Abstract: A method of testing resistance bolometer arrays involves applying different voltages to different bolometers so as to produce a detectable difference between adjacent bolometers under normal conditions. The voltages may be applied in a recognizable pattern so that faults can be readily identified from a visual display of the array.

Abstract: The specification describes an instrument and a method for determining information about an object (J), only one side of which is available for examination. The method involves exposing the object to gamma-rays and measuring the position and/or time of arrival of gamma-rays at a detector (D). The instrument includes a source of gamma-rays (S) located so that at least some gamma-rays impact upon the object, and a detector surrounded by a shield (C) having an aperture (A) for facing at the object to be studied. The detector is capable of measuring the position and/or time of arrival at the detector of gamma-rays passing through the aperture.

Abstract: A system for determining the presence and optionally the position of an ophthalmic product such as a contact lens in a container is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detection of viable and potentially hazardous biological particles in a population which may be dispersed in fluid flow. The particles are characterized as biological and viable by contacting particles with laser light from a laser diode and then looking for the emission of fluorescence which is typically emitted from bacteria or bacterial spore. Biomolecules which are representative of viability are now known to be excited in range of 320 nm and longer. The resulting apparatus is economical, compact and has low-power requirements enabling portable operation. Preferably, the laser diode is combined with an aerodynamic particle sizer to separate particles for sequential contacts, or with additional timing lasers for establishing particle size.

Abstract: A method optimizes gas correlation radiometer response to trace amounts of target gas in the free atmosphere in competition with interfering gas. Operations identify spectral regions of a first absorption spectrum of the target gas, and of a second absorption spectrum of the interfering gas. A set of similarity data is determined as a function of overlap regions within the spectral region, and a set of contrast data is determined as a function of non-overlap regions within the spectral region, including a plurality of data items within each of a plurality of bandwidths, and a data item corresponding to a center wavelength within each bandwidth. Graphs correspond to each bandwidth. From one graph a center wavelength of an infrared filter is selected, and from another graph there is selected a bandwidth of the infrared filter, to configure an infrared filter for use with the gas correlation radiometer.

Abstract: An environmental radioactivity monitor comprises a filter (12) through which air is caused to flow, and a detector (13) of radiation emitted from the particles trapped on the filter. The signals from the radiation detector are analyzed into a multiplicity of energy channels, for example with a multi-channel analyzer (22), the counts in at least two energy windows (W1, W2; W3, W4) being used to determine the shapes of the low-energy tails of the peaks of the naturally occurring radio-nuclides ThC′ and RaC′, so their effects can be eliminated. The shape of the ThC′ peak is used to predict and strip out the ThC peak, and the shape of the RaC′ peak is then used to predict and strip out the RaA peak, so all background effects are eliminated. Accurate measurements of air-borne radioactivity are hence possible with short counting times.

Abstract: A radiation image reading apparatus for reading a radiation image information from a stimulable phosphor sheet attached to a back base of a cassette comprised of an inlet through which the cassette is inserted, a separator to separate the front cover and the back base of the cassette, a vertical scanner, an image reader to read radiation image information, an eraser to erase the remaining radiation image information, a re-assembling section to re-assemble the front cover and the back base again, an outlet, and a conveyer to move the cassette, wherein the conveyer moves the cassette with at least a rotational displacement.

Abstract: THz imaging apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly and effectively examining a region of interest to determine the presence of specified compositions. The apparatus includes means for generating electromagnetic radiation of a desired terahertz frequency suitable for the examination, and for rendering the radiation incident at the region of interest. Detector means are provided at a plurality of points in a plane spaced from the region of interest, for detecting the terahertz radiation reflected from or transmitted through the region. Means are provided for converting the detected terahertz radiation to an image of the region of interest from which the presence of the specified compositions are determinable.

Abstract: Optical arrangement for the suppression of stray light originating from an illuminated specimen detected via an objective, with blocking out or reflecting out in part of the beam path in order to generate a shadow area for stray light in the image plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for discriminating between detected radiation events, so that the sensitivity of the radiation detector may be preserved without causing the inclusion of a large number of the undesired radiation events. This method includes the steps of: (1) empirically determining the energy response function of the radiation detector; and (2) then using the energy response function during the actual detection process to differentiate between the desired and undesired radiation events. Generally, the energy response function for each of the detectors is determined by simulating the condition for the subsequent, actual measurement. During this process, the detector is illuminated with a uniform stream of radiation to be measured. The detector should be exposed to a large number of radiation rays, and the number of undesired rays is minimized. For example, the detector will be exposed to only direct, unscattered radiation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for quantitatively measuring nitrogen in Czochralski silicon based on the detection of one or more N—O complexes by means of low temperature Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (LT-FTIR) in the far infrared spectral range (FIR).

Abstract: A photodiode with integrated microporous filter formed on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The microporous filter will provide in excess of six orders of magnitude visible light reduction while transmitting a measurable amount of UV/EUV radiation. A process for manufacturing the photodiode with integrated microporous filter is also presented.

Abstract: An X-ray image acquisition apparatus (15) includes a conversion panel (20) aligned with a photo detector array (40). The conversion panel (20) includes a plurality of conversion cells (22), each including a conversion body (31), an X-ray transparent and light reflective file over the top (32) of the body (31), and a light reflective film (36) surrounding the body (31). The body (31) is made of a scintillating material that efficiently generates optical light photons in response to X-ray radiation illuminating thereon and is substantially transparent to the optical light photons. The body (31) is also sufficiently long to absorb the X-ray radiation over a wide range of energy levels. The light reflective films (36, 38) collimate the optical light photons generated in the body (31) toward the photo detector array (40) to form X-ray images.

Abstract: A semiconductor radiation imaging assembly comprises a semiconductor imaging device including at least one image element detector. The imaging device is arranged to receive a bias for forming the at least one image element detector. The assembly also includes bias monitoring means for monitoring the bias for determining radiation incident on the image element detector. Preferably, the imaging device comprises a plurality of image element detectors the bias for at least some of which is monitored for determining incident radiation. More preferably, the bias for all the detector elements is monitored.

Abstract: A nondestructive method is provided for efficiently determining thickness of a sol-gel coating formed upon a metallic substrate. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate without the sol-gel coating is determined. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate with the sol-gel coating is determined. A value of infrared energy absorbed in the sol-gel coating is determined, and a value of the infrared energy absorbed in the sol-gel coating is correlated to a thickness of the sol-gel coating.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes a stimulating light projecting system which projects a line stimulating light beam onto a stimulable phosphor sheet, a line sensor consisting of a plurality of photoelectric convertor elements which detect stimulated emission emitted from the portion exposed to the line stimulating beam and are arranged in a row, a condenser lens which is disposed along the line sensor to collect the stimulated emission on the light receiving face of the line sensor and a sub-scanning mechanism which moves one of the line sensor and the stimulable phosphor sheet relatively to each other in a sub-scanning direction. The condenser lens has a chromatic aberration of magnification in the sub-scanning direction such that most of the stimulated emission is collected on the light receiving and most of the stimulating light is collected outside the light receiving face.

Abstract: A radiation image reading apparatus for reading a radiation image information from a stimulable phosphor sheet attached to a back base of a cassette comprised of an inlet through which the cassette is inserted, a separator to separate the front cover and the back base of the cassette, a vertical scanner, an image reader to read radiation image information, an eraser to erase the remaining radiation image information, a re-assembling section to re-assemble the front cover and the back base again, an outlet, and a conveyer to move the cassette, wherein the conveyer moves the cassette with at least a rotational displacement.

Abstract: An infrared radiation detecting device is constructed using a manufacturing method to increase the infrared radiation absorptance of the infrared radiation absorbing film. The infrared radiation detecting device has an infrared radiation absorbing film. In one embodiment, the infrared radiation absorbing film has a varying film thickness. The film thickness difference between the thickest points and the thinnest points and the spacing between the thickest points within the same plane are set to decrease the effective surface reflectance cause by the interference or scattering effects of the infrared radiation. Preferably, the film thickness differences between the thickest points and the thinnest points are equal to or greater than ¼ of the wavelength of the infrared radiation being measured, and the spacing between the thickest points within the same plane is shorter than the wavelength of the infrared radiation being measured.

Abstract: An infrared detector includes a semiconductor substrate having a hollow, a single crystal silicon thin film opposite the hollow at a distance from the semiconductor substrate, thermoelectric converters embedded in the single crystal silicon thin film and converting heat energy generated by infrared light irradiating the single crystal silicon thin film into an electric signal, a first connecting layer embedded in the single crystal silicon thin film and electrically connecting the thermoelectric converters to each other and a second connecting layer for transmitting the electric signal output by the thermoelectric converters to a wire in the semiconductor substrate. In the infrared detector, at least one of the first and second connecting layers is a silicon compound.

Abstract: A large-area high-output infrared detecting device S is realized in which a heat-separation-structure diaphragm 2 made of a thermal insulating material is formed through a cavity 7 from a silicon substrate 1, a thermocouple 4 serving as an infrared detection section is formed on the diaphragm 2, a heat absorption area 5 is formed on the thermocouple 4 through insulation layers 3a and 3b so as to have an etching aperture 9 for forming a cavity in the heat absorption area 5 and the cavity 7 is formed in a short time without being influenced by the size of the heat absorption area 5 to secure a structural strength.