Abstract: A method and a device are provided for reading a matrix of photonic detectors which delivers a current whose intensity varies according to the incident flux. A set of elementary points (PEL(i,j)) enables the signals delivered by each detector to be read. The quantity processed is the charge. Each elementary point effects a preintegration of the current delivered by a corresponding detector. A charge amplifier effects a reading to condition the signals delivered by the matrix of detectors and to multiplex them to at least one information processing chain.

Abstract: A dosimeter device that is fabricated from a flat member separated into panels along fold lines. In an illustrated embodiment, a first panel has two attenuators thereon, a first attenuator formed of a first material and a second attenuator formed of a second material. The first panel also has a window or opening formed thereon. A second panel also has two attenuators thereon, a third attenuator formed of the same material as the first attenuator on the first panel and a fourth attenuator formed of the same material as the second attenuator on the first panel. The second panel is separated from the first panel by a fold line, and the second panel also has a window or opening formed thereon. A third panel is separated from the second panel by a second fold line, and has a radiation sensitive member thereon.

Abstract: A system is provided for scanning an object, the system comprising: a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis; a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor. This system may be used in a drum scanner system and may be used to read storage layer radiation screens.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting a container having an open mouth and a closed bottom spaced from the container mouth, while the container is hot from its manufacture, includes a light sensor disposed with respect to the container to view the container bottom through the container mouth. Infrared light energy emitted from the container bottom that travels through the container mouth is directed onto the light sensor, and the inside diameter of the container mouth is measured as a function of the light energy directed onto the sensor. The light sensor preferably comprises an area array sensor for developing a two-dimensional image of the container mouth, and the infrared light energy is directed onto the sensor by a telecentric lens arrangement. The area array sensor is disposed within a camera that has an entrance pupil and the telecentric lens arrangement has one focus at infinity directed toward the container bottom and a second focus at the entrance pupil of the camera.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for viewing a pattern of fluorophors capable of fluorescing when exposed to visible light, e.g., fluorescently stained DNA, protein or other biological material. The system includes a light source emitting light in the visible spectrum, such as a fluorescent lamp used in domestic lighting, a first optical filter capable of transmitting light from the source at wavelengths capable of exciting the fluorophors and of absorbing light of other wavelengths, and a second optical filter capable of blocking substantially all the light from the source not blocked by the first filter, so that the only light reaching the viewer is light produced by fluorescence of the fluorophors.

Abstract: A nuclear level sensing gauge for measuring the level of product in a bin utilizes a bundle of scintillating fibers. A source of nuclear radiation positioned adjacent the bin, and a bundle of one or more scintillating fibers is positioned adjacent the bin opposite the source of nuclear radiation such that nuclear radiation passing through the bin impinges upon the bundle. Circuitry detects scintillating photons generated in the fibers, which are indicative of radiation passing through the bin. The number of photons generated in the fibers is representative of the level of radiation-absorbing product in the bin.

Abstract: A technique for correcting for random coincidences in a gamma camera system is provided. The system includes a pair of scintillation detectors coupled to a processing system and is configured to detect radiation coincidences. Each detector generates trigger pulses in response to scintillation events to generate a plurality of event-based trigger pulses. Each detector includes a pulse generator, which generates a plurality of artificial trigger pulses. When an artificial trigger pulse in one detector occurs in coincidence with an event-based trigger pulse in the other detector, data is registered by the corresponding detectors, and the artificial trigger pulse is associated with a predetermined energy level. The data processing system examines the data to identify singles events that were registered as a result of artificial trigger pulses and prevents such singles events from contributing to the coincidence images. Instead, such singles events are used to generate a singles image for each detector.

Abstract: Microstructure for bolometer for high infrared sensitivity and detectivity having a corrugated air bridge microstructure which provides a large area, low infrared reflection and large infrared absorption so as to increase the sensitivity and detectivity.

Abstract: A quantum well infrared photodetector includes a direct connection between the charge well and detector that induces a nonlinear dynamic bias. This dynamic bias advantageously corrects for nonuniformity in the conductance of the detector. In another feature, the charge well is fabricated on the detector element by adding an extra contact layer and a dielectric layer to a standard quantum well. Very dense focal plane arrays can be produced by making the charge well a part of the infrared detector.

Abstract: Biological aerosols are detected in real time by passing air, which may contain the aerosols, through a duct having a pair of photodetectors adjacent the duct for detecting fluorescence of the aerosols produced by ultraviolet laser beam illumination of the airflow. A pair of opposed mirrors, make the effective sample air volume large, by producing multiple ultra-violet beam illumination paths through adjacent portions of the duct for each single pulsed beam, in turn increasing the magnitude of the detected fluorescence signal.

Abstract: A high-energy photon imaging system including an imaging head, a signal processor, a data acquisition system and an image processing computer. The imaging head includes a detector including a plurality of closely-packed detection modules. Each detection module includes a plurality of detection elements mounted to a circuit carrier. The detection elements produce electrical pulses having amplitudes indicative of the magnitude of radiation absorbed by the detection elements. The circuit carrier includes channels for conditioning and processing the signals generated by corresponding detection elements and for preparing the processed signals for further processing by a signal processor. Each conditioning and processing channel stores the amplitudes of the detection element electrical pulses exceeding a predetermined threshold. The detection modules employ a fall-through circuit which automatically finds only those detection elements that have a stored pulse amplitude exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: This is a method of generating a plurality of images of a substrate from radioactive radiation coming from a plurality of radioactive tracers contained in the substrate. To this end, data representing the different detection signals generated by a detector are memorised, individually for each radioactive emission detected during a certain observation period, then statistical processing of these data is carried out in such a way as to estimate the images of the different tracers which correspond best to the set of memorised data.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an infrared detector, a method of controlling the stress in a polycrystalline SiGE layer and an infrared detector device is disclosed. The method of fabricating includes the steps of forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate; patterning said sacrificial layer; establishing a layer consisting essentially of polycrystalline SiGe on said sacrificial layer; depositing an infrared absorber on said polycrystalline SiGe layer; and thereafter removing the sacrificial layer. The method of controlling the stress in a polycrystalline SiGe layer deposited on a substrate is based on varying the deposition pressure. The infrared detector device comprises an active area and an infrared absorber, wherein the active area comprises a polycrystalline SiGe layer, and is suspended above a substrate.

Abstract: A simultaneous acquisition process of a transmission image and an emission image with a gamma camera equipped with a detector (3), the detector (3) being opposite the patient (5) who has received an injection of a first radioactive isotope emitting gamma-ray photons (&ggr;2) in a first energy range (P1), the process including the movement of a radioactive source (4) behind the patient (5), the source (4) consisting of a second isotope emitting gamma-ray photons (&ggr;1) in a second energy range (P2), and the production, during the detection of an impact of a gamma-ray photon on the detector (3) of the coordinates of the impact of the photon on the detector and information relevant to the energy of the photon during the impact, the process having the particularity that it differentiates between the photon impacts according to their energy levels and the position of the impact in relation to the position of the source (4).

Abstract: An imaging system for generating SPECT images wherein first and second cameras are mounted to a gantry for rotation about an imaging axis, the cameras are positionible in an L configuration wherein their camera axis intersect at an intersection point, the cameras are mounted such that when in the L position the intersection point is further away from each of the cameras than is the rotation axis allowing the cameras to be moved radially inward with respect to the rotation axis thus reducing the degree of table movement within the imaging area required to position an object to be imaged adjacent the cameras.

Abstract: A universal nuclear medicine imager (UNMI) enables planar, SPECT and PET studies. The UNMI is a “position sensitive” type of detector which has a relatively thick (e.g., {fraction (6/8)} in.) NaI(TI) crystal optically divided by a thin non-scintillating material into two half-thicknesses of ⅜ in. each. The UNMI detector uses a light collimator system to enable a depth of interaction (DOI) determination in addition to a two-dimensional location of gamma photons in the half-thicknesses of the crystal. The system includes a combination of a scintillating, optically more dense material with a non-scintillating, optically less dense material and uses the light refraction reflection law with PM tubes and coincidence circuits. For obtaining the optimal spatial resolution in planar and SPECT studies, a known DOI enables the use of only the lower ⅜ in.

Abstract: A radiation detection device for gamma radiation is disclosed having an array of crystals optically positioned adjacent an optional collimator, the crystals emitting visible light upon illumination by the incident gamma radiation. An array of photodetectors is optically positioned adjacent the crystal array on the side of the crystal array opposite that of the collimator. A select photodetector in the photodetector array provides an output signal when the select photodetector is illuminated by the visible light. An integrated circuit having an input from the output signals of said array of photodetectors is used to process and output signals indicative of the intensity and position of the gamma radiation.

Abstract: A panel for radiation detection having a plurality of sensors arrayed thereon. Each sensor includes a charge storage capacitor, a radiation sensitive layer over the charge storage capacitor and a dielectric layer over the radiation sensitive layer. The dielectric layer has an adjusted resistivity resulting in a time constant &tgr;=&rgr;&kgr;&egr;0 between 0.050 and 20 seconds, wherein &kgr; is the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer, and &egr;0 is the permitivity of free space. The radiation detection layer is a photoconductor, and the dielectric layer is, preferably, a linear segmented polyurethane.

Abstract: A hand-held radiation probe is configured having a crystal thickness as well as a bias generated electrical field which have values to cause the semiconductor crystal to operate in a trapping-dependent operational mode wherein a trapping of substantially all carriers generated by radiation impinging upon the crystal forward face are trapped. The bias level voltage is selected to achieve adequate photopeak heights and to permit the windowing out of lower energy Compton scattering and other noise phenomena.

Abstract: A plurality of samples are separated into sample components by means of electrophoresis in a plurality of capillaries. Light is radiated onto the separated sample components. Fluorescence emitted from the sample components is measured by a detector unit. In the detector unit, the fluorescence from the sample components is collected by a lens, filtered by a filter set to select light of predetermined wavelengths, split into four bundle of rays by right-angle prisms, and focussed on four linear array sensors so as to be detected.