Patents by Inventor Richard Gordon Cronce

Richard Gordon Cronce 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: 8804909
    Abstract: A method for regulating the acquisition of an analog input signal from a digital X-ray panel is provided. The method includes opening a switch disposed between an integrator and the digital X-ray panel prior to an integrator event or upon detection of a fault in the digital X-ray panel to decouple the integrator from the digital X-ray panel, wherein the integrator is configured to integrate the analog input signal from the digital X-ray panel. Also, a system for data acquisition is provided. Further, a method for fault protection of the digital X-ray panel is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, German Guillermo Vera, Jianjun Guo
  • Patent number: 8693747
    Abstract: A method for controlling a X-ray radiography system includes acquiring data from a digital X-ray detector, characterizing electromagnetic interference based upon the acquired data, selecting an electromagnetic interference compensation algorithm based upon the characterized electromagnetic interference, acquiring X-ray imaging data via the digital X-ray detector based upon the selected electromagnetic interference compensation algorithm, and processing the X-ray imaging data to produce image data capable of reconstruction in a user viewable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ping Xue, Shijia Zhang, Fengchao Zhang, John Robert Lamberty, Richard Gordon Cronce, James Zhengshe Liu, Paul Richard Granfors, German Guillermo Vera
  • Patent number: 8605862
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided with a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a first photodiode having a first area and a second photodiode having a second area equal to or smaller than the first area. The digital X-ray detector also includes a shielding structure that overlies the first and second photodiodes of each pixel region with the shielding structure shielding proportionally less of the first photodiode than of the second photodiode to provide the first photodiode with a first sensitivity and the second photodiode with a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Richard Granfors, John Robert Lamberty, Richard Gordon Cronce, Ping Xue, Marc Schaepkens, Aaron Judy Couture, Douglas Albagli
  • Publication number: 20130170622
    Abstract: A method for regulating the acquisition of an analog input signal from a digital X-ray panel is provided. The method includes opening a switch disposed between an integrator and the digital X-ray panel prior to an integrator event or upon detection of a fault in the digital X-ray panel to decouple the integrator from the digital X-ray panel, wherein the integrator is configured to integrate the analog input signal from the digital X-ray panel. Also, a system for data acquisition is provided. Further, a method for fault protection of the digital X-ray panel is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, German Guillermo Vera, Jianjun Guo
  • Publication number: 20120275569
    Abstract: A method for controlling a X-ray radiography system includes acquiring data from a digital X-ray detector, characterizing electromagnetic interference based upon the acquired data, selecting an electromagnetic interference compensation algorithm based upon the characterized electromagnetic interference, acquiring X-ray imaging data via the digital X-ray detector based upon the selected electromagnetic interference compensation algorithm, and processing the X-ray imaging data to produce image data capable of reconstruction in a user viewable form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ping Xue, Shijia Zhang, Fengchao Zhang, John Robert Lamberty, Richard Gordon Cronce, James Zhengshe Liu, Paul Richard Granfors, German Guillermo Vera
  • Publication number: 20120074329
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided with a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a first photodiode having a first area and a second photodiode having a second area equal to or smaller than the first area. The digital X-ray detector also includes a shielding structure that overlies the first and second photodiodes of each pixel region with the shielding structure shielding proportionally less of the first photodiode than of the second photodiode to provide the first photodiode with a first sensitivity and the second photodiode with a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Richard Granfors, John Robert Lamberty, Richard Gordon Cronce, Ping Xue, Marc Schaepkens, Aaron Judy Couture, Douglas Albagli
  • Patent number: 8040270
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present technique, a system and a method for obtaining low-noise measurements for a wide range of analog signal strengths is provided. According to aspects of the present technique, a low-gain measurement of an input pixel charge is performed, wherein the input pixel charge is distributed to two feedback capacitors, which together provide a relatively low integrator gain. After the low-gain measurement, a high-gain measurement is performed, wherein one of the capacitors is remove from the feedback loop and the charge is redistributed to the remaining capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jianjun Guo
  • Patent number: 7969244
    Abstract: A technique is provided for acquiring data with reduced correlated low frequency noise interference via a data acquisition circuit. The data acquisition circuit includes a plurality of data channels comprising a plurality of amplifiers and a biasing circuit for providing bias voltages to the plurality of amplifiers. The biasing circuit is configured to generate the bias voltages and establish a relationship between the bias voltages so as to reduce correlated low frequency noise in the plurality of amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jianjun Guo
  • Publication number: 20100215146
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present technique, a system and a method for obtaining low-noise measurements for a wide range of analog signal strengths is provided. According to aspects of the present technique, a low-gain measurement of an input pixel charge is performed, wherein the input pixel charge is distributed to two feedback capacitors, which together provide a relatively low integrator gain. After the low-gain measurement, a high-gain measurement is performed, wherein one of the capacitors is remove from the feedback loop and the charge is redistributed to the remaining capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jianjun Guo
  • Publication number: 20100013560
    Abstract: A technique is provided for acquiring data with reduced correlated low frequency noise interference via a data acquisition circuit. The data acquisition circuit includes a plurality of data channels comprising a plurality of amplifiers and a biasing circuit for providing bias voltages to the plurality of amplifiers. The biasing circuit is configured to generate the bias voltages and establish a relationship between the bias voltages so as to reduce correlated low frequency noise in the plurality of amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Naresh Kesavan Rao, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jianjun Guo
  • Patent number: 7132667
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method and system for improved x-ray image data acquisition using a digital x-ray detector. The method and system include defining groups of scan lines in a detector, associating data lines in the detector with the groups of scan lines, and reading image data from the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. The scan lines are connected with a plurality of pixels. A region of interest may be defined in the detector. The pixels obtain image data regarding the region of interest. The image data may be read from at least one scan line in each of the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. Alternatively, the image data may be read from alternating groups of the scan lines using the associated data lines. Image data may also be binned from adjacent pixels read using a plurality of data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, Alan Dean Blomeyer, Jingyi Liang, Richard Gordon Cronce
  • Patent number: 7091491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method by which the magnitude of an interfering electrical and/or magnetic field may be sampled locally (in the X-ray detector for example) and reduced or eliminated. More specifically, embodiments comprise a system and method by which an interfering field may be sampled within the same orientation as the X-ray detector panel, and then subtracted out of each respective element sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Kautzer, Richard Gordon Cronce, Olgun Kukrer
  • Patent number: 6989538
    Abstract: A method of maintaining an initial bias of an x-ray detector (12) includes setting the initial bias of the x-ray detector. Operating state of a readout circuit (30) is altered. A photodiode common contact voltage potential is adjusted by a data line drift amount to approximately maintain the initial bias. An x-ray imaging system (10) includes a detector (12) that has multiple pixels, multiple data lines (50), and a common contact (62) that is at a common contact voltage potential. The readout circuit (30) is electrically coupled to the data lines (50) and has a multiple power states. A controller (36) is electrically coupled to the readout circuit (30), detects a change in operating state of the readout circuit (30), and adjusts voltage potential of the common contact (62) in response to the change in operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, Alan Dean Blomeyer, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 6798864
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided in a diagnostic X-ray system for reducing signal conversion time for a solid-state detector panel of the X-ray system in order to increase frame rate. A measurement of a set of induced signal offsets caused by time varying charge retention associated with the detector panel is performed during a phantom time segment prior to normal signal readout of the detector panel for a current image frame. A set of adjustment values is generated in response to the set of induced signal offsets. Subsets of signal values of the detector panel are read out to a pre-determined signal dynamic range as part of normal signal readout of the detector panel in response to the set of adjustment values, thus generating a set of normalized detector signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, Rowland Frederick Saunders, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 6713769
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging system that utilizes the leakage, or dark current, of a detector panel's photodiodes to provide more accurate data about the temperature and spatial distribution of temperature of the X-ray detector panel. Offset images are taken at known temperatures and recorded for each photodiode at two or more known temperatures. A temperature versus offset image value curve is the created for each photodiode. A second offset image value is determined immediately prior to or immediately after X-ray acquisition to determine the temperature of the detector panel at the time of X-ray acquisition. A coupled closed-loop cooling system utilizes the determined temperature to maintain the detector panel within a preferred temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Habib Vafi, Richard Gordon Cronce, Scott William Petrick, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer, David Conrad Neumann
  • Publication number: 20030191387
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the offset induced by Field Effect Transistor (FET) photo-conductive effects in solid state x-ray detectors includes dedicating rows at the beginning and end of an x-ray detector scan. The dedicated rows may be used to measure the “signal” induced by the photo-conductivity of FET switches in solid state x-ray detectors. Since the signal induced by FET photo-conductivity decays over time, the measurements taken at the beginning and end of a detector scan may be used to predict by interpolation the amount of signal contributed by photo-conductive induced offset for each row of the detector scan on a column by column basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, John Moore Boudry, Richard Gordon Cronce, Douglas I. Perry
  • Publication number: 20030185342
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided in a diagnostic X-ray system for reducing signal conversion time for a solid-state detector panel of the X-ray system in order to increase frame rate. A measurement of a set of induced signal offsets caused by time varying charge retention associated with the detector panel is performed during a phantom time segment prior to normal signal readout of the detector panel for a current image frame. A set of adjustment values is generated in response to the set of induced signal offsets. Subsets of signal values of the detector panel are read out to a pre-determined signal dynamic range as part of normal signal readout of the detector panel in response to the set of adjustment values, thus generating a set of normalized detector signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, Rowland Frederick Saunders, Richard Gordon Cronce, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 6618604
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the offset induced by Field Effect Transistor (FET) photo-conductive effects in solid state x-ray detectors includes dedicating rows at the beginning and end of an x-ray detector scan. The dedicated rows may be used to measure the “signal” induced by the photo-conductivity of FET switches in solid state x-ray detectors. Since the signal induced by FET photo-conductivity decays over time, the measurements taken at the beginning and end of a detector scan may be used to predict by interpolation the amount of signal contributed by photo-conductive induced offset for each row of the detector scan on a column by column basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC.
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, John Moore Boudry, Richard Gordon Cronce, Douglas I. Perry
  • Publication number: 20030146390
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging system that utilizes the leakage, or dark current, of a detector panel's photodiodes to provide more accurate data about the temperature and spatial distribution of temperature of the X-ray detector panel. Offset images are taken at known temperatures and recorded for each photodiode at two or more known temperatures. A temperature versus offset image value curve is the created for each photodiode. A second offset image value is determined immediately prior to or immediately after X-ray acquisition to determine the temperature of the detector panel at the time of X-ray acquisition. A coupled closed-loop cooling system utilizes the determined temperature to maintain the detector panel within a preferred temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Habib Vafi, Richard Gordon Cronce, Scott William Petrick, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer, David Conrad Neumann
  • Publication number: 20020087060
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the offset induced by Field Effect Transistor (FET) photo-conductive effects in solid state x-ray detectors includes dedicating rows at the beginning and end of an x-ray detector scan. The dedicated rows may be used to measure the “signal” induced by the photo-conductivity of FET switches in solid state x-ray detectors. Since the signal induced by FET photo-conductivity decays over time, the measurements taken at the beginning and end of a detector scan may be used to predict by interpolation the amount of signal contributed by photo-conductive induced offset for each row of the detector scan on a column by column basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, John Moore Boudry, Richard Gordon Cronce, Douglas I. Perry