LiF. The cavities are etched into both the front and back surfaces of the device such that the cavities from one side surround the cavities from the other side. The cavities may be etched via holes or etched slots or trenches. In another embodiment, the cavities are different-sized and the smaller cavities extend into the wafer from the lower surfaces of the larger cavities. In a third embodiment, multiple layers of different neutron-responsive material are formed on one or more sides of the wafer. The new devices operate at room temperature, are compact, rugged, and reliable in design.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for real-time contaminant detection and plasma treatment verification during plasma treatment of bonding surfaces. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is utilized to determine contamination of a bonding surface prior to the bonding process. OES is further utilized to monitor bonding sites on the bonding surface to verify effectiveness of the plasma treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is a thorax phantom that enables simulation of tumor motion within a tissue equivalent material. The system consists of a tissue equivalent epoxy phantom representing a 15 cm axial section of the human thorax that includes simplified spine and lung anatomies. Within the phantom are thru rods of similar tissue density. The rods are attached to a computer-controlled actuator that facilitates both linear and rotational motion of the rods within the phantom. A plurality of tumor targets and radiation detectors can be placed within the rods at various locations thereby enabling the simulation of respiratory and cardiac induced tumor motions within the phantom and assessment of the effects of these motions on image acquisitions, treatment planning and radiation treatment delivery.

Abstract: An ultraviolet ray measuring method using an ultraviolet ray receiving element having a specific spectral sensitivity. The method includes: estimating an estimated value of an entire region from the spectral sensitivity of the ultraviolet ray receiving element and a solar spectral radiation spectrum; estimating an estimated value of a specific region from a specific action curve and the spectral sensitivity and the solar spectral radiation spectrum; and determining specific ultraviolet ray information by, on the basis of the estimated value of the entire region and the estimated value of the specific region, correcting an actually measured value which is measured by the ultraviolet ray receiving element. Further, specific ultraviolet information, which is obtained on the basis of sun altitude information, is also corrected.

Abstract: A logging tool includes an elongated body housing a neutron source and at least one neutron detector positioned along one side of the neutron source. Some embodiments of the logging tool include at least one gamma ray detector longitudinally separated from and to one end of the neutron source, and may be used to make simultaneous gamma ray and neutron logging measurements. In some embodiments, the logging tool also includes a (n, 2n)-neutron shield positioned to one end of the neutron detector, longitudinally between the neutron detector and the neutron source.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a material processing apparatus, e.g. a dryer such as a fluid bed dryer, for processing material, e.g. pharmaceuticals, in a compartment (12) having a wall (10). The wall has a window for transmitting radiation from an infrared spectrometer (30) into the dryer and for transmitting radiation from the material to the spectrometer. The spectrometer (30) can analyze the radiation transmitted from the material to measure a property of the material within the compartment, e.g. its moisture content. The radiation-transmitting element (28) is present in a moveable body (24), e.g. a sphere, that can be moved to bring the element (28) into a second position (31) in which the element is in contact with a duct (40) through which fluid can be passed to clean the element (28). In addition, a wiper member (34) may be provided that wipes the element (28) as it passes over it as the moveable body (26) is moved into the second position.

Abstract: A signal detecting method and apparatus capable of performing rapid signal reading with the resultant image signal of improved signal-to-noise ratio, in which a charge signal outputted from a radiation image detector is integrated by an integral amplifier, and the integrated electrical signal is passed through a low pass filter to detect it as an image signal. The transient response time of the low pass filter is reduced and a sufficient integration time is secured by altering the time constant of the low pass filter by the time constant altering means such that the time constant during the time period between resetting of the integral amplifier and initiation of the next integration is set smaller than that during the time period between the initiation of the inputting of the integrated electrical signal to the low pass filter and holding of the filtered electrical signal.

Abstract: A processing circuit, which carries out coincidence counting, acquires calibration data so that time delays of ?-ray detection signals from radiation detectors coincide with one another. A technique for acquiring calibration data faster and easily is provided to attain high time precision and respond to multi-channeling of detectors. A signal from a test signal generator is sent to signal processing apparatuses and coincidence count events are generated as a test. The events generated are processed by a delay time control apparatus and a variable delay circuit is controlled to improve the accuracy of coincidence counting.

Abstract: An electronic cassette accommodating a sensor for converting radiation into an electric signal. A cable with a specific length is connected to a side surface of the electronic cassette. A connector that is connectable with a wireless communication unit or an external power source is provided at an end of the cable.

Abstract: A portable thermal imaging apparatus uses an ultrasonic acoustical source and an infrared camera to examine a flat or curved specimen such as the surface of the fuselage of an aircraft for defects such as subsurface disbonds, delaminations, cracks, corrosion, embedded contaminants, inclusions, and voids. The apparatus includes a base framework removably attachable to the specimen by a set of vacuum cups and a pair of guide rails along which the imaging apparatus can travel to allow multiple images to be captured without relocating the apparatus on the specimen. The acoustical signal from the ultrasonic source sweeps over a range of frequencies in order to excite defects of greatly differing size to exhibit local heating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing infrared functions of infrared transceiver modules that is equipped with an infrared transmission capability mainly includes to start test operation before an infrared transceiver module being installed on an electronic device thereby to shorten test time of the infrared transceiver module, reduce test cost and improve production yield of the infrared transceiver module.

Abstract: To provide a scintillator panel in which uniform photoelectric converting efficiency is obtained and an image of a high sensitivity and a high sharpness is obtained, a scintillator panel has: a phosphor layer for converting a radiation into light; and a supporting member having a supporting substrate having radiation permeability for supporting the phosphor layer, wherein the supporting substrate is formed by laminating non-conductive layers for assuring non-conductivity of a surface which supports the phosphor layer of the supporting substrate and non-conductivity of an opposite surface which faces the surface and a rigidity holding layer for assuring rigidity of the supporting substrate. Further, moisture-proof metal foils are laminated onto the surface and the opposite surface of the supporting substrate. The panel further includes a moisture resistant protective layer which covers the phosphor layer and the supporting member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for use in performing a quantitative analysis of a turbid pharmaceutical sample, e.g. a tablet, a capsule or a similar sample forming a pharmaceutical dose. A pharmaceutical, turbid sample (24, 57, 67) is irradiated with an excitation beam (20, 53, 64) of radiation, e.g. near infrared radiation. The intensity of emitted radiation (30) from the sample (24, 57, 67) is detected as function of both the wavelength of the emitted radiation and the photon propagation time through said sample (24, 57, 67). Optionally, the intensity of the emitted radiation (30) from the sample (24, 57, 67) is also detected in a spatially resolved manner.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method for simple fluorescence spectrometry in a downhole environment using a UV light source and UV fluorescence to determine a parameter of interest for a sample downhole. The UV light source illuminates the fluid, which in turn fluoresces light. The fluoresced light is transmitted back towards the UV light source and through the pathway towards an optical spectrum analyzer. API gravity is determined by correlation the wavelength of peak fluorescence and brightness of fluorescent emission of the sample. Asphaltene precipitation pressure is determined by monitoring the blue green content ratio for a sample under going depressurization.

Abstract: A specimen sensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a specimen container which is vertically positioned by a container holder of a columnar rack type and conveyed by a belt conveyor, an infrared CCD camera configured to pick up an infrared image of the specimen container, a visible image converter which converts the infrared image picked up by the infrared CCD camera into a visible image, an image signal processing unit which processes and converts one of the infrared image and the visible image into a signal that is suitable to measure a specimen amount, and a specimen amount measuring unit which measures an amount of specimen contained in the specimen container in response to the signal processed by the image signal processing unit.

Abstract: A value of infrared energy reflected from a metallic substrate with a polished surface is determined. The value of the infrared energy reflected, or conversely absorbed, is correlated to a quality of polish. According to an aspect of the invention, one embodiment of the invention utilizes an infrared spectrometer to determine the infrared absorbance of a polished metallic substrate. An infrared beam is reflected off the metallic substrate. The infrared energy of the reflected beam is compared with a pre-determined value of infrared energy reflected off a reference polish surface.

Abstract: A method is described for providing rapid on-line analyses of chemical compositions such as chemical process streams, utilizing near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. In the method, for each type of analysis to be conducted, a database is provided by analyzing a series of samples using standard laboratory analytical procedures, utilizing the results as reference values to establish quantitative calibration models from NIR spectroscopy using chemometric techniques and storing this information in a computer database. An NIR spectroscopic system is also provided comprising a transflectance or a transmittance probe coupled via fiber-optic cables to a stable white light source and a spectrograph. The probe is inserted into a test sample or chemical process stream to be analyzed, a stable white light of selected wavelength range is beamed to the probe and the spectra obtained on the spectrograph are recorded.

Abstract: A night vision apparatus comprises housing arrangement by which a user can place an eyepiece adjacent one eye, a solid state imager sensitive to infrared radiation, an infrared radiation generation means arranged to generate infrared radiation into the field of view of the solid state imager; and an image generator arranged to receive the output from the solid state imager and to generate a visible image representative of this output at a position visible to the eye of the user. Head-mounted and hand-held embodiments are provided.

Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention utilize time-resolved techniques to deconvolve a measured response to characterize the nature of particles. The measured response is deconvolved into a scatter component and a fluorescence component. The fluorescence component is further characterized into biological and non-biological components. A discriminant vector is mapped to characterize the nature of the particle.

Abstract: A method for erasing noise and a residual image in a storage phosphor, comprising: reading out an exposed storage phosphor which is transported in a first direction by scanning the storage phosphor in a line scan direction perpendicular to the first direction, with a reciprocating stimulating beam of light which causes the storage phosphor to emit light in a first frequency range, the beam of light being suppressed during retrace; erasing the storage phosphor after the reading out with light of a second frequency range and additionally with light of the first frequency range during retrace when the stimulating light beam is supressed.