Patents by Inventor James Lacey

James Lacey 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: 9817133
    Abstract: A heat controlling apparatus for a detector of a CT machine and a detector. The heat controlling apparatus comprises: a heat conducting frame, which is disposed at a side where a chip on a circuit board in the detector is located; a heater, which thermally contacts with the heat conducting frame and is used for heating the heat conducting frame; a heat dissipating member, which is connected with the heat conducting frame and used for dissipating heat produced by the detector; and a heat isolating member, which is wrapped at a periphery of a collimator of the detector, the heat conducting frame and the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xinfeng Li, Hua Zhang, Pengcheng Liu, Joseph James Lacey
  • Publication number: 20170200522
    Abstract: A collimator for an imaging detector assembly of a computed tomography imaging system is provided. The collimator includes a collimator module that includes a primary collimation grid having a first edge and a second edge. The primary collimation grid includes multiple radiation absorbing elements spaced apart from each other and configured to provide primary beam collimation. A first radiation absorbing element is disposed on the first edge and a second radiation absorbing element is disposed on the second edge. The collimator module includes multiple plates located on a side of the primary collimation grid and configured to absorb scattered radiation. A respective plate of the multiple plates is disposed over a respective radiation absorbing element of the multiple radiation absorbing elements of the primary collimation grid except the second radiation absorbing element disposed on the second edge of the primary collimation grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, David Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9700273
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for thermal management in a CT device comprises first and second thermal management zones, each comprising an x-ray detector, at least one variable speed fan proximate to the x-ray detector, an air temperature sensor positioned to measure an air temperature of the intake air to the variable speed fan, a rail heater in thermal contact with the x-ray detector, a rail temperature sensor in thermal contact with the rail heater to measure a rail temperature, and a controller that controls the variable speed fan as a function of at least the air temperature and the rail heater as a function of the rail temperature to maintain a temperature of the x-ray detector within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Ashutosh Joshi, Venkatarao Ryali, Sanketh Bhat
  • Patent number: 9519069
    Abstract: CT detector modules are disclosed that include a module frame and a plurality of tileable detector sensors positioned on the module frame. Each of the tileable detector sensors includes an array of detector elements and a mounting structure directly or indirectly coupled to the detector elements to provide for a mounting and alignment of the detector sensor to the module frame. The mounting structure includes an alignment plate positioned generally opposite the array of detector elements, with the alignment plate having alignment pins forming a datum structure to align the detector sensor on the module frame and one or more threaded bosses configured to receive a fastener therein that secures the detector sensor to the module frame. The module frame includes keyed features that receive the alignment pins when the detector sensors are mounted on the module frame, so as to align the detector sensors on the module frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Baiju Zacharia Babu
  • Patent number: 9513236
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus is provided. The radiation detecting apparatus includes a plurality of detector modules arranged in a channel direction, each detector module including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in matrix form in the channel direction and a slice direction, and a heat radiating unit thermally coupled to the detecting elements and provided on an X-ray outgoing side of the detecting elements, a wind blowing unit configured to send wind to the heat radiating units of the detector modules in the slice direction, first wind shielding portions provided on a radiation outgoing side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in a radiation irradiating direction, and second wind shielding portions provided on a radiation incoming side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in the radiation irradiating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kotatsu Kawaguchi, Joseph James Lacey, Richard Paul Vandeweghe
  • Publication number: 20160242314
    Abstract: A heat controlling apparatus for a detector of a CT machine and a detector. The heat controlling apparatus comprises: a heat conducting frame, which is disposed at a side where a chip on a circuit board in the detector is located; a heater, which thermally contacts with the heat conducting frame and is used for heating the heat conducting frame; a heat dissipating member, which is connected with the heat conducting frame and used for dissipating heat produced by the detector; and a heat isolating member, which is wrapped at a periphery of a collimator of the detector, the heat conducting frame and the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Xinfeng LI, Hua ZHANG, Pengcheng LIU, Joseph James LACEY
  • Publication number: 20160174920
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for thermal management in a CT device comprises first and second thermal management zones, each comprising an x-ray detector, at least one variable speed fan proximate to the x-ray detector, an air temperature sensor positioned to measure an air temperature of the intake air to the variable speed fan, a rail heater in thermal contact with the x-ray detector, a rail temperature sensor in thermal contact with the rail heater to measure a rail temperature, and a controller that controls the variable speed fan as a function of at least the air temperature and the rail heater as a function of the rail temperature to maintain a temperature of the x-ray detector within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Ashutosh Joshi, Venkatarao Ryali, Sanketh Bhat
  • Publication number: 20150156920
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus is provided. The radiation detecting apparatus includes a plurality of detector modules arranged in a channel direction, each detector module including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in matrix form in the channel direction and a slice direction, and a heat radiating unit thermally coupled to the detecting elements and provided on an X-ray outgoing side of the detecting elements, a wind blowing unit configured to send wind to the heat radiating units of the detector modules in the slice direction, first wind shielding portions provided on a radiation outgoing side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in a radiation irradiating direction, and second wind shielding portions provided on a radiation incoming side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in the radiation irradiating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kotatsu Kawaguchi, Joseph James Lacey, Richard Paul Vandeweghe
  • Publication number: 20150071401
    Abstract: CT detector modules are disclosed that include a module frame and a plurality of tileable detector sensors positioned on the module frame. Each of the tileable detector sensors includes an array of detector elements and a mounting structure directly or indirectly coupled to the detector elements to provide for a mounting and alignment of the detector sensor to the module frame. The mounting structure includes an alignment plate positioned generally opposite the array of detector elements, with the alignment plate having alignment pins forming a datum structure to align the detector sensor on the module frame and one or more threaded bosses configured to receive a fastener therein that secures the detector sensor to the module frame. The module frame includes keyed features that receive the alignment pins when the detector sensors are mounted on the module frame, so as to align the detector sensors on the module frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Baiju Zacharia Babu
  • Patent number: 8964375
    Abstract: Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Claassen, Hendrik F. Hamann, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, James A. Lacey, Yves C. Martin, Roger R. Schmidt, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Patent number: 8926177
    Abstract: A source-side radiation detector (SSRD) includes a detector module assembly, and a monitoring lens coupled to the detector module assembly, the detector module assembly and the monitoring lens being positioned proximate to an x-ray source, the monitoring lens including a plurality of slits configured to receive x-rays therethrough from the x-ray source, the detector module assembly being configured detect the x-rays transmitted through the slits and to generate information to track a position of a focal spot of the x-ray source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph James Lacey
  • Patent number: 8891727
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation source configured to emit radiation from a first focal point, a plurality of radiation detecting elements disposed opposite to the radiation source and arranged in a channel direction, a plurality of collimator plates provided along the channel direction so as to separate the radiation detecting elements, the collimator plates including radiation absorption members at surfaces of at least one first collimator plate located on a first end side and at least one second collimator plate located on a second end side such that radiation shielding effects of the first and second collimator plates become substantially equivalent when the surfaces of the first and second collimator plates are located along a radial direction from a second focal point, and a data acquisition unit configured to acquire radiation projection data from the radiation detecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Haruo Kurochi, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph James Lacey, Mark Adamak
  • Patent number: 8890079
    Abstract: A radiation detection device is provided. The radiation detection device includes a pair of rails spaced in a slice direction and extending parallel to a channel direction, and a plurality of collimator modules arranged along the channel direction on a radiation exit side of the pair of rails, wherein at least one of the pair of rails extending along the channel direction includes a plate member with a plurality of notches formed along the radiation exit side, and wherein the collimator modules each include a first pin protruding on a radiation incidence side and attached to the pair of rails with the first pin fitted in one of the notches of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Haruo Kurochi, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph James Lacey, Richard P. Vandeweghe
  • Patent number: 8757878
    Abstract: A system and method for temperature drift correction capability in a CT detector module is disclosed. A scintillator array of a CT detector module has a plurality of scintillator cells configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy passing through an object, with a plurality of photodiodes in a photodiode array optically coupled to the scintillator array to detect light output therefrom. A computer is provided that is programmed to measure a response of the plurality of photodiodes as a function of temperature, determine a transfer function indicative of the response of the plurality of photodiodes as a function of temperature, normalize the transfer function to a virtual operating temperature, measure a temperature of the photodiode array prior to a scan, determine a correction factor from the normalized transfer function based on the measured photodiode temperature and the virtual operating temperature, and apply the correction factor to the photodiode outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph James Lacey
  • Patent number: 8699660
    Abstract: A liquid cooled thermal control system for a computed tomography (CT) detector includes a plurality of temperature sensors and a control mode selector module coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors. The control mode selector module is programmed to receive an input from the plurality of temperature sensors, identify the inputs as either valid inputs or invalid inputs, and determine an operational mode of the liquid cooled thermal control system based on the identified inputs. A CT imaging system and a method of operating a cooling system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashutosh Joshi, Joseph James Lacey, Medy Satria
  • Publication number: 20140063729
    Abstract: Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Claassen, Hendrik F. Hamann, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, James A. Lacey, Yves C. Martin, Roger R. Schmidt, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Patent number: 8658981
    Abstract: A method is provided for image detection. The method includes measuring a temperature of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter of an imaging system during an imaging scan of an object, and correcting a gain of the A/D converter based on the measured temperature of the A/D converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Russell Hum, Ashutosh Joshi
  • Patent number: 8636406
    Abstract: An apparatus determines cooling characteristics of an operational cooling device used for transferring heat from an electronic device. The operational cooling device is thermally coupled to a heat pipe. The heat pipe has an exposed surface for selective application of heat thereon. Heat from a localized heat source is selectively applied to at least one region of the exposed surface. The heat source is preferably capable of being varied both positionally relative to the exposed surface and in heat intensity. A heat shield is preferably positioned around the exposed surface of the heat pipe to isolate the operational cooling device from the heat from the localized heat source. A temperature detector repeatedly measures a temperature distribution across the exposed surface while the cooling device is in a heat transfer mode. The temperature distribution is then used to thermally characterize the operational cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, James A. Lacey, Roger R. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140001371
    Abstract: A radiation detection device is provided. The radiation detection device includes a pair of rails spaced in a slice direction and extending parallel to a channel direction, and a plurality of collimator modules arranged along the channel direction on a radiation exit side of the pair of rails, wherein at least one of the pair of rails extending along the channel direction includes a plate member with a plurality of notches formed along the radiation exit side, and wherein the collimator modules each include a first pin protruding on a radiation incidence side and attached to the pair of rails with the first pin fitted in one of the notches of the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Haruo Kurochi, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph James Lacey, Richard P. VanDeWeghe
  • Publication number: 20130308748
    Abstract: A source-side radiation detector (SSRD) includes a detector module assembly, and a monitoring lens coupled to the detector module assembly, the detector module assembly and the monitoring lens being positioned proximate to an x-ray source, the monitoring lens including a plurality of slits configured to receive x-rays therethrough from the x-ray source, the detector module assembly being configured detect the x-rays transmitted through the slits and to generate information to track a position of a focal spot of the x-ray source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: ABDELAZIZ IKHLEF, JOSEPH JAMES LACEY