Patents by Inventor Geoffrey Harding

Geoffrey Harding 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: 7499523
    Abstract: A method for identifying a substance is described. The method includes detecting, by a first scatter detector, a first set of scattered radiation, generating a first effective atomic number from the first set of scattered radiation, detecting, by a second scatter detector, a second set of scattered radiation, generating a second effective atomic number from the second set of scattered radiation, and determining whether the first effective atomic number is within a limit of the second effective atomic number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7492863
    Abstract: A method for developing a virtual representation of an x-ray diffraction imaging system includes generating a symmetry axis, generating a conical shape having a base diameter, a vertex angle ?, and a vertex point, locating the vertex point at an origin point on the symmetry axis, and extending a first line and a second line between the vertex point and the conical base such that the first line is separated an angle d? from the second line in an azimuthal direction around the conical base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: GE Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7486760
    Abstract: An imaging system for generating a diffraction profile is described. The imaging system includes a gantry including an x-ray imaging system configured to generate an x-ray image of a substance and a scatter system configured to generate a diffraction profile of the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: GE Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20090028294
    Abstract: A method for identifying a substance is described. The method includes detecting, by a first scatter detector, a first set of scattered radiation, generating a first effective atomic number from the first set of scattered radiation, detecting, by a second scatter detector, a second set of scattered radiation, generating a second effective atomic number from the second set of scattered radiation, and determining whether the first effective atomic number is within a limit of the second effective atomic number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7477725
    Abstract: An examination apparatus, such as for inspection of baggage or any object of interest, has a source of radiation which is moved during scanning of the object of interest. A scattered radiation are detected which is scattered by the object of interest under a particular predetermined scatter angle, without moving the detector array. By detecting the scatter radiation scattered under the predetermined scatter angle, the vertical coordinate of the location of the scatter center in the object of interest and its composition may be derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7474728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus (CT apparatus) for imaging by means of radiation having traversed an object to be examined (that is, directly transmitted radiation), as well as by means of radiation scattered by the object to be examined, which apparatus includes a radiation source (S), a detector arrangement (16) and a device whereby the radiation (41a) having traversed the object to be examined can be blocked at least to an extent that the intensity incident on the detector arrangement (16) does not substantially exceed the intensity of radiation (41b) scattered by the object (13) to be examined and incident on the detector arrangement (16). The invention enables the detection of scattered radiation (CSCT mode) which is not affected by crosstalk from the transmitted radiation, even when the detector arrangement does not satisfy severe requirements as regards crosstalk properties and/or is configured as a single-row detector arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jens-Peter Schlomka, Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20090003514
    Abstract: An integrated, multi-sensor, Level 1 screening device is described, which system provides a next-generation Explosives Detection System (EDS) that enables high throughput, while drastically reducing false alarms. In exemplary embodiments, the present system comprises a non-rotational, Computed Tomography (CT) system and a non-translational, X-ray diffraction (XRD) system, both in an inline configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter Michael Edic, Mark E. Vermilyea, Forrest Frank Hopkins, Geoffrey Harding, Pierfrancesco Landolfi
  • Patent number: 7471769
    Abstract: An X-ray source and an X-ray apparatus with an X-ray source are provided, the X-ray source includes a liquid metal target which flows through a system of ducts and is conducted through a duct section which has a flow cross-section that is reduced relative to that of the system of ducts. The X-ray source provides a pressure source for acting on the liquid metal target such that the pressure in the liquid metal target at the area of the reduced flow cross-section equals essentially a selectable reference value or remains essentially in a pressure range between selectable limit values of the pressure. A comparatively small thickness of a window can thus be realized in conjunction with a comparatively high flow speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Bernd David, Rainer Willi Eckart, Jens Peter Schlomka
  • Patent number: 7463721
    Abstract: A secondary collimator for an X-ray scattering device with horizontal plates and vertical plates arranged perpendicular thereto, the vertical plates being arranged parallel to one another and being inclined by a pre-determinable scattering angle to a transmission direction of an X-ray beam, and the horizontal plates being aligned fan-shaped onto a single point, namely to the X-ray source, and the horizontal plates with the vertical plates forming a rectangular grid with the vertical plates and being combined to form a collimator unit. Moreover, the invention relates to an X-ray scattering device for baggage check with an X-ray source, with a primary collimator which only lets through a fan beam, with a secondary collimator for projecting an area of an item of luggage and with a scattering detector, the secondary collimator being arranged between the item of luggage to be examined and the scattering detector and being developed as mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Helmut Strecker, Dirk Kosciesza, Stephan Olesinski
  • Patent number: 7463720
    Abstract: A method for developing a multi-focus primary collimator is described. The method includes extending a first beam from a first source via a collimator block to a first detector and determining a size of the first beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: GE Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Johannes Paul Delfs
  • Patent number: 7443958
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electron window 1 for a liquid-metal anode 2 in the form of a membrane 4. It is provided according to the invention that the electron window 1 has ridges 10 and depressions 11. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-metal anode 2 into which such an electron window 1 according to the invention is inserted. The invention further relates to an X-radiator which has a liquid-metal anode 2 according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for operating a liquid-metal anode 2 in which, during the production of X-radiation, stronger turbulence 5 is produced in the flow of the liquid metal below the electron window 1 at the ridges 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7436931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray source comprising an electron source (1) for the emission of electrons (E), a target (4) for the emission of characteristic, substantially monochromatic X-rays (C) in response to the incidence of the electrons (E) and an outcoupling means (11) for outcoupling of the X-rays. To achieve characteristic, substantially monochromatic X-rays with a high power loadability electrons are incident on a metal foil (5) of a thickness of less than 10 ?m and a base arrangement (7, 12) is arranged wherein the metal of said metal foil (5) has a high atomic number allowing the generation of X-rays (C) and the material substantially included in the base arrangement (7, 12) has a low atomic number not allowing the generation of X-rays (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080226025
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the distribution of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) marker (16) in a body volume (14). The body volume (14) is irradiated with a beam of rays (12) from an X-ray source (10) with a first ray component with a quantum energy just above and a second ray component with a quantum energy just below the K-edge of the XRF marker (16). Secondary radiation emitted from the body volume (14) is detected in a location-resolved way by a detector (30). To separate the X-ray fluorescence components in the secondary radiation from background radiation, the body volume is irradiated for a second time with a beam of rays from which the first ray component has been substantially removed by a filter (22) made from the material of the XRF marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONIC, N.V.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Gerhard Martens, Hans Barschdorf, Bernd Schweizer
  • Patent number: 7412032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a magnetohydrodynamic pump 5 for a liquid-metal anode 1 of an X-ray source. It is provided according to the invention that it can be operated in at least two modes, wherein the first mode is a thawing mode in which the liquid metal 2 is melted in a line 3 of the liquid-metal anode 1, the second mode is an operating mode in which the liquid metal 2 is pumped through the line 3 and X-ray beams are produced. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-metal anode 1 for an X-ray source with a liquid metal 2 which is located in a line 3, wherein an anode module 15 is inserted into the line 3 in the region of focus 4, with a pump 5 for circulating the liquid metal 2 in the line 3 and with a cooling system 6 for the liquid metal 2. According to the invention, such a liquid-metal anode 1 has a magnetohydrodynamic pump 5 as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: GE Security Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080080670
    Abstract: A method for classifying an unknown substance is provided, The method includes classifying the unknown substance based on simultaneously processing a plurality of parameters determined from a plurality of signals that are measured by at least one detector. The at least one detector is located within a gantry of an imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080069305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray source for the generation of fluorescent X-rays comprising an electron source (1) for the emission of electrons (6) and a target which emits X-rays (10) in response to the incidence of the electrons (6), said target comprising a ring-shaped primary target (2) for the emission of primary X-rays (9) in response to the incidence of the electrons (6) and a secondary target (3) for the emission of fluorescent X-rays (10) in response to the incidence of the primary X-rays (9). To obtain an enhanced radiance, it is proposed that the primary target (2) comprises a liquid metal channel (8) arranged in radial direction relative to a central axis (4), and that a liquid metal circulates in the liquid metal channel (8) during operation of the X-ray source in radial direction from an inner side (13) to an outer side (14) of said ring-shaped primary target (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Bernd R. David
  • Publication number: 20080063146
    Abstract: A method for developing a multi-focus primary collimator is described. The method includes extending a first beam from a first source via a collimator block to a first detector and determining a size of the first beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Johannes Paul Delfs
  • Publication number: 20080043912
    Abstract: An imaging system for generating a diffraction profile is described. The imaging system includes a gantry including an x-ray imaging system configured to generate an x-ray image of a substance and a scatter system configured to generate a diffraction profile of the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080031540
    Abstract: A method for reducing an artifact within an image of a substance is described. The method includes generating the image of the substance, and constraining a measured linear attenuation coefficient of a pixel of the image based on at least one of a measured diffraction profile, a measured effective atomic number, and a measured packing fraction of the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080031415
    Abstract: A method for developing a virtual representation of an x-ray diffraction imaging system includes generating a symmetry axis, generating a conical shape having a base diameter, a vertex angle ?, and a vertex point, locating the vertex point at an origin point on the symmetry axis, and extending a first line and a second line between the vertex point and the conical base such that the first line is separated an angle d? from the second line in an azimuthal direction around the conical base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding