Abstract: This invention relates to a robot programming method that is carried out at a first location (i.e., teaching station) and a second location (i.e., application station). The second location is different from the first location. At the first location, teach data is prepared to teach motions to a robot to drive an end effector through a series of desired path points along a desired path of motion with respect to the application station. The teach data comprises at least one of robot position data elements and at least one of robot motion pattern data elements. At the second location, teach data is communicated to the robot and the robot is programmed in accordance with the teach data to drive the end effector through the series of desired path points along the desired path of motion with respect to the application station. This invention also relates to a robot programming system. The robot programming method and system are useful, for example, in thermal spray coating applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a robot programming method that is carried out at a first location (i.e., teaching station) and a second location (i.e., application station). The second location is different from the first location. At the first location, teach data is prepared to teach motions to a robot to drive an end effector through a series of desired path points along a desired path of motion with respect to the application station. The teach data comprises at least one of robot position data elements and at least one of robot motion pattern data elements. At the second location, teach data is communicated to the robot and the robot is programmed in accordance with the teach data to drive the end effector through the series of desired path points along the desired path of motion with respect to the application station. This invention also relates to a robot programming system. The robot programming method and system are useful, for example, in thermal spray coating applications.

Abstract: A method for obtaining data includes scanning an object with radiation to collect projection data using an imaging system having a detector array with detector cells and a post-patient collimator, wherein the post-patient collimator has plates having non-uniform thicknesses. The method further includes applying a correction to the projection data to shift an effective center of at least some of the detector cells to compensate for the non-uniform thicknesses of the collimator plates.

Abstract: An x-ray system is controlled to obtain a view of an area of a patient that is larger than a field of view of an x-ray detector. Individual images are obtained of portions of the area of the subject that, when combined, can be used to get a view of the area of the subject. Positions of individual images are determined. The positions are preferably calculated to avoid placing structures that tend to move or that are dose sensitive in an area of overlap of the individual images. Also, the positions are preferably calculated to reduce overall exposure to a subject, especially by reducing unnecessary double exposure.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a first image of a subject at a first position, changing a position between the detector and the subject, obtaining a second image, and pasting the first and images to obtain a composite image. The first image and the second image may have an amount of overlap equal to no more than about 30 percent of a field of view of the detector in a direction of movement between the first image and the second image, and, according to some embodiments, may have an overlap of about 4 percent to about 16 percent. This may, in some embodiments, amount to an amount of overlap of about 1.5 cm to about 6.5 or 12 cm. In some embodiments, the span of overlap of the images is at least about 30 cm. The geometry of the images may be used to help paste the images together appropriately.

Abstract: A flexible detector array transmission circuit (12) for an x-ray imaging system (10) may include an electrically conductive substrate layer (70) that is electrically coupled to a detector (68). A mono-directional conductive layer (80) is also electrically coupled to the substrate layer (70). One or more flexible circuit layers (72) are electrically coupled to the mono-directional conductive layer (80). The circuit layers (72) direct x-ray signals, generated from the detector (68), to a data acquisition system (42).