Patents by Inventor Andrew Maurice Kingston
Andrew Maurice 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).
-
Patent number: 10685759Abstract: A method of analyzing a specimen using X-rays, comprising the steps of: Irradiating the specimen with input X-rays; Using a detector to detect a flux of output X-rays emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation, which method further comprises the following steps: Using the detector to intercept at least a portion of said flux so as to produce a set {Ij} of pixeled images Ij of at least part of the specimen, whereby the cardinality of the set {Ij} is M>1. For each pixel pi in each image Ij, determining the accumulated signal strength Sij, thus producing an associated set of signal strengths {Sij}. Using the set {Sij} to calculate the following values: A mean signal strength S per pixel position i; A variance ?2S in S per pixel position i. Using these values S and ?2S to produce a map of mean X-ray photon energy E per pixel.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Wilfred Kelsham Fullagar, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Glenn Robert Myers, Mahsa Paziresh, Trond Karsten Varslot
-
Patent number: 10354418Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining a material characteristic of material in a sample by iterative tomographic reconstruction. The method conducts one or more X-ray tomography scans of a sample, and then determines one or more estimated material characteristics, such as atomic number and density, for multiple volume elements in the sample using a tomographic reconstruction algorithm. These estimated material characteristics are then modified by reference to stored known material characteristic data. Preferably, determining the composition of the sample volume during reconstruction includes segmenting the sample into regions of common composition, the segmenting being performed during iterative reconstruction instead of being based on the voxel characteristics determined upon the completion of iterative reconstruction.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Inventors: Benoit Mathieu Baptiste Recur, Mahsa Paziresh, Glenn Robert Myers, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Shane Jamie Latham
-
Patent number: 10311606Abstract: Provided are improved referenceless multi-material beam hardening correction methods, with an emphasis on maintaining data quality for real-world imaging of geologic materials with a view towards automation. A referenceless post reconstruction (RPC) correction technique is provided that applies the corrections in integrated attenuation space. A container-only pre-correction technique also is provided to allow automation of the segmentation process required for beam hardening correction methods.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Inventors: Jeremy James Holt, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard
-
Patent number: 10043274Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
-
Publication number: 20180204647Abstract: A method of analyzing a specimen using X-rays, comprising the steps of: Irradiating the specimen with input X-rays; Using a detector to detect a flux of output X-rays emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation, which method further comprises the following steps: Using the detector to intercept at least a portion of said flux so as to produce a set {Ij} of pixeled images Ij of at least part of the specimen, whereby the cardinality of the set {Ij} is M>1. For each pixel piin each image Ij, determining the accumulated signal strength Sij, thus producing an associated set of signal strengths {Sij}. Using the set {Sij} to calculate the following values: A mean signal strength S per pixel position i; A variance ?2S in S per pixel position i. Using these values S and ?2S to produce a map of mean X-ray photon energy E per pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Wilfred Kelsham Fullagar, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Glenn Robert Myers, Mahsa Paziresh, Trond Karsten Varslot
-
Publication number: 20180082447Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining a material characteristic of material in a sample by iterative tomographic reconstruction. The method conducts one or more X-ray tomography scans of a sample, and then determines one or more estimated material characteristics, such as atomic number and density, for multiple volume elements in the sample using a tomographic reconstruction algorithm. These estimated material characteristics are then modified by reference to stored known material characteristic data. Preferably, determining the composition of the sample volume during reconstruction includes segmenting the sample into regions of common composition, the segmenting being performed during iterative reconstruction instead of being based on the voxel characteristics determined upon the completion of iterative reconstruction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2015Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Benoit Mathieu Baptiste Recur, Mahsa Paziresh, Glenn Robert Myers, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Shane Jamie Latham
-
Publication number: 20170228897Abstract: Provided are improved referenceless multi-material beam hardening correction methods, with an emphasis on maintaining data quality for real-world imaging of geologic materials with a view towards automation. A referenceless post reconstruction (RPC) correction technique is provided that applies the corrections in integrated attenuation space. A container-only pre-correction technique also is provided to allow automation of the segmentation process required for beam hardening correction methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Jeremy James Holt, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard
-
Patent number: 9384567Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: acquiring projection images of an object by detecting radiation that has passed through the object for respective different relative orientations of the object and the radiation; and processing the projection images to generate a tomogram of the object; wherein the radiation passes through the object in the form of a diverging beam, and the different relative orientations of the object and the beam of radiation define two or more complete trajectories of the beam along the object, the complete trajectories being mutually offset to reduce the degradation of spatial resolution in portions of the generated tomogram due to the divergence of the beam through the object.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
-
Patent number: 9129425Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reconstructing a multi-dimensional data set representing a dynamic sample at a series of reconstruction instants. The multi-dimensional data set comprises a static component and a dynamic component. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; reconstructing a static component of the multi-dimensional data set from the acquired projection images; acquiring a further plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; and reconstructing a dynamic component of the multi-dimensional data set at each reconstruction instant from the further plurality of acquired projection images using a priori information about the sample. The multi-dimensional data set is the sum of the static component and the dynamic component at each reconstruction instant.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Glenn Robert Myers, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
-
Publication number: 20150104078Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
-
Patent number: 8938111Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: accessing projection data representing two-dimensional projection images of an object acquired using a misaligned tomographic imaging apparatus; and processing the projection data to generate misalignment data representing one or more values that quantify respective misalignments of the tomographic imaging apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Shane Jamie Latham, Arthur Sakellariou
-
Patent number: 8854430Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
-
Publication number: 20140233691Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: acquiring projection images of an object by detecting radiation that has passed through the object for respective different relative orientations of the object and the radiation; and processing the projection images to generate a tomogram of the object; wherein the radiation passes through the object in the form of a diverging beam, and the different acquire set of projection images for a relative orientations of the object and the beam of radiation define two or more complete trajectories of the beam along the object, the complete trajectories being mutually offset to reduce the degradation of spatial resolution in portions of the generated tomogram due to the divergence of the beam through the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
-
Publication number: 20130343629Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reconstructing a multi-dimensional data set representing a dynamic sample at a series of reconstruction instants. The multi-dimensional data set comprises a static component and a dynamic component. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; reconstructing a static component of the multi-dimensional data set from the acquired projection images; acquiring a further plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; and reconstructing a dynamic component of the multi-dimensional data set at each reconstruction instant from the further plurality of acquired projection images using a priori information about the sample. The multi-dimensional data set is the sum of the static component and the dynamic component at each reconstruction instant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Glenn Robert Myers, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston
-
Publication number: 20120301004Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: accessing projection data representing two-dimensional projection images of an object acquired using a misaligned tomographic imaging apparatus; and processing the projection data to generate misalignment data representing one or more values that quantify respective misalignments of the tomographic imaging apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Shane Jamie Latham, Arthur Sakellariou
-
Publication number: 20110181701Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham