Patents by Inventor Brian E. Harwood

Brian E. Harwood 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: 9121950
    Abstract: An imaging detector (214) includes a scintillator array (216) including a scintillator element (228) and a material (230) and a photosensor array (218) including a detector element (222) having a light sensitive region (224) and a non-sensitive region (226). The light sensitive region is separated from the scintillator element by a gap, the light sensitive region is in one-to-one mechanical alignment with the scintillator element, and the non-sensitive region is in mechanical alignment with the material. The detector further includes structure (234) that includes one or more material free channels. The structure is located between the non-sensitive region and the material and not between the light sensitive region and the scintillator element. An optical adhesive (232) is located in the gap, filling the entire gap, and mechanically and optically coupling the light sensitive region and the scintillator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Randall Peter Luhta, Marc Anthony Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney Arnold Mattson
  • Patent number: 8710448
    Abstract: A radiation detector module (22) particularly well suited for use in computed tomography (CT) applications includes a scintillator (200), a photodetector array (202), and signal processing electronics (205). The photodetector array (202) includes a semiconductor substrate (208) having a plurality of photodetectors and metalization (210) fabricated on non-illuminated side of the substrate (208). The metalization routes electrical signals between the photodetectors and the signal processing electronics (205) and between the signal processing electronics (205) and an electrical connector (209).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris J. Vrettos
  • Publication number: 20140029724
    Abstract: An imaging detector (214) includes a scintillator array (216) including a scintillator element (228) and a material (230) and a photosensor array (218) including a detector element (222) having a light sensitive region (224) and a non-sensitive region (226). The light sensitive region is separated from the scintillator element by a gap, the light sensitive region is in one-to-one mechanical alignment with the scintillator element, and the non-sensitive region is in mechanical alignment with the material. The detector further includes structure (234) that includes one or more material free channels. The structure is located between the non-sensitive region and the material and not between the light sensitive region and the scintillator element. An optical adhesive (232) is located in the gap, filling the entire gap, and mechanically and optically coupling the light sensitive region and the scintillator element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Randall Peter Luhta, Marc Anthony Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney Arnold Mattson
  • Publication number: 20130292575
    Abstract: An imaging detector includes processing electronics with a thermal coefficient about equal to a negative of a summation of thermal coefficients of a photosensor array and a scintillator array of the detector. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter that alternately converts first charge corresponding to impinging radiation into a first signal and second charge corresponding to decaying charge into a second signal and a logic unit that corrects the first signal based on the second signal. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter, an integrator offset voltage signal determiner, and a logic unit, wherein the determiner induces an electrical current via an offset voltage, the A/D converter measures the current, and the logic unit calculates a resistance of the photosensor array based on the reference voltage and the measured current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Marc CHAPPO, Randall P. LUHTA, Christopher J. VRETTOS, Brian E. HARWOOD
  • Patent number: 8563941
    Abstract: An imaging detector includes processing electronics with a thermal coefficient about equal to a negative of a summation of thermal coefficients of a photosensor array and a scintillator array of the detector. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter that alternately converts first charge corresponding to impinging radiation into a first signal and second charge corresponding to decaying charge into a second signal and a logic unit that corrects the first signal based on the second signal. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter, an integrator offset voltage signal determiner, and a logic unit, wherein the determiner induces an electrical current via an offset voltage, the A/D converter measures the current, and the logic unit calculates a resistance of the photosensor array based on the reference voltage and the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Chappo, Randall P. Luhta, Christopher J. Vrettos, Brian E. Harwood
  • Patent number: 8532251
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (108) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region (106) and a detection system (114) that detects radiation that traverses the examination region (106) and generates a signal indicative thereof. The detection system (114) includes a first detector array (1141-114N) and a second detector array (1141-114N). The first and second detector arrays (1141-114N) are separately distinct detector arrays and at least one of the detector arrays (1141-114N) is moveable with respect to the radiation beam. A reconstructor (116) reconstructs the signal and generates volumetric image data indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris John Vrettos
  • Patent number: 8525119
    Abstract: A radiation sensitive detector array includes a plurality of detector modules (118) extending along a z-axis direction and aligned along an x-axis direction with respect to the imaging system (100). At least one of the detector modules (118) includes a module backbone (124) and at least one detector tile (122). The at least one detector tile (122) is coupled to the module backbone (124) through a non-threaded fastener (142). The at least one detector tile (122) includes a two-dimensional detector (126) and a two-dimensional anti-scatter grid (128) that is focused at a focal spot (112) of an imaging system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N. V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Rodney A. Mattson, Brian E. Harwood
  • Patent number: 8525122
    Abstract: An imaging detector includes processing electronics (208) with a thermal coefficient about equal to a negative of a summation of thermal coefficients of a photosensor array (204) and a scintillator array (202) of the detector. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter (302) that alternately converts first charge corresponding to impinging radiation into a first signal and second charge corresponding to decaying charge into a second signal and a logic unit (308) that corrects the first signal based on the second signal. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter (302), an integrator offset voltage signal determiner (318), and a logic unit (308), wherein the determiner (318) induces an electrical current via an offset voltage, the A/D converter (302) measures the current, and the logic unit (308) calculates a resistance of the photosensor array (204) based on the reference voltage and the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Chappo, Randall P. Luhta, Christopher J. Vrettos, Brian E. Harwood
  • Publication number: 20120057670
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (108) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region (106) and a detection system (114) that detects radiation that traverses the examination region (106) and generates a signal indicative thereof. The detection system (114) includes a first detector array (1141-114N) and a second detector array (1141-114N). The first and second detector arrays (1141-114N) are separately distinct detector arrays and at least one of the detector arrays (1141-114N) is moveable with respect to the radiation beam. A reconstructor (116) reconstructs the signal and generates volumetric image data indicative thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris John Vrettos
  • Publication number: 20120049074
    Abstract: A radiation sensitive detector array includes a plurality of detector modules (118) extending along a z-axis direction and aligned along an x-axis direction with respect to the imaging system (100). At least one of the detector modules (118) includes a module backbone (124) and at least one detector tile (122). The at least one detector tile (122) is coupled to the module backbone (124) through a non-threaded fastener (142). The at least one detector tile (122) includes a two-dimensional detector (126) and a two-dimensional anti-scatter grid (128) that is focused at a focal spot (112) of an imaging system (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Rodney A. Mattson, Brian E. Harwood
  • Publication number: 20120001076
    Abstract: An imaging detector includes processing electronics with a thermal coefficient about equal to a negative of a summation of thermal coefficients of a photosensor array and a scintillator array of the detector. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter that alternately converts first charge corresponding to impinging radiation into a first signal and second charge corresponding to decaying charge into a second signal and a logic unit that corrects the first signal based on the second signal. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter, an integrator offset voltage signal determiner, and a logic unit, wherein the determiner induces an electrical current via an off-set voltage, the A/D converter measures the current, and the logic unit calculates a resistance of the photosensor array based on the reference voltage and the measured current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Chappo, Randall P. Luhta, Christopher J. Vrettos, Brian E. Harwood
  • Patent number: 7873144
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises a primary radiation source (14) which projects a beam of radiation into an examination region (16). A detector (18) converts detected radiation passing through the examination region (16) into electrical detector signals representative of the detected radiation. The detector (18) has at least one temporally changing characteristic such as an offset B(t) or gain A(t). A grid pulse means (64) turns the primary radiation source (14) ON and OFF at a rate between 1000 and 5000 pulses per second, such that at least the offset B(t) is re-measured between 1000 and 5000 times per second and corrected a plurality of times during generation of the detector signals. The gain A(t) is measured by pulsing a second pulsed source (86, 100, 138) of a constant intensity (XRef) with a second pulse means (88). The gain A(t) is re-measured and corrected a plurality of times per second during generation of the detector signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris J. Vrettos
  • Publication number: 20090238330
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises a primary radiation source (14) which projects a beam of radiation into an examination region (16). A detector (18) converts detected radiation passing through the examination region (16) into electrical detector signals representative of the detected radiation. The detector (18) has at least one temporally changing characteristic such as an offset B(t) or gain A(t). A grid pulse means (64) turns the primary radiation source (14) ON and OFF at a rate between 1000 and 5000 pulses per second, such that at least the offset B(t) is re-measured between 1000 and 5000 times per second and corrected a plurality of times during generation of the detector signals. The gain A(t) is measured by pulsing a second pulsed source (86, 100, 138) of a constant intensity (XRef) with a second pulse means (88). The gain A(t) is re-measured and corrected a plurality of times per second during generation of the detector signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris J. Vrettos
  • Publication number: 20090121146
    Abstract: A radiation detector module (22) particularly well suited for use in computed tomography (CT) applications includes a scintillator (200), a photodetector array (202), and signal processing electronics (205). The photodetector array (202) includes a semiconductor substrate (208) having a plurality of photodetectors and metalization (210) fabricated on non-illuminated side of the substrate (208). The metalization routes electrical signals between the photodetectors and the signal processing electronics (205) and between the signal processing electronics (205) and an electrical connector (209).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V.
    Inventors: Randall P. Luhta, Marc A. Chappo, Brian E. Harwood, Rodney A. Mattson, Chris John Vrettos