Patents by Inventor Gordian Prescher
Gordian Prescher 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: 9995829Abstract: When detecting scintillation events in a nuclear imaging system, time-stamping and energy-gating processing is incorporated into autonomous detection modules (ADM) (14) to reduce downstream processing. Each ADM (14) is removably coupled to a detector fixture (13), and comprises a scintillation crystal array (66) and associated light detect or (s) (64), such as a silicon photomultiplier or the like. The light detector(s) (64) is coupled to a processing module (62) in or on the ADM (14), which performs the energy gating and time-stamping.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Carsten Degenhardt, Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Patent number: 9405024Abstract: A radiation detector module for use in a time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner generates a trigger signal indicative of a detected radiation event. A timing circuit including a first time-to-digital converter (TDC) and a second TDC is configured to output a corrected timestamp for the detected radiation event based on a first timestamp determined by the first TDC and a second timestamp determined by the second TDC. The first TDC is synchronized to a first reference clock signal and the second TDC is synchronized to a second reference clock signal, the first and second reference clock signals being asynchronous.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Patent number: 8975907Abstract: A photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetector cells such as avalanche photodiodes and readout circuits. An array self-tester tests a dark count or other performance characteristic of the cells. The test is performed in connection with the manufacture of the array or following the installation of the array in a detection system.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Thomas Frach
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Publication number: 20140336987Abstract: A radiation detector module for use in a time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner generates a trigger signal indicative of a detected radiation event. A timing circuit including a first time-to-digital converter (TDC) and a second TDC is configured to output a corrected timestamp for the detected radiation event based on a first timestamp determined by the first TDC and a second timestamp determined by the second TDC. The first TDC is synchronized to a first reference clock signal and the second TDC is synchronized to a second reference clock signal, the first and second reference clock signals being asynchronous.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Thomas FRACH, Gordian PRESCHER
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Patent number: 8822935Abstract: A radiation detector module (10) for use in a time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner (8) generates a trigger signal indicative of a detected radiation event. A timing circuit (22) including a first time-to-digital converter (TDC) (30) and a second TDC (31) is configured to output a corrected timestamp for the detected radiation event based on a first timestamp determined by the first TDC (30) and a second timestamp determined by the second TDC (31). The first TDC is synchronized to a first reference clock signal (40, 53) and the second TDC is synchronized to a second reference clock signal (42, 54), the first and second reference clock signals being asynchronous.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Patent number: 8754378Abstract: A photon-counting Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode intensity imaging array includes an array of pixels (200), each having an avalanche photodiode (250). A pixel senses an avalanche event and stores, in response to the sensed avalanche event, a single bit digital value therein. An array of accumulators (320) are provided such that each accumulator is associated with a pixel. A row decoder circuit (310) addresses a pixel row within the array of pixels. A bit sensing circuit (300) converts a precharged capacitance into a digital value during read operations.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Thomas Frach
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Patent number: 8723132Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector that is particularly suited for energy resolved single X-ray photon detection in a CT scanner. In a preferred embodiment, the detector has an array of scintillator elements in which incident X-ray photons are converted into bursts of optical photons. Pixels associated to the scintillator elements determine the numbers of optical photons they receive within predetermined acquisition intervals. These numbers can then be digitally processed to detect single X-ray photons and to determine their energy. The pixels may particularly be realized by avalanche photodiodes with associated digital electronic circuits for data processing.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Christian Baeumer, Thomas Frach, Christoph Herrmann, Gordian Prescher, Torsten Solf, Roger Steadman Booker, Guenter Zeitler
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Patent number: 8610808Abstract: A color imaging device comprises: one or more arrays (10, RA, GA, BA) of color selective photodetectors (R, G, B) configured to acquire a color image of a subject; a set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) arranged to acquire a luminance image of the subject; and digital image processing circuitry (30) configured to process the acquired color image and the acquired luminance image to generate an output image of the subject. In some embodiments the avalanche photodiode photodetectors are configured to perform photon counting. In some embodiments, the one or more arrays comprise an imaging array (10) including the color-selective photodetectors (R, G, B) distributed across the imaging array with the set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) interspersed amongst the color-selective photodetectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Carsten Degenhardt, Rob Ballizany, Anja Schmitz, Thomas Frach
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Patent number: 8519340Abstract: When detecting photons in a computed tomography (CT) detector, a sensor (10, 38) includes a photodiode that is switchable between liner and Geiger operation modes to increase sensing range. When signal to noise ratio (SNR) is high, a large bias voltage is applied to the photodiode (12) to charge it beyond its breakdown voltage, which makes it sensitive to single photons and causes it to operate in Geiger mode. When a photon is received at the photodiode (12), a readout transistor (18) senses the voltage drop across the photodiode (12) to detect the photon. Alternatively, when SNR is low, a low bias voltage is applied to the photodiode (12) to cause it to operate in linear mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Patent number: 8476594Abstract: A PET scanner (8) includes a ring of detector modules (10) encircling an imaging region (12). Each of the detector modules includes at least one detector pixel (24,34). Each detector pixel includes a scintillator (20, 30) optically coupled to one or more sensor APDs (54) that are biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode. The sensor APDs output a pulse in response to the light from the scintillator corresponding to a single incident radiation photon. A reference APD (26, 36) also biased in a break-down down region in a Geiger mode is optically shielded from light and outputs a temperature dependent signal. At least one temperature compensation circuit (40) adjusts a bias voltage applied to the sensor APDs based on the temperature dependent signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher, Carsten Degenhardt
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Patent number: 8395127Abstract: A radiation detector includes an array of detector pixels each including an array of detector cells. Each detector cell includes a photodiode biased in a breakdown region and digital circuitry coupled with the photodiode and configured to output a first digital value in a quiescent state and a second digital value responsive to photon detection by the photodiode. Digital triggering circuitry is configured to output a trigger signal indicative of a start of an integration time period responsive to a selected number of one or more of the detector cells transitioning from the first digital value to the second digital value. Readout digital circuitry accumulates a count of a number of transitions of detector cells of the array of detector cells from the first digital state to the second digital state over the integration time period.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Patent number: 8395125Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of photosensors. Photon trigger signals produced in response to signals from the sensors are received by a trigger line network that includes segment, intermediate), and master lines. The trigger network is configured to reduce a temporal skew introduced by the trigger line network. Validation logic provides a trigger validation output signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Thomas Frach, Andreas Thon
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Patent number: 8319186Abstract: An apparatus (208) includes a plurality of photosensors (310). Photon trigger signals produced in response to signals from the sensors are received by a trigger line network that includes segment (302), intermediate (304), and master (306) lines. The trigger network is configured to reduce a temporal skew introduced by the trigger line network. Validation logic (324) provides a trigger validation output signal (610).Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Thomas Frach, Andreas Thon
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Patent number: 8193815Abstract: A photodetector array (142) includes a plurality of photodetector cells (202) such as avalanche photodiodes (208) and readout circuits (210). An array self-tester (226) tests a dark count or other performance characteristic of the cells (202). The test is performed in connection with the manufacture of the array (142) or following the installation of the array (142) in a detection system (100).Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Thomas Frach
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Publication number: 20120129274Abstract: A photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetector cells such as avalanche photodiodes and readout circuits. An array self-tester tests a dark count or other performance characteristic of the cells. The test is performed in connection with the manufacture of the array or following the installation of the array in a detection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Gordian PRESCHER, Thomas FRACH
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Publication number: 20120068077Abstract: A radiation detector module (10) for use in a time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner (8) generates a trigger signal indicative of a detected radiation event. A timing circuit (22) including a first time-to-digital converter (TDC) (30) and a second TDC (31) is configured to output a corrected timestamp for the detected radiation event based on a first timestamp determined by the first TDC (30) and a second timestamp determined by the second TDC (31). The first TDC is synchronized to a first reference clock signal (40, 53) and the second TDC is synchronized to a second reference clock signal (42, 54), the first and second reference clock signals being asynchronous.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Publication number: 20110248175Abstract: A PET scanner (8) includes a ring of detector modules (10) encircling an imaging region (12). Each of the detector modules includes at least one detector pixel (24,34). Each detector pixel includes a scintillator (20, 30) optically coupled to one or more sensor APDs (54) that are biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode. The sensor APDs output a pulse in response to the light from the scintillator corresponding to a single incident radiation photon. A reference APD (26, 36) also biased in a break-down down region in a Geiger mode is optically shielded from light and outputs a temperature dependent signal. At least one temperature compensation circuit (40) adjusts a bias voltage applied to the sensor APDs based on the temperature dependent signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher, Carsten Degenhardt
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Publication number: 20110249148Abstract: A color imaging device comprises: one or more arrays (10, RA, GA, BA) of color selective photodetectors (R, G, B) configured to acquire a color image of a subject; a set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) arranged to acquire a luminance image of the subject; and digital image processing circuitry (30) configured to process the acquired color image and the acquired luminance image to generate an output image of the subject. In some embodiments the avalanche photodiode photodetectors are configured to perform photon counting. In some embodiments, the one or more arrays comprise an imaging array (10) including the color-selective photodetectors (R, G, B) distributed across the imaging array with the set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) interspersed amongst the color-selective photodetectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Carsten Degenhardt, Rob Ballizany, Anja Schmitz, Thomas Frach
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Publication number: 20110240864Abstract: When detecting scintillation events in a nuclear imaging system, time-stamping and energy-gating processing is incorporated into autonomous detection modules (ADM) (14) to reduce downstream processing. Each ADM (14) is removably coupled to a detector fixture (13), and comprises a scintillation crystal array (66) and associated light detect or (s) (64), such as a silicon photomultiplier or the like. The light detector(s) (64) is coupled to a processing module (62) in or on the ADM (14), which performs the energy gating and time-stamping.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Carsten Degenhardt, Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
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Publication number: 20110240865Abstract: When detecting photons in a computed tomography (CT) detector, a sensor (10, 38) includes a photodiode that is switchable between liner and Geiger operation modes to increase sensing range. When signal to noise ratio (SNR) is high, a large bias voltage is applied to the photodiode (12) to charge it beyond its breakdown voltage, which makes it sensitive to single photons and causes it to operate in Geiger mode. When a photon is received at the photodiode (12), a readout transistor (18) senses the voltage drop across the photodiode (12) to detect the photon. Alternatively, when SNR is low, a low bias voltage is applied to the photodiode (12) to cause it to operate in linear mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher