Patents Examined by Constantine Hannaher
  • Patent number: 5218205
    Abstract: A read-out system for a luminescent storage screen of the type used in an x-ray diagnostics installation has a scan beam generator which generates a scan beam of a first wavelength, a beam deflector for deflecting the scan beam to planarly scan a luminescent storage screen pixel-by-pixel to retrieve the stored image, the scan beam causing the storage screen to luminesce and generate light of a second wavelength which is detected by a detector system. The detector system includes a light conductor which conducts the light onto a light detector. The detector system includes a filter for light of the first wavelength, which is arranged in the immediate proximity of the point of incidence of the scan beam on the luminescent storage screen. The filter is in the form of a slot-shaped opening for the scan beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gottfried Lange, Hans-Erich Reinfelder
  • Patent number: 5216244
    Abstract: The accessary for attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy comprises a condenser mirror, a crystalline element, a sample-supporting portion holding the crystalline element, an objective mirror, and a slit. The crystalline element has an incident surface, a totally reflecting surface, and an exit surface. A sample to be investigated is contacted with the totally reflecting surface The focused point of the infrared radiation from the condenser mirror is at the point of measurement on the totally reflecting surface of the crystalline element The focus of the objective mirror can be brought to the point of measurement on the sample surface. A point analysis, line analysis, or area surface on the order of 10 .mu.m can be made while observing the sample with the naked eye with the objective mirror. The invention further includes improvements in the mechanism for automatically adjusting the focus of the objective mirror when the measurement point is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Yasuo Esaki, Kyoko Yokokawa, Toshimi Araga
  • Patent number: 5216242
    Abstract: An apparatus for nuclear logging is presented. In accordance with the present invention, nuclear detectors and electronic components are all mounted in chambers within the sub wall with covers being removably attached to the chambers. A single bus for delivering both power and signals extends through the sub wall between either end of the tool. This bus terminates at a modular ring connector positioned on each tool end. This tool construction (including sub wall mounted sensors and electronics, single power and signal bus, and ring connectors) is also well suited for other formation evaluation tools used in measurement-while-drilling applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Teleco Oilfield Services Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Perry, Guy A. Daigle, Steven Rountree, George Talmadge, John Grunbeck, Mark Wassell
  • Patent number: 5216236
    Abstract: An optical system for tracking a target scans an optical beam across the target in a Lissajous pattern. The pattern has at least one portion that extends across the target. Return signals reflected from the target are used to calculate the range (and, if desired, also the intensity) of each measured point on the target (and beyond the target if some portions of the pattern miss the target), and to calculate the deviation of a reference location on the pattern, e.g. its center, from a selected location of the target. This deviation is used to correct the scan to move the reference location on the pattern towards the selected location on the target, thus tracking the target. The amplitude of the pattern can be changed to adjust the pattern on the target or to search for a target. By virtue of the range data obtainable for points on the target and on edges of the target, the system can also determine other features, such as the shape, profile, identity and attitude of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventor: Francois Blais
  • Patent number: 5214285
    Abstract: A night vision module is adaptable as an input stage on a daylight viewing and aiming device for constituting a system operational during night. It comprises an infra-red imaging unit and a unit for reproducing an image of the field of view of the imaging unit on a screen for display in the input field of the daylight device which has fixed reference marks. The image reproducing unit has a generator for inlaying, in the image of the field, a plurality of marks having a predetermined position with respect to the optical axis of the module, out of the central aiming zone. The inlaid marks are so located as to be centered with respect to the fixed reference marks when the module is harmonized. The module further comprises potentiometers enabling to control the location of the image on the screen and to center the inlaid marks with respect to the reference marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Generales
    Inventor: Philippe Metivier
  • Patent number: 5214273
    Abstract: A contact image sensor for use as an image readout unit in a facsimile machine or the like equipment, wherein, for the purpose of realizing reduction of its cost and improvement of its assembling performance, a rod lens array and a photoelectric converter element array are supported by a first supporting member while a light source is supported by a second supporting member separate from the first supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Yokochi
  • Patent number: 5214270
    Abstract: A bar code scanning system which can be operated in two scanning categories: hendheld and fixed. The system incorporates a second scanning element having a fixedly mounted mirror and a dithering mirror disposed in relation to a hand-held scanner which is removably positioned in a holder means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics
    Inventor: Joseph F. Rando
  • Patent number: 5214272
    Abstract: A photoelectric converting apparatus has a plurality of photoelectric converting devices each of which can execute a photoelectric conversion and is constructed so that photo carriers can be accumulated onto a control electrode. At least one of the photoelectric converting devices is covered by a conductive light shielding layer. A transparent electrode is formed on at least the other photoelectric converting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Ueno
  • Patent number: 5212385
    Abstract: A radiation detector element which is optimized for the detection of .alpha. particles comprises a layer of diamond or diamond-like carbon with first and second electrical contacts applied to the surface of the layer. The layer is formed on a silicon substrate, together with an electronic circuit. Each of the contacts defines a rectifying junction with the layer, thus defining a back-to-back diodic structure, having junction characteristics which are responsive to the intensity of radiation incident on the detector element. The electronic circuit is powered by a battery or a solar cell, and activates an LCD indicator if the intensity of the incident radiation exceeds a predetermined level. The radiation detector element and the electronic circuit are housed on a card which is sized similarly to a conventional identification card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Barbara L. Jones
  • Patent number: 5210419
    Abstract: "A method for liquid scintillation counting of the radioactive nuclides of the natural decay chains of Th-232, U-238 and U-235 by detecting decay events of the short-lived members Po-212, Po-214 and Po-215 of these decay chains by the principle of delayed coincidence, characterized in that a separate pulse height spectrum is recorded for those pulses of the counting device which occur within a fixed short time interval after a preceding pulse. The successive decays cause pairs of quickly succeeding pulses to be detected; the coincidence of these pulses within a brief time interval makes it possible to distinguish the decay events from other decay events. The invention further permits simultaneous counting of different isotopes by fixing several short time intervals following a first pulse, and assigning a second pulse following the first pulse to one of several separate pulse height spectra in accordance with the length of the time interval within which the second pulse occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Ferdinand Buheitel
  • Patent number: 5210417
    Abstract: A modulated Faraday rotation signal is produced by passing a linearly polarized laser beam through a semiconductor wafer sample in a modulated magnetic field that is induced in an electromagnet by a sine wave generator and driver coupled thereto. The rotation signal is normalized by dividing by a transmission signal produced by modulating the beam with a chopper that operates at a different frequency from the frequency of the driver. The result is a Faraday rotation measurement with high signal-to-noise ratio and compensation for laser drift in intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John A. Grisham, Frederick W. Clarke, Charles R. Christensen, John L. Stensby
  • Patent number: 5210411
    Abstract: A detection mark comprising a pattern formed from a thin phosphor layer which emits a light having a different wavelength from that of an excitation light irradiated on a surface side of the phosphor layer, and an undercoat layer which is formed on a rear surface side of the phosphor layer and reflects the excitation light, which mark can be detected by intermittently irradiating the excitation light to the mark and reading a light or afterglow from the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Oshima, Masato Nishida, Tsunemi Ohiwa, Tsutomu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5210423
    Abstract: A signal containing piled-up pulses from a scintillation camera head is sampled at a high frequency. Samples are summed to provide a time-integration of pulses which are sampled. When pulses pile up, the tail of the first pulse can be determined by extrapolation, permitting the first pulse to be energy-validated. The overlapping tail of the first pulse and the head of the second pulse are also time-integrated, and the area of the tail of the first pulse is subtracted from the time-integration so obtained. It is then possible to validate the second pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Gammasonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger E. Arseneau
  • Patent number: 5210416
    Abstract: The high-speed imaging stage of the present invention contains a holding holding such as a prismatic rotating body or an endless belt that can rotate or move at high speed and that is loaded with a plurality of recording materials such as stimulable phosphor sheets and X-ray film. The holding device transfers the recording materials successively by continuously performing intermittent fast moving operations in such a way that a recording material can rest temporarily in the imaging position beneath an imaging window while holding the recording materials in position, whereby the radiation image of a subject can be recorded on the recording materials. Therefore, this high-speed imaging stage has a simple construction and is capable of performing high-speed and continuous imaging on the recording materials without causing damage to them even if they are not placed within protective cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Seto, Tugio Inoue
  • Patent number: 5210418
    Abstract: An ultra-small sample analyzer for internal reflection spectrometry comprises a small hemispherical crystal of an infrared-transparent hard material whose flat surface receives the sample to be analyzed. The analyzing beam is contracted to a very small size when incident on the hemispherical surface. Pressure-applying means of a size substantially matching that of the beam at the sampling surface enables interaction of substantially the entire beam with the sample producing spectra of high contrast from microgram or nanogram quantities of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Harrick Scientific Corp.
