Abstract: An example image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array of columns and rows, a row driver, and a control logic circuit. The row driver is coupled to pixels in a row of the array to provide a variable driving voltage to drive transistors included in the pixels of the row. The control logic circuit is coupled to provide one or more control logic signals to the row driver. The row driver adjusts a magnitude of the driving voltage in response to the one or more control logic signals.

Abstract: An analog-digital converter includes: comparators disposed to correspond to analog signals which are converted into digital signals and configured to compare a voltage value of the analog signal, which is converted into the digital signal, with a voltage value of a predetermined reference signal; counters disposed to correspond to the comparators and configured to count a count value at the time point when the comparison process of the corresponding comparator is finished; and a determiner configured to determine a time point when all the comparators finish their comparison processes.

Abstract: A method, system and device for reducing dark current, by clamping the voltage across the photodiode to about zero using local storage of charge, in an array of pixel cells in which each pixel cell has a photodiode configured to receive light and generate a photocharge during an integration period.

Abstract: Multi-band photodetectors can be formed by series connecting unipolar and, optionally, bipolar semiconductor structures, each having different photodetection bands. Under default mode of operation, the detector with highest resistance and lowest current will be the current limiting device and will be the active photodetector. When the active photodetector is illuminated with strong light in its own detection band it will be optically biased. This active photodetector will no longer be the highest resistance device, and the next photodetector will be the active photodetector. Repeating this operation pattern, allows switching photodetection bands of the multi-band photodetector. The resistances, dark current and photocurrent of the devices should be engineered to have proper switching. Moreover, the illuminating surface, and photodetector placement should be optimized for proper light biasing. The current passing through the device will always be equal to the current of the active photodetector.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing changes in luminance during motion with high shutter speed while minimizing image degradation. An image pickup device accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident thereon. An amplification unit amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus. A control unit controls an electric charge accumulation time period in the image pickup device. An adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for the amplification unit. In a case where the control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period while the image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, the adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after adjustment, the adjustment unit brings the adjusted amplification factor close to an amplification factor before adjustment in steps.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first capacitance and a second capacitance that hold a signal, a switch provided between a signal line and the first capacitance, a capacitance adjustment unit electrically connected to the second capacitance, and a connection unit configured to electrically connect the first capacitance provided to one of signal processing units to the second capacitance provided to another one of the signal processing units.

Abstract: The solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region having pixel units two-dimensionally arranged, each of the pixel units including a photodiode formed on a semiconductor substrate. The imaging region includes, as a unit of arrangement, a pixel block having four of the pixel units arranged in a two-by-two matrix. The pixel block includes a red pixel detecting a red signal, a blue pixel detecting a blue signal, a white pixel detecting a first luminance signal, and another white pixel detecting a second luminance signal. A light attenuation filter is provided above the other white pixel to reduce transmittance of light in a visible light region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device including forming a mask with apertures corresponding to a pixel pattern on the surface of a semiconductor layer, implanting second-conductivity-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layer from the front side of the layer to form second-conductivity-type photoelectric conversion parts and forming a part where no ion has been implanted into a pixel separation region, forming at the surface of the semiconductor layer a signal scanning circuit for reading light signals obtained at the photoelectric conversion parts after removing the mask, and removing the semiconductor substrate and a buried insulating layer from the semiconductor layer after causing a support substrate to adhere to the front side of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device of one embodiment includes a light receiving section including of a plurality of pixels 11 having respective photodiodes, the pixels being two-dimensionally arrayed in M rows and N columns; N readout lines disposed for the respective columns and connected with the photodiodes PD included in the pixels of a respective columns via readout switches; a signal output section for outputting a voltage value according to an amount of charge input through each of the readout lines; and a vertical shift register for controlling an opening and closing operation of the readout switch for each of the rows. A contour between one side along a row direction of the light receiving section and a pair of sides along a column direction has a stepped shape. A dummy photodiode region is formed along the stepped contour of the light receiving section.

Abstract: An optical operating element comprises a light-emitting transmitter, an optical receiver, a prism, and a cover. The prism has a side surface that is an active sensor area, and the prism is arranged below the cover such that the active sensor area is oriented substantially parallel to the underside of the cover. The cover has a sensor region which is above the active sensor area and which has a transmittance of at most 99%, at most 95%, at most 90%, at most 80% or at most 50%. Light emitted by the transmitter is guided through the prism and passes through the active sensor area and the cover. The emitted light reflected at an object enters through the sensor region and the active sensor area and is guided through the prism to the receiver. A change in reflection is identified by an evaluation circuit and is interpreted as switching.

Abstract: An optical system (20) is presented, which is configured to enable the line of sight stabilization. The system comprises a light module (230), an optical module (210) defining an optical axis (0X) and an optical path of light propagation therethrough, and a stabilizer (220) configured and operable for providing optical coupling between said optical module (210) and said light module (230). The stabilizer (2209 comprises: a gimbal assembly defining a first rotation axis (FRX) orthogonal to said optical axis (0X), and an internal deflector (222) located in the optical path of light propagating through said optical module (210). The internal deflector (222) is mounted for rotation about said first rotation axis (FRX) and is configured and operable to provide optical coupling between at least a section of the optical path of said optical module (210) and an optical path of light passing through said light module (230).

Abstract: A radiation dosimetry method and associated devices for carrying out the method are disclosed herein. More particularly, a method and associated apparatus which compensates for variations in amounts of a radiation sensitive material in a radiation dosimetry film is provided.

Abstract: Methods of using halogenated peptides as internal standards for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and novel halogenated peptides useful for the same, are disclosed. In particular, methods of using halogenated peptides as internal standards in proteomic analyses, as well as methods of using halogenated peptides to conduct quality control assessments of and/or to calibrate liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Ion sources for use in mass spectrometry (MS) systems are described. The ion sources each comprise an ion funnel and an ionization source configured to ionize neutral analyte molecules.

Abstract: A method for determining boron isotopic composition by PTIMS (Positive Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry)—static double collection realizes simultaneous static collection of m/e309 peak and m/e308 peak by double Faraday cups through adjusting the two parameters Focus Quad and Dispersion Quad in Zoom Optics, and completes high-accuracy determination of boron isotopic composition. The method includes (1) determining Focus Quad and Dispersion Quad parameters in the Zoom Optics of the ion source; (2) determining the two parallel cups in the Faraday collector and their parameters; (3) determining the collection mass number of the center cup of the Faraday collector.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer with a wide dynamic range, having:—a source (2) of ion beams,—an analyzer (4) for the ion beams generated by said source (2),—a detector (6) for the ions separated by said analyzer (4),—a treatment stage (8) for the analogue signal A generated by said detector, to obtain two separate signals A1=mA and A2=nA, where m>n, characterised by comprising:—an analogue/digital converter (10) for converting both said analogue signals A1 and A2 into two numerical values D1 and D2,—a controller (12) which receives both the numerical values D1 and D2 as input, and provides as output a single value equal to D1 if D1 is less than the end-of-scale value of the converter (10), or a value equal to (m/n)D2 if D1 is equal to the end-of-scale value of the converter.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining an characteristic of a material. The characteristics may include, but are not limited to, crystallographic and chemical composition characteristics of a material.

Abstract: A phase plate for a charged particle beam system, such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM), is described. The phase plate comprises a support having a through-hole and an elongate member which is magnetisable in a direction along its length and which extends partially across the through-hole and which is narrower than the through-hole.

Abstract: An infrared security sensor device includes a light projector 1A, 1B having a projecting light power control unit 5 for controlling the light receiving sensitivity of a light receiver 2A, 2B by switching a light projecting power thereof to one of a plurality of steps in dependence on the level of a detection signal and a status determining unit 7 for determining an optical axis adjusting time and an alert time. The light projector 1A, 1B is further provided with an adjustment selecting sector 6 capable of selecting one of the manual and automatic adjusting sectors 10 and 11 such that during the optical axis adjustment the light projecting power can be manually adjusted by the manual adjusting sector 10.

Abstract: A low-power 4×4-pixel THz camera with responsivity greater than 2.5 MV/W and sub-10 pW/?Hz NEP at 0.25 THz is integrated in 130 nm silicon without using either high-resistivity substrates or silicon lenses. Imaging results with a fully integrated radiating CMOS power source demonstrate the first entirely silicon-based THz imager.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring one or more silicon-containing compounds present in a biogas. The method includes generating a first absorption spectrum based on a ratio of a first spectral measurement and a second spectral measurement. The first spectral measurement is from a non-absorptive gas having substantially no infrared absorptions in a specified wavelength range of interest and the second spectral measurement is from a sample gas comprising the biogas. The method includes generating at least one surrogate absorption spectrum based on, at least, individual absorption spectrum for each of a subset of one or more silicon-containing compounds selected from a larger set of known silicon-containing compounds with known concentrations. A total concentration of the one or more silicon-containing compounds in the biogas can be calculated based on the first absorption spectrum and the at least one surrogate absorption spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing nonlinearity artifacts in an IR imaging system applies a non-linear correcting function to signals received from a microbolometer. The non-linear correcting function can be a second-order polynomial, a third-order polynomial, some other formula, or a table from which corrections can be interpolated. In embodiments, the correcting function is automatically adjusted according to an ambient temperature measurement, to which a non-linear correction can be applied, either in a separate step or as an adjustment to the correcting function applied to the microbolometer signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-soluble liquid composition and its use to detect leaks and/or as antifreeze for water-based circuits. The composition comprises at least one fluorescent product and at least one liquid miscible with water.

