Patents by Inventor Clifford Bueno
Clifford Bueno 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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Patent number: 7745797Abstract: A digital radiography imaging system having a digital x-ray detector that is easy to manufacture and produces high quality images with no artifacts. The digital x-ray detector including a front cover, a scintillator screen member, a light imager panel member having a surface in direct contact with an adjoining surface of the scintillator screen member, a compressible member positioned between the front cover and the scintillator screen member to apply pressure to the scintillator screen member and the adjoining surface between the scintillator screen member and the light imager panel member, electronic circuitry mounted on at least one printed circuit board and coupled to the light imager panel, a back cover, and a plurality of fasteners for fastening the front cover to the back cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Chen Zhang, Habib Vafi, Zhimin Sun, Kenneth Scott Kump, Clifford Bueno, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III
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Patent number: 7706502Abstract: A cargo container inspection radiation detector apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support, and a plurality of area radiation detectors disposed upon the support arranged corresponding to a height of the cargo container, each area radiation detector comprising an active area defined by a matrix of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Morpho Detection, Inc.Inventors: Clifford Bueno, Joseph Bendahan, Elizabeth Lokenberg Dixon, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, William Robert Ross, Donald Earl Castleberry, Forrest Frank Hopkins, Douglas Albagli
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Patent number: 7692161Abstract: A computed radiography plate including a substrate is provided. The computed radiography plate also includes at least one phosphor layer disposed above the substrate. The computed radiography plate also includes a protective layer disposed above the phosphor layer. The computed radiography plate further includes multiple patterns inscribed within at least one of the phosphor layer, the protective layer or the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nelson Raymond Corby, Jr., Clifford Bueno
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Patent number: 7608829Abstract: A scintillation detector comprising nano-scale particles of a scintillation compound embedded in a plastic matrix is provided. The nano-scale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. Methods are provided for preparing the nano-scale particles. The particles may be coated with organic compounds or polymers prior to incorporation in the plastic matrix. A technique for matching the refractive index of the plastic matrix with the nano-scale particles by incorporating nano-scale particles of titanium dioxide is also provided. The scintillator may be coupled with one or more photodetectors to form a scintillation detection system. The scintillation detection system may be adapted for use in X-ray and radiation imaging devices, such as digital X-ray imaging, mammography, CT, PET, or SPECT, or may be used in radiation security detectors or subterranean radiation detectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, James Scott Vartuli, Brent Allen Clothier, Steven Jude Duclos, Mohan Manoharan, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifford Bueno
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Publication number: 20090232277Abstract: An inspection system is provided. The inspection system includes at least one radiation source including single or multiple energies and configured to transmit a radiation beam through an object under inspection. The inspection system further includes an array of detectors configured to receive multiple radiation beams transmitted through the object, wherein the array of detectors are oriented at different angles with respect to the radiation beam and wherein at least one of the radiation source, and the array of detectors or the object is configured to be actuated in a translational direction relative to each other. The inspection system further includes processing circuitry coupled to the array of detectors and configured to generate a three dimensional image of the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Forrest Frank Hopkins, Clifford Bueno, Yanfeng Du, Joseph Bendahan
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Patent number: 7586252Abstract: A phosphor admixture includes a phosphor powder and a number of radiation capture electron emitters. The emitters are dispersed within the phosphor powder. A phosphor screen includes phosphor particles, radiation capture electron emitters and a binder. The emitters and phosphor particles are dispersed within the binder. An imaging assembly includes a phosphor screen configured to receive incident radiation and to emit corresponding optical signals. An electronic device is coupled to the phosphor screen. The electronic device is configured to receive the optical signals from the phosphor screen and to generate an imaging signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Bueno, Steven Jude Duclos, David Michael Hoffman, John Michael Cuffe
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Patent number: 7550754Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a storage phosphor screen, an illumination source and a two dimensional imager. The radiation source is configured to irradiate the storage phosphor screen, and the storage phosphor screen is configured to store the radiation energy. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen. The two dimensional (2D) imager is configured to capture a two dimensional image from the storage phosphor screen using the stimulated emission photons. A method of reading a storage phosphor screen is also provided. The method includes illuminating at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen using an illumination source to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Bueno, Nelson Raymond Corby, Jr., Kenneth Gordon Herd
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Patent number: 7547895Abstract: An adaptable imaging assembly is provided. The adaptable imaging assembly includes a free-standing phosphor film configured to receive incident radiation and to emit corresponding optical signals. An electronic device is coupled to the free-standing phosphor film. The electronic device is configured to receive the optical signals from the free-standing phosphor film and to generate an imaging signal. A free-standing phosphor film is also provided and includes x-ray phosphor particles dispersed in a silicone binder. A method for inspecting a component is also provided and includes exposing the component and a free-standing phosphor film to radiation, generating corresponding optical signals with the free standing phosphor film, receiving the optical signals with an electronic device coupled to the free-standing phosphor film and generating an imaging signal using the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Venkatesan Manivannan, Clifford Bueno, Stephen Jude Duclos, Stanley John Stoklosa, Douglas Albagli, Paul Alan Mc Connelee
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Publication number: 20090146079Abstract: A computed radiography plate including a substrate is provided. The computed radiography plate also includes at least one phosphor layer disposed above the substrate. The computed radiography plate also includes a protective layer disposed above the phosphor layer. The computed radiography plate further includes multiple patterns inscribed within at least one of the phosphor layer, the protective layer or the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Nelson Raymond Corby, JR., Clifford Bueno
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Patent number: 7522756Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for processing a radiographic image of a scanned object is disclosed. A pixel offset correction is performed in integer format on the radiographic image using saturation arithmetic to produce an image in integer format with any negative corrected values clipped to a value of zero. The resulting pixels are converted to floating point format and the converted pixels are multiplied by a gain factor. Optionally the resulting pixels are recursively averaged with previous results. The resulting pixels are converted to integer format and the converted pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. Non-functional pixel correction is performed in integer format and the resulting pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. An optional processing path replaces the recursive average by a linear average. The resulting pixel values are optionally filtered to enhance features of interest.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Bueno, Elizabeth Lokenberg Dixon, Walter Vincent Dixon, Forrest Frank Hopkins, Michael Robert Hopple, Brian Walter Lasiuk, Ronald Cecil McFarland, August David Matula, Robert James Mitchell, Jr., Kevin Layne Moermond, Gregory Alan Mohr
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Publication number: 20090078892Abstract: A computed radiography system is provided. The computed radiography system includes an imaging plate configured to store a radiation energy pattern of an object or emit multiple prompt emission photons of the radiation energy pattern upon irradiation or a combination thereof. The computed radiography system also includes at least one light source configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the imaging plate for a time period of less than about a second. The at least one light source is configured to stimulate at least one of an emission of multiple photons of the radiation energy pattern stored in the imaging plate. The computed radiography system further includes a two dimensional imager configured to capture at least one two dimensional image from the at least a sub-area of the imaging plate using one of an image emitted from the radiation energy pattern stored or an image emitted from prompt emission or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Nelson Raymond Corby, JR., Clifford Bueno
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Patent number: 7499599Abstract: A method and program product for real-time correction of non-functioning pixels in digital radiography, where the method comprises: receiving a list of non-functioning pixels; determining which neighboring functioning pixels are needed to correct the non-functioning pixels; organizing those neighboring functioning pixels and corresponding non-functioning pixels into a plurality of groups by a number of pixels used to perform correction; and performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within one of the plurality of groups and subsequently performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within another one of the plurality of groups.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2003Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Elizabeth Lokenberg Dixon, Walter Vincent Dixon, Clifford Bueno, Gregory Alan Mohr, Brian Walter Lasiuk
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Publication number: 20080298545Abstract: A cargo container inspection radiation detector apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support, and a plurality of area radiation detectors disposed upon the support arranged corresponding to a height of the cargo container, each area radiation detector comprising an active area defined by a matrix of pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Clifford Bueno, Joseph Bendahan, Elizabeth Lokenberg Dixon, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, William Robert Ross, Donald Earl Castleberry, Forrest Frank Hopkins, Douglas Albagli
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Publication number: 20080298546Abstract: A method of improving a signal to noise ratio of an image data set of a cargo container is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a radiation beam toward the cargo container, detecting the transmitted radiation beam via a plurality of area radiation detectors, each area radiation detector comprising an active area defined by a matrix of pixels, thereby defining enhanced radiation data, processing the enhanced radiation data and reconstructing the image data set representative of contents of the cargo container, combining image attributes of the image data set to improve the signal to noise ratio, thereby defining an enhanced image data set, and displaying on a display the enhanced image data set comprising an improved signal to noise ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Clifford Bueno, Joseph Bendahan, Elizabeth Lokenberg Dixon, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, William Robert Ross, Donald Earl Castleberry, Forrest Frank Hopkins, Douglas Albagli, Robert August Kaucic, Jr., William Macomber Leue
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Publication number: 20080237470Abstract: A scintillation detector comprising nano-scale particles of a scintillation compound embedded in a plastic matrix is provided. The nano-scale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. Methods are provided for preparing the nano-scale particles. The particles may be coated with organic compounds or polymers prior to incorporation in the plastic matrix. A technique for matching the refractive index of the plastic matrix with the nano-scale particles by incorporating nano-scale particles of titanium dioxide is also provided. The scintillator may be coupled with one or more photodetectors to form a scintillation detection system. The scintillation detection system may be adapted for use in X-ray and radiation imaging devices, such as digital X-ray imaging, mammography, CT, PET, or SPECT, or may be used in radiation security detectors or subterranean radiation detectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Sergio Paulo Martins Loureiro, James Scott Vartuli, Brent Allen Clothier, Steven Jude Duclos, Mohan Manoharan, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Clifford Bueno
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Publication number: 20080185535Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a storage phosphor screen, an illumination source and a two dimensional imager. The radiation source is configured to irradiate the storage phosphor screen, and the storage phosphor screen is configured to store the radiation energy. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen. The two dimensional (2D) imager is configured to capture a two dimensional image from the storage phosphor screen using the stimulated emission photons. A method of reading a storage phosphor screen is also provided. The method includes illuminating at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen using an illumination source to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Clifford Bueno, Nelson Raymond Corby, Kenneth Gordon Herd
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Publication number: 20080166033Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for processing a radiographic image of a scanned object is disclosed. A pixel offset correction is performed in integer format on the radiographic image using saturation arithmetic to produce an image in integer format with any negative corrected values clipped to a value of zero. The resulting pixels are converted to floating point format and the converted pixels are multiplied by a gain factor. Optionally the resulting pixels are recursively averaged with previous results. The resulting pixels are converted to integer format and the converted pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. Non-functional pixel correction is performed in integer format and the resulting pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. An optional processing path replaces the recursive average by a linear average. The resulting pixel values are optionally filtered to enhance features of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Clifford Bueno, Elizabeth Dixon, Walter Dixon, Forrest Hopkins, Michael Hopple, Brian Lasiuk, Ronald McFarland, August Matula, Robert Mitchell, Kevin Moermond, Gregory Mohr
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Publication number: 20070290135Abstract: An adaptable imaging assembly is provided. The adaptable imaging assembly includes a free-standing phosphor film configured to receive incident radiation and to emit corresponding optical signals. An electronic device is coupled to the free-standing phosphor film. The electronic device is configured to receive the optical signals from the free-standing phosphor film and to generate an imaging signal. A free-standing phosphor film is also provided and includes x-ray phosphor particles dispersed in a silicone binder. A method for inspecting a component is also provided and includes exposing the component and a free-standing phosphor film to radiation, generating corresponding optical signals with the free standing phosphor film, receiving the optical signals with an electronic device coupled to the free-standing phosphor film and generating an imaging signal using the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Venkatesan Manivannan, Clifford Bueno, Steven Duclos, Stanley Stoklosa, Douglas Albagli, Paul Mc Connelee
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Publication number: 20070257197Abstract: A detector assembly is provided. The detector assembly includes a configurable x-ray detector having an area no greater than 10.2 centimeters (cm)×10.2 centimeters (cm) and an embedded controller coupled to the configurable x-ray detector and configured to control the configurable x-ray detector and to format image data from the configurable x-ray detector for wireless transmission. The detector assembly also includes a wireless transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit the image data to a user interface device and a power storage device configured to provide electrical power to the configurable x-ray detector, the wireless transmission device and to the embedded controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2006Publication date: November 8, 2007Inventors: Clarence Gordon, Clifford Bueno, Elizabeth Dixon, Edward Nieters, William Ross, Richard Bossi, Michael Hutchinson
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Patent number: 7244955Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a storage phosphor screen, an illumination source and a two dimensional imager. The radiation source is configured to irradiate the storage phosphor screen, and the storage phosphor screen is configured to store the radiation energy. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen. The two dimensional (2D) imager is configured to capture a two dimensional image from the storage phosphor screen using the stimulated emission photons. A method of reading a storage phosphor screen is also provided. The method includes illuminating at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen using an illumination source to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clifford Bueno, Nelson Raymond Corby, Jr., Kenneth Gordon Herd