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Harrick, Milan Milosevic
  • Patent number: 5210422
    Abstract: A scintillation camera includes a plurality of detectors mounted on the camera and arranged to provide an opening for allowing the insertion of an object for examination such as a human being and for radiographing a tomographic image, a plurality of collimators each of which is attached to the front of the corresponding detectors for collimating X-rays radiating from the object for examination, and an exchanger for the collimators, the exchanger including a carrier and a holding device for holding the collimators in a swingable manner in any direction within a certain range by use of a mechanism such as a spherical bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadakazu Kurakake, Mikio Igarashi
  • Patent number: 5210421
    Abstract: A SPECT system includes three gamma camera heads (22a), (22b), (22c) which are mounted to a gantry (20) for rotation about a subject (12). The subject is injected with a source of emission radiation, which emission radiation is received by the camera heads. A reconstruction processor (112) reconstructs the emission projection data into a distribution of emission radiation sources in the subject. Transmission radiation from a radiation source (30) passes through the subject and is received by one of the camera heads (22a) concurrently with the emission radiation. The transmission radiation data is reconstructed into a three-dimensional CT type image representation of radiation attenuation characteristics of each pixel of the subject. An attenuation correction processor (118) corrects the emission projection data to compensate for attenuation along the path or ray that it traversed. In this manner, an attenuation corrected distribution of emission sources is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant T. Gullberg, Hugh T. Morgan, Chi-Hua Tung, Gengsheng L. Zeng, Paul E. Christian
  • Patent number: 5210420
    Abstract: A positron emission tomography scanner having a plurality of detector rings positioned side-by-side. Each detector plane contains a plurality of photomultiplier tubes with at least two columns of scintillation crystals positioned on each photomultiplier tube defining a module in ring. Each crystal is uniform and has a length in the axial direction less than the size of the photomultiplier tube. The fundamental crystal identification module is limited to two photomultiplier tubes. Each alternate module in the ring is offset by one-half or less of the center-to-center intra-module crystal spacing in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Positron Corporation
    Inventors: Ross K. Hartz, Richard E. Hitchens, David G. Bristow, Howard D. Yingst
  • Patent number: 5206510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the analysis of plastic mixtures by infrared transmission spectroscopy in which the spectra are run while the samples are rotated. This measure improves the accuracy and reproducibility of the spectra and, hence, the determination of individual components of the plastic mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Udo Wolf, Hans Dohmen, Jurgen Diefendahl
  • Patent number: 5204528
    Abstract: A system for determining the health risk, due to alpha emitters attached to particles of various sizes, these alpha emitters being due to the level of radon, to persons within an environment where radon may be present. In one embodiment, a sample of air is passed through a filter element having a collection characteristic such that essentially all particulate material, with their associated radon progeny, is removed from the air. The alpha particles emitted by the decay of these radon progeny are detected with an appropriate alpha particle spectrometer. The realtime resolving of the energies of individual of the daughter atoms permits a determination of the working level or PAEC associated with the radon. In those instances where lung dose is to be determined, the filter element has two portions. The first portion is designed to remove particles in a manner like that which occurs in the human nasal passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Consultec Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Hurst, Harvel A. Wright, Philip K. Hopke