Abstract: An infrared imager includes an array of capacitance sensors that operate at room temperature. Each infrared capacitance sensor includes a deflectable first plate which expands due to absorbed thermal radiation relative to a non-deflectable second plate. In one embodiment each infrared capacitance sensor is composed of a bi-material strip which changes the position of one plate of a sensing capacitor in response to temperature changes due to absorbed incident thermal radiation. The bi-material strip is composed of two materials with a large difference in thermal expansion coefficients.

Abstract: A process and system for flame detection includes a microprocessor-controlled detector with at least three sensors. A wide band infrared sensor is used as the primary detector, with near band and visible band sensors serving to detect false-alarm energy from nonfire sources. Digital signal processing is used to analyze sensed data and discriminate against false alarms. A multistage alarm system can be provided, which is selectively triggered by the microprocessor. Spectral recording and analysis of prefire data is provided for. The detector can be housed in an enclosed, sealed, removable, plastic housing that may include an integral plastic window lens.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for inspecting a low gloss surface (12) of an object (14) at a vision station utilizing a regular, extended pattern of infrared radiation. The system includes an infrared radiation source (10) and an infrared image converter and/or infrared cameras (16) to automatically locate a surface defect in the object. A signal processor processes a first set of electrical signals from the infrared cameras to obtain a second set of electrical signals which represent pattern distortions in the reflected infrared radiation signal caused by the surface defect in order to locate the surface defect in the object. The second set of electrical signals may be processed to classify the surface defect in the object as being an “in-dent” or an “out-dent”.

Abstract: Sensors using detector arrays (1) are intended for identifying events within a scene (12). A sensor comprising an array of pyroelectric infrared detectors (1) is mounted directly onto an integrated readout circuit (2) so that each of its elements is in electrical contact with one of the inputs to the readout circuit. The detector array (1) on its readout circuit (2) is positioned at the focus of an infrared transmitting lens (11) so that an image of a scene (12) is formed on the array. The readout circuit (2) and array (1) are enclosed in a package (18) which is connected via a circuit board (19) to a microprocessor (20). The microprocessor (20) and readout circuit (2) work together to detect the occurrence and position of events within a scene (12). Application examples are the detection and identification of location of flames or intruders within the field of view.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the concentration of an organic blood analyte using multi-spectral analysis in the near infrared and mid-infrared ranges. Incident radiation containing a plurality of distinct, nonoverlapping regions of wavelengths in the range of approximately 1100 to 5000 nm is used to scan a sample. Diffusively reflected radiation emerging from the sample is detected, and a value indicative of the concentration of the analyte is obtained using an application of chemometrics techniques. Information obtained from each nonoverlapping region of wavelengths can be cross-correlated in order to remove background interferences.

Abstract: A glucose monitor, and related method, determines the concentration of glucose in a sample with water, using a predictive regression model. The glucose monitor illuminates the sample with ultraviolet excitation light that induces the water and any glucose present in the sample to emit return light that includes raman scattered light and glucose emission or fluorescence light. The return light is monitored and processed using a predictive regression model to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample. The predictive regression model accounts for nonlinearities between the glucose concentration and intensity of return light within different wavelength bands at a predetermined excitation light energy or the intensity of return light within a predetermined wavelength band at different excitation energy levels. A fiber-optic waveguide is used to guide the excitation light from a laser excitation source to the sample and the return light from the sample to a sensor.

Abstract: A flat panel detector for radiation imaging includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Gate lines interconnect the pixels of each row while source lines interconnect the pixels of each column. A radiation transducer is disposed over the pixel array. Each pixel includes a TFT switch having its gate electrode connected to a gate line and its source electrode connected to a terminal that is connectable to ground. The drain electrode of each TFT switch is connected to the pixel electrode of the pixel. The pixel electrode and a bottom electrode connected to a source line constitute a storage capacitor. When the TFT switch is biased and the pixel electrode is positively charged, the pixel electrode discharges through the TFT switch and onto the grounded terminal. This results in the release of negative charge held by the bottom electrode onto the source line, which is sensed by a charge amplifier connected to the source line.

Abstract: There is disclosed an autoradiography system which includes an autoradiography sample, a substantially radioisotope free microchannel plate (MCP), and an MCP signal collection means, wherein the MCP directly measures beta particles from radioisotopes within the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus configured for identification of a material and method of identifying a material. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus configured for identification of a material including a first region configured to receive a first sample and output a first spectrum responsive to exposure of the first sample to radiation; a signal generator configured to provide a reference signal having a reference frequency and a modulation signal having a modulation frequency; a modulator configured to selectively modulate the first spectrum using the modulation signal according to the reference frequency; a second region configured to receive a second sample and output a second spectrum responsive to exposure of the second sample to the first spectrum; and a detector configured to detect the second spectrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to the enhancement of the signal-to-background ratio of a non-invasive measurement of the concentration of a blood constituent at a measurement site by applying an external pressure at a location near the measurement site. In one embodiment, sufficient pressure is applied proximate to a measurement site to stop blood flow. The pressure is then suddenly relased, thereby generating a blood bolus passing through the site. By illuminating the measurement site before and during the passage of the blood bolus and observing the interaction of the input radiation with the measurement site, the concentration of a blood constituent can be measured. In another embodiment, the venous pulse is occluded by applying a pressure midway between systolic and diastolic pressure. By illuminating the measurement site in the absence of a venous pulse, the signal-to-background ration can be enhanced and the concentration of a blood constituent can be measured.

Abstract: A process for identifying and rejecting pile-up pulses in a system is provided. Preferably, the process is applied to mine detection where time is at a premium. A thermal neutron activator sensor (TNA) trails a mine-detecting vehicle and is dwells over the coordinates of a target of interest for a short a time as possible. The TNA interrogates the object with slow neutrons, the required time being brief due to the use of a strong source coupled with a the process for analyzing the resultant high number and rate of pulses and rejecting piled-up pulses. Specifically, low energy pulses are removed and the remaining pulse is analyzed for its shape in comparison to the known shape of a non-piled-up pulse. The pulse is integrated using a gated integrator between a designated portion the pulse and for the whole pulse. For a normal pulse, the difference between the two integrations produces a repeatable baseline which is zeroed out to a null difference.

Abstract: A method for determining the azimuthal direction of a maximum in a series of gamma ray count measurements that are each assigned to an azimuthal sector, comprising: determining the x- and y-components of the gamma ray counts for each sector, averaging the component values to obtain averaged x- and y-components, and calculating the corresponding aximuthal angle for the maximum by computing the arctangent of the ratio of the averaged y- and x-components.

Abstract: A infrared pixel sensor comprising a pixel circuit and a composite infrared pass filter comprising a plurality of filters, wherein each filter belonging to the plurality of filters are substantially transparent to infrared radiation and have a visible pass spectrum so that the composite infrared pass filter is substantially opaque to visible light. Signals from infrared pixel sensors are subtracted from color pixel sensors to correct for infrared radiation in the image signal without the need for an infrared blocking filter.

Abstract: A radiation detecting device comprising a radiation sensing element, and a layer of luminescent material to expand the range of wavelengths over which the sensing element can efficiently detect radiation. The luminescent material being selected to absorb radiation at selected wavelengths, causing the luminescent material to luminesce, and the luminescent radiation being detected by the sensing element. Radiation sensing elements include photodiodes (singly and in arrays), CCD arrays, IR detectors and photomultiplier tubes. Luminescent materials include polymers, oligomers, copolymers and porphyrines, Luminescent layers include thin films, thicker layers, and liquid polymers.

Abstract: The application of gas-detection principles on both dual-energy detection, such as for chest radiography and mammorgraphy, and quantitative autoradiography enhances dramatically the image quality of the digital dual-energy detector with great implications in general-purpose digital radiography, computer assisted tomography (CT), microtomography and x-ray microscopy, and offers notable advantages over film autoradiography with a higher sensitivity, much lower exposure times, as well as imaging access at the cellular level. A gas microstrip detector receives incident radiation through a subject to generate an image. The detector includes a substrate having on a first surface a plurality of alternating anodes and cathodes, a detector cathode spaced apart from and opposing the substrate, and a zone for dispensing a gaseous medium between the substrate and the detector cathode and for receiving incident radiation imparted through the subject.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining gas saturation, liquid saturation, porosity and density of earth formations penetrated by a well borehole. Determinations are made from measures of fast neutron and inelastic scatter gamma radiation induced by a pulsed, fast neutron source. The system preferably uses two detectors axially spaced from the neutron source. One detector is preferably a scintillation detector responsive to gamma radiation, and a second detector is preferably an organic scintillator responsive to both neutron and gamma radiation. The system can be operated in cased boreholes which are filled with either gas or liquid. Techniques for correcting all measurements for borehole conditions are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of calculating gain correction values and offset correction values for detector elements of an infrared detector array, under “abnormal” conditions, such as when the scene is in motion or when-there is dither bias. The methods can be adapted for one-dimensional scanning arrays or for two-dimensional staring arrays. (FIGS. 3 and 6). The array is mechanically dithered so that two or more neighboring detector elements of the array look at the same location of a scene. (FIG. 3, Step 302; FIG. 6, Step 601). Then, the fields of pixel data are processed to calculate a gain correction value and an offset correction value for each detector element. (FIG. 3, Steps 305, 309, and 311; FIG. 6, Steps 603, 607, and 611). For each detector element, its gain error and its offset error are calculated from local averages, with the local average for a particular detector element including a term for that detector element as well as terms for its neighboring detector elements.

Abstract: An imaging ionizing radiation detector with a high pixel resolution is described. The detector comprises a scintillating crystal and associated sensors which determine the energy and position of the scintillation with high spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. The position sensing is done with a photon counting and position sensitive detector. The detector can achieve sub-millimeter resolution and the position determination is performed at MHZ rates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure suitable for manufacturing by the fabrication techniques of micro-electronics so as to include an optically black surface that functions as an absorber or emitter, respectively, over a predetermined wavelength range, the structure includes a electrically nonconducting support layer (1), a metallic mirror layer (2) made on the support layer (1), and a lossy layer (4) made on the support layer (1) and the metallic mirror layer (2) superimposed thereon. According to the invention, the mirror layer (2) is made on the upper surface of the support layer (1) and the lossy layer (4) is made from a doped semiconductor material. The thickness of the multilayer structure (3, 4, 7) and the doping of the lossy layer (4) are predetermined relative to each other so that the mirror layer (2) will be optically matched over the predetermined wavelength range of absorption or emission, respectively, to the medium surrounding the structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing substances within a breast is disclosed. The apparatus includes a breast positioning area and a beam forming apparatus having a geometry which forms breast penetrating radiation into at least one beam. A detector is configured to detect a scattering pattern of the portion of the breast which scatters radiation from the at least one beam when the breast is positioned within the breast positioning area.