Patents by Inventor Andrew Kingston
Andrew Kingston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230103037Abstract: Methods and systems for generation and use of an accelerated tomographic reconstruction preconditioner (ATRP) for accelerated iterative tomographic reconstruction are disclosed. An example method for generating an ATRP for accelerated iterative tomographic reconstruction includes accessing data for a tomography investigation of a sample and determining a trajectory of the tomography investigation of a sample. At least one toy model sample depicting a feature characteristic of the sample are accessed and at least one candidate preconditioner is selected. A first performance of each of the at least one candidate preconditioner on the one or more toy samples is determined, where the candidate preconditioners are then updated to create updated candidate preconditioners. A second performance of each of the updated candidate preconditioners on the one or more toy samples is determined determining. An ATRP is then generated based on at least the first performance and the second performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Glenn Myers, Andrew Kingston, Adrian Sheppard, Shane Latham, Trond Varslot
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Patent number: 11428828Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus comprising: A specimen holder, for holding the specimen; A source, for producing a beam of radiation that can be directed at the specimen; A detector, for detecting a flux of radiation transmitted through the specimen from the source; A stage apparatus, for producing relative motion of the source with respect to the specimen, so as to allow the source and detector to image the specimen along a series of different viewing axes; A processing apparatus, for assembling output from the detector into a tomographic image of at least part of the specimen, which method comprises the following steps: Considering a virtual reference surface that surrounds the specimen and is substantially centered thereon; Considering an incoming point of intersection of each of said viewing axes with this reference surface, thereby generating a set of such intersection points corresponding to said series of viewing axes; Choosing discrete viewing axes in saType: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Patent number: 11175242Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed herein to correct for inconsistencies in CT scans based on pi-lines. An example method at least includes acquiring a plurality of projections of a sample, each projection of the plurality of projections acquired at a different location around the sample based on a trajectory, determining pairs of opposing projections from the plurality of projections based on a respective pi-line, and determining an amount of inconsistency between respective pi-line data for each pair of opposing projections, where the pi-line data is based, at least in part, on attenuation data.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Olaf Delgado-Friedrichs, Glenn Myers, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Trond Varslot, Petr St{hacek over (r)}elec
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Patent number: 11009449Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for implementing scanning trajectories for ROI tomography are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a first focus object distance based on a circumradius of a sample, the sample including a region of interest, determining a second focus object distance based on a radius of a smallest cylinder that contains the region of interest, determining a plurality of viewing angles from a plurality of possible viewing angles in response to the first focus object distance, where each viewing angle of the plurality of viewing angles has an associated focus object distance measured from the region of interest, and where the associated focus object distance of each of the plurality of viewing angles is less than the first focus object distance and greater than the second focus object distance, and scanning the region of interest using at least the plurality of viewing angles.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Glenn Myers, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Olaf Delgado-Friedrichs, Andrew Kingston
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Patent number: 10902650Abstract: Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein provide beam hardening correction to tomographic reconstruction using a simplification to the Alvarez-Macovski attenuation model. An example method includes simplifying a forward projection model, the forward projection model based on an Alvarez-Macovski (AM) attenuation model, wherein the simplification of the forward projection model simplifies the AM attenuation model for one of photoelectric effect only, constant density, constant atomic number, and density proportional to atomic number, and performing an iterative reconstruction of a sample using the simplified forward projection model, the iterative reconstruction weighted by a first spectrum, wherein measured image data of the sample used in the iterative reconstruction is obtained at a first energy, and wherein a reverse operation of the iterative reconstruction is a non-adjoint to the simplified forward projection model.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Qiheng Yang, Glenn Myers, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Andrew Kingston
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Publication number: 20190323946Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for implementing scanning trajectories for ROI tomography are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a first focus object distance based on a circumradius of a sample, the sample including a region of interest, determining a second focus object distance based on a radius of a smallest cylinder that contains the region of interest, determining a plurality of viewing angles from a plurality of possible viewing angles in response to the first focus object distance, where each viewing angle of the plurality of viewing angles has an associated focus object distance measured from the region of interest, and where the associated focus object distance of each of the plurality of viewing angles is less than the first focus object distance and greater than the second focus object distance, and scanning the region of interest using at least the plurality of viewing angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Glenn MYERS, Shane LATHAM, Adrian SHEPPARD, Olaf DELGADO-FRIEDRICHS, Andrew KINGSTON
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Publication number: 20190325618Abstract: Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein provide beam hardening correction to tomographic reconstruction using a simplification to the Alvarez-Macovski attenuation model. An example method includes simplifying a forward projection model, the forward projection model based on an Alvarez-Macovski (AM) attenuation model, wherein the simplification of the forward projection model simplifies the AM attenuation model for one of photoelectric effect only, constant density, constant atomic number, and density proportional to atomic number, and performing an iterative reconstruction of a sample using the simplified forward projection model, the iterative reconstruction weighted by a first spectrum, wherein measured image data of the sample used in the iterative reconstruction is obtained at a first energy, and wherein a reverse operation of the iterative reconstruction is a non-adjoint to the simplified forward projection model.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Qiheng YANG, Glenn MYERS, Shane LATHAM, Adrian SHEPPARD, Andrew Kingston
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Publication number: 20190293574Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed herein to correct for inconsistencies in CT scans based on pi-lines. An example method at least includes acquiring a plurality of projections of a sample, each projection of the plurality of projections acquired at a different location around the sample based on a trajectory, determining pairs of opposing projections from the plurality of projections based on a respective pi-line, and determining an amount of inconsistency between respective pi-line data for each pair of opposing projections, where the pi-line data is based, at least in part, on attenuation data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Andrew KINGSTON, Olaf DELGADO-FRIEDRICHS, Glenn MYERS, Shane LATHAM, Adrian SHEPPARD, Trond VARSLOT, Petr Strelec
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Publication number: 20190187306Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus comprising: A specimen holder, for holding the specimen; A source, for producing a beam of radiation that can be directed at the specimen; A detector, for detecting a flux of radiation transmitted through the specimen from the source; A stage apparatus, for producing relative motion of the source with respect to the specimen, so as to allow the source and detector to image the specimen along a series of different viewing axes; A processing apparatus, for assembling output from the detector into a tomographic image of at least part of the specimen, which method comprises the following steps: Considering a virtual reference surface that surrounds the specimen and is substantially centered thereon; Considering an incoming point of intersection of each of said viewing axes with this reference surface, thereby generating a set of such intersection points corresponding to said series of viewing axes; Choosing discrete viewing axes in saType: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Patent number: 10254419Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus using a stage for producing relative motion of a source with respect to a specimen, so as to allow the source and a detector to image the specimen along a series of different viewing axes and a processing apparatus for assembling a tomographic image of at least part of the specimen. The investigation is carried out by considering a virtual reference surface that surrounds the specimen and is substantially centered thereon, considering an incoming point of intersection of each of said viewing axes with this reference surface, thereby generating a set of such intersection points corresponding to the series of viewing axes, choosing discrete viewing axes in the series so as to cause the set to comprise a two-dimensional lattice of points located areally on the reference surface in a substantially uniform distribution.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Patent number: 10152785Abstract: A method for investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising acquiring a set of input images of the specimen taken at a corresponding set of source positions that are intended to lie on an ideal locus but are instead caused by positioning errors to lie on a distorted locus, using the images to construct an initial tomographic image, dissociating the initial tomographic image into a set of reference images referenced to said ideal locus, comparing the given input images to the corresponding reference images, calculating a set of transformations necessary to map the input images onto the reference images, and using the set of transformations to construct a modified tomographic image.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Benoit Recur, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Patent number: 10078057Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus, by performing, in multiple iterations, the following steps: (i) Using a Back Projection technique to produce an initial tomogram from a set of initial images; (ii) Subjecting said initial tomogram to a mathematical filtering operation, thereby producing an adjusted tomogram; (iii) Using a Forward Projection technique on said adjusted tomogram to dissociate it into a set of calculated images; (iv) Repeating steps (i)-(iii) until said calculated images satisfy an acceptance criterion.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li
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Publication number: 20170059493Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus comprising: A specimen holder, for holding the specimen; A source, for producing a beam of radiation that can be directed at the specimen; A detector, for detecting a flux of radiation transmitted through the specimen from the source; A stage apparatus, for producing relative motion of the source with respect to the specimen, so as to allow the source and detector to image the specimen along a series of different viewing axes; A processing apparatus, for performing a mathematical reconstruction step whereby output from the detector is compiled into a tomographic image of at least part of the specimen, wherein said reconstruction step is performed in multiple iterations, which comprise the following steps: (i) Using a Back Projection technique to produce an initial tomogram from a set of initial images; (ii) Subjecting said initial tomogram to a mathematical filtering operation, thereby producing an adjusted tomogram; (iii) Using aType: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li
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Publication number: 20170061610Abstract: A method for investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising acquiring a set of input images of the specimen taken at a corresponding set of source positions that are intended to lie on an ideal locus but are instead caused by positioning errors to lie on a distorted locus, using the images to construct an initial tomographic image, dissociating the initial tomographic image into a set of reference images referenced to said ideal locus, comparing the given input images to the corresponding reference images, calculating a set of transformations necessary to map the input images onto the reference images, and using the set of transformations to construct a modified tomographic image.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Benoit Recur, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Publication number: 20170052264Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using a tomographic imaging apparatus using a stage for producing relative motion of a source with respect to a specimen, so as to allow the source and a detector to image the specimen along a series of different viewing axes and a processing apparatus for assembling a tomographic image of at least part of the specimen. The investigation is carried out by considering a virtual reference surface that surrounds the specimen and is substantially centered thereon, considering an incoming point of intersection of each of said viewing axes with this reference surface, thereby generating a set of such intersection points corresponding to the series of viewing axes, choosing discrete viewing axes in the series so as to cause the set to comprise a two-dimensional lattice of points located areally on the reference surface in a substantially uniform distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Kingston, Shane Latham, Adrian Sheppard, Glenn Myers, Benoit Recur, Heyang Li, Trond Karsten Varslot
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Publication number: 20060202555Abstract: A method of automatically suppressing or preventing noise generation during the actuation of a vehicle brake system comprising two or more wheel brakes is described. For this purpose, a parameter that allows a conclusion to be drawn about noise generation is acquired and evaluated to detect the occurrence or imminent occurrence of noises. Should the evaluation reveal the occurrence and imminent occurrence of noises, the brake force distribution between the wheel brakes is changed. This change of the brake force distribution is effected while simultaneously retaining a desired and/or set vehicle deceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2006Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventors: Andrew Kingston, Thomas Straub, Salvatore Oliveri
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Patent number: 6973381Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-lock braking system as well as to a method of operating the anti-lock braking system. As a function of the motional state of at least one wheel control commands are generated for at least one actuator (12) of the anti-lock braking system. During generation of the control commands a quantity characteristic of the vertical tyre force is taken into account.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbHInventor: Andrew Kingston
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Publication number: 20040220715Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-lock braking system as well as to a method of operating the anti-lock braking system. As a function of the motional state of at least one wheel control commands are generated for at least one actuator (12) of the anti-lock braking system. During generation of the control commands a quantity characteristic of the vertical tyre force is taken into account.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventor: Andrew Kingston
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Patent number: 6595598Abstract: A vehicle braking system of the type in which a stored volume of fluid is used to apply the wheel brakes of the vehicle under the control of an electronic unit, the stored volume being held in an accumulator arranged to be replenished by pumping additional working fluid using a pump driven by an electric motor. The speed of the pump electric motor is arranged to be controlled in dependence upon whether or not any vehicle dynamic intervention, such as ABS, TC and VSC, is active. If it is deduced that one or more vehicle dynamic functions is active, then the pump is arranged to be run at high/full, and relatively noisy, speed, but if it is concluded that only base braking is being applied with no vehicle dynamic function being active, then the pump is arranged to be operated at a relative slower and hence quieter speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Lucas Industries LimitedInventors: Alan Leslie Harris, Andrew Kingston
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Publication number: 20020130549Abstract: A vehicle braking system of the type in which a stored volume of fluid is used to apply the wheel brakes of the vehicle under the control of an electronic unit, the stored volume being held in an accumulator arranged to be replenished by pumping additional working fluid using a pump driven by an electric motor. The speed of the pump electric motor is arranged to be controlled in dependence upon whether or not any vehicle dynamic intervention, such as ABS, TC and VSC, is active. If it is deduced that one or more vehicle dynamic functions is active, then the pump is arranged to be run at high/full, and relatively noisy, speed, but if it is concluded that only base braking is being applied with no vehicle dynamic function being active, then the pump is arranged to be operated at a relative slower and hence quieter speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: Alan Leslie Harris, Andrew Kingston