Patents by Inventor Bernard Munier

Bernard Munier 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).

  • Publication number: 20190021690
    Abstract: A radiology assembly and a method for aligning such an assembly, comprising comprises: an x-ray tube for generating a beam of x-rays that is centered on a main emission direction; and substantially perpendicular to the main emission direction, a planar sensor to receive the x-rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Trixell
    Inventors: Bernard MUNIER, Guillaume JOLY, Fabien VERMONT, Patrick MENEROUD, Olivier SOSNICKI
  • Patent number: 6608311
    Abstract: An image detector using arrays of photodiodes, and in particular to a radiological image detector. In the image detector, all the photodiodes of one and the same array are linked to adapter amplifiers embodied in the form of at least one integrated circuit. In each integrated circuit, an adapter amplifier, to which no photodiode is linked, delivers a voltage serving as a reference to define a bias voltage to be applied to the photodiodes. This arrangement makes it possible in particular to associate photosensitive arrays with amplifiers exhibiting different voltage thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Tubes Electroniques
    Inventors: Guy Roziere, Bernard Munier
  • Patent number: 6337896
    Abstract: In order to solve an analogue/digital conversion dynamic swing problem encountered with detectors, especially solid-state detectors, of a tomodensitometer, there is provision to operate converters at a greater frequency, that is to say more often. In doing this, the converters used need not have as large a conversion dynamic swing. It is shown that instead of a 20-bit conversion, one can make do with a 14-bit conversion. The various conversions are added together to construct the signal. The measurement is thereafter switched, by way of improvement, as a function of the level of the signal received. This measurement is performed according to one mode of use or another, in which modes this acceleration of the rate of analogue/digital conversion is or is not effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Tubes Electroniques
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Guy Roziere
  • Patent number: 6335958
    Abstract: To solve a control complexity problem encountered with very numerous detectors of a tomodensitometer, there is provision to group the detectors into groups and to subject all the detectors of a group to the same processing. By way of improvement, the determination of the mode of processing is performed during a view, and the processing is applied to the signals detected during a subsequent view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Tubes Electroniques
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Guy Roziere
  • Patent number: 4829355
    Abstract: A photocathode having internal amplification includes a first electrode adapted for receiving a first voltage, and for transmitting received photons. An absorption layer is disposed adjacent the first electrode and comprises a P-type semiconductor material having a forbidden band of sufficiently small width to cause photons received through said first electrode to be converted into electron-hole pairs. At least one ionization-induced electron multiplication layer is disposed adjacent the absorption layer. Each such multiplication layer comprises two layers of N-type semiconductor material having respectively two different compositions at an interface therebetween. The two different compositions at the interface cause the multiplication layer, when biased, to accelerate the electrons received from the absorption layer to a degree greater than the acceleration provided to the holes received from the absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Paul de Groot, Claude Weisbuch, Guy Moiroud, Yves Henry
  • Patent number: 4775798
    Abstract: The device for detection with time delay and phase integration comprises detectors arranged in rows and columns. Capacitors for storing electric charges are associated with each detector. Any one point of the image is received sequentially by the detectors of a given row and each column of detectors is addressed sequentially by a shift register. The data stored by the detectors of a given row are received sequentially on a common lead by a charge-coupled device associated with each row. The function of this device is to delay the data delivered by the detectors of the same row in order to add these data in synchronism. The charge-coupled devices are located externally with respect to the rows of detectors. Their outputs are connected as feedback to their inputs in order to re-inject into the device the information previously received from a detector in phase with the information received from the following detector of the same row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Bernard Munier
  • Patent number: 4749903
    Abstract: In one example of construction, a high-performance photocathode has the following structure:a transparent layer formed of P.sup.+ type semiconductor material having a forbidden band of sufficient width to ensure that this layer is transparent to the photons of the light to be detected;an absorption layer constituted by ten first sublayers formed of P.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Thomson CSF
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Paul de Groot, Claude Weibuch, Yves Henry
  • Patent number: 4609943
    Abstract: In a device photosensitive to infra-red radiation each infra-red detector is associated with means enabling the injection into a semiconductor substrate of a quantity of charges representing a function of the infra-red radiation received by the detector, and with means assuring the storage of these charges. The storage means of the detectors of one and the same line are joined via connections to charge reading means, common to the detectors of one and the same line, and which assure the column after column reading of the detectors by reason of a shift register which successively addresses the storage means of the detectors of one and the same column. The device as a whole may be integrated within a cryostat having a single high-level output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Bernard Munier
  • Patent number: 4609824
    Abstract: A photosensitive device for the infrared range wherein each detector is connected to a first and a second MOS transistor. The second MOS transistors are addressed, column by column, by a first shift register. The first MOS transistors are connected, line by line, to a charge storage capacity and to a third charge reading MOS transistor addressed by a second shift register. The whole of the device is placed in a cryostat which only has a single output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Marc Arques
  • Patent number: 4587426
    Abstract: In a device comprising N lines and M columns of infrared-sensitive photodiodes, the charges derived from the detectors of one column are integrated in a first series of capacitors. MOS transistors connect the first series of capacitors to a second series in order to produce a distribution of charges between these capacitors. MOS transistors mounted as emitter-followers read the level of charges within the second capacitors while integration of the charges takes place in the first capacitors of the detectors of the next column. The detectors and the remainder of the device are integrated on two different semiconductor substrates but the device as a whole is integrated in one cryostat having a single output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Bernard Munier, Marc Arques
  • Patent number: 4097900
    Abstract: A device for the line-by-line electrical analysis of an image. It comprises a piezo-electric medium associated with a semiconductor medium scanned by the interaction of two elastic waves propagated at the surface of the piezoelectric medium, and an electrode network. The electrodes are disposed on the semiconductor medium parallel to the scanning direction and each of which supplies an electrical signal the amplitude of which characterizes the luminous intensity of the elementary zones of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Michel Moulin, Bernard Munier
  • Patent number: 4085348
    Abstract: A device for the electrical line-by-line analysis of an optical image in two dimensions. It comprises a piezoelectric medium associated with a semiconductive medium onto which the image is projected, and at least three transducers emitting surface elastic waves on the piezoelectric medium. Two of three transducers emit pulses in two separate directions, the convergence point of which constitutes a reading point of the image. This point moves as a function of time along a straight line which constitutes an analysis line of said image. The third transducer emits a long wave, the wave vector of which is such that the wave vector resulting from the interaction of the three waves is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Bernard Munier
  • Patent number: 4084192
    Abstract: A reading device for analysing an optical image in one dimension and for converting it into an electrical signal the amplitude of which characterizes the light intensity of the elemental zones analysed by a semiconductive substrate and scanned by the interaction of acoustic surface waves on a piezoelectric substrate, which comprises, for increasing its sensitivity, discrete junctions on the surface of the photosensitive semiconductive substrate "scanned" by the surface waves arising out of the non-linear interaction, and wherein the output signal is collected between an electrode disposed on the other surface of the semiconductive substrate and an electrode of the piezoelectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Defranould, Bernard Munier