Patents by Inventor Gin-Chung Wang

Gin-Chung Wang 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).

  • Publication number: 20160077124
    Abstract: A shock detection device for a detector array includes an accelerometer mounted on the detector array to detect vibrations. The shock detection device also includes an electronic memory to store data from the accelerometer. The data corresponds to detected vibrations that exceed an active threshold of the accelerometer. The shock detection device also includes a power supply that is separate from the power supply of the detector array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Alan KARR, Daniel McGOWAN, Gin Chung WANG
  • Patent number: 9223031
    Abstract: A process and device for generating a prototype waveform and a weighting function. The process including obtaining waveforms generated by a detector having at least one photosensor, generating an initial estimate for the prototype waveform and the weighting function and parameterizing the prototype waveform and the weighting function and determining for each waveform an optimal amplitude and an optimal time offset of the prototype waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kent Burr, Gin-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 9140805
    Abstract: A method of arranging detector modules within a gamma ray detector apparatus, each detector module including an array of scintillation crystals to convert light into electrical signals, the light being generated in response to incident gamma rays generated by an annihilation event, the method including obtaining performance information of each of the detector modules, and determining a relative location for each of the detector modules within the gamma ray detector based on the obtained performance information of the detector modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gin Chung Wang, Kent C. Burr, Huini Du, Jerry Wang
  • Publication number: 20150257722
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a digital processing circuit to obtain a digital signal corresponding to an output signal of a photon-counting detector; determine, from the obtained digital signal, a plurality of X-ray photons received by the photon-counting detector during a measurement period; determine a corresponding energy level of each of the plurality of X-ray photons; determine, based on the corresponding energy level, a corresponding weight for each of the plurality of X-ray photons; and calculate a sum of the corresponding weights of the plurality of X-ray photons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Gin-Chung WANG, Daniel Gagnon, Yu Zou
  • Patent number: 9035261
    Abstract: Systems, devices, processes, and algorithms for adapting and/or adjusting a reflectivity of a reflector in a radiation detector. The reflectivity can be changed by a reflectivity control signal that is generated based on an estimated count rate of events so as to adjust a probability of a photosensor detecting light resulting from the event via, for example, a scintillation event. By adjusting the probability, an energy resolution of the radiation detector can be optimized. The reflectivity of a reflector can be changed by changing a state of a thin film, a liquid crystal layer, or a suspended magnetic particle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gin-Chung Wang, Jerry Wang, Huini Du
  • Patent number: 9006668
    Abstract: A method to improve light extraction from scintillators in a gamma ray detector, the method including forming a roughened layer on a light-emitting surface of the scintillators, the roughened thin layer having a pillar/column or a corn-shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry Wang, Gin Chung Wang, Huini Du
  • Patent number: 8987653
    Abstract: A process and system including a detector having a photosensor therein that outputs a signal and a plurality of after-pulse detector devices independently connected to the photosensor via respective pathways. The after-pulse detector devices each detecting an after-pulse in the signal, where the after-pulse represents an after-event in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The system further includes a processing device that receives an indication of the detection of the after-pulse from each of the plurality of after-pulse detector devices and determines a relative delay between the respective pathways based on timing the received indications, and includes a memory that stores the relative delay in association with an identification of the corresponding after-pulse detector devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Huini Du, Gin Chung Wang, Jerry Wang
  • Patent number: 8957362
    Abstract: A process and system including a detector having a photosensor therein that outputs a signal and a plurality of after-pulse detector devices independently connected to the photosensor via respective pathways. The after-pulse detector devices each detecting an after-pulse in the signal, where the after-pulse represents an after-event in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The system further includes a processing device that receives an indication of the detection of the after-pulse from each of the plurality of after-pulse detector devices and determines a relative delay between the respective pathways based on timing the received indications, and includes a memory that stores the relative delay in association with an identification of the corresponding after-pulse detector devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Huini Du, Gin Chung Wang, Jerry Wang
  • Publication number: 20150014519
    Abstract: A process and system including a detector having a photosensor therein that outputs a signal and a plurality of after-pulse detector devices independently connected to the photosensor via respective pathways. The after-pulse detector devices each detecting an after-pulse in the signal, where the after-pulse represents an after-event in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The system further includes a processing device that receives an indication of the detection of the after-pulse from each of the plurality of after-pulse detector devices and determines a relative delay between the respective pathways based on timing the received indications, and includes a memory that stores the relative delay in association with an identification of the corresponding after-pulse detector devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huini DU, Gin Chung Wang, Jerry Wang
  • Publication number: 20140361191
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer-readable medium, and system for adjusting data acquisition parameters during a scan performed by a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. The method includes obtaining, during the scan, a current temperature of a detector of the PET scanner, and adjusting, based on the current temperature, the data acquisition parameters used by the PET scanner during the scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel MCGOWAN, Gin Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 8866654
    Abstract: A method and electronic device for outputting time values and energy of an analog input signal by dynamically determining a plurality of threshold values, comparing, using a plurality of comparator circuits, the plurality of threshold values against the analog input signal, outputting, using at least one time to digital conversion circuit connected to each of the plurality of comparator circuits, a plurality of time values, each time value output when the analog input signal meets or exceeds a threshold value of the threshold values, filtering the analog input signal, performing, using an analog-to-digital conversion circuit, analog-to-digital conversion of the filtered analog input signal to generate a digital signal, and calculating, in response to receiving a trigger signal, an energy of the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Mann, Gin-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 8859951
    Abstract: A photosensor gain detection apparatus that includes a detector including a photosensor configured to output a signal. Also included in the apparatus is an after-pulse/dark-pulse detector device that detects an after-pulse or a dark-pulse in the signal output by the photosensor, and outputs an indication signal when the after-pulse or the dark-pulse is detected, the after-pulse and the dark-pulse representing after-events in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The apparatus additionally includes an integrator device that integrates the signal output by the photosensor and to output an integrated signal, a histogram device connected to the integrator and the after-pulse/dark-pulse detector device, and that generates a histogram from the integrated signal and the indication signal, a gain determination device that determines a gain of the photosensor based on the generated histogram, and a memory configured to store the determined gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Gin Chung Wang, Huini Du, Jerry Wang
  • Patent number: 8796637
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating an imaging system in which a positron-emitting radioisotope source is arranged in or adjacent to an imaging region of the imaging system, an annihilation target is arranged at a position separated from the positron-emitting radioisotope source by a predetermined distance, coincident event pairs resulting from annihilation of positrons at the annihilation target are detected, a calibration time offset for a detector element in the imaging system is calculated based on the detected coincident event pairs, and the detector element is calibrated with the completed calibration time offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kent C. Burr, Xiaoli Li, Gin-Chung Wang, Huini Du, Daniel Gagnon
  • Publication number: 20140151562
    Abstract: Systems, devices, processes, and algorithms for adapting and/or adjusting a reflectivity of a reflector in a radiation detector. The reflectivity can be changed by a reflectivity control signal that is generated based on an estimated count rate of events so as to adjust a probability of a photosensor detecting light resulting from the event via, for example, a scintillation event. By adjusting the probability, an energy resolution of the radiation detector can be optimized. The reflectivity of a reflector can be changed by changing a state of a thin film, a liquid crystal layer, or a suspended magnetic particle layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Gin-Chung WANG, Jerry Wang, Huini Du
  • Publication number: 20140110573
    Abstract: A photosensor gain detection apparatus that includes a detector including a photosensor configured to output a signal. Also included in the apparatus is an after-pulse/dark-pulse detector device that detects an after-pulse or a dark-pulse in the signal output by the photosensor, and outputs an indication signal when the after-pulse or the dark-pulse is detected, the after-pulse and the dark-pulse representing after-events in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The apparatus additionally includes an integrator device that integrates the signal output by the photosensor and to output an integrated signal, a histogram device connected to the integrator and the after-pulse/dark-pulse detector device, and that generates a histogram from the integrated signal and the indication signal, a gain determination device that determines a gain of the photosensor based on the generated histogram, and a memory configured to store the determined gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Gin Chung WANG, Huini Du, Jerry Wang
  • Publication number: 20140110567
    Abstract: A process and system including a detector having a photosensor therein that outputs a signal and a plurality of after-pulse detector devices independently connected to the photosensor via respective pathways. The after-pulse detector devices each detecting an after-pulse in the signal, where the after-pulse represents an after-event in the photosensor triggered from a previous photon generating event. The system further includes a processing device that receives an indication of the detection of the after-pulse from each of the plurality of after-pulse detector devices and determines a relative delay between the respective pathways based on timing the received indications, and includes a memory that stores the relative delay in association with an identification of the corresponding after-pulse detector devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Huini DU, Gin Chung Wang, Jerry Wang
  • Publication number: 20140110589
    Abstract: A method of arranging detector modules within a gamma ray detector apparatus, each detector module including an array of scintillation crystals to convert light into electrical signals, the light being generated in response to incident gamma rays generated by an annihilation event, the method including obtaining performance information of each of the detector modules, and determining a relative location for each of the detector modules within the gamma ray detector based on the obtained performance information of the detector modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Gin Chung WANG, Kent C. BURR, Huini DU, Jerry WANG
  • Publication number: 20140091234
    Abstract: A method to improve light extraction from scintillators in a gamma ray detector, the method including forming a roughened layer on a light-emitting surface of the scintillators, the roughened thin layer having a pillar/column or a corn-shaped structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Jerry WANG, Gin Chung WANG, Huini DU
  • Publication number: 20130168534
    Abstract: A process and device for generating a prototype waveform and a weighting function. The process including obtaining waveforms generated by a detector having at least one photosensor, generating an initial estimate for the prototype waveform and the weighting function and parameterizing the prototype waveform and the weighting function and determining for each waveform an optimal amplitude and an optimal time offset of the prototype waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kent BURR, Gin-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 8446308
    Abstract: A system and method for processing an analog signal output by a sensor. The system and method converting, using at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the analog output signal to a digital signal, the digital signal including a plurality of samples at a predetermined resolution, detecting whether a trigger condition is met by analyzing the digital signal, detecting an event based on trigger information from the detecting whether a trigger condition is met, generating event information having time information included therein when the event is detected, defining one or more time windows based on the time information included in the event information, performing decimation on the digital signal based on the defined one or more time windows to generate a decimated signal, and outputting the decimated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kent Burr, Gin-Chung Wang, John S. Jedrzejewski, Gregory J. Mann