Patents by Inventor Colin R. Wilson
Colin R. Wilson 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: 8274205Abstract: The system and method provided herein for limiting the effects of arcing in field-type electron emitter arrays improves the robustness of such arrays. Field-type electron emitter arrays generally have a substrate, an insulator, and a gating electrode. By including a resistive substance in the gate of the emitter array, arcing events may be isolated to a single emitter such that the remaining emitters of an array can continue electron emission and/or the short circuit current of the arc can be limited.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Colin R. Wilson, Ji-Ung Lee
-
Patent number: 7844032Abstract: A collimator includes a first plate having an aperture therein, the aperture configured to allow passage of a beam of x-rays from a source of a multi-spot source therethrough, and a second plate parallelly positioned with respect to the first plate and configured to receive and attenuate a first portion of the beam of x-rays passing through the aperture in the first plate, the second plate having an aperture therein configured to non-concentrically overlap the aperture in the first plate, to receive a second portion of the beam of x-rays passing through the aperture in the first plate, and to allow passage of the second portion of the beam of x-rays therethrough. A portion of the aperture in the first plate and a portion of the aperture in the second plate form a composite aperture parallel to the beam of x-rays, the composite aperture configured to allow passage of the second portion of the beam of x-rays through the first and second plates.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark E. Vermilyea, Colin R. Wilson, Yun Zou
-
Patent number: 7844030Abstract: A system includes a generator configured to output at least one voltage level and an x-ray source configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The system includes a module coupled to the output of the generator and to an input of the x-ray source and configured to switch or assist in switching an output to the x-ray source between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Colin R. Wilson, Antonio Caiafa, John Charles Hill, Samit Kumar Basu, Pierfrancesco Landolfi, Peter Michael Edic
-
Patent number: 7826587Abstract: A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a generator configured to energize the x-ray source to a first kVp and to a second kVp, a detector, and a controller. The controller is configured energize the x-ray source to the first kVp for a first time period, subsequently energize the x-ray source to the second kVp for a second time period, integrate data for a first integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the first kVp, integrate data for a second integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the second kVp, compare a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during the first integration period (SNRH) and the second integration period (SNRL), adjust an operating parameter of the CT system to optimize an SNRH with SNRL, and generate an image using the integrated data.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Allen Langan, John Eric Tkaczyk, James Walter LeBlanc, Colin R. Wilson, Xiaoye Wu, Dan Xu, Thomas Matthew Benson, Jed Douglas Pack
-
Patent number: 7792241Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned and an x-ray source coupled to the gantry and configured to project x-rays through the opening. The x-ray source includes a target, a first cathode configured to emit a first beam of electrons toward the target, a first gridding electrode coupled to the first cathode, a second cathode configured to emit a second beam of electrons toward the target, and a second gridding electrode coupled to the second cathode. The system includes a generator configured to energize the first cathode to a first kVp and to energize the second cathode to a second kVp, and a detector attached to the gantry and positioned to receive x-rays that pass through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Xiaoye Wu, David Langan, Colin R. Wilson, Yun Zou
-
Publication number: 20100104062Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned and an x-ray source coupled to the gantry and configured to project x-rays through the opening. The x-ray source includes a target, a first cathode configured to emit a first beam of electrons toward the target, a first gridding electrode coupled to the first cathode, a second cathode configured to emit a second beam of electrons toward the target, and a second gridding electrode coupled to the second cathode. The system includes a generator configured to energize the first cathode to a first kVp and to energize the second cathode to a second kVp, and a detector attached to the gantry and positioned to receive x-rays that pass through the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, David Langan, Colin R. Wilson, Yun Zou
-
Publication number: 20100098219Abstract: A collimator includes a first plate having an aperture therein, the aperture configured to allow passage of a beam of x-rays from a source of a multi-spot source therethrough, and a second plate parallelly positioned with respect to the first plate and configured to receive and attenuate a first portion of the beam of x-rays passing through the aperture in the first plate, the second plate having an aperture therein configured to non-concentrically overlap the aperture in the first plate, to receive a second portion of the beam of x-rays passing through the aperture in the first plate, and to allow passage of the second portion of the beam of x-rays therethrough. A portion of the aperture in the first plate and a portion of the aperture in the second plate form a composite aperture parallel to the beam of x-rays, the composite aperture configured to allow passage of the second portion of the beam of x-rays through the first and second plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: Mark E. Vermilyea, Colin R. Wilson, Yun Zou
-
Publication number: 20090245467Abstract: A system includes a generator configured to output at least one voltage level and an x-ray source configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The system includes a module coupled to the output of the generator and to an input of the x-ray source and configured to switch or assist in switching an output to the x-ray source between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Colin R. Wilson, Antonio Caiafa, John Charles Hill, Samit Kumar Basu, Pierfrancesco Landolfi, Peter Michael Edic
-
Patent number: 7428292Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned. A plurality of x-ray emission sources are attached to the rotatable gantry, each x-ray emission source configured to emit x-rays in a conebeam toward the object. The CT imaging system also includes a plurality of x-ray detector arrays attached to the gantry and positioned to receive x-rays passing through the object. At least one x-ray detector array of the plurality of x-ray detector arrays is configured to receive x-rays from more than one x-ray emission source.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruno K. B. De Man, Colin R. Wilson, Bernhard Claus, Maria Iatrou, James W. LeBlanc, Dirk Bequé, Samit Kumar Basu, Mark Vermilyea, Zhye Yin
-
Publication number: 20080129177Abstract: The system and method provided herein for limiting the effects of arcing in field-type electron emitter arrays improves the robustness of such arrays. Field-type electron emitter arrays generally have a substrate, an insulator, and a gating electrode. By including a resistive substance in the gate of the emitter array, arcing events may be isolated to a single emitter such that the remaining emitters of an array can continue electron emission and/or the short circuit current of the arc can be limited.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: Colin R. Wilson, Ji-Ung Lee
-
Publication number: 20080123803Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned. A plurality of x-ray emission sources are attached to the rotatable gantry, each x-ray emission source configured to emit x-rays in a conebeam toward the object. The CT imaging system also includes a plurality of x-ray detector arrays attached to the gantry and positioned to receive x-rays passing through the object. At least one x-ray detector array of the plurality of x-ray detector arrays is configured to receive x-rays from more than one x-ray emission source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2006Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Bruno K.B. De Man, Colin R. Wilson, Bernhard Claus, Maria Iatrou, James W. LeBlanc, Dirk Beque, Samit Kumar Basu, Mark Vermilyea, Zhye Yin
-
Patent number: 7356122Abstract: A focal track region of an x-ray anode in an example is electrochemically etched. In a further example, an x-ray anode comprises a thermally-compliant focal track region for impingement of electrons from an x-ray cathode to create an x-ray source. The thermally-compliant focal track region comprises a pattern of discrete relative expanses and gaps.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Raber, Bernard Bewlay, Andrew Trimmer, Bin Wei, Colin R. Wilson, Mark Benz, Ernest Balch
-
Patent number: 7192031Abstract: An field emitter array system (10) includes a housing (50). An emitter array (80) generates an electron beam and has multiple emitter elements (81) that are disposed within the housing (50). Each of the emitter elements has multiple activation connections (92).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2004Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson, John Scott Price
-
Patent number: 7187755Abstract: An electron emitter assembly and a method for generating an electron beam are provided. The electron emitter assembly includes a laser configured to emit a first light beam and a second light beam. The electron emitter assembly further includes a mirror configured to move to a first operational position to reflect the first light beam toward a first region of a photo-cathode. The mirror is further configured to move to a second operational position to reflect the second light beam toward a second region of the photo-cathode. The photo-cathode is configured to emit a first electron beam when the first light beam contacts the first region and to emit a second electron beam when the second light beam contacts the second region. The electron emitter assembly further includes an anode configured to receive the first and second electron beams from the photo-cathode.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruce Matthew Dunham, John Scott Price, Colin R. Wilson
-
Patent number: 7136455Abstract: An electron emitter assembly and a method for adjusting a size of electron beams are provided. The electron emitter assembly includes a laser configured to emit a first light beam. The electron emitter assembly further includes a lens assembly configured to receive the first light beam. The lens assembly is configured to adjust a size of the first light beam between a first predetermined size and a second predetermined size larger than the first predetermined size. The lens assembly emits the first light beam toward a photo-cathode. The photo-cathode is configured to emit a first electron beam having a third predetermined size when the first light beam having the first predetermined size contacts the photo-cathode. The photo-cathode is further configured to emit a second electron beam having a fourth predetermined size when the first light beam having the second predetermined size contacts the photo-cathode.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruce Matthew Dunham, John Scott Price, Colin R. Wilson
-
Patent number: 7085350Abstract: An electron emitter assembly and a method for adjusting a power level of an electron beam are provided. The electron emitter assembly includes a laser configured to emit a first light beam. The electron emitter assembly further includes a light-attenuating device configured to receive the first light beam and to attenuate the first light beam between a first light intensity and a second light intensity greater than the first light intensity. The electron emitter assembly further includes a photo-cathode configured to receive the first light beam from the light-attenuating device. The photo-cathode is further configured to emit a first electron beam having a first power level in response to receiving the first light beam having the first light intensity. The photo-cathode is further configured to emit a second electron beam having a second power level greater than the first power level in response to receiving the first light beam having the second light intensity.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruce Matthew Dunham, John Scott Price, Colin R. Wilson
-
Patent number: 6912268Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
-
Publication number: 20040146143Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
-
Patent number: 6760407Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: GE Medical Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
-
Publication number: 20030198318Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson