Patents Examined by Virgil Orlando Tyler
  • Patent number: 5682038
    Abstract: A flow cytometry system includes a flow tube through which particles marked with different fluorochromes pass from a first location, illuminated by a red laser, to a second location, illuminated by a blue laser. A "red" photodetector is optically coupled to detect red fluorescence from both locations. "Yellow" and "green" photodetectors respectively detect yellow and green fluorescence from the second location, while a "scattered light" detector detects scattered light from the second location. During a sample run, the red photodetector can output pulses that correspond primarily to APC fluorochrome at the first location and to PerCP at the second location respectively. A delay device delays the APC pulse relative to the PerCP pulse so that the peaks can be scaled and subtracted in the analog electrical domain to remove APC/PerCP crosstalk. The delay is calibrated using a set of APC tagged cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5635717
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing and locating sources of ionizing radiation retained in a turnout in a body environment, including a hand-held probe and comprising a housing with a sensor circuit for outputting a response to interaction between the radiation and the sensor; a unit for processing signals from the sensor circuit; and an indicator responding to driving signals applied thereto by generating an audible or visual output. Said hand-held probe comprises at least one scintillating plastic optical fibre (2) connecting the sensing end to a light sensor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Dimason
    Inventor: Gheorghe D. Popescu
  • Patent number: 5616925
    Abstract: Gamma ray detectors (20, 130) are provided with a detector layer (30) that is formed of Hg.sub.x Cd.sub.1-x-y Zn.sub.y Te, wherein 0<x<0.05 and 0.ltoreq.y<0.5. The Hg percentage in the group II sublattice of this detector layer is limited to replace Cd vacancies. These Cd vacancies are native point defects which degrade the resolution of gamma ray detectors because they facilitate early electron-hole recombination and time delays of current carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventors: David R. Rhiger, Sanghamitra Sen, William J. Hamilton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5591982
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel preferably employable for a double-side reading system has a colored stimulate phosphor layer in which a ratio of weight of phosphor particles to binder is so adjusted as to vary in the direction of depth of the phosphor layer under the condition that a ratio of weight of phosphor particles to binder in a portion up to 1/5 of the depth of the layer from one surface of the layer is lower than the ratio of weight of phosphor particles to binder in the phospher layer, and the portion is colored more deeply than other portion of the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kohda
  • Patent number: 5587583
    Abstract: A thermal imaging device (10) has single integrated circuit chip (86) to perform various analog signal processing (ASP) functions. The imaging device (10) has a detector array (50) including a plurality of detectors (50') each of which generate an electrical signal (78) indicative of the infrared flux incident thereon. These electrical signals (78) are processed and provided in the form of serial analog video signals (52) to the ASP chip (86). The ASP chip (86) includes circuitry (200) for correcting for the differing responsivity of serial manufactured detector arrays (50), circuitry (202) for correcting the gain of the serial analog signal (52) globally, and circuitry (206) for sensing the gain of a processing serial analog signal (90) which the ASP chip (86) provides to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter (92) of the thermal imaging device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: Richard Chin, David Le Fevre
  • Patent number: 5581086
    Abstract: A measurement chamber for measuring the quantity and composition of liquids, fabricated of a uniform semi-transparent material for illumination using infrared light. The chamber construction alleviates the problem of bypass light via the side walls of the chamber, and the construction is simple and suitable for mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: S.C.R. Engineers Ltd.
    Inventor: Uri Ben-Menachem
  • Patent number: 5572037
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a large-field, high-resolution digital image of an object by sequentially generating multiple optical scenes representative of different portions of the object, and then sequentially directing each optical scene onto an optical detector to generate multiple sub-images of the different portions of the object. Each scene is induced using a separate X-ray sub-beam, each of which is generated by spatially filtering a portion of an incident X-ray field with a spatial filter moving in concert with the scene-directing device. Once generated, the sub-images are combined to form the large-field, high-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical Center
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Andrew Karellas
  • Patent number: 5572027
    Abstract: A radiation monitoring system and method characterized by the use of paired active and passive radiation detectors to monitor exposure to a radiation field. The active detector provides an output representative of radiation exposure on a real time basis while the passive detector is readable on a delayed basis after exposure to radiation for a period of time to provide an output representative of radiation exposure over said period of time. Respective readers are provided for extracting the radiation exposure information from the detectors, as is a processor which determines a quantity of radiation exposure from the radiation information extracted from the detectors. The processor corrects radiation exposure data derived from one of the detectors using radiation exposure data derived from the other of the detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain/Norton Industrial Ceramics Corp.
    Inventors: Riad A. Tawil, Sam S. Hsu
  • Patent number: 5567936
    Abstract: A reference locket for use in calibrating a radiac computer indicator or trument having a light emitting diode or LED. The present invention is an inexpensive stable device having a base, a retainer placed in the base holding a light emitting diode or LED, and a cover forming a reference locket. The reference locket is placed in a radiac computer indicator or instrument for calibration. A forward constant current pulse provided to the LED results in electromagnetic radiation or light that simulates a gamma dose. The characteristic junction resistance of the LED simulates a neutron reading. The present invention replaces a conventional reference locket having a silver activated phosphate glass and a neutron diode. The phosphate glass blocks have exhibited unexplained increases in the previously calibrated gamma doses. Therefore, calibration or reference lockets using phosphate glass may be unstable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Michael J. Basso
  • Patent number: 5563414
    Abstract: An X-ray image sensor with electronic, planar image converters covers a relatively large area without the occurrence of image gaps. A number of image converters adjoin one another in a surface, these being coupled to a scintillator via fiber optics. At least a part of the fiber optics proceeds at an angle deviating from 90.degree. relative to the image converters, such that the fiber optics adjoin one another at the scintillator but leave an area free at the image converters. This area is at the junction of two image converters that adjoin one another, and is thus an optically inactive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hartmut Sklebitz
  • Patent number: 5559332
    Abstract: A thermal imaging system (10) for providing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to the system is provided. The system (10) includes a thermal detector (28 or 30) made from a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit (54). The first element (28 or 30) has either a resistance or capacitance value depending on its temperature. The system (10) also includes an integrated circuit substrate (32) having a second element (56, 58, 62, or 64) of the signal-producing circuit (54) complementary and electrically coupled to the first element (28 or 30). The signal-producing circuit (54) may produce an output signal having a frequency. The frequency of the output signal is monitored as representing an absolute temperature of the detector (28 or 30) so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward G. Meissner, Howard R. Beratan
  • Patent number: 5559333
    Abstract: A non-dispersive infrared analyzer and method for analyzing a concentration in a gas utilizes an infrared light source and a cell configured to have a gas flow therethrough. The cell also has an infrared light passage through which a sample gas stream and an infrared light beam can travel. A sector has at least two filters for filtering infrared light, and is provided with the apparatus. The sector alternately inserts the at least two filters into the infrared beam. A detector detects wavelengths of the infrared light beam which corresponds to an absorption band of the gas to be measured, and a second wavelength which corresponds to an absorption band of the preselected reference gas. The detector receives the infrared light beam after the light beam has traveled through the sample cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Araya, Youzo Morita, Shingo Sumi, Hiroaki Matsuhisa
  • Patent number: 5554850
    Abstract: A direct digital x-ray imaging system includes a fiber optic scintillating plate in which aliasing and x-ray transmission problems are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Shahram Hejazi
  • Patent number: 5552607
    Abstract: An imager array data line repair structure for use in high performance imager arrays includes a first and a second plurality of address lines that are disposed in respective layers with an intermediate layer having at least one insulative material disposed therebetween. The imager device further includes at least one integral address line repair segment that is disposed in the same layer as the first address lines and that is electrically isolated from the first address lines; the integral address line repair segment is disposed so as to underlie a repair portion of the second address line, with the intermediate layer disposed therebetween, and has a width substantially the same as the overlying second address line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger S. Salisbury, Ching-Yeu Wei, Robert F. Kwasnick
  • Patent number: 5541412
    Abstract: An infrared ray image pickup device has a two-dimensional array structure having a sensor substrate, a plurality of scanning circuits provided to form two dimensional arrays on a surface of the substrate, a layer having a plurality of cavities provided over the scanning circuits, a plurality of beams provided to extend over the cavities, each of the beams including an element for converting a temperature variation to an electric signal, a supporting element provided on a peripheral region of the substrate for supporting a lens substrate including a plurality of micro-lenses that are located to face the beams so that a convex portion of each of the micro-lenses is spaced from a top of each of the beams by the same distance as a focal distance of the micro-lenses. The supporting element may have a plurality of convex portions made of boron phosphate silicate glass or boron silicate glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Tanaka, Nobukazu Teranishi
  • Patent number: 5530243
    Abstract: A method for determining density of a formation. The method includes irradiating the formation with gamma rays having energy consistent with Compton scattering. Gamma rays are measured at axially spaced apart locations. Two of the axially spaced apart locations are at an equal distance and in opposite directions relative to the source of gamma rays. The distance is smaller than the spacing of another one of the spaced apart locations. An apparent density for each spaced apart location is determined from the counts. Differences are calculated in apparent density between each one of the spaced apart locations, and a correction factor is determined for apparent density at each spaced apart location, thereby determining the density of the earth formation. In a preferred embodiment, determining correction factors is performed by a neural network using the differences in apparent density as an input vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Mathis
  • Patent number: 5528030
    Abstract: A system for determining formation gas saturation in a cased wellbore which includes a neutron logging tool having a source, a first neutron detector offset towards the wellbore primarily sensitive to the wellbore and a second detector spaced further from the source and offset towards the formation, so that the second detector is sensitive primarily to liquid-filled porosity in the formation. The detectors are encased in a neutron moderator. The system includes a method of determining gas saturation in the formation by measuring count rates at the detectors, generating a wellbore gas saturation from the first detector counting rate, generating a ratio of counting rates of the second and first detectors to generate a value of liquid-filled porosity in the formation, and calculating a gas saturation in the formation by combining the liquid-filled porosity with a measurement of total porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventor: Medhat W. Mickael