Patents Examined by Susan S. Lee
  • Patent number: 11194278
    Abstract: After outputting a first start signal for causing an image forming unit to start formation of an image for a first side of an i-th sheet, a controller causes a feeding member to start feeding of the i-th sheet, and determines whether or not the i-th sheet has already been detected by a detector. In a case where the i-th sheet has been detected before a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller outputs a second start signal for causing the image forming unit to start formation of an image for second side of an (i?1)th sheet. In a case where the i-th sheet has not been detected before the predetermined time has elapsed, the controller outputs the second start signal after the i-th sheet is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 11193997
    Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes exciting a body coil of the MRI apparatus to emit a radio-frequency signal, determining a center frequency of a resonance curve of the body coil, and calculating a magnet target frequency based on the determined center frequency. A magnet is ramped to the magnet target frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Adrian Bampton, Markus Vester, Andre de Oliveira, Volker Model, Jürgen Nistler, Andreas Potthast, Adam Paul Johnstone
  • Patent number: 11193998
    Abstract: A magnet arrangement (1) in a magnetic resonance apparatus having a permanent magnet system for generating a homogeneous magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a z-axis in a measurement volume. The magnet system has at least two ring-shaped magnet elements (2) in a ring plane, which are arranged coaxially around the z-axis and are constructed from individual magnet segments (3) arranged next to one another in a Halbach configuration. The magnetization direction of at least two ring-shaped magnet elements deviates from the ring plane such that the component perpendicular to the ring plane varies cosinusoidally with the azimuthal angle of the respective ring-shaped magnet element. The magnetization of in each case two ring-shaped magnet elements is mirror-symmetrical with respect to one another, wherein the mirror plane is the central x-y-plane perpendicular to the z-axis. The disclosed arrangement provides a compact and lightweight permanent magnet arrangement for an MR apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BROKER BIOSPIN GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Patent number: 11181858
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer carrier; a screw-shaped developer feeder that feeds developer to the developer carrier; an image carrier on which an image is imaged with toner of the developer; a developing current detector that detects developing current between the image carrier and the developer carrier during imaging; and a controller that detects image density failure that is periodic and oblique to a rotation direction of the image carrier. The controller causes a stripe image to be imaged on the image carrier and analyzes change of the developing current with time during imaging of the stripe image, thereby detecting the image density failure. The stripe image has a width in a length direction of the image carrier narrower than a period of a blade of the developer feeder and has a length in the rotation direction longer than a period of the image density failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kei Okamura, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Kazutoshi Kobayashi, Keiki Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11175619
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium storing part storing mediums, a sheet feeding part feeding the medium from the medium storing part, an image forming part forming an image to the medium, a residual quantity detecting part, a storage part, and a residual medium estimating part. The residual quantity detecting part detects a residual quantity of the mediums stored in the medium storing part as a relative residual quantity with regard to a maximum storing quantity of the mediums in the medium storing part. The storage part stores maximum storing number of the mediums corresponding to the maximum storing quantity of the medium storing part. The residual medium estimating part calculates number of estimated residuals of the mediums stored in the medium storing part on the basis of the relative residual quantity detected by the residual quantity detecting part and the maximum storing number stored in the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kozo Tao
  • Patent number: 11175362
    Abstract: A flexibly and universally applicable method for simultaneous multi-slice nuclear spin tomography is provided. Thereby, a pulse space region to be sampled is specified by means of a processor, wherein a first pulse space dimension (ky) is assigned to a first phase-encoded axis and a second pulse space dimension (kz) is assigned to a second phase-encoded axis and the second phase-encoded axis corresponds to a slice axis. An undersampling scheme is specified by means of the processor, wherein along the second pulse space dimension (kz), an incomplete sampling is provided. Then, a magnetic resonance scan is carried out within the pulse space region to be sampled according to the undersampling scheme and according to respective phase-encodings of the first and second phase-encoded axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 11169480
    Abstract: A holder includes first and second attachments to be attached to an attachment target part of an image formation apparatus. The first attachment is located on a reflection light source side relative to a sensor in a direction of a line connecting the sensor and a reflection light source of the image formation apparatus The second attachment is located on an opposite side to the reflection light source relative to the sensor in the line direction. A holder includes first, second, and third attachments to be attached to an attachment target part of an image formation apparatus. The three attachments are elastically deformable portions. The first and second attachments are provided on one end side of the holder. The third attachment is provided on other end side of the holder. The three attachments are provided as to clamp the attachment target part by using resilience associated with elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yuasa, Masahiko Takahashi, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11169483
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a gear portion having gear teeth configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge. The gear portion includes an exposed portion exposed to outside of the process cartridge. A shortest distance from an axis of the photosensitive drum to a tooth tip of the exposed portion of the gear portion measured along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive drum is no less than 90% and no more than 110% of a radius of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
  • Patent number: 11169295
    Abstract: An NMR logging system is disclosed which continues logging without interruption despite switching activation sets to adapt to changes in formation properties. Based on detection of an approaching or encountered geological boundary, an appropriate activation set is transmitted to the downhole NMR tool while the NMR tool continues logging. This system optimizes NMR data collection for each formation and associated formation fluid properties while reducing the need to stop the tool string movement while switching the activation set, and reduces incomplete collection of NMR and non-NMR logging tool data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Miller, MingJen Wang, Wei Shao, Songhua Chen, Ronnel Charles Balliet
  • Patent number: 11163029
    Abstract: A method of controlling magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes generating a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) navigator profiles reflecting motion of an anatomic boundary region of an imaging subject over time at a measurement interval, and then generating a plurality of navigator image segments each for a corresponding 1D navigator profile of the plurality of 1D navigator profiles. A navigator image is then generated based on the plurality of navigator image segments, and a determination is made whether to acquire MR image data based on the navigator image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Vijay Shivalingappa Nimbargi, Dawei Gui, Liewei Sha, Surrendra K. Markandaya, Ty A. Cashen
  • Patent number: 11163028
    Abstract: Systems and methods for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of a subject are provided. The method includes performing a pulse sequence to elicit spin echoes, wherein the pulse sequence includes a radio frequency (RF) excitation pulse and a series of RF refocusing pulses that refocus echoes with flip angles in the series of RF refocusing pulses that are varied. The method also includes scaling MRI data associated with each echo by a correction factor that is determined for each echo to create scaled MRI data and that is not the same for all echoes. The method then includes reconstructing an image of the subject using the scaled MRI data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Alsop, Li Zhao
  • Patent number: 11141606
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiation therapy system is described. The system has a magnet gantry, an MRI apparatus, a patient support system and a radiation source head. The magnet gantry is configured to rotate about a magnet gantry axis. The MRI apparatus is coupled to the magnet gantry. The radiation source head is coupled to the MRI apparatus via a radiation source arm. The radiation source head is configured to emit a treatment beam at varying angles with respect to an azimuthal gantry axis. A method for performing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using a magnetic resonance (MR)-SRS is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES
    Inventors: B. Gino Fallone, Brad Murray, Satyapal Rathee
  • Patent number: 11143721
    Abstract: A probe beam is passed through a first optically pumped magnetometer vapor cell portion that has a first magnetic bias field orientation relative to a pump beam. The probe beam is also passed through a second optically pumped magnetometer vapor cell portion that has a second magnetic bias field orientation relative to the pump beam with the same properties as in the first portion, where the first magnetic bias field orientation is opposite to that of the second magnetic bias field orientation. This configuration reduces or eliminates linearly polarized magnetic signals (e.g., noise) from the output probe beam and passes circularly polarized magnetic signals. Thus, the intensity of the probe beam after passing through the first and second optically pumped magnetometer vapor cell portions is measured to obtain a noise suppressed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Vladislav Gerginov
  • Patent number: 11119062
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and assembly for measuring gas diffusion through tight (nanoporous) rock samples such as shale, and tortuosity of such rock samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Carl H. Sondergeld, Chandra S. Rai, Son T. Dang
  • Patent number: 11119175
    Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing Nyquist ghost for diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed. An exemplary method includes acquiring multiple k-space data sets using multiple sets of diffusion weighted imaging pulse sequences, reconstructing a magnetic resonance image from each of the multiple k-space data sets respectively, and averaging magnitudes of the magnetic resonance images to generate an average magnitude magnetic resonance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE
    Inventors: Lei Gao, Juan Gao, Xuan Liu, Yongchuan Lai, Jiabin Yao, Richard S Hinks
  • Patent number: 11112475
    Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an object includes: generating MR signals by subjecting the object to a number N of shots of a multi-echo imaging sequence comprising multi-slice RF pulses for simultaneously exciting two or more spatially separate image slices, with a phase offset in the slice direction being imparted to the MR signals; acquiring the MR signals that are received in parallel via a set of at least two RF coils having different spatial sensitivity profiles; and reconstructing a MR image for each image slice from the acquired MR signals using a parallel reconstruction algorithm, wherein the MR signal contributions from the different image slices are separated on the basis of the spatial encodings of the MR signals according to the spatial sensitivity profiles of the RF coils and of the phase offsets attributed to the respective image slices and shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Paul Jurriaan Jurrissen, Arthur Filipe Nisti Grigoletto Borgonovi, Thomas Hendrik Rozijn
  • Patent number: 11106157
    Abstract: A developer supply device includes: a toner storage part that can be attached to/removed from a body of the developer supply device and stores toner therein; a toner supply part that receives the toner from the toner storage part and supplies the toner to a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with developer containing the toner and carrier; a carrier storage part that can be attached to/removed from the body and stores the carrier therein; and a carrier supply part that receives the carrier from the carrier storage part and supplies the carrier to the developing device, the carrier supply part having a smaller capacity than the toner supply part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Seigo Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 11099245
    Abstract: A cell for a optically pumped magnetic sensor measures magnetic field by setting alkali metal atoms to a predetermined excitation state by a pump beam and detecting the excitation state by a probe beam. The cell is provided with a glass substrate which seals the alkali metal atoms and an enclosing gas and transmits the pump beam and the probe beam and a coating layer provided on an inner surface of the glass substrate. The coating layer is made of an inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Kyoto University
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kobayashi, Norihisa Kato, Motohiro Suyama
  • Patent number: 11085982
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image acquisition method and apparatus using a parallel scheme of radio frequency irradiation and data acquisition. The image acquisition method includes saturating a labile proton by radiating a first radio frequency (RF) pulse signal to an object, generating a proton signal by radiating a pulse sequence signal to the object, and obtaining a chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) image of the object, and the generating and the obtaining of which are repeatedly performed in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Park, Byung Jai Kim
  • Patent number: 11079456
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing magnetic resonance (MR) image data from k-space data. The method includes obtaining k-space data of an image region of a subject; and reconstructing, using a sparse image coding procedure, the MR image data from the k-space data by performing an iterative optimization method. The optimization method includes a data consistency iteration step and a denoising iteration step applied to MR image data generated by the data consistency iteration step. The denoising iteration step incorporates a sparsifying operation to provide a sparse representation of the MR image data for the imaged region as an input to the data consistency iteration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Botnar, Aurelien Bustin, Radhouene Neji, Claudia Prieto