Patents by Inventor Christian Schröter

Christian Schröter 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: 9646731
    Abstract: A direct-converting x-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting x-ray radiation, in particular for use in a CT system. In an embodiment, the detector includes a semiconductor material used for detecting the x-ray radiation; at least one collimator; and at least one radiation source, to irradiate the semiconductor material with additional radiation. In at least one embodiment, the at least one collimator includes at least one reflection layer on a side facing the semiconductor material, on which the additional radiation is reflected to the semiconductor material. In another embodiment, a CT system including the direct-converting x-ray radiation detector, and a method for detecting incident x-ray radiation via a direct-converting x-ray radiation detector, in particular for use in a CT system, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Fabrice Dierre, Edgar Göderer, Peter Hackenschmied, Steffen Kappler, Björn Kreisler, Miguel Labayen De Inza, Daniel Niederlöhner, Mario Reinwand, Christian Schröter, Karl Stierstorfer, Matthias Strassburg, Justus Tonn, Stefan Wirth
  • Patent number: 9557426
    Abstract: An x-ray radiation detector is disclosed with an upper side, which faces an x-ray radiation source during operation, and with a semiconductor layer for direct conversion of x-ray radiation into electric measurement signals. In an embodiment, a luminous film is arranged between the upper side and the semiconductor layer, and with the aid of which luminous film, electromagnetic radiation can be coupled into the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Daniel Niederloehner, Christian Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20170010366
    Abstract: A detector is disclosed for detecting X-ray and/or gamma radiation, including a scintillator element for converting the X-ray and/or gamma radiation into light. The scintillator element has at least one side surface, an upper side and a lower side, a first photodiode on the lower side of the scintillator element. The detector further includes an electronic evaluation device, a light source designed to illuminate the scintillator element, and a light-impermeable housing which surrounds the scintillator element, the first photodiode, the electronic evaluation device and the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Christian SCHROETER
  • Patent number: 9472704
    Abstract: A radiation detector is disclosed, including a plurality of detector elements arranged adjacent to one another in a planar manner. In an embodiment, for the purpose of radiation detection, a semiconductor layer with an upper side and a lower side is present, the semiconductor layer on one of the sides including an electrode embodied so as to extend across a number of detector elements and electrodes subdivided into individual electrodes being arranged on the other side of the semiconductor layer so that by applying voltage between the electrodes of the two sides, an electrical field is generatable and each individual electrode is assigned an effective volume so as to collect charge in the semiconductor layer. In an embodiment, the individual electrodes are alternately connected to at least two different voltage potentials. Furthermore, a medical diagnostic system is disclosed, including at least one such radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Björn Kreisler, Christian Schröter
  • Patent number: 9437770
    Abstract: A radiation detector is disclosed, including a plurality of detector elements arranged adjacent to one another in a planar manner. In an embodiment, for the purpose of radiation detection, a semiconductor layer with an upper side and a lower side is present, the semiconductor layer on one of the sides including an electrode embodied so as to extend across a number of detector elements and electrodes subdivided into individual electrodes being arranged on the other side of the semiconductor layer so that by applying voltage between the electrodes of the two sides, an electrical field is generatable and each individual electrode is assigned an effective volume so as to collect charge in the semiconductor layer. In an embodiment, the individual electrodes are alternately connected to at least two different voltage potentials. Furthermore, a medical diagnostic system is disclosed, including at least one such radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Björn Kreisler, Christian Schröter
  • Publication number: 20160220222
    Abstract: A method is described for determining the polarization state of a sensor of an X-ray detector. In the method, the X-ray detector is illuminated with a sequence of light pulses wherein the individual pulses of the light pulse sequence have a different intensity. It is further determined at what intensity of the light pulses, charge pulses generated by the sensor of the X-ray detector exceed a threshold voltage of a signal detection circuit. Also described is a method for obtaining and/or setting functional data of a sensor of an X-ray detector and/or of a sensor illumination unit. Furthermore, an X-ray detector is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Schroeter, Peter Sievers
  • Patent number: 9400335
    Abstract: A direct-converting x-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting x-ray radiation, at least including a semiconductor used to detect x-ray radiation and at least one electrode attached to the semiconductor. In an embodiment, the semiconductor and the at least one electrode are electrically conductively connected and the at least one electrode is designed to be transparent and electrically conductive. A CT system is further disclosed, at least including the direct-converting x-ray radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Fabrice Dierre, Björn Kreisler, Miguel Labayen De Inza, Daniel Niederlöhner, Christian Schröter, Matthias Strassburg
  • Patent number: 9392985
    Abstract: A direct-conversion x-ray detector or x-ray detector module includes: a direct converter; at least one collimator; and at least one radiation source. The at least one collimator is arranged in a direction of radiation of the x-ray radiation in front of the direct converter, and to restrict direct irradiation of the direct converter by the x-ray radiation. The at least one radiation source is at a side of the direct converter, and configured to irradiate the direct converter with additional radiation. The at least one collimator includes: at least one reflection layer on a side facing the direct converter, and configured to reflect the additional radiation onto the direct converter; and a cooling facility configured to cool the at least one radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thorsten Ergler, Andreas Freund, Björn Kreisler, Christian Schröter, Stefan Wirth
  • Patent number: 9394954
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly having a guide pin disposed in a bore of an anchor bracket such that a guide pin axis is offset relative to a bore axis whereby there is provided at least one defined point of contact between only a portion of the guide pin and a portion of an inner surface of the bore. The guide pin includes a groove formed therein, the groove defines a groove axis which is offset relative to the guide pin axis, and a resilient member is disposed in the groove which is operative to bias the guide pin in the bore such that the guide pin axis is offset relative to bore axis to provide the at least one defined point of contact between only a portion of the guide pin and a portion of the inner surface of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Smith, Kraig Gerber, Eduardo Morais, Marco Becker, Florian Roessinger, Christian Schroeter, Guido ZenZen
  • Publication number: 20160025869
    Abstract: An x-ray radiation detector is disclosed with an upper side, which faces an x-ray radiation source during operation, and with a semiconductor layer for direct conversion of x-ray radiation into electric measurement signals. In an embodiment, a luminous film is arranged between the upper side and the semiconductor layer, and with the aid of which luminous film, electromagnetic radiation can be coupled into the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Daniel NIEDERLOEHNER, Christian SCHROETER
  • Patent number: 9164183
    Abstract: A method and a detector system are disclosed for the photon-counting detection of x-ray radiation with direct conversion detectors. In at least one embodiment of the method, as a function of the existing radiation energy, current and/or voltage pulses which are largely proportional thereto are generated, and the generated current and voltage pulses are counted in the detector when a predetermined current and/or voltage source is exceeded, whereby a threshold is used as a predetermined current and/or voltage threshold, which corresponds to a detection of a photon with an energy which is less than the k-edge of the detector material used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLCHAFT
    Inventors: Edgar Kraft, Daniel Niederlöhner, Christian Schröter
  • Patent number: 9158005
    Abstract: An X-ray detector is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the X-ray detector includes at least two adjacently arranged detector elements, to each of which a high voltage is applied in order to detect incident X-rays. In this case, two adjacent detector elements are coupled to one another by way of a protection circuit, designed to limit a voltage difference between the two adjacent detector elements to a voltage value which is non-critical with regard to the formation of a flashover between the two detector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Shameem Kabir Chaudhury, Thorsten Ergler, Björn Kreisler, Thomas Reichel, Christian Schröter, Peter Sievers
  • Publication number: 20150260856
    Abstract: A direct-converting x-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting x-ray radiation, at least including a semiconductor used to detect x-ray radiation and at least one electrode attached to the semiconductor. In an embodiment, the semiconductor and the at least one electrode are electrically conductively connected and the at least one electrode is designed to be transparent and electrically conductive. A CT system is further disclosed, at least including the direct-converting x-ray radiation detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Fabrice Dierre, Björn Kreisler, Miguel Labayen De Inza, Daniel Niederlöhner, Christian Schröter, Matthias Strassburg
  • Patent number: 9113542
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the temperature stabilization of a direct-converting X-ray detector, including a detector surface having a semiconductor and being divided into a plurality of partial detector surfaces. During the irradiation of the detector surface, heat is generated in the semiconductor by electric power. Electric power generated in the semiconductor is kept constant for each partial detector surface at least during a heterogeneous and/or temporally variable irradiation of the detector surface by feeding-in power-adjusted additional radiation for each partial detector surface. A direct-converting X-ray detector is disclosed for the detection of X-rays. At least one control loop with at least one reference variable is embodied for the energy regulation of the additional radiation, which keeps the temperature in the semiconductor constant for each partial detector surface by keeping the electric power in the semiconductor constant by changing the energy of the additional radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Hackenschmied, Christian Schröter
  • Publication number: 20150216485
    Abstract: A direct conversion X-ray detector for the detection of X-rays includes at least a semiconductor used for detecting X-rays, which has areas that are shaded against X-rays and unshaded areas, a pixelated electrode attached to the semiconductor and an all-over electrode attached to the semiconductor opposite the pixelated electrode, and at least one light source to illuminate the all-over electrode with additional light radiation for the purpose of generating additional charge carriers. In an embodiment, the at least one light source is designed such that the shaded areas are irradiated with a different intensity of the additional light radiation than are the unshaded areas. A CT system including the direct conversion X-ray detector is also disclosed, together with a method for the detection of incident X-rays via direct conversion X-ray detector, wherein the shaded areas are irradiated with a different intensity of the additional light radiation than the unshaded areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thorsten ERGLER, Edgar Göderer, Björn KREISLER, Mario REINWAND, Christian SCHRÖTER
  • Publication number: 20150221406
    Abstract: A direct-converting x-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting x-ray radiation, in particular for use in a CT system. In an embodiment, the detector includes a semiconductor material used for detecting the x-ray radiation; at least one collimator; and at least one radiation source, to irradiate the semiconductor material with additional radiation. In at least one embodiment, the at least one collimator includes at least one reflection layer on a side facing the semiconductor material, on which the additional radiation is reflected to the semiconductor material. In another embodiment, a CT system including the direct-converting x-ray radiation detector, and a method for detecting incident x-ray radiation via a direct-converting x-ray radiation detector, in particular for use in a CT system, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Fabrice Dierre, Edgar Göderer, Peter Hackenschmied, Steffen Kappler, Björn Kreisler, Miguel Labayen De Inza, Daniel Niederlöhner, Mario Reinwand, Christian Schröter, Karl Stierstorfer, Matthias Strassburg, Justus Tonn, Stefan Wirth
  • Patent number: 9097810
    Abstract: A direct radiation converter is disclosed which includes a radiation detection material having an anode side and a cathode side in which the radiation detection material has a doping profile running in the anode-side to cathode-side direction. A radiation detector is further disclosed having such a direct radiation converter and having an anode array and a cathode array, and optionally having evaluation electronics for reading out a detector signal, as well as a medical apparatus having such a radiation detector. Also described is a method for producing a direct radiation converter which includes incorporating into a radiation detection material a doping profile running in the anode-side to cathode-side direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Hackenschmied, Christian Schröter, Matthias Strassburg
  • Publication number: 20150212215
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting x-rays using an x-ray detector which includes a direct-conversion semiconductor detector element. Additional radiation is supplied to the semiconductor detector element using a radiation source, and the supply of the additional radiation is controlled and/or regulated on the basis of a specified target value. In at least one embodiment, the target value can be specified in a variable manner over time as a sequence of target values. An x-ray detector system is further disclosed, with which the method can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Edgar Göderer, Peter Hackenschmied, Steffen Kappler, Björn Kreisler, Miguel Labayen De Inza, Daniel Niederlöhner, Mario Reinwand, Christian Schröter, Matthias Strassburg, Stefan Wirth
  • Patent number: 9075147
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is disclosed for a detector. In at least one embodiment, the circuit arrangement includes a directly-converting semi-conductor material and pulse-shaper in the signal readout electronics assembly. A method is disclosed for a readout of count impulses generated in the semi-conductor material, wherein part of the pulse-shaper is equipped with a relatively longer shaping time constant and a different part of the pulse-shaper is equipped with a relatively shorter shaping time constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christian Schröter
  • Publication number: 20150177388
    Abstract: An X-ray detector is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the X-ray detector includes at least two adjacently arranged detector elements, to each of which a high voltage is applied in order to detect incident X-rays. In this case, two adjacent detector elements are coupled to one another by way of a protection circuit, designed to limit a voltage difference between the two adjacent detector elements to a voltage value which is non-critical with regard to the formation of a flashover between the two detector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Shameem Kabir CHAUDHURY, Thorsten ERGLER, Björn KREISLER, Thomas REICHEL, Christian SCHRÖTER, Peter SIEVERS