Abstract: An analyser system including an on-belt analyser having a housing adapted to be positioned across a path of a conveyor belt which carries material to be analysed, wherein the housing defines a tunnel dimensioned to allow the belt to travel therethrough in suspended relation in order to allow analysis of the material without the belt contacting the analyser.

Abstract: A neutron scintillator composite (NSC) is made of a neutron scintillator and a binder. The neutron scintillator of the composite has the formula LiyMgBry|2, where y=2, 4 or 6 and may further comprise cerium as a scintillation activator. The binder of the composite has an index of refraction substantially identical to that of the neutron scintillator. The neutron scintillator and binder are mixed into a solid or semi-solid neutron scintillator composite having sufficient flowability for molding into a shaped article, such as a neutron sensing element of a radiation detector. The neutron scintillator composite collects and channels photons through the material itself and into a photosensing element optically coupled to the composite. Because the indices of refraction for both the neutron scintillator and the binder are substantially identical, scattering at the scintillator-binder interface(s) is minimized, thereby producing transmission efficiencies that approach single crystals.

Abstract: Present embodiments relate to the calibration of detectors having one or more arrays of pixelated detectors. According to an embodiment, a method includes detecting optical outputs generated by a plurality of scintillation crystals of a detector with an array of pixelated detectors, generating, with the array of pixelated detectors, respective signals indicative of the optical outputs, generating, from the respective signals, a unique energy spectrum correlated to each of the plurality of scintillation crystals, grouping subsets of the plurality of scintillation crystals into macrocrystals, determining a representative energy spectrum peak for each macrocrystal based on the respective energy spectra of the scintillation crystals in the macrocrystal, comparing a value of the representative energy spectrum peak for each macrocrystal with a target peak value, and adjusting an operating parameter of at least one pixelated detector in the array of pixelated detectors as a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A scintillator pixel array can include a housing and a plurality of scintillator pixels within the housing. Further, the scintillator pixel array can include a grid structure within the housing. The grid structure can separate the plurality of pixels into rows and columns. Further, the grid structure can include an opaque layer configured to substantially prevent pixel-to-pixel cross talk within the plurality of scintillator pixels.

Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can have optical coupling material capable of absorbing wavelengths of light within approximately 75 nm of a wavelength of scintillating light of a scintillation member of the radiation detection apparatus. In an embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed between a photosensor of the radiation detection apparatus and the scintillation member. In a particular embodiment, the composition of the optical coupling material can include a dye. In an illustrative embodiment, the dye can have a corresponding a* coordinate, a corresponding b* coordinate, and an L* coordinate greater than 0. In another embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed along substantially all of a side of the photosensor.

Abstract: A radiographic image capture device includes a radiation detector and a determination section. The radiation detector includes a first sensor for radiographic image capture and a second sensor for radiation detection. The determination section determines whether or not radiation has been detected by the radiation detector based on a ratio of a first value obtained by the first sensor to a second value obtained by the second sensor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional pattern, a sample-hold unit configured to sample and hold a signal obtained from each pixel, and a reading unit configured to perform scanning in such a way as to perform a plurality of non-destructive reading operations for pixels of one row and as to read pixels of the next row, and to subsequently perform scanning in a row direction and a column direction to read the signal having been sampled and held by the sample-hold unit, an A/D conversion unit configured to perform analog/digital conversion processing on the signal read by the reading unit, an averaging processing unit configured to perform averaging processing on the signal converted by the A/D conversion unit, for each pixel, and a digital binning unit configured to perform binning processing using the signal processed by the averaging processing unit.

