Abstract: The method concerns automatic guiding a C-arm X-ray device equipped with a motorized exact positioning unit and essentially comprises the steps of: A) determining the position of the plane of projection (2); E) measuring the position and orientation of the reference element (3) at the bone (4) or bone joint; F) referencing the position of the plane of projection (2) to the position of the reference element (3); H) measuring the actual position and orientation of the displaced bone (4); I) determining the deviation between the actual position of the reference element (3) and the position of the reference element (3) as referenced under step F); K) determining the new position of the C-arm X-ray device (1) in order to reset the plane of projection (2) as referenced under step F); and L) guiding the C-arm X-ray device (1) in the new position as determined under step K) by means of automatic controlling means.

Abstract: An optical detector is formed so that gate traces formed during molding of a lens member do not allow additional stray light to enter a light detecting element. A lens member for focusing incident light is mounted forward of a cylinder used for blocking extraneous light. An IC light detecting device used for range-finding is mounted behind the cylinder. The lens member has lens portions and a peripheral portion surrounding the lens portions. The lens portions and the peripheral portion are integrally molded from a transparent plastic material. Positioning protrusions extend from an outer peripheral surface of the lens member. Recessed portions in which the positioning protrusions can be engaged are formed in a front outer peripheral portion of the cylinder. Gate traces formed during molding are located in the positioning protrusions. Consequently, additional recessed portions are not needed to accommodate the gate traces.

Abstract: Method of saturation management of a digital radiographic exposure image in which there are one or more saturation areas, acquired notably after a mammogram on an acquisition chain in automatic mode using a low-dose preexposure image. A mask is made from the exposure image by taking the saturation areas into account; the coverage areas corresponding to the saturation areas of the exposure image are determined on the preexposure image by using the the mask; a digital standardization processing of the gray levels of both the exposure image and the preexposure image is then carried out; and the final image is determined from a combination of the two images thus processed.

Abstract: A microscope which is capable of quickly switching different methods of observation such as phase contrast observation and bright field observation. The microscope comprises a condenser lens for condensing an illumination light, a diaphragm disposed on the optical axis of the condenser lens and having a variable aperture area, an aperture setting means for setting the an aperture area of the diaphragm, a slider disposed on the light condensing side of the condenser lens and having a first aperture portion having a ring slit and a second aperture portion, a first control means for restricting the aperture area to the full open aperture side when the first aperture portion is disposed on the optical axis of the condenser lens, and a second control means for releasing the restriction on the aperture portion when the second aperture portion is disposed on the optical axis of the condenser lens.

Abstract: An intraoral x-ray film packet is taught which has an outer envelope wherein one of the two opposing outer sheets is more rigid than the other and serves as a stiffening sheet such that it has a tensile modulus of at least about 700 Kg/cm2. This is preferably accomplished by making both sheets from a thermoplastic material such as PVC and reducing the amount of plasticizer in the more rigid of the two sheets to less than 30%. A continuous perimetric seal is formed affixing the two outer sheets together and forming a perimetric laminated edge which is substantially coplanar with the more rigid of the two sheets. A film chip resides between the two outer sheets. The coplanar perimetric laminated edge and the added rigidity aid in improving accurate sizing of each individual packet and prevention of deflection of the marginal area of individual packets in subsequent operations.

Abstract: An object detection system employs a photo-emitter and photo-detector for synchronously detecting and processing an optical signal reflected from an object in a pinch zone of a window or door opening. A photo-emitter light signal is modulated by a modulation signal having an active phase and an inactive phase. The optical detector provides an optical detector signal that is a function of the intensity of the received light. The detected light signal is synchronously detected using a switching amplifier that multiplies the reflected modulated light signal by a first gain during the active phase and by a second gain during the inactive phase. The duration of the active and inactive phases and the first and second gains are selected such that the system gain will average to zero for ambient light when integrated over a predetermined measurement period. The synchronously detected signal is subtracted from a predetermined offset voltage, and this difference is then integrated over the measurement period.

Abstract: An image-sensing semiconductor device has, in addition to a plurality of photodiodes, a dummy photodiode. The dummy photodiode is fed with a bias repeatedly with a predetermined period, and the plurality of photodiodes are fed with a bias sequentially with a predetermined cycle. The differences between the individual output signals of the plurality of photodiodes and the output signal of the dummy photodiode are calculated sequentially by a differential amplifier.

Abstract: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray tube configured to emit X-rays, an X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays passing through a subject in order to acquire projection data, a processor configured to reconstruct tomographic image data on the basis of the projection data, and an interlock unit configured to monitor generation of an arc in the X-ray tube. When an arc in the X-ray tube is detected, the interlock unit stops emitting X-ray emission from the X-ray tube. When a predetermined period of time elapse from the stop of X-ray emission, the interlock unit restarts X-ray emission from the X-ray tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting curvature of a disc head slider having a bearing surface is provided. The apparatus includes a light source and an apparatus for controlling the light source. The light source is adapted to produce a light beam capable of altering material stresses in a working surface of the slider. The apparatus for controlling the light source is adapted for obtaining a measure of first and second curvature characteristics of the bearing surface and for scanning the light beam across the working surface in a pattern to alter the material stresses in the working surface such that the first and second curvature characteristics move to within predetermined specifications. The pattern is based on the measures of the first and second curvature characteristics and estimates of responses in the first and second curvature characteristics to the pattern.

Abstract: A method for performing inspection of raised electrical contacts, such as BGA and flip-chip-type contacts, and associated underlying vias. An electrical or electronic device or component having a major surface is provided including an array of closely spaced apart BGA flip-chip-type raised contacts with respective underlying vias. An area-of-interest (AOI), including at least one BGA or flip-chip-type contact/via structure is selected. The row containing the AOI is isolated, by computed tomography imaging, via electrical testing, or by removal, for example, from the electrical or electronic device or component. The AOI is mounted on an X-ray transparent substrate; and X-ray transmission imaging of the AOI is performed to inspect the at least one BGA or flip-chip-type contact/via structure for the presence of misalignments, voids, and delaminations.

Abstract: An optical correction system for correcting thermally-induced wavefront distortions in an optical signal emanating from a crystal or other form of optical device/system. An optical output signal from the thermally sensitive optical device/system is fed to a beamsplitter, which produces a reflected optical signal and a refracted optical signal containing thermally-induced distortion. The refracted signal is fed to a wavefront distortion sensor which produces an output signal representative of the thermally-induced distortion. The output of the wavefront distortion sensor is fed to a computational device which determines the necessary degree of error correction to compensate for the thermally-induced optical distortion. A stress application device receives the output of the computational device and generates an electrical signal in accordance therewith which is then used to control a force applicator in physical contact with the crystal.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the acquisition of a succession of low-resolution images. A succession of mask images is derived from the low-resolution images. Furthermore, a high-resolution image is acquired. The mask images are applied to the high-resolution image as bandpass filters in order to form a filtered high-resolution image. The filtered high-resolution image represents image information relating to a particular phase of a dynamic process, such as the passage of blood through the vascular system of a patient. The image processing method is used, for example in MR angiography or in X-ray angiography. An MRI system or an X-ray examination apparatus is provided with an image processor for carrying out the image processing method according to the invention.

Abstract: This invention provides an angled-dual-axis confocal scanning microscope comprising a fiber-coupled, angled-dual-axis confocal scanning head and a vertical scanning unit. The angled-dual-axis confocal scanning head is configured such that an illumination beam and an observation beam intersect optimally at an angle &thgr; within an object and the scanning is achieved by pivoting the illumination and observation beams using a single scanning element, thereby producing an arc-line scan. The vertical scanning unit causes the angled-dual-axis confocal scanning head to move towards or away from the object.

Abstract: A joining method designed to minimize the temperature needed to obtain a high strength braze joint between a molybdenum alloy substrate and a graphite disk used in a rotating anode X-ray tube target used for computed tomography applications. The method consists of two separate brazing operations. The first brazing operation joins a thin molybdenum sheet to the graphite disk using a pure metal braze to form a plated graphite subassembly. The second brazing operation joins the plated graphite subassembly to the molybdenum alloy substrate using a highly specialized braze alloy having a melt temperature below the recrystallization temperature of said molybdenum alloy substrate and a remelt temperature after brazing above the recrystallization temperature of said molybdenum alloy substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for calculating the amount and composition of inorganic material in a sheet material. The apparatus of the present invention is capable of calculating the composition of all the additives at once without requiring multiple cycles. The apparatus uses a combination of two techniques, namely an X-ray fluorescence analysis and a preferential X-ray absorption analysis. X-ray fluorescence is measured by a thermoelectrically cooled solid state detector. The apparatus can measure more than three additives. Measurement of argon in the air is used for compensation of electronic drift. An empirical correction is used to compensate for mutual interaction between X-ray fluorescence radiation and clay or talc. The measurement is compensated for dust accumulation by fluorescing the dust.

Abstract: An optical switching system employing switching modules. Each module comprises (a) a source channel, (b) a transmitting element, (c) a receiving element, and (d) a destination channel. The transmitting element directs the source channel signal to a destination channel. The transmitting element includes an initial beam deflector and a beam deflection amplifier. The receiving element includes a beam deflection compressor and a beam aligner. One embodiment of the initial deflector is a pair of focusing lenses, one of which is displaced by a piezoelectric actuator. When one lens is displaced a distance d, the output light beam has a deflection angle &agr;=(f1+f2)/f2. The beam deflection amplifier multiplies the small angle &agr; by a transfer function F to result in a beam with a deflection angle F&agr;. The receiving element is the transmitting element in reverse. The first system configuration connects a single channel to one of a number of channels.

Abstract: An insulating housing shell for a miniature x-ray emitter is provided. The housing shell is cut from a quartz monocrystal which is a suitable material for the insulating housing shell due to its resistivity and dielectric strength properties. The x-ray emitter can be inserted into a subject's body to deliver x-ray radiation. The emitter includes a cable, having a proximal and a distal portion. The insulating housing shell is coupled to the distal portion of the cable, and an anode and a cathode are disposed within the insulating housing shell. The cathode has a granular surface and is operative with the anode and the connector to produce the x-ray radiation. The cathode is composed of a material that also allows it to act as a getter.

Abstract: A joining method designed to minimize the temperature needed to obtain a high strength braze joint between a molybdenum alloy substrate and a graphite disk used in a rotating anode X-ray tube target used for computed tomography applications. The method consists of two separate brazing operations. The first brazing operation joins a thin molybdenum sheet to the graphite disk using a pure metal braze to form a plated graphite subassembly. The second brazing operation joins the plated graphite subassembly to the molybdenum alloy substrate using a highly specialized braze alloy having a melt temperature below the recrystallization temperature of said molybdenum alloy substrate and a remelt temperature after brazing above the recrystallization temperature of said molybdenum alloy substrate.

Abstract: An active pixel sensor cell array including a XDR reset signal generation circuit configured to generate XDR reset signals having user-selected levels, and an XDR reset signal generation circuit for use with such an array. The XDR reset signal generation circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to receive control bits which determine the level and time of assertion of each XDR reset signal, and a level shifting circuit coupled to the output of the DAC. In response to the control bits (typically a sequence of multi-bit words), the circuit asserts a time-varying XDR reset potential. The XDR reset potential's amplitude as function of time (during each integration period) determines the breakpoints of each cell's response curve.