Patents Examined by S. Baker
  • Patent number: 8008642
    Abstract: A computed radiography system including a stimulating light source such as a laser, a photostimulable glass imaging plate (PGIP) substantially transparent to the stimulating light positioned such that the stimulating light impinges the PGIP perpendicularly thereto producing photostimulated luminescence light (PLL), a light collector having a light reflecting inner surface proximate the PGIP for collecting PLL emitted from the PGIP and having a hole or slot therein for admitting stimulating light into the light collector and onto the PGIP. An optical filter in communication with the light collector for blocking stimulating light waves and passing PLL therethrough. A light detector receives PLL from the optical filter and the light collector, mechanism providing relative movement between the PGIP and the stimulating light source, and mechanism including an analog to digital converter for converting the collected and detected PLL to a diagnostic readout. The system is particularly useful in mammography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Schweizer, Jacqueline A. Johnson, Anthony R. Lubinsky
  • Patent number: 8003944
    Abstract: NDIR gas sensing methodology is advanced which renders the output of an NDIR gas sensor, when implemented with this new methodology, to remain stable or drift-free over time. Furthermore, the output of such a sensor will also be independent of the temperature of an environ wherein the sensor is in physical contact. This method utilizes the same narrow band-pass spectral filter for the detection of the gas of interest for both the signal and the reference channels. By so doing, the two channels always receive radiation of the same spectral content from the infrared source of the sensor convoluted with that from any external elements exposed to the sensor. While the same sample chamber through which the gas of interest to be detected flows is shared by the two channels, the detector package for the reference channel is hermetically sealed with 100% of the gas to be detected instead of 100% N2 as for the signal detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Patent number: 7994490
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation image converting panel with a structure capable of arbitrarily controlling the luminance distribution of the panel surface after formation of a protective film according to usage conditions. The radiation image converting panel comprises a support body and a radiation converting film formed on the support body. The radiation converting film is formed on a film forming region which exists within a first main surface of the support body and includes at least a gravity center position of the first main surface. The film thickness of the radiation converting film is adjusted such that the maximum difference can be obtained in either one of a peripheral area and a middle area from a central area including the gravity center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K. K.
    Inventors: Jun Sakurai, Ichinobu Shimizu, Gouji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7989774
    Abstract: A radiation detector includes a semiconductor element capable of detecting a radiation, a substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted, and a flexible substrate including a connection pattern connected to an element electrode on an opposite side to the substrate of the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is disposed on one surface of the substrate, and the flexible substrate is disposed on the opposite side to the substrate of the semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Juhyun Yu, Yoshinori Sunaga, Hidetaka Kawauchi, Shinichi Inoue, Isao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7989781
    Abstract: Disclosed is a detector for monitoring a UV false positive from genuine X-ray positive of color developing radiation sensitive devices. A layer which can be scratched off and is opaque to undesired radiation but transparent to X-ray is printed on the sensor. If the sensor displays a signal (i.e., develops color), whether it is genuine or false positive can be confirmed by scratching off the opaque layer. If the signal is a genuine positive, the whole sensor will be uniformly exposed/colored including the area under the opaque layer. If it is a false positive, the area under the scratched off layer will be of lighter color than the rest of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Gordhanbhai N. Patel
  • Patent number: 7968850
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing an image. A measurement is obtained, and a projector function is generated using the obtained measurement. The generated projector function is modified based on an a priori image. An image is reconstructed using the modified projector function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Garry Chinn, Craig S. Levin
  • Patent number: 7968856
    Abstract: This invention concerns a fluorometer preferably combined with a thermal cycler useful in biochemical protocols such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA melting curve analysis. The present fluorometer features a low heat-generating light source such as a light emitting diode (LED), having a one-to-one correspondence to each of a plurality of sample containers, such as capped PCR tubes in a standard titer tray. The fluorometer of the present invention further comprises an optical path between each LED and its correspondingly positioned container, and another optical path between each fluorescing sample within the positioned container and an optical signal sensing means. The instrument can be computer controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Jerald D. Lee, Stanley D. Dabell
  • Patent number: 7943910
    Abstract: In a method and a device for determining the fluorescence of a sample, wherein the sample (40) is irradiated by light (25) of a wavelength which is suitable to excite fluorescent light (27, 28) in the sample and the fluorescent light (28) emitted by the sample is received in a receiver (24) and converted into a measurement signal, wherein reference light (32) in particular for compensating for ambient influences is additionally fed to the receiver (24) and likewise converted into a reference measurement signal, provision is made for the optical path of the excitation light (25) entering the sample (40) and fluorescent light (27, 28) leaving the sample (40) to be separated from the optical path (32) of the reference light having the same wavelength as the excitation light between light sources (21, 31) and receiver (24), by means of which a more precise evaluation of the fluorescent light emitted by a sample (40) can be achieved in addition to a simplified design complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Alessandro Bizzarri, Christian Konrad, Volker Ribitsch
  • Patent number: 7935934
    Abstract: The photosensor comprises an insulating layer formed over the silicon substrate; an ultraviolet photosensitive element formed over the insulating layer and having a first diffusion layer, a second diffusion layer provided spaced away from the first diffusion layer, and a third diffusion layer connected with the first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer respectively; and a visible light photosensitive element formed over the insulating layer with being spaced away from the ultraviolet photosensitive element, and having a fourth diffusion layer, a fifth diffusion layer provided spaced away from the fourth diffusion layer, and a sixth diffusion layer connected with the fourth diffusion layer and the fifth diffusion layer respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Komatsubara
  • Patent number: 7929881