Abstract: A flat panel sensor control unit reads image data from each region formed by dividing a flat panel. A write access control unit writes the image data read by the flat panel sensor control unit in a frame memory. A read access control unit starts reading the image data from the frame memory in response to that the writing of the image data to the frame memory becomes a predetermined state.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided to illustrate the manipulation of the internal electric field of CZT using multiple wavelength light illumination on the crystal surface at RT. The control of the internal electric field is shown through the polarization in the IR transmission image under illumination as a result of the Pockels effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a shared charge in pixelated image detectors are provided. One method includes providing a plurality of pixels for a pixelated solid state photon detector in a configuration such that a charge distribution is detected by at least two pixels and obtaining charge information from the at least two pixels. The method further includes determining a position of an interaction of the charge distribution with the plurality of pixels based on the obtained charge information.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an apparatus and inspection system that is useful to inspection tubes (e.g., boiler tubes). The apparatus can comprise a housing and a pair of translating baffles that engage the outside of the housing. In one embodiment, the housing moves relative to the translating baffles during rotation of the housing to change the orientation of the housing relative to the boiler tubes. The housing and the translating baffles maintain engagement to prevent radiation from leaking out of the housing and into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A radiation irradiation initiation detection apparatus includes an acquisition unit, an averaging unit, a calculation unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires a detection result for each of frames from a detection section that detects radiation. The averaging unit averages the detection results of a plural number of frames, which detection results have been previously acquired by the acquisition unit. The calculation unit calculates at least one of a difference or a ratio between the most recent detection result acquired by the acquisition unit and an averaging result from the averaging unit. The determination unit determines whether or not irradiation of radiation has been initiated on the basis of calculation results from the calculation unit.

Abstract: An electron beam focusing electrode and an electron gun using the same may include a plate having a polygonal through-hole; at least a projecting portion formed on at least one side of the through-hole. By using the electron beam focusing electrode, a spreading phenomenon of an electron beam having a rectangular cross section may be reduced. Further, the output of the electron gun may be increased, and electron beams may be easily focused.

Abstract: A multiple-deflection blanker for charged particle beam lithography includes a support structure, a first pair of electrodes mounted to the support structure and providing a first electric field, a second pair of electrodes mounted to the support structure and providing a second electric field, at least a third pair of electrodes mounted to the support structure and providing a third electric field, and a surface, such as, an aperture or knife edge, positioned to obstruct a charged particle beam passed through the electric fields. The blanker may include at least a fourth pair of electrodes providing a fourth electric field and apparatus for regulating the time of the excitation of the electric fields. Methods for exposing media to charged particles and aperture holders are also provided.

Abstract: A method for generating a cathodoluminescence map comprising the steps of: generating an intensity modulated charged particle beam; focusing said charged particle beam on a specimen; gating temporally the cathodoluminescence emitted by said specimen to provide time-gated cathodoluminescence; measuring the time-gated cathodoluminescence for different charged particle beam positions on the specimen to generate a cathodoluminescence map; deconvoluting the cathodoluminescence map to improve the resolution of said cathodoluminescence map. The invention further provides devices for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: Provided is a sample device for a charged particle beam, which facilitates the delivery of a sample between an FIB and an SEM in an isolated atmosphere. An atmosphere isolation unit 10 for putting a lid 9 on an atmosphere isolation sample holder 7 isolated from the air and taking the lid 9 off the sample holder, is provided in a sample exchanger 5 that communicates with a sample chamber 4 of the FIB 1 or the SEM through a gate; and the lid 9 is taken off only by pushing a sample exchange bar 11, and thereby only the sample holder 7 is set in the sample chamber 4.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing cap-like closures for closing bottles includes a conveying system to move the cap-like closures through a treatment zone in which the cap-like closures are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for sterilization, the treatment zone having ultraviolet radiation sources for emitting ultraviolet light. Within the treatment zone, the conveying system includes a rotor that can be driven to rotate about a vertical rotor axis, and closure holders formed on a periphery of the rotor. Each closure holder is oriented with a longitudinal extension thereof in a direction of the rotor axis. The closure holders are configured for moving the cap-like closures vertically from top to bottom through the treatment zone on a treatment section between a closure supply and a closure discharge.

Abstract: Fluorescence observation apparatus includes laser scanning fluorescence observation unit and wide field fluorescence observation unit. The former unit includes: lasers; scanning unit that scans sample by laser light; and detector that detects fluorescence from the sample excited by the laser light. The latter unit includes: light source to planar-illuminate the sample; excitation filters that are selectively arranged on light path from the light source, and that correspond to the lasers, respectively; and two-dimensional detector that detects fluorescence from the sample excited by light that has passed through excitation filter arranged on light path from the light source. Each of the excitation filters has optical property in which center wavelength of transmissive band is approximately the same as oscillation wavelength of corresponding laser and bandwidth of transmissive band is approximately the same as tolerance width of oscillation wavelength of corresponding laser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying an object, wherein said object has a security element, which contains one or more inorganic luminescent pigments, wherein the method comprises the steps of producing an emission spectrum of the luminescent pigment and comparing the obtained emission spectrum with the spectrum specified for the security element. The invention further relates to a security element, by means of which it is possible to determine the authenticity of a product in a simple manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method and a device for determining middle and protein bound uremic toxins in the biological fluids. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical method utilizing fluorescence, preferable fluorescence of the spent dialysate, and a specific model, including a unique set of optical spectral components at certain wavelengths, to determine, preferable on-line, the concentration of the middle and protein bound uremic toxins such as beta2-microglobulin (B2M), and indoxyl sulfate (IS).

Abstract: Described is a portable dosimeter reader that is small in size and light in weight.

Abstract: A system for motion control of a cone-beam tomography recording device includes a drive system configured to position a paired radiation source and radiation detector relative to an object. The system further includes a controller configured to: initiate a trigger plan operable as a function of a constant frequency control signal, activate the paired radiation source and radiation detector in accordance with the trigger plan, drive, in response to the trigger plan, the first drive system to a steady operating state derived as a function of the constant frequency, capture a plurality of broadcast radiation signals representative of a plurality of two dimensional images of the object such that the two dimensional images are defined equidistant positions defined by the trigger plan and as a function of the constant frequency signal, and generate a three dimensional representation of the object based on the plurality of two dimensional images.

Abstract: A wafer curing apparatus including a plate configured to pass ultraviolet light. The wafer curing apparatus further includes an antireflective coating on a light incident surface of the plate. The antireflective coating has an opening in a central portion thereof. A method of curing a wafer including emitting ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source. The method further includes transmitting the ultraviolet light through an ultraviolet transmissive plate having an antireflective coating thereon. The antireflective coating including an opening in a central portion thereof. The method further includes irradiating a wafer with the ultraviolet light transmitted through the ultraviolet transmissive plate.

Abstract: The invention designs the segmented short-arc VMAT plan, modified from the original long-arc VMAT, to fit the breath-hold interval. The modified VMAT of the invention has the advantages of its applicability to different planning systems for variously long arcs and its preprogrammed arc segmentation for summated dose consistency. Using segmented short-arc modification from the original long-arc VMAT plan is accurate for dose planning and delivery, as well as tolerable for breath-hold VMAT.

Abstract: A method for drawing up an irradiation plan for a radiation-generating device that includes a plurality of irradiation positions that, at least one of partially or at times, correlate with at least one basic parameter that is present at a point in time of the implementation of the irradiation plan, includes giving greater consideration to correlations with the at least one basic parameter that are expected with greater probability for at least some of the irradiation positions.

Abstract: The objective is to obtain a charged particle accelerator where the amount of pattern data for operating an acceleration cavity and electromagnets based on time clocks is reduced and the pattern data communication time is shortened. An accelerator control apparatus provided in a charged particle accelerator of the present invention is characterized by including a clock generation unit that generates an acceleration cavity clock and an electromagnet clock that is synchronized with the acceleration cavity clock and has a frequency lower than that of the acceleration cavity clock; a high-frequency control unit that controls an acceleration cavity, based on an acceleration cavity pattern stored in a first pattern memory and the acceleration cavity clock; and a deflection electromagnet control unit that controls a deflection electromagnet, based on a deflection electromagnet pattern stored in a second pattern memory and the electromagnet clock.

Abstract: Stored energy is evaluated for each of segmented regions, and using the evaluated stored energy, an optimal irradiation amount for an electron beam is evaluated by a conjugate gradient method. The evaluated stored energy is used instead of calculating a determinant (Apk) in the procedure that includes calculation of the determinant (Apk) from among repeated calculation procedures that follow the conjugate gradient method and seek to answer a simultaneous linear equation (Ax=b) with a matrix (A) as a coefficient. Thus it is possible to evaluate the optimal irradiation amount for an electron beam with a high processing speed and a high degree of accuracy, and without expressly requiring the calculation of Apk, by managing the giant matrix (A) comprising numerous factors according to reduction of lines of circuitry in a circuit pattern.