Patents Examined by S. Baker
  • Patent number: 7368719
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are scintillating materials, methods for their manufacture, and method for their use. In one embodiment, a scintillator comprises the formula A2LnBX6, wherein A comprises thallium (Tl), a Group IA element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing, Ln comprises cerium, B comprises a Group IA element, and X comprises iodine (I) or an iodine compound, wherein the iodine compound comprises iodine (I) and an element selected from the group consisting of fluoride (F), chloride (Cl), bromide (Br), and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. Also disclosed are radiation detectors and methods for their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Holly Ann Comanzo, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro
  • Patent number: 7368721
    Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, an apparatus is provided that facilitates correction, such as, e.g., linearity correction, in imaging devices, such as, e.g., scintillation cameras. In preferred embodiments, a mask is implemented that can produce images for locating the actual position of a nuclear event based on its apparent position with high accuracy and reliability. In the preferred embodiments, the mask includes a non-uniform array of apertures that can achieve this goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Xiaorong Wang, James T. Chapman, Ronald E. Malmin, Trudy Dayle Rempel, Fred E. Macciocchi, James Frank Caruba
  • Patent number: 7365333
    Abstract: The present invention concerns scintillators comprising a composition having the formula LuxY(1?x)Xa3, wherein Xa is a halide, and a dopant. The LuxY(1?x)Xa3 and dopant material has surprisingly good characteristics including high light output, high gamma-ray stopping efficiency, fast response, low cost, and minimal afterglow, thereby making the material useful for various applications including, for example, gamma-ray spectroscopy, medical imaging, nuclear and high energy physics research, diffraction, non-destructive testing, nuclear treaty verification and safeguards, geological exploration, and the like. The timing resolution of the scintillators of the present invention also provides compositions suitable for use in imaging applications, such as positron emission tomography (e.g., time-of-flight PET) and CT imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanai S. Shah, William M. Higgins, Edgar V Van Loef, Jaroslaw Glodo
  • Patent number: 7365337
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system includes: a plurality of states of operation, a radiographic image detection device that detects irradiated radiation to obtain radiographic image information, a console capable of communicating with the radiographic image detection device, a status memory which stores the information of operation concerning the state of operation after end of charging or replacing the battery; and the radiographic image detection device includes: power supply source having a rechargeable or replaceable battery to supply power to a plurality of units driven by the power, a control unit that stores in the status memory the information of operation, before the end of charging or replacing the battery, and then after the end of charging or replacing of the battery, controls the state of operation of the units driven by the power in response to the information of operation stored in the status memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisanori Tsuchino, Yasuaki Tamakoshi, Hiromu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7358498
    Abstract: A radiation surveillance sensor system includes a radiation responsive sensor, a lightweight, radiation reflective member for selectively adjusting the incident radiation path to the sensor, and power means for controlling the position of the reflective member to achieve pan, tilt, or zoom functions for obtaining predetermined selectable view locations of the sensor. Similarly, a method for selectively controlling deflection of radiation from a field to be monitored by generating a 360 degree panoramic field of view includes the steps of fixedly positioning a radiation sensor for receiving radiation from a field to be observed, movably positioning a mirror-like surface for selectively reflecting radiation from the field to be observed towards the sensor, and rotatably driving the reflective mirror to selectively reflect radiation from the mirror to the fixedly mounted sensor to achieve up to a 360 degree panoramic view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Technest Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Z. Jason Geng, C. David Tunnell
  • Patent number: 7351954
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting gas concentration with infrared absorption characteristics have the function of automatic calibration. The function of automatic calibration is accomplished in such a manner that a reference chamber filled with CO2 gas of a known concentration is added in the apparatus; by switching the reference chamber in real-time or periodically into the detecting light path, the measured value of the concentration of CO2 gas in the reference chamber can be obtained; then by comparing the measured value with the standard value of known concentration of CO2 gas, the calibration factor is obtained; once finishing the calibration process, a detecting chamber is switched into the detecting light path so that a concentration of a gas can be detected accurately. In the apparatus of the present invention, the same detecting light path (e.g. the infrared light source, and the light filter, etc.), the same infrared light signal processing unit (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Huiling Zhou, Zhigang Wu
  • Patent number: 7342221
    Abstract: A plurality of correction images are obtained while changing the radiation energy of an incident radiation in the absence of an object. Subsequently, an object image is obtained in the presence of the object by emitting the radiation to the object. Then, the object image is corrected by using a correction image obtained under a radiation energy condition closest to the radiation energy of the obtained object image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 7335891
    Abstract: A sensing element or detector activated by radiation comprising a first scintillator activated by gamma radiation; and a neutron sensing layer comprising a second scintillator activated by neutron radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Albert Kniss, Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Thomas Francis McNulty, Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Kent Charles Burr, Adrian Ivan, Thomas Robert Anderson
  • Patent number: 7329877
    Abstract: A photoelectrocatalytic sensor system for measuring oxidizable impurities in air. The sensor system may include a transistor having an electrode and a channel for the flow of current, a photocatalytic material coated onto the electrode of the transistor, a light source for producing an ultraviolet light beam onto the photocatalytic material, and a sensor for measuring the flow of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Yates, Brian C. Krafthefer, Barrett E. Cole
  • Patent number: 7329880
    Abstract: A compact and inexpensive multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope for observing fluorescence by multiphoton excitation having a plurality of wavelengths by irradiating a specimen with ultrashort pulsed laser light having a plurality of wavelengths is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kubo
  • Patent number: 7329870
    Abstract: Concentrations of N gas species can be detected from a single beam NDIR gas sensor having a differential infrared source and an (N+1)-passband filter (having a neutral passband and N absorption passbands for N gases) mounted at a single infrared detector by driving the infrared source with N input power levels to render the source into emitting at N distinct temperatures whose radiation outputs are characterized by N corresponding Planck curves which are dependent only upon the respective source temperatures and which link a Spectral Radiant Emittance MsubLamba with wavelength, measuring N detector outputs at the single infrared detector and detecting the concentrations of N different gas species, each of the N gas species having its own unique infrared absorption passband, by (a) setting up N causality relationship equations linking outputs of the detector respectively for N different source temperatures and a set of relevant parameters of the sensor components, (b) determining the values of all of the param
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 7317185
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for a tamper resistant radon detector monitoring system. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: AirAdvice, Inc.
    Inventor: Meindert Kleefstra
  • Patent number: 7315027
    Abstract: There are provided a scintillator (130) comprising a structure in which a plurality of scintillator layers (131, 132, 135) having columnar crystal structures are stacked with, and a radiation detection device using the scintillator. There are also provided a scintillator (130) comprising a structure in which a plurality of scintillator layers (131, 132, 135) and light-transmitting intermediate layers (138, 139) disposed among the plurality of scintillator layers (131, 132, 135) are alternately stacked with, and a radiation detection device using the scintillator. Accordingly, it is possible to control the scintillator layer in such a manner as to reduce irregularities on the surface of the scintillator layer, and reduce an abnormal growth portion such as a splash existing inside the scintillator layer. Therefore, a radiation detection device can be obtained which has high reliability, high resolution, and small correction error of a digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Tomoyuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 7312439
    Abstract: A new type of radon progeny monitor called an electret radon progeny integrating sampling unit (E-RPISU) using an electret ion chamber to measure radon progeny concentration. A conventional 1 LPM particulate air sampling system is used to collect the radon progeny on a roughly 3.5 cm2 filter that is mounted on a side of an electret ion chamber such that the collected progeny are exposed to the inside of the chamber. Alpha radiation emitted by the progeny collected on the filter ionizes the air in the approximately 220 ml chamber. Ions of opposite polarity collect on the surface of the electret of suitable thickness and reduce its surface voltage. A specially built surface voltmeter is used to measure the electret voltage before and after sampling. The electret voltage drop that occurs during the sampling period is proportional to the time integrated progeny concentration. A similar unit with a screen in the place of filter is used to measure unattached progeny concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rad Elec Inc.
    Inventors: Payasada Kotrappa, Lorin R. Stieff, John C. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 7312459
    Abstract: Disclosed is a measuring apparatus for measuring the position, size and/or shape of a light convergent point of an EUV light source. In one preferred form, the apparatus includes a light receiving device for receiving EUV light diverging from a light convergent point, an optical system for directing the EUV light toward the light receiving device, a light blocking member disposed in a portion of light path for the EUV light and having a plurality of openings, and a system for detecting a spatial distribution of the EUV light at the light convergent point, on the basis of reception of EUV light by the light receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Amemiya, Akira Miyake
  • Patent number: 7309857
    Abstract: A gamma ray detector assembly for placement in a logging tool in a borehole can include a first gamma ray detector elongated along an axis and having a void extending along the axis. A second gamma ray detector conforms to at least a portion of the void. The first and the second gamma ray detectors are configured to be positioned in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: Robin Pierce Gardner
  • Patent number: 7309868
    Abstract: An object is to provide a radiation image conversion panel minimizing deterioration of sensitivity and sharpness due to improved moisture resistance, as well as a method of preparing a radiation image conversion panel exhibiting high production efficiency. Also disclosed is a radiation image conversion panel possessing a support having thereon at least a stimulable phosphor layer, wherein an average height of burr generated on the radiation image conversion panel is 1-400 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical and Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuya Kishinami, Tadahiro Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7307259
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling the multi-component composition such as photoresist, stripper, developer, etchant, thinner, rinser/cleaner and etch bead remover, for a lithography process, which is used for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device and so on, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Dongjin Semichem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Beom Lee, Jae-Ku Lee, Mi-Sun Park, Jong-Min Kim, Min-Gun Lee
  • Patent number: 7301144
    Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating a positron emission tomography (PET) system are provided. The method includes determining at least one non-acquisition time period for the PET system. The method further includes automatically acquiring calibration data during the at least one non-acquisition time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Jay Williams, Alexander Ganin, Charles William Stearns, Yiping Shao, Floribertus Philippus Martinus Heukensfeldt Jansen, Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar
  • Patent number: 7301155
    Abstract: A radiation detector provided in a substrate with a detection layer which is sensitive to radiation, the detector being characterized in that said detection layer is formed by a polycrystal film comprising either one of CdTe (cadmium telluride), ZnTe (zinc telluride) and CdZnTe (cadmium zinc telluride) or a laminate film of polycrystal including at least one thereof, and is doped with Cl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Tokuda, Hiroyuki Kishihara