Patents Examined by Mindy Vu
  • Patent number: 8895937
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a convertor for X-ray radiography and its manufacturing method and an X-ray detector, wherein the surface of the scintillator facing the X-ray is covered with photonic crystals of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatial structure capable of reflecting the visible light facing the photonic crystals generated by the scintillator to increase the intensity of the output light of the scintillator by more than 100%, thus enhancing the image brightness and improving the image resolution, in addition to reducing to a certain extent the interference between pixels due to the ability of the photonic crystals to control the direction of the light being reflected, for example, by controlling the reflecting direction so as to be vertical to the surface of the scintillator, and the manufacturing method and material for the photonic crystals are low in cost without toxicity, enabling it to be used more widely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dian Song Cao, Lei Cao, Guang Wei Du, Li Rong Ren, Xiao Dong Xu
  • Patent number: 8895924
    Abstract: This bolometric array detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range of infrared or terahertz wavelengths comprises a substrate and an array of bolometric micro-plates for detecting said radiation that are suspended above the substrate by support arms. It comprises a metallic membrane located above and around each micro-plate and in which openings are formed; said openings in metallic membrane are periodically located in it along at least one predetermined axis with a period equal to or less than ? n , where ? is a wavelength in the wavelength range that is to be detected and n is the average refraction index of the medium that separates the micro-plate from metallic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Geoffroy Dumont, Agnès Arnaud, Salim Boutami, Pierre Imperinetti, Alexandre Mary, Stéphane Pocas, Wilfried Rabaud
  • Patent number: 8890075
    Abstract: A measuring cell (1) for the infrared analysis of fluids, in particular a measuring cell (1) having a permissible operating pressure of more than 20 bar and preferably more than 50 bar, has a flow channel (10) for the fluid formed between first and second elements (2, 4). Each element is transparent to infrared radiation at least in some sections. The infrared radiation can be radiated into the flow channel (10) by the first element (2) and can exit the flow channel (10) by the second element (4). The two elements (2, 4) are connected to each other in a fluid-tight and mechanically high-strength manner by a connecting layer (6) arranged between them and made of a glass-containing material, in particular a sintered glass-ceramic material. A measuring system (8) has that measuring cell (1). A method produces that measuring cell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hydac Electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Frédéric Julien Gamel, Wolfgang Kurt Brode, Horst Mannebach, Frank Herold, Indira Käpplinger
  • Patent number: 8878137
    Abstract: An X-ray imager includes a photo detector, a pixel array, a scan line and a data line. The photo detector includes a plurality of X-ray sensitive particles that are configured to be electrically isolating and to generate charge carriers upon absorption of X-ray photons. In one example embodiment, the photo detector includes a layer of an electrically isolating material, within which the plurality of X-ray sensitive particles are distributed. The pixel array includes multiple pixels each defined by a space between a first surface and a second surface of the layer. The scan line is configured to activate a corresponding row of the pixels in the pixel array. The data line is configured to read data from a corresponding column of the pixels in the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan P. Mollov
  • Patent number: 8872118
    Abstract: A radiographic image detecting apparatus and a radiographic image capturing system are provided. The radiographic image detecting apparatus includes photoelectric conversion elements for generating electric charge by emission of radiation, a bias line through which a bias voltage is supplied to the photoelectric conversion elements, a power supply for applying the bias voltage to the photoelectric conversion elements through the bias line, a current detector for detecting a bias current flowing through the bias line based on a voltage drop across a resistor inserted in the bias line, a first amplifying circuit, a second amplifying circuit connected to an output of the first amplifying circuit, and a controller for correcting the electric signal by increasing a gain of the second amplifying circuit depending on decrease in a sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion element, the decrease being caused by the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nishino, Naoto Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 8872112
    Abstract: A THz radiation detector comprising a vertical antenna separated from a suspended platform by an isolating thermal air gap for concentrating THz radiation energy into a smaller suspended MEMS platform upon which a thermal sensor element is located. THz photon energy is converted into electrical energy via a thermally isolated air gap between plates of a coupling capacitor that couples energy from the antenna to the thermal sensor. The capacitor plates used for capacitive coupling of the received signal realize an electro-static actuator whereby the application of a DC bias varies the coupling capacitor gap. The DC bias causes the actuator to pull the suspended platform close to the antenna to reduce the capacitive gap, increasing the coupling capacitance, to touch the antenna array thus quickly discharging the heat induced in the sensor platform or to perform advanced readout operations, such as amplitude modulation and correlated double sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Corcos, Michel Despont, Danny Elad, Lukas Kull, Thomas Morf, Benny Sheinman
  • Patent number: 8866069
    Abstract: An improved gamma controller health detection assembly to facilitate reliable downhole measurement of naturally occurring radiation is disclosed. The gamma controller assembly includes one or more gamma sensors, a micro-controller, memory, and input/output ports among other components. The gamma sensors detect radiation and output pulses that are received by the microcontroller. The sensor data can be checked, selected, and averaged by the microcontroller, and sent uphole to another microcontroller or computer that can then further process, communicate, and display the data. The sensor data can be averaged and stored to memory or stored as independent values to memory. The gamma controller health detection assembly can be configured to run algorithms that detect if one or more gamma sensors appear to be malfunctioning or have previously malfunctioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Reme Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Abraham Erdos, David Erdos, James Mathieson, Joshua Carter
  • Patent number: 8866079
    Abstract: A system and method is shown for receiving microwave/millimeter-wave signals. The system and method are balanced and can be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate using single pole double throw switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Floyd, Vipul Jain, Arun S. Natarajan, Scott K. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8859971
    Abstract: An optical navigation device, such as an optical navigation joystick or mouse, includes an internal redirector which may be separate or formed from material of a touch surface of the optical device. The redirector is disposed at an angle with respect to a plane of the touch surface, operative to reflect light which would otherwise strike the touch surface at a low angle and be internally reflected. The light may be reflected in a direction away from a light sensor of the device, reducing sensed internally reflected light, or may be reflected into the touch surface at a higher angle, potentially increasing a quantity of good signal. The redirector may also include portions which block light directly emitted from a light emitter, or reflected off other surfaces of the navigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Arnett Ryan Weber, James Alexander Robinson, Robert James Lowles, Derek Raymond Solven, Kuo-Feng Tong, Yun Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 8859974
    Abstract: A SPECT detector system includes a plurality of detector units. Each detector unit includes a plurality of detector elements disposed in fixed positions with respect to one another. The detector units are adjustably positioned with respect to one another around a detector arc, which is placed adjacent to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Leonid Tsukerman
  • Patent number: 8847164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for direct, non-deformed one-shot measurement of the transient birefringence induced in an optical medium by a perturbation lying within the terahertz frequency range. The aim of the present invention is to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a one-shot measurement method and a one-shot measurement device, these being based on the spectral encoding/decoding principle, which are compatible with all short pulse (UV-NIR) laser sources. In this regard, the invention provides a one-shot method for measuring the transient birefringence induced in an optical medium (12) by at least one terahertz perturbation (6), the method including a step of transmitting and spectrally encoding a pulsed optical signal (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Universite Paris SUD 11
    Inventors: Vincent De Waele, Ulrich Schmidhammer
  • Patent number: 8841633
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a vitamin K antagonizing anticoagulant present in a sample (116), arranged to: irradiate (304) the sample (116) with light from a light source (114) for exciting the anticoagulant through its absorption of the light, the excitation of the sample (116) resulting in a fluorescent emission from the sample (116); measure (306) the fluorescent emission from the sample (116); determine (308) a fluorescence lifetime (T1) of the fluorescent emission of the sample (116); determine (310) an intensity (A1) of the fluorescent emission at the fluorescence lifetime (T1); and determine (312) a amount (c) of the anticoagulant, as a function of the intensity (A1) of the fluorescent emission at the fluorescence lifetime (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Ian A Nicholls, Bjorn C.G. Karlsson, Annika M Rosengren, Per Ola Andersson
  • Patent number: 8809808
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detection system comprising an illumination unit and a detection unit. The illumination unit comprises two laser beams of two different wavelengths. One beam is used to excite targeted molecules in a sample to their excited states. The other beam is used to induce the excited molecules in the sample to generate a stimulated emission signal. The stimulated emission signal can be used for long-distance detection due to its coherent property. Its extraction from the detection unit can be realized by demodulating the second beam's intensity change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: National Yang Ming University
    Inventors: Fu-Jen Kau, Po-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 8809791
    Abstract: A continuous time-of-flight scatter simulation method is provided, with a related method of correcting PET imaging data to compensate for photon scatter. Scatter contributions from each imaging pixel in a field of view may be calculated without binning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Olivier, Parmeshwar Khurd
  • Patent number: 8803076
    Abstract: An improved gamma controller assembly to facilitate reliable downhole measurement of naturally occurring radiation is disclosed. The gamma controller assembly includes multiple gamma sensors, a micro-controller, memory, and input/output ports among other components. The multiple gamma sensors detect radiation and output pulses that are received by the microcontroller. The sensor data can be checked, selected, and averaged by the microcontroller, and sent uphole to another microcontroller or computer that can then further process, communicate, and display the data. The sensor data can be averaged and stored to memory or stored as independent values to memory. The gamma controller assembly can be configured to run algorithms that detect if one gamma controller appears to be malfunctioning and, if an apparent malfunction has occurred, adjust the sensor data that is being sent uphole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Leam Drilling Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Abraham Erdos, David Erdos, James Mathieson, Joshua Carter
  • Patent number: 8803092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quantum infrared sensor and a gas concentration meter using the same, the quantum infrared sensor having a small and simple device shape and also being capable of performing stable measurement against disturbance changes such as changes in the flow amount and the temperature of gas to be measured. The quantum infrared sensor includes a pair of quantum infrared sensor elements, a pair of optical filters and a holding frame. The pair of optical filters is provided closer to an infrared light source than is the pair of quantum infrared sensor elements. The pair of optical filters is configured to selectively transmit infrared rays in specific different wavelength ranges, respectively. The pair of optical filters is housed in an upper level of the holding frame and provided while facing the pair of quantum infrared sensor elements through a pair of through holes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiro Kuze, Seiichi Tokuo, Yoshinori Yanagita
  • Patent number: 8785852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a terahertz imaging device comprising a terahertz source, a converter for converting terahertz radiation into thermal radiation, and a thermal detector. The converter has at least one zone sensitive to terahertz radiation, designed to absorb the terahertz radiation and vconvert the absorbed radiation into heat. This sensitive zone is close to a reference zone, of known absorption capacity, and the thermal detector is designed to measure the heat generated by the sensitive zone relative to the heat generated by the reference zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS, Centre Technologique Alphanov Universite de Bordeau
    Inventors: Christophe Pradere, Jean-Christophe Batsale, Bruno Chassagne, Jean-Pascal Caumes
  • Patent number: 8785875
    Abstract: A positron annihilation characteristics measurement system 10 comprises a positron source; radiation detection means 14 for detecting radiation emitted when a positron generated by the positron source is annihilated; and a positron detector 40 that detects a positron that is not injected into a measured sample S after being generated by the positron source. The positron source is disposed between the measured sample S and the positron detector. An arithmetic device 50 calculates the annihilation characteristics of the positron in the measured sample S after eliminating the radiation that is detected by the radiation detection means 14 and is expected to be emitted when the positron detected by the positron detector 40 is annihilated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Toyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yamawaki, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Kanehisa Hattori
  • Patent number: 8785854
    Abstract: A measurement system including a reference resistive sensor traversed by a reference current, with a reference arm having a reference resistance and being traversed by the reference current in order to produce a reference voltage between its ends, at least one measurement resistive sensor traversed by a measurement current that depends on a measurement taken by the measurement resistive sensor, a measurement mirror arm traversed by a current, and a device for measuring the difference between the measurement current and the current traversing the measurement mirror arm. The resistance of the measurement mirror arm of each measurement resistive sensor is equal to the reference resistance and the measurement system further includes a device for applying, to each measurement mirror arm, the reference voltage. The device for applying the reference voltage being designed to the isolated to a current of the measurement mirror arm when the reference voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Bertrand Dupont, Michael Tchagaspanian
  • Patent number: 8779387
    Abstract: A method for detecting fluorochromes in a flow cytometer, including: receiving a sample including particles each tagged with at least one of a first fluorochrome and a second fluorochrome, in which the first and second fluorochromes having distinct spillover coefficients; detecting the particles, including detecting the first and second fluorochromes with a first detector and a second detector; forming a data set for detected particles based on the detection of the first and second fluorochromes; characterizing a detected spillover coefficient for each detected fluorochrome from the data set; and sorting the detected particles into predicted fluorochrome populations based on the detected spillover coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Accuri Cytometers, Inc.
    Inventors: Clare E. Rogers, Jack T. Ball, Collin A. Rich