Patents Examined by Shun Lee
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Patent number: 9377397Abstract: A method is provided of calibrating a system that detects presence of a pollution component within exhaust gases proceeding along an exhaust passageway. A measurement cell of a probe is isolated by movement of either the entire probe or a shield within the probe from the exhaust gas to allow reference gas to be detected by a laser beam in the mid-infrared range in the measurement cell to calibrate the system. In another example, a laser source is placed on one side of an exhaust passageway and a detector is placed on the other side. A reference cell is provided that is used to receive reference gas and calibrate the system. In yet another example, the exhaust gas is extracted from the passageway and is measured in a reference cell. The reference cell is also filled with reference gas when it is desired to calibrate the system.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox CompanyInventors: Yu Wang, William Howard Eberhardt, Mark Wayne Holt, Jamison W. Janawitz
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Patent number: 9376346Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a material having a spinel ferrite/iron monoxide structure as a sensitive material in the form of a thin film for the bolometric detection of infrared radiation, the chemical composition of said structure, excluding doping agents that may be present, having empirical formula (I): (Fe1?zMz)xO, where x is strictly less than 1 and strictly greater than 0.75. The invention also relates to a bolometric device for infrared radiation detection and infrared imaging, comprising at least one sensor provided with a sensitive element in the form of a thin film as defined above.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE, UNIVERSITE PAUL SABATIER (TOULOUSE III), CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUEInventors: Philippe Tailhades, Lionel Presmanes, Corinne Bonningue, Bruno Mauvernay, Jean-Louis Ouvrier-Buffet, Agnes Arnaud, Wilfried Rabaud
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Patent number: 9357629Abstract: A neutron generator includes a sealed envelope providing a low pressure environment for a gas. One end of the envelope defines an ion source chamber. A target electrode is disposed at the other end of the envelope. An extracting electrode is spaced apart from the target electrode by an accelerating gap. The extracting electrode bounds the ion source chamber. A dispenser cathode electrode and grid electrode are disposed in the ion source chamber for inducing ionization in the ion source chamber. The dispenser cathode electrode, the grid electrode and the extracting electrode operate at a positive high voltage potential and the target electrode operates at or near ground potential. This configuration provides an electric field gradient that accelerates ions towards the target electrode to induce collisions of ions with target material, thereby causing fusion reactions that generate neutrons. High voltage power supply circuit means supplies a positive high voltage signal to the electrodes of the ion source.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Kenneth E. Stephenson
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Patent number: 9335421Abstract: A radiation detector includes an array of detector pixels each including an array of detector cells. Each detector cell includes a photodiode biased in a breakdown region and digital circuitry coupled with the photodiode and configured to output a first digital value in a quiescent state and a second digital value responsive to photon detection by the photodiode. Digital triggering circuitry is configured to output a trigger signal indicative of a start of an integration time period responsive to a selected number of one or more of the detector cells transitioning from the first digital value to the second digital value. Readout digital circuitry accumulates a count of a number of transitions of detector cells of the array of detector cells from the first digital state to the second digital state over the integration time period.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Klaus Fiedler
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Patent number: 9335424Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator (120) that produces a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon. First discharging circuitry (136) discharges the integrator (120) at a first discharging speed, and second discharging circuitry (124) discharges the integrator (120) at a second discharging speed. The first discharging speed is less than the second discharging speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman, Christian Baeumer, Guenter Zeitler
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Patent number: 9329301Abstract: A radiation detection device 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a radiation detection device for a foreign substance inspection using a subtraction method, and includes a first radiation detector 32 that detects radiation in the first energy range transmitted through a specimen; and a second radiation detector that detects radiation in the second energy range higher than the radiation in the first energy range, and the thickness of a first scintillator layer 322 of the first radiation detector 32 is smaller than the thickness of a second scintillator layer 422 of the second radiation detector 42, and a first area S1 of each pixel 326 in a first pixel section 324 of the first radiation detector 32 is smaller than a second area S2 of each pixel 426 in a second pixel section 424 of the second radiation detector 42.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K. K.Inventor: Toshiyasu Suyama
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Patent number: 9322949Abstract: The invention relates to techniques, such as a system for generating a density of a cased wellbore. The system includes at least one downhole tool deployable into the cased wellbore, a radiation source supportable by the downhole tool for passing radiation through the subterranean formation, at least one detector supportable by the downhole tool for measuring the radiation, and a measurement tool for generating at least one apparent density log from the measured radiation. The measurement tool has at least one quality indicator tool for generating at least one quality indicator and for generating at least one compensated density log based on the apparent density log and the quality indicator whereby error is removed therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Laurent Mosse, James Hemingway, Ronald Plasek, Nancy J. Freshman
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Patent number: 9297699Abstract: A method of calibrating a spectrometer, while orbiting the Earth, includes the steps of (a) determining a period of time in which the Moon is within a field of view (FOV) of the spectrometer and (b) stopping the FOV of the spectrometer during this period of time. During this period of time, multiple “free views” of the Moon are available, in which lunar IR intensities may be received by the spectrometer that are comparable to intensity levels obtained from an internal calibration test (ICT) on a satellite. The method measures the IR radiance from the Moon during this period of time. After filtering the lunar IR radiances by an integral function, the spectrometer is calibrated using the “free views” as a benchmark.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Exelis, Inc.Inventor: Grant Matthews
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Patent number: 9291559Abstract: A method of illuminating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: United States Postal ServiceInventors: Khalid Hussain, Marie Therese Dominguez, David E. Failor, William G. Ackerman
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Patent number: 9270907Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus including an accumulation unit to accumulate electrical charge in accordance with radiation for each pixel circuit of a plurality of pixel circuits. An output unit outputs an analog signal for each pixel circuit by sampling and holding an electrical signal in accordance with a voltage of an accumulation unit for each pixel circuit. The output unit stops the output during a reset operation of the accumulation unit. A selection unit selects pixel circuits that output the analog signals. The selection unit stops the selection during a reset operation of the accumulation unit. A determination unit determines whether a total time of an exposure time and an output time required to output the analog signals corresponding to all the pixel circuits is longer than an imaging interval that is based on a synchronization signal representing a radiation generation timing input from an external apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Naito, Hidehiko Saito
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Patent number: 9268033Abstract: A radiation detector includes an array of detector pixels each including an array of detector cells. Each detector cell includes a photodiode biased in a breakdown region and digital circuitry coupled with the photodiode and configured to output a first digital value in a quiescent state and a second digital value responsive to photon detection by the photodiode. Digital triggering circuitry is configured to output a trigger signal indicative of a start of an integration time period responsive to a selected number of one or more of the detector cells transitioning from the first digital value to the second digital value. Readout digital circuitry accumulates a count of a number of transitions of detector cells of the array of detector cells from the first digital state to the second digital state over the integration time period.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Klaus Fiedler
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Patent number: 9239404Abstract: A device for continuously monitoring persons, vehicles, containers or packets comprising a device for detecting and identifying in real time a moving gamma radiation source.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Ludovic Guillot, Anne Reboli, Dominique Abt
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Patent number: 9234796Abstract: A low-radiance infrared airborne calibration reference is an infrared imaging and calibration method. The method includes positioning a mirror perpendicular to an optical axis of a focal plane array in both an open-face position and a mirror-reading position. Temperatures of a lens, window, and the mirror are determined. In-band radiance and offset is calculated to generate an adjusted calibration curve.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Mason David Paulec, Jeffrey Brian Dieterich, Kenneth Howard Parker, Kevin Michael Young, Jack Ronald White
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Patent number: 9226716Abstract: A nuclear medicine imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a gradation width storage, an estimating unit, and an image generating unit. The gradation width storage is configured to store the gradation width of an image determined by the temporal resolution of a detector. The estimating unit is configured to estimate the spatial position of a positron on the basis of the spatial position of a set of detectors and a set of detection times. The image generating unit is configured to allocate pixel value to pixels corresponding to the gradation width around the estimated spatial position such that a spatial resolution corresponding to the temporal resolution is reflected on a line linking the set of detectors, thereby generating an image.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Takuzo Takayama
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Patent number: 9224585Abstract: In order to obtain a dose-rate measuring system that reduces an influence of an electromagnetic induction noise acting around an ionization chamber and a signal converter, a cabinet of the ionization chamber, shields of cables, a cabinet of the signal converter, and a cabinet of a measuring unit are connected in series, and a single-point ground is performed at the measuring unit, and other units except the grounded measuring unit are insulated from the earth, and moreover, a heatproof insulating material having water repellency is coated on a fixed portion of the ionization chamber, whereby the ionization chamber is electrically insulated from a chassis at a fixed side, and the heatproof insulating material having water repellency is coated on a connecting portion of a connector for connecting a cable to another cable, after a waterproof process is performed on the connecting portion by using a bonding tape.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Tsuda, Kenichi Moteki
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Patent number: 9207333Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, including a first detector portion arranged circumferentially around a patient pallet, the first detector portion having a predetermined axial extent and transaxially subtending more than 180 degrees, but less than 360 degrees with respect to a central axis of the scanner defined by the first detector portion; and a second detector portion arranged separately from and opposing the first detector section, the second detector portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first detector portion, wherein the second detector portion transaxially subtends less than 180 degrees with respect to the central axis of the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Daniel Gagnon
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Patent number: 9176240Abstract: An apparatus and method for channel count reduction in solid-state-based positron emission tomography that multiplexes read-outs from photo-detectors using a sum delay circuit, including a sum channel and a delay-sum channel. The sum channel sums signals from sensors in an array and is digitized to extract the timing and energy information. A delay-sum channel includes a discrete delay line that introduces a known delay after each sensor, creating a time signature for the sensor, followed by a summing circuit that adds the delayed signals. The delay-sum channel is digitized using a high speed counters to extract location information. Start and Stop signals for the counter are derived when the sum channel output and the delay-sum channel output cross a pulse ID threshold, respectively. The pulse ID threshold is chosen to minimize the Compton scatter and not clip the photo-peak events.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Daniel Gagnon, Sachin S. Junnarkar
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Patent number: 9173618Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system and method using multiple types of imaging detectors are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a rotor and a stator and a pair of gamma detectors coupled to the rotor. The imaging system further includes a gamma detector coupled to the stator. The gamma detector coupled to the stator is different than the pair of gamma detectors coupled to the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2009Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Nathan Hermony
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Patent number: 9161732Abstract: A radiographic apparatus according to an embodiment includes storage, a shape image capture unit, an image acquiring unit, a position acquiring unit, a conversion unit, and a positional relationship adjusting unit. The shape image capture unit captures the shape image of an examinee. The image acquiring unit acquires a shape image from the storage. The position acquiring unit acquires a position in the acquired shape image which corresponds to a region of interest. The conversion unit converts the position in the acquired shape image into a position in the captured shape image. The positional relationship adjusting unit adjusts the positional relationship between a detector and the examinee on the basis of the conversion result.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Takuzo Takayama
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Patent number: 9134422Abstract: An ultraviolet laser generates a coherent beam, which is downconverted to produce pairs of frequency-entangled photons. For each entangled pair, a first photon is sent along a first path and a second photon is sent along a second path. A first detector detects those photons sent along the first path, and a second detector detects those photons sent along the second path. The detection is performed in a single photon regime. Coincidence counting is performed on outputs of the detectors, including comparing leading edges on outputs of the first and second detectors within a time window.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2009Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Barbara A. Capron, Claudio G. Parazzoli