Patents Examined by David S. Baker
  • Patent number: 7309868
    Abstract: An object is to provide a radiation image conversion panel minimizing deterioration of sensitivity and sharpness due to improved moisture resistance, as well as a method of preparing a radiation image conversion panel exhibiting high production efficiency. Also disclosed is a radiation image conversion panel possessing a support having thereon at least a stimulable phosphor layer, wherein an average height of burr generated on the radiation image conversion panel is 1-400 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical and Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuya Kishinami, Tadahiro Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7271388
    Abstract: A method for identifying brominated flame retardants in a polymer sample. An infrared spectrometry scan of the polymer sample is obtained. Using a first set of parameters, the obtained IR scan is compared to a first database, and a first hit score is calculated. Based on the results of the first hit score, a second database is selected from among a number of databases, and the obtained infrared spectrometry scan is compared to the various scans contained in the selected database using a parameter set that corresponds to the selected database, and a second hit score is calculated. Using the second hit score, another set of parameters is selected, and the obtained infrared spectrometry scan is compared to the various scans contained in the selected third database using this additional parameter set, and a third hit score is calculated. Based on the second and third hit scores, the identity of the brominated flame retardant in the polymer sample is determined with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Riess, Julia Smirnow
  • Patent number: 7259386
    Abstract: A radiation image detector that includes a radiation image recording medium capable of recording a radiation image and detects the signal outputted from the medium in accordance with the radiation image recorded on the medium, in which a real-time signal is obtaining with a simple and low-cost structure of the detector while the medium is being exposed to radiation. The charges generated in the photoconductive layer and stored in the storage section are detected by the first detecting section with the use of the first and second striped electrodes, each made of a plurality of wire electrodes, and the real-time signal while the medium is being exposed to radiation is obtained by the second detecting section connected to the second striped electrode by detecting the current flowing through the second striped electrode in accordance with the amount of charges generated in the photoconductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Imai
  • Patent number: 7256401
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting radiation indicative of fire, such as forest fire. In one embodiment, a threshold energy level is determined based on ambient sensor conditions. A sensor unit may be setup to scan a predetermined area for electromagnetic radiation. Any detected electromagnetic radiation may then be band pass filtered to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire. The resulting energy level signal may then be further filter to pass only those signals which exhibit a “flicker” frequency. If the resulting filtered signal exceeds the threshold signal, a fire notification signal may then be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Ambient Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Garmer, Jonathan M. Luck
  • Patent number: 7247858
    Abstract: A radiographic image is obtained by combining at least two radiographic sub-images acquired by at least an upper and lower 2-dimensional radiation sensor having sensor pixels. The radiation sensitive area of the lower sensor is overlapped by the upper sensor. Overlap is preferably at least two pixel rows, but can also be limited to non-imaging parts of the upper sensor. The radiation sensors may comprise a radiation to light converting layer. Preferably the sensors are built using CMOS technology, exhibiting less radiation absorption outside the radiation sensitive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare, N.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Keyser
  • Patent number: 7247852
    Abstract: A sensor system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a sensor viewing an area via an optical path and a strut at least partially interposed across the viewing area. The strut is configured to taper along the optical path towards the sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the strut includes at least two sides forming an angle along their common edge exposed to the sensor along the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: David G. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7244938
    Abstract: A method of checking a deteriorated layer formed in the inside of a workpiece along a dividing line by applying a laser beam capable of passing through the workpiece to the workpiece along the dividing line formed on the workpiece, the method comprising a focusing step of positioning a microscope of infrared image pick-up means to the dividing line formed on the workpiece, and setting the focusing point of the microscope to a position where the deteriorated layer in the inside of the workpiece has been formed; and an image pick-up step of picking up an image of the inside of the workpiece by moving the infrared image pick-up means and the workpiece along the dividing line relative to each other to scan the workpiece, wherein the deteriorated layer formed in the inside of the workpiece is checked based on the image picked up in the image pick-up step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Nagai
  • Patent number: 7241997
    Abstract: A superconducting X-ray detection apparatus has a refrigerator, a cooling head cooled by the refrigerator, and a stacked structure connected to an end portion of the cooling head. The stacked structure comprises a sensor holder, a low-temperature first-stage amplifier connected to the sensor holder, and a superconducting X-ray detector mounted on the low-temperature first-stage amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Akikazu Odawara, Satoshi Nakayama, Keiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7238951
    Abstract: A two-dimensional ionising particle detector including a matrix of detecting fibers, each detecting fiber forming a pixel of the detector. Each detecting fiber is composed of a glass capillary filled with a liquid scintillator for which the chemical composition is chosen such that an average free path of primary scintillation photons is negligible compared with a diameter of the capillary. The detector is applicable, for example, to high resolution particle imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Laurent Disdier, Alexandre Fedotoff
  • Patent number: 7235786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for detecting fog-like media, comprising at least two emitters and at least one receiver, whereby the emission axes intersect with the receiver axis at two different positions. The inventive sensor also comprises an evaluation unit that detects the medium when the receiver receives signals emitted by both emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Bayha, Jürgen Nies, Thomas Schuler
  • Patent number: 7220981
    Abstract: An image recording medium includes: a support which is transparent to radiation for use in recording, and resistant to shock; a wavelength conversion layer which contains an organic binder and a fluorescent material which converts the radiation into visible light; a first electrode layer which is transparent to the visible light; a recording-side photoconductive layer which exhibits photoconductivity when the recording-side photoconductive layer is exposed to the visible light; a charge storage region which stores electric charges which are generated in the recording-side photoconductive layer in response to exposure to the visible light; a reading-side photoconductive layer which exhibits photoconductivity when the reading-side photoconductive layer is exposed to reading light; and a second electrode layer which is transparent to the reading light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Imai
  • Patent number: 7211802
    Abstract: A wireless, independent digital imaging sensor utilizes an external charge balance capacitor to establish a sense voltage at a common node between the charge capacitor and the pixel intrinsic capacitors in the sensor panel. A variable width pulse train responds to the sense voltage to control injection of charge to the external capacitor to maintain a constant voltage at the common equal to a reference voltage. An increase in pulse width above a threshold level representative of the onset of X-ray exposure is detected to generate an output control signal used to control subsequent image acquisition functions of the imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sreeram Dhurjaty, Gordon Geisbuesch, John Yorkston, Joshua M. Silbermann, Jeffery R. Hawver
  • Patent number: 7211803
    Abstract: A wireless X-ray detector for a digital radiography system with remote detection of impinging radiation from the system X-ray source onto a sensor panel having amorphous or crystalline silicon photodiodes or metal insulated semiconductor (MIS) sensors. Changes in current in the photodiode bias supply circuit is sensed to generate a signal indicating presence of radiation. Improved detection of X-ray cessation is achieved either by leaving at least one line of sensors connected between the bias supply circuit to a virtual ground during charge accumulation or by using an X-ray presence detector circuit that increases the sensitivity of the detector circuit to bias circuit current changes occurring after onset of the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sreeram Dhurjaty, John Yorkston
  • Patent number: 7211809
    Abstract: In a radiographic image conversion panel including a photostimulable phosphor layer on a support, at least one layer of the photostimulable phosphor layer is formed by a deposition method and has a film thickness of 50 ?m to 10 mm, and the support includes a plurality of layers of two or more kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Patent number: 7189974
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus for measuring a spectrum of extreme ultraviolet light that diverges from a divergent center point of an extreme ultraviolet light source, includes a spectrum measuring unit that includes a spectrometer and a detector that has a spatial resolution in a spectrum forming direction of the spectrometer, and a drive mechanism that makes the spectrum measuring unit movable relative to the divergent center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Kanazawa, Akira Miyake, Fumitaro Masaki
  • Patent number: 7180070
    Abstract: A radiation detector for imaging a sheet-shaped beam (11) of ionizing radiation comprises an electron multiplication chamber (12) filled with a medium for electron multiplication; and a solid multichannel structure (14) arranged in the path of the sheet-shaped beam within the chamber, wherein the structure liberates electrons (16a) in response to being exposed to the radiation. An electron detecting means (17d) is provided for detecting the electrons spatially resolved to thereby image the sheet-shaped beam. The structure (14) is of a scintillating material, so that said the structure emits scintillating light in response to being exposed to the radiation; and detecting means (19–20) are provided for detecting scintillating light (18) emitted from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: XCounter AB
    Inventors: Vladimir Peskov, Tom Francke
  • Patent number: 7173250
    Abstract: A drift detector produces an indication of an occurred hit of a quantum in the detector element. For neutralising accumulated charge in the detector element, indications of occurred hits are used to trigger pulses of deliberately increased neutralisation current into the drift detector for the duration of a limited time interval. Alternatively such triggering may be based on the operation of a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Analtyical Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Sakari Kiuru, Heikki Johannes Sipilä
  • Patent number: 7154093
    Abstract: An IR camera and a DV processing unit are disclosed which enable a user to use a standard DV recorder to record an IR film sequence and be able to play it back at a later time, and edit it, without using dedicated software. At the same time, the user has access to calibration data, enabling him the selection of data and processing of the film using dedicated software. This is achieved by including additional data related to the image processing in the signal, preferably in the part of the signal normally reserved for audio information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Flir Systems AB
    Inventor: Tomas Lannestedt
  • Patent number: 7154104
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel composed of a support, a phosphor matrix compound layer covering a surface of the support at a coverage percentage of 95% or more, and a stimulable phosphor layer (which is composed of multiple prismatic stimulable phosphor crystals standing on the phosphor matrix compound layer) formed on the phosphor matrix compound layer shows a high peel resistance between the support and the stimulable phosphor layer, and a high sensitivity, and gives a reproduced radiation image of high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoteru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7138640
    Abstract: The invention pertains to mechanisms for protecting surfaces of optical components of an optical inspection system. One aspect of the invention relates to a gas purge system that produces a gas stream that blocks contaminants from reaching the optical surfaces of the optical components and that transports contaminants away from the optical surfaces of the optical components. Another aspect of the invention relates to a transparent cover that physically blocks contaminants from reaching the optical surfaces of the optical components. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a combination of the gas purge system and the transparent cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies, Corporation
    Inventors: Gil Delgado, John McMurtry, James Wiley