Imaging System Patents (Class 250/370.08)
  • Publication number: 20150076357
    Abstract: A PET scanner includes a ring of detector modules encircling an imaging region. Each of the detector modules includes one or more sensor avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that are biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode. The sensor APDs output pulses in response to light from a scintillator corresponding to incident photons. A reference APD also biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode is optically shielded from light and outputs a voltage that is measured by an analog to digital converter. Based on the measurement, a bias control feedback loop directs a variable voltage generator to adjust a bias voltage applied to the APDs such that a difference between a voltage of a breakdown pulse and a preselected logic voltage level is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas FRACH
  • Publication number: 20150076358
    Abstract: Radiation images with different resolutions may be captured using a general-purpose driver configured with a shift register group in a single system. Each shift register is connected to a first gate line or a second gate line via a connection terminal in accordance with wiring of a radiation detector. Under the control of an FPGA, in a case of low resolution imaging, a panel control section outputs OE signals that disable the output of on signals from the shift registers to the first gate lines in accordance with CPK signals. In a case of high resolution imaging, the panel control section outputs OE signals that disable the output of on signals from the shift registers to the second gate lines. In both cases, an on signal outputted from a shift register is inputted to a succeeding shift register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshihiro OKADA
  • Patent number: 8983035
    Abstract: A flat panel detector has pixels for obtaining image signals and detective pixels for detecting the amount of incident x-rays. A signal processing circuit is of a pipeline-type, wherein first and second buffer memories are connected to the output of an A/D converter. In a dose detecting operation, the signal processing circuit repeats primary cycles alternately with secondary cycles of a shorter length than the primary cycles. In the primary cycle, a dose detection signal based on electric charges from the detective pixels is input in the first buffer memory and, simultaneously, a dummy signal is output from the second buffer memory. In secondary cycle, the dose detection signal is output from the first buffer memory and, simultaneously, a second dummy signal is input in the second buffer memory. On the basis of the dose detection signals, a start-of-radiation detector detects the start of x-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Noma, Kenji Nakamura, Naoto Iwakiri, Kouichi Kitano, Keita Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8983036
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods/apparatus can transition a DR detector imaging array to low power photosensor mode where a first voltage is applied across the photosensors. Embodiments of methods/apparatus can provide an area radiographic imaging array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix at the imaging array where each pixel can include at least one electrically chargeable photosensor and at least one transistor, row address circuits, signal sensing circuits, and photosensor power control circuitry to maintain a first voltage across photosensors of the portion of the imaging array when the detector is between imaging operations. In one embodiment, photosensor power control circuitry can maintain the first voltage across the photosensors when a power consumption of the signal sensing circuits is less than 1% of the power consumption of the signal sensing circuits during readout of a signal from the portion of the imaging array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Tredwell, Jeff Hsin Chang
  • Patent number: 8981304
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation detector including: a wavelength conversion unit that converts irradiated radiation to a radiation with a second wavelength; a first substrate that has a first and a second surface; radiation detecting pixels, disposed in a matrix on the first surface, that accumulate charges generated by irradiation of the radiation with the second wavelength, and that include switching elements to read out the charges; scan lines, provided on the first surface, through which a control signal, that switches each switching element provided in each radiation detecting pixel, flows; signal lines, provided on the first surface, through which an electric signal flows, the electric signal corresponding to the charges accumulated in each radiation detecting pixel; and a second substrate, provided on the second surface, that includes radiation irradiation detecting sensors that generate charges due to irradiation of the radiation having the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8981309
    Abstract: A cassette includes: an image capturing unit including: an image receiving unit having a flat panel shape on which a plurality of pixels are arranged on a substrate converting radiation into electric charges and accumulating the converted electric charges; and a support to which the image receiving unit is attached; and a case in which the image capturing unit is accommodated in an unfixed state, in which the support supports the image receiving unit, and an outer edge of the support is disposed on an outer side of an outer edge of the substrate of the image receiving unit in a direction parallel to an image receiving surface of the image receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Noguchi, Takeyasu Kobayashi, Makoto Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 8981310
    Abstract: A radiation detection device 80 according to an embodiment is a radiation detection device for a foreign substance inspection using a subtraction method, and includes a first radiation detector 32 that detects radiation in a first energy range transmitted through a specimen S and generates a first image, a second radiation detector 42 that detects radiation in a second energy range higher than the radiation in the first energy range and generates a second image, a first image processing section 34 that applies image processing to the first image, and a second image processing section 44 that applies image processing to the second image, wherein a first pixel width in an image detection direction of each pixel of the first radiation detector 32 is smaller than a second pixel width in the image detection direction of each pixel of the second radiation detector 42, and the first image processing section 34 and the second image processing section 44 carry out pixel change processing to make the number of pixels o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Suyama
  • Patent number: 8969819
    Abstract: A radiation image pickup apparatus allowed to restore a change in characteristics in a pixel transistors caused by radiation, and a method of driving the same are provided. The radiation image pickup apparatus includes: a pixel section including a plurality of unit pixels and generating an electrical signal based on incident radiation, each of the unit pixels including one or more pixel transistors and a photoelectric conversion element; a drive section for selectively driving the unit pixels of the pixel section; and a characteristic restoring section including a first constant current source for annealing and a selector switch for changing a current path from the unit pixels to the first constant current source at the time of non-measurement of the radiation, and allowing an annealing current to flow through the pixel transistor, thereby restoring characteristics of the pixel transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Makoto Takatoku, Yasuhiro Yamada, Ryoichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20150053864
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device, in particular a mobile telephone (1), comprising an image sensor (4) with multiple pixels for capturing an image. The image sensor (4) is also sensitive to ionizing radiation, in particular pulsed high-energy radiation. The invention additionally relates to a radiation sensor (5) for measuring the ionizing radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicants: Umwelt (GmbH)
    Inventors: Rolf-Dieter Klein, Mathias Reichl, Christoph Hoeschen
  • Patent number: 8952335
    Abstract: Bias lines are provided for respective columns of pixels, and of a plurality of bias lines, bias lines provided at an interval of 10 mm are connected to a bias power source through a current detector. The remaining bias lines are connected directly to the bias power source without passing through the current detector. In each pixel, if electric charge is generated by a radiation detection element in accordance with the dose of irradiated radiation, a current flows in the bias line in accordance with the generated electric charge. The current detector detects the current flowing in the bias line, and a control unit detects, as the timing of starting irradiation of a radiation, when the detected current (current value) is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and starts radiographing of a radiological image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8952332
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus connected to a radiation generation apparatus which generates radiation and a sensor which accumulates a charge corresponding to an irradiating dose on a detection surface acquires a radiation image by driving the sensor upon generation of radiation by the radiation generation apparatus and acquires a dark image by driving the sensor without generation of radiation by the radiation generation apparatus. The radiation imaging apparatus adjusts a driving timing of the sensor so as to set a time difference between two starts of reading charge from the sensor to acquire the radiation image and reading charge from the sensor to obtain the dark image to an integer multiple of a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akehiko Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8933411
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging device includes a signal processing circuit (22) processes signals from a detector array (16) which detects radiation from an imaging region (20). The hit signals are indicative of a corresponding detector (18) being hit by a radiation photon. The signal processing circuit (22) includes a plurality of input channels (321, 322, 323, 324), each input channel receiving hit signals from a corresponding detector element (18) such that each input channel (321, 322, 323, 324) corresponds to a location at which each hit signal is received. A plurality of integrators (42) integrate signals from the input channels (32) to determine an energy value associated with each radiation hit. A plurality of analog-to-digital converters (441, 442, 443, 444) convert the integrated energy value into a digital energy value. A plurality of time to digital converters (40) receive the hit signals and generate a digital time stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Torsten Solf
  • Publication number: 20140361183
    Abstract: An electric device, comprising a conductive guard ring formed on a substrate along an outer periphery of the substrate, an electrode formed inside the guard ring on the substrate, and a connecting portion formed above the electrode, for connecting an external apparatus and the electrode, wherein the connecting portion includes a conductive member for electrically connecting the external apparatus and the electrode, and an insulating member formed on a lower surface of the conductive member, and the insulating member exposes a portion of the conductive member, which is positioned immediately above the electrode, and an end of the insulating member is positioned inside the guard ring in planar view such that the conductive member and the guard ring do not contact each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichi Takeda, Masato Inoue, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe
  • Publication number: 20140361184
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a conversion element and a transistor. A drive unit performs a reset operation at a plurality of times, by supplying a conducting voltage to gates of the transistors, successively, one row by one row, an operation of stopping the supplying of the conducting voltage responsive to detecting the irradiation of the radiation to perform an accumulation operation and, after the reset operation, a read out operation. During the reset operation, a period between the supplying the conducting voltage to the gates of the transistors in one row and the supplying the conducting voltage subsequently to the gates of the transistors in another row is different from a period between the supplying the conducting voltage to the gates of the transistors in the another row and the supplying the conducting voltage subsequently to the gates of the transistors in further another row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Hideyuki Okada, Atsushi Iwashita, Eriko Sato, Takuya Ryu
  • Patent number: 8899831
    Abstract: A radiographic apparatus includes an image acquisition controller for controlling operation of more than one electronic cassette. For signal communication between the image acquisition controller and the electronic cassettes, each electronic cassette may be connected to a communication cable. These communication cables are connected to a switching hub that intermediates communication between the electronic cassettes and the image acquisition controller. The radiographic apparatus includes multiple power supplies corresponding in number to the electronic cassettes. Each electronic cassette may be connected to one power supply through a power cable separately from the communication cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Yoshida, Yusuke Kitagawa, Katsumi Shimada, Noriaki Ida
  • Patent number: 8901505
    Abstract: A cassette for radiographic imaging includes a radiological image recording medium that detects radiation, a base portion that supports the radiological image recording medium, and a case that accommodates the radiological image recording medium and the base portion. The case includes a front member and a back member. The front member includes a top plate part to which radiation is incident and a side wall part which is vertically formed around an entire circumference of the edges of the top plate part, where the top plate part and the side wall part are integrally formed by the same material. The back member is configured to close a bottom part opening of the front member. The base portion is fixed to the front member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takeyasu Kobayashi, Akihito Bettouyashiki
  • Patent number: 8901482
    Abstract: At least one of conditions including that power is applied to a radiation detector, that a predetermined time period has elapsed from the application of power, and that the radiation detector is connected is detected. When at least one of the conditions is detected, determination is made as to whether or not calibration information of the currently used radiation detector is appropriate. If a negative determination is made, control is exerted to enable calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daiki Harada, Futoshi Yoshida, Yasunori Ohta, Yuusuke Kitagawa, Takeshi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8894280
    Abstract: Embodiments of radiographic imaging systems and/or methods can operate a digital radiography detector in a multiple modes, where characteristics such as an exposure integration time and dark images (e.g., number timing integration time, etc.) for first and second modes are different. The digital radiography detector can be coupled to a memory that can store a first set of one or more calibration maps for the first mode and a second set of one or more calibration maps for the second mode and a processor. In one embodiment, the processor can form a first calibration-corrected exposure image by modifying a first exposure image from the first mode using the first set of calibration maps and a second calibration-corrected exposure image by modifying a second exposure image from the second mode using the second set of calibration maps in combination with calibration maps for the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Karin Topfer, John W. DeHority
  • Patent number: 8884238
    Abstract: An X-Ray matrix imager includes a matrix, a plurality of gate line sets, and a plurality of data lines. The matrix includes a plurality of rows of pixels configured to accumulate charges in response to light or radiation. Each of the gate line sets includes a first gate line coupled to a first pixel among a first row of pixels of the matrix, and a second gate line coupled to a second pixel among the first row of pixels of the matrix, wherein the first pixel is adjacent to the second pixel. Each of the data lines is arranged to be coupled to the plurality of gate line sets for receiving charges accumulated on the first row of pixels. The X-Ray matrix imager is configured to operate based on multiple-gate-line driving scheme and shared-data-line driving scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pieter Gerhard Roos, Ivan P. Mollov, Richard E. Colbeth
  • Patent number: 8872120
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of obtaining image data with a small amount of X-ray irradiation is provided. The imaging device obtains an image using X-rays and includes a scintillator and a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix and overlapping with the scintillator. The use of a transistor with an extremely small off-state current in the pixel circuits enables leakage of electrical charges from a charge accumulation portion to be reduced as much as possible, and an accumulation operation to be performed substantially at the same time in all of the pixel circuits. The accumulation operation is synchronized with X-ray irradiation, so that the amount of X-ray irradiation can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8872117
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for FTIR absorption spectroscopy, having an ATR sensor (5) and at least one ultrasonic transmitter (10) for generating an ultrasonic field in the manner of a standing wave. The ATR sensor (5) and the ultrasonic transmitter (10) are connected to a mounting (4) which is provided for attachment in a wall (2) or cover of a reactor (3) and which is set up to hold the ATR sensor (5) and the ultrasonic transmitter (10) so that they freely project into the interior of the reactor (3) in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Wien
    Inventors: Bernhard Lendl, Stefan Radel, Markus Brandstetter
  • Patent number: 8866094
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation detector that appropriately corrects an offset within a minute read cell without increasing area while achieving high-speed measurement at a high counting rate. A radiation detector 100 having a plurality of single-photon-counting imaging cells includes, for each imaging cell, a photodiode 3 which is applied with a reverse bias voltage and generates a current signal in response to incidence of radiation, a previous-stage DA converter d1 configured to correct an input signal based on the current signal generated by the photodiode 3, an amplifier k2 configured to amplify the signal corrected by the previous-stage DA converter d1, a subsequent-stage DA converter d2 configured to correct a charge signal amplified by the amplifier k2, a wave height discriminator 9 configured to discriminate output signals based on the signal corrected by the subsequent-stage DA converter d2, and a counter 10 configured to count the discriminated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Tsukiyama, Takuto Sakumura, Yuji Tsuji, Pawel Grybos, Piotr Maj, Robert Szczygiel
  • Patent number: 8866101
    Abstract: Binning readout reads out electric charge accumulated in pixels to signal lines in blocks of a plurality of adjoining pixel-rows. A correction image generator of a line defect corrector scales up an image size of a reference frame image RP outputted by the binning readout and corrects pixel values of the reference frame image RP, to produce a correction image RPC to be used for correction of a line defect occurring in an X-ray image XP. The scale-up is performed by applying row interpolation processing to the reference frame image RP. The correction of the pixel values is performed by multiplying the reference frame image RP after being subjected to the row interpolation processing by a correction coefficient. An adder adds the correction image RPC to the X-ray image XP, and produces an X-ray image XPC in which the line defect is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Watanabe, Kentaro Noma, Yasufumi Oda
  • Patent number: 8866093
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a detection device including a plurality of pixels arrayed on a substrate, the pixels each including a switch element and a conversion element including an impurity semiconductor layer disposed on an electrode, which is disposed above the switch element, which is isolated per pixel, and which is made of a transparent conductive oxide joined to the switch element, and further including an interlayer insulating layer, which is made of an organic material, which is disposed between the switch elements and the electrodes, and which covers the switch elements, the method includes insulating members each made of an inorganic material and disposed to cover the interlayer insulating layer between adjacent two of the electrodes in contact with the interlayer insulating layer, and forming an impurity semiconductor film covering the insulating members and the electrodes and becoming the impurity semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Masato Ofuji, Keigo Yokoyama, Jun Kawanabe, Hiroshi Wayama
  • Patent number: 8866096
    Abstract: A radiographic image photographing system and its control device surely correlates radiographing order information with radiographic image data and facilitates radiographing work. A control section of a tag reader reads out inherent information stored in a tag in a radiation image detecting device. A control section of a radiographing operation apparatus receives the inherent information of the radiation image detecting device from the tag and stores it in a storing section. In response to an input from an input operation section, the control section correlates each piece of radiographing order information with a cassette ID of the radiation image detecting device and stores this correlation information in the storing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8859977
    Abstract: A wavefront measuring apparatus includes an optical element forming a periodic pattern by light, a detector having pixels to detect the light, and a computer computing, based on detection results of the detector, wavefront information at positions in a wavefront of the light transmitted through or reflected by a specimen. The detector detects a first periodic pattern formed by the light, and a second periodic pattern formed by the light and shifted in phase from the first periodic pattern. The computer computes the wavefront information at one of the positions by using a result detected in a first pixel of the pixels when detecting the first periodic pattern, a result detected in a second pixel of the pixels when detecting the first periodic pattern, the second pixel being positioned within three pixels from the first pixel, and a result detected in the first pixel when detecting the second periodic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8859979
    Abstract: A matrix microelectronic device includes elementary cells laid out according to a matrix. Each cell has a current source formed by a current source transistor. A source electrode of the transistor is connected to a source biasing conductor line of a plurality of source biasing conductor lines. A gate electrode of the transistor is connected to a gate biasing conductor line of a plurality of gate biasing conductor lines. A biasing device biases the gate biasing conductor lines and includes at least one first connection line that is connected to at least several of the gate biasing conductor lines. The biasing device includes a voltage generator or a current generator that causes a variation of potentials along the first connection line, thereby compensating a corresponding variation of potentials along the source biasing conductor lines. The device can include an addressing circuit for addressing horizontal lines or rows of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Arnaud Peizerat, Marc Arques, Jean-Luc Martin
  • Patent number: 8853639
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor array has rows and columns of active pixels, and column lines in communication with the active pixels in the respective columns. Each active pixel has an output connected to a column line and includes a photodetector that produces a signal proportional to incident light intensity that is coupled to an active pixel output based on column select and row select signals. Each active pixel has a reset transistor for resetting the active pixel, wherein each reset transistor has a first gate terminal and a second gate terminal. The reset transistors have a variable threshold capability that allows increased sensor array dynamic range or mitigation of the effects of temperature or radiation induced transistor threshold voltage shifts. Row select, column select, and sense transistors can also be configured to have variable thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Voxtel, Inc.
    Inventor: George Melville Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8847167
    Abstract: The control device allows a step of reading the leak data and a step of resetting each radiation detection element to be executed alternately before radiation image capturing. When the data exceed a threshold value, the irradiation start is detected and electric charge is accumulated. Then, the step of reading the image data is executed. After this, the control device further allows a step of reading the leak data and a step of resetting each radiation detection element to be performed alternately at the same cycle time as that in the step of reading the leak data and the step of resetting each radiation detection element performed before detecting the irradiation start. After transfer to the electric charge accumulation state, the control device further permits a step of reading the offset data to be executed at the same cycle time as that in the step of reading the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideaki Tajima
  • Patent number: 8847169
    Abstract: The invention provides a CMOS CT detector design with high linearity, quantum-limited noise, good scalability, high fill factor with a single CMOS chip utilizing synchronous partial quantization. The CMOS CT detector includes a pixel array, digital column buses, analog column buses, column processing circuits, a shift register, a control signal generation circuit, and a reference generation circuit, and implements a synchronous partial quantization scheme with reset, integration and analog readout phases. Each pixel of the pixel array further includes a photodiode; an integration capacitor; an OPAMP; a reset switch; a comparator; a 1-bit dynamic random-access-memory (DRAM) cell; a circuit block for enabling subtraction of a substantially fixed amount of charge from the integrated photocharge if the integrated photovoltage increases beyond the reference voltage; an integration node; an analog buffer; and a switch coupled between the output of the DRAM cell and the digital column bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jie Yuan, Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 8847138
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a detector having a plurality of conversion elements for converting radiation or light into an electric charge, a power supply unit that supplies a first voltage to the conversion element in a first imaging operation, and a control unit that controls the detector and the power supply unit. During a period between the first imaging operation and a second imaging operation, the control unit controls to perform a first inter-imaging operation in which a second voltage different from the first voltage is supplied to the conversion element, and, subsequently to the first inter-imaging operation, a second inter-imaging operation in which a third voltage different from the first and the second voltages is supplied to the conversion element. The absolute value of the difference between the third and the first voltages is smaller than the absolute value of the difference between the second and the first voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eriko Sugawara, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Hideyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8822937
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a radiographic-image detecting unit configured to detect radiation and convert the detected radiation to an image signal; a wireless transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the image signal to an external device; and a housing configured to cover the radiographic-image detecting unit and the wireless transmission unit, wherein a first side surface of the housing has a first opening for wireless transmission performed by the wireless transmission unit, and a second side surface of the housing adjoining the first side surface has a second opening for wireless transmission by the wireless transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 8822938
    Abstract: A detector is disclosed, in particular for X-radiation. The detector includes an array of photodiodes, each respectively corresponding to a pixel with regard to size of their photosensitive receiving surface. Each photodiode is subdivided in the same way into at least two sub-photodiodes. Further, each photodiode includes at least one electric switch such that only one or all the sub-photodiodes of the photodiode are connectable to an evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Freund, Thomas Hilderscheid
  • Patent number: 8816290
    Abstract: Devices for detecting electromagnetic radiation, and method of configuring the devices, are disclosed. In one aspect, a pixel array detector includes a plurality of dual-mode pixels arranged in an array. Each dual-mode pixel includes a mixed-mode sensor configured to detect accumulated charge created by electromagnetic radiation incident on the pixel. Each dual-mode pixel further includes a digital-mode sensor configured to count individual photons incident on the pixel. Each dual-mode pixel includes a switch configured to selectively couple the mixed-mode sensor and the digital sensor with a diode associated with the pixel. The pixel array detector further includes a controller configured to configure each pixel of the plurality of dual-mode pixels into either mixed-mode or the digital-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Area Detector Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald C. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 8816294
    Abstract: An x-ray detection photo diode is disclosed. The disclosed x-ray detection photo diode includes: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a photoconductor layer formed on the first electrode in a narrower area than that of the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on the photoconductor layer. In this manner, the x-ray detection photo diode enables the electrode structure to be changed. As such, a leakage current generated in edges of the x-ray detection photo diode can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Moon Lee, Young Sik Kim, Ju Han Kim, Jae Hyung Jo
  • Patent number: 8809796
    Abstract: An X-ray detector and a method of driving the X-ray detector, which accurately compensate for an image lag of an X-ray scanning by using an X-ray image and a dark image, are provided. A stand-by time for the X-ray scanning may be reduced by increasing the accuracy of the image lag compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Wook Jung
  • Patent number: 8809795
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a transmitting path to transmit the output electric signal, and a read-out circuit performing a sampling and holding operation for holding the electric signal read out through the transmitting path, and performing a reset operation to reset the transmitting path, and includes a control unit for controlling an outputting drive circuit and a read-out circuit so as to perform the sampling and holding operation row by row after a start of the output operation, to perform the reset operation after the sampling and holding operation, and to terminate the output operation after the reset operation. This can reduce the frame time without reducing the S/N ratio of the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8796623
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation imaging device configuring a radiation imaging system. Specifically disclosed is a radiation imaging device wherein external force action mechanisms are capable of applying external force to the peripheral sections of a radiation conversion panel, or applying the external force while being laminated on the radiation conversion panel, or pressing the radiation conversion panel against the inner wall of a panel containing unit, which contains the radiation conversion panel, at least in imaging when radiation is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyasu Nakatsugawa, Naoyuki Nishino, Yasunori Ohta, Naoto Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 8791419
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an imaging array or a digital radiographic system including a plurality of pixels where at least one pixel can include a scan line, a bias line, a switching element including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control electrode where the control electrode is electrically coupled to the scan line; and a photoelectric conversion element including a first terminal electrically coupled to the bias line and a second terminal electrically coupled to the first terminal of the switching element, and a signal storage element formed in the same layers as the scan line, bias line, the data line, the switching element and the photoelectric conversion element. An area of one terminal of the signal storage element can be larger than a surface area of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Hsin Chang, Timothy J. Tredwell, Gregory N. Heiler
  • Publication number: 20140203182
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation detector that appropriately corrects an offset within a minute read cell without increasing area while achieving high-speed measurement at a high counting rate. A radiation detector 100 having a plurality of single-photon-counting imaging cells includes, for each imaging cell, a photodiode 3 which is applied with a reverse bias voltage and generates a current signal in response to incidence of radiation, a previous-stage DA converter d1 configured to correct an input signal based on the current signal generated by the photodiode 3, an amplifier k2 configured to amplify the signal corrected by the previous-stage DA converter d1, a subsequent-stage DA converter d2 configured to correct a charge signal amplified by the amplifier k2, a wave height discriminator 9 configured to discriminate output signals based on the signal corrected by the subsequent-stage DA converter d2, and a counter 10 configured to count the discriminated signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Tsukiyama, Takuto Sakumura, Yuji Tsuji, Pawel Grybos, Piotr Maj, Robert Szczygiel
  • Patent number: 8785867
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a radiation detector, an imaging device and an electrode structure thereof, and a method for acquiring an image. The radiation detector comprