Patents Examined by Mark R. Gaworecki
  • Patent number: 11362132
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a device comprises: a scintillator layer configured to convert x-ray or gamma ray photons into photons of visible light; a photodiode layer configured to convert visible light produced by the scintillator layer into an electric current; an integrated circuit, IC, layer situated below the photodiode layer and configured to receive and process the electric current; wherein electrical contacts of the IC layer are connected to electrical contacts of the photodiode layer using wire-bonding; and wherein the wire-bonding is covered with a protective material while bottom part of the IC layer is left at least partly exposed. Other embodiments relate to a detector comprising an array of tiles according to the device; and an imaging system comprising: an x-ray source and the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Detection Technology Oy
    Inventors: Petteri Heikkinen, Mikko Matikkala
  • Patent number: 11360032
    Abstract: Strontium tetraborate is used as an optical coating material for optical components utilized in semiconductor inspection and metrology systems to take advantage of its high refractive indices, high optical damage threshold and high microhardness in comparison to conventional optical materials. At least one layer of strontium tetraborate is formed on the light receiving surface of an optical component's substrate such that its thickness serves to increase or decrease the reflectance of the optical component. One or multiple additional coating layers may be placed on top of or below the strontium tetraborate layer, with the additional coating layers consisting of conventional optical materials. The thicknesses of the additional layers may be selected to achieve a desired reflectance of the optical component at specific wavelengths. The coated optical component is used in an illumination source or optical system utilized in a semiconductor inspection system, a metrology system or a lithography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Elena Loginova, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 11360034
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an imaging unit including pixels and a control unit. Each of the pixels includes a conversion unit and a sample/hold circuit. The control unit causes the imaging unit to perform first imaging and second imaging after the first imaging to generate one energy subtraction image, and controls a timing of causing the sample/hold circuit in the first imaging to sample a first image signal obtained by the first imaging and a timing of causing the sample/hold circuit in the second imaging to sample a second image signal obtained by the second imaging in accordance with radiation irradiation conditions set in advance so as to reduce a difference between an amount of noise contained in the first image signal and an amount of noise contained in the second image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sota Torii, Kosuke Terui, Akira Tsukuda, Atsushi Iwashita
  • Patent number: 11357455
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises: an obtainment unit configured to obtain a radiation image of a subject; a generation unit configured to generate, based on a plurality of radiation images obtained by radiation of mutually different spectra, a material characteristic image in which a region for each material can be extracted from the interior of the subject; and an image processing unit configured to perform processing of enhancing or attenuating, based on a position of a specific region in the material characteristic image, the specific region in the radiation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Noda, Yoshihito Machida
  • Patent number: 11353600
    Abstract: In a radiation imaging apparatus, a first recessed portion is formed in at least one side surface among a plurality of side surfaces forming a frame body of a casing. Moreover, a second recessed portion is formed in a peripheral region of a back surface of a back-surface housing, which is a region opposite to the first recessed portion with respect to a boundary between the back surface and the at least one side surface of the casing including the first recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Kondo, Masataka Suzuki, Atsushi Takeuchi, Riku Egawa, Hidetomo Suwa, Shichihei Sakuragi
  • Patent number: 11353361
    Abstract: Methods of accurately estimating erythemaly-weighted UV exposure, such as the UV Index, and sensors adapted for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: YouV Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Dumont, Peter Kaplan
  • Patent number: 11348021
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for evaluating a prospect. The method includes: receiving prospect information regarding a prospect for natural resource exploration; extracting a set of characteristics based on the prospect information; identifying a set of similar prospects and a set of prospect exploration results, based on the set of characteristics; receiving a success estimate for the prospect; validating the success estimate based on the set of characteristics, the set of similar prospects, and the set of prospect exploration results to determine inconsistencies in the success estimate; and approving the success estimate or receiving an updated success estimate, based on the inconsistencies in the success estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bianca Zadrozny, Renato Fontoura de Gusmao Cerqueira, Bruno da Costa Flach, Ulisses T. Mello
  • Patent number: 11342473
    Abstract: A cytometer includes an avalanche photodiode, a switching power supply, a filter, and voltage adjustment circuitry. The switching power supply includes a feedback loop. The filter is electrically connected between the switching power supply and the avalanche photodiode. The voltage adjustment circuitry adjusts a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the avalanche photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ABS Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Savage, Glenn J. Szejna, Zheng Xia
  • Patent number: 11337672
    Abstract: A console includes an image processing unit, a defective pixel map data acquisition unit, a failure condition estimation unit, a notification unit, and a display unit. The defective pixel map data acquisition unit acquires defective pixel map data output from a radiography unit. The failure condition estimation unit receives the defective pixel map data acquired by the defective pixel map data acquisition unit and estimates the failure probability of the radiography unit or the usage state of the radiography unit at the time of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Arai, Takeyasu Kobayashi, Shunsuke Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11340165
    Abstract: A sample observation device includes an imaging unit that images observation light generated due to irradiation with the planar light that is transmitted through a membrane filter and outputs fluorescent light image data, a partial image generation unit that specifies a first area corresponding to a first sample holding space and a second area corresponding to a second sample holding space in the fluorescent light image data, and generates first partial image data corresponding to the first area and second partial image data corresponding to the second area, an observation image generation unit that generates first observation image data and second observation image data on the basis of the partial image data, and an analysis unit that analyzes a sample on the basis of the first observation image data and the second observation image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Norikazu Sugiyama, Masanori Matsubara, Satoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11340158
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting non-metallic, non-aqueous substances in an aqueous sample, comprising a transmitter section, which emits electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range towards the sample, a receiver section, which detects radiation components of said electromagnetic radiation which are modified by the sample and/or the substances therein and an evaluation section, which evaluates radiation components which are detected by the receiver section in order to establish whether non-metallic, non-aqueous substances are present or not in the aqueous sample, a transition of the aqueous sample from the liquid aggregate state into the solid aggregate state or vice versa taking place, radiation components which are modified respectively, for a plurality of different states of the aqueous sample, during this transition being detected by means of the receiver section, and the radiation components thus detected being evaluated by means of the evaluation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Meyer, Robin Gruna, Dirk Nüssler, Thomas Längle
  • Patent number: 11333640
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for separating polarized UV light. In one example, a method may include passing polarized source light through a group of at least four prisms to collimate and separate a second-harmonic generation (SHG) beam from a pump beam. The separated SHG beam may then be further passed through a spatial filter to reduce spatial distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shiou-jyh Ja
  • Patent number: 11333618
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to methods of non-destructively imaging plant root damage by insect root herbivores and evaluating the efficacy of insecticidal materials associated with the roots of plants against the insect root herbivores, useful for automated high throughput bioassays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Denny Joseph Bruck, Kaley J. Gade, Albert L. Lu, Timothy Michael Moriarty, Angel O. Ortiz Lozada, Gary A. Sandahl, Gerardus W. A. M. Van Der Heijden
  • Patent number: 11335706
    Abstract: Disclosed are a thin-film transistor array substrate for a high-resolution digital X-ray detector and a high-resolution digital X-ray detector including the same, in which a photo-sensitivity is improved by increasing a fill factor, a stability of the PIN diode is improved, and generation of parasitic capacitance is reduced or minimized. In one embodiment, the PIN diode maximally extends so that electrodes and contact holes of the thin-film transistor is disposed inside the PIN diode. A planarization layer of organic material is present between the electrodes or wirings. Further, a light receiving region of the PIN diode is increased or maximized by positioning the bias line to overlap the data line or the gate line so as not to overlap with the PIN diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanseok Lee, Hyeji Jeon, Youngyoung Chang
  • Patent number: 11327185
    Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The flight tube enables neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through an input opening and exit through an output opening. The stage supports a sample object to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and the output opening. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that receives neutrons that pass through the sample object and generates neutron detection signals. The neutron shield surrounds at least a portion of the flight tube and the neutron imaging module to block at least a portion of stray neutrons that travel toward the neutron-sensitive component of the neutron imaging module, in which the stray neutrons do not enter the flight tube through the input opening of the flight tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Photonis Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian White, W. Bruce Feller, R. Gregory Downing
  • Patent number: 11326951
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for organizing a substantially uniform system of colorimetry comprising the steps of (i) taking a pseudoinverse of a matrix containing intensity values for an existing non-uniform color-matching functions; (ii) optionally normalizing the pseudoinverse matrix from step (i); (iii) empirically determining an opponency transformation matrix based on a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced color standards; (iv) transforming the matrix from step (ii) to a color opponency color coordinate utilizing the opponency transformation matrix from step (iii) to obtain a Red-Green, Yellow-Blue and Lightness (RG, YB and LT) color matching functions; and (v) transforming the RG, YB and LT color matching functions from step (iv) non-linearly to color matching functions that produce colors recognizable as being uniform by human vision; wherein after step (v) the existing non-uniform color matching functions are transformed into substantially uniform color matching functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Hugh S. Fairman, Joachim Hackl, Thomas P. Tomsia
  • Patent number: 11327017
    Abstract: High-throughput hyperspectral imaging systems are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a system includes an excitation light source; an objective that is configured to image excitation light onto the sample, such that the excitation light causes the sample to emit fluorescence light; a channel separator that is configured to separate the fluorescence light into a plurality of spatially dispersed spectral channels; and a sensor. The excitation light source includes a light source and a plurality of lenslet arrays. Each of the lenslet arrays is configured to receive light from the light source and to generate a pattern of light, and the patterns of light generated by the lenslet arrays are combined to form the excitation light. The objective is configured to simultaneously image each of the patterns of light to form a plurality of parallel lines or an array of circular spots at different depths of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Supriyo Sinha, Charles Santori, Andrew Conrad
  • Patent number: 11320546
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a radiation detection unit configured to convert received radiation into an electrical signal, a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with an external device, and an exterior at least partially formed by a non-conductive member and configured to contain the radiation detection unit and the communication unit, wherein a conductor is formed so as to cover the radiation detection unit, and the communication unit is arranged between the exterior and the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Kondo, Masataka Suzuki, Katsushi Kato, Shichihei Sakuragi
  • Patent number: 11316062
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation detector structure is adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation in at least one first given range of wavelengths centred around a first wavelength ?0. The detector structure comprises an absorption region of sub-wavelength thickness configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation, the absorption region having a refractive index na, and a Fabry-Perot cavity housing the absorption region. The disclosure further concerns a method to manufacture the detector structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Jérôme Le Perchec
  • Patent number: 11313722
    Abstract: An infrared spectrometer for operation in the mid-infrared spectral range is disclosed, where the spectrometer includes a Bragg-mirror-based spectral filter that is operative for providing an output optical signal whose spectral content is spatially dispersed along a first direction, where the Bragg mirrors include low-refractive-index layers comprising a polymer material that is transmissive across the mid-infrared spectral range and is characterized by less than ten absorption peaks with the operating spectral range of the spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Axel Scherer, Taeyoon Jeon, Jieun Myung