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive unit rotatably supporting the drum, and a protecting cover mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, for protecting the drum exposed to the outside of the photosensitive unit. The protecting cover includes a guide for guiding the cartridge to an inside of the main body along a longitudinal direction of the drum, a positioned portion at a leading end of the cover so as to be abutted against a positioning portion of the main body, for positioning the cover in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and an engaged portion at the leading end so as to be engaged with an engaging portion of the main body in the inserting direction, for regulating detachment of the protecting cover from the apparatus main body from an upstream side thereof in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasufumi Yoshino, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Patent number: 7929873
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer including toner and magnetic carrier, a toner supplier configured to supply the toner to the developing device, a toner concentration detector configured to detect toner concentration in the two-component developer inside the developing device, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect first information to determine toner replacement amount in the developing device during a predetermined time period and second information to determine a charge characteristic of the toner in the developing device, change a toner concentration control reference value based on the first information and the second information, and control the toner concentration based on an output from the toner concentration detector and the toner concentration control reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Shuji Hirai, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Kentaroh Tomita, Akira Yoshida, Chiemi Hirano
  • Patent number: 7923688
    Abstract: An optical detector pixel element. The novel pixel element includes a metallic substrate having a plurality of resonant apertures, each aperture adapted to resonantly transmit electromagnetic energy in a distinct frequency band, and a plurality of detectors adapted to detect the energy transmitted by the apertures. Each aperture is adapted to collect energy incident on an area larger than the aperture and focus the energy into a smaller, localized region in which one or more of the detectors is placed. The plural apertures are positioned such that they collect energy incident on a substantially common area, but are of different sizes such that they are resonant to different frequencies. Energy in different frequency bands are therefore funneled through different apertures. In an illustrative embodiment, several identical pixel elements are joined together to form an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gregoire, Andrew T. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7915592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detector for determining the position and/or energy of photons and/or charged particles. Said detector comprises a plurality of diodes made of a semi-conductor material, n-contacts (1) and p-contacts (4), the n-contacts being provided by dividing an n-layer into individual segments. Said segments of the n-layer are 20-500 ?m wide. Said detectors are produced by diffusing ions on the side of the semi-conductor material in order to produce an n-contact. A metallic layer is metallized thereon. Trenches are etched between the segments by means of lithography for the segmentation thereof. The inventive detector is high-powered and inter alia enables a high local resolution and high counting rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Davor Protic, Thomas Krings, Ralf Schleichert
  • Patent number: 7915578
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting scattering in SPECT I-123 imaging. The method generally includes: accessing list mode data for a plurality of pixels corresponding to a first SPECT I-123 image generated using a gamma camera; generating a raw energy spectrum for at least some of the pixels utilizing the acquired list mode data; acquiring a gamma camera model corresponding to the gamma camera; utilizing the gamma camera model and an iterative algorithm to apply a first scattering correction to the raw energy spectrum; utilizing a Compton window to apply a second scattering correction to the raw energy spectrum; and generating a correction table with the corrected raw energy spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Imaging Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: James A. Case, Bai-Ling Hsu, Timothy M. Bateman, S. James Cullom
  • Patent number: 7910889
    Abstract: A wavelength-conversion system includes a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an energy output when an energy input of a different wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. An input structure directs the energy input of the input-energy wavelength to be incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. A target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the energy input or the energy output. A detector is positioned so that the energy output of the output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William Conrad Stenton, Evan S. Cameron
  • Patent number: 7907858
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting nip width based on a scanned nip print in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include automatically inserting a sheet of media into a fuser nip in the image production device upon receiving a signal from a user interface, the fuser nip being an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, generating a nip print in the fuser nip, the nip print being an image created from the pressure between the fuser roll and the pressure roll, scanning the nip print, determining if a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, and if it is determined that a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, adjusting the nip width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Ann Monahan, William A. Burton, Paul Michael Fromm, Eric Scott Hamby, Lawrence Arnold Clark
  • Patent number: 7902518
    Abstract: A non-invasive multi-step process that includes tomography is applied to determine features of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Erin L. Ballard, Craig Buckland, Yang Cao, Javit A. Drake, Thomas Dufresne, Richard E. Durkot, Paul Graham, Joseph H. Nurre, Philip Trainer, Darren Trokhan, Jonathan Tse
  • Patent number: 7902519
    Abstract: The method includes providing the volume of waste in a monitoring space; providing a support, the support being provided with a plurality of detectors for radioactive material; monitoring the volume of waste for radioactive material, in one or more parts, to give a monitoring results; and correcting the monitoring result for geometry and/or attenuation to give a corrected result using a correction factor. The correction factor is obtained by a method that includes providing a simulation of an equivalent volume of waste free of radioactive material in an equivalent monitoring space, with equivalent detectors; providing a known activity radioactive source at one or more positions in the volume of waste; determining the detector response to the source in a position, a comparison of the response and known activity contributing to a correction function for that equal volume, one or more such correction functions providing the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: VT Nuclear Services Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Henry Orr
  • Patent number: 7884316
    Abstract: A scintillator device is provided that includes a scintillator device having a scintillator crystal and a shock absorbing member surrounding the scintillator crystal. The scintillator device has a detected light output, ((LO100)/(LO0))×100%, of not less than 88% wherein LO100 is the detected light output of the device after 100 hours of exposure at 175° C. and LO0 is the original detected light output at room temperature prior to exposure at 175° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Menge, Csaba Rozsa
  • Patent number: 7880134
    Abstract: Measurements made by a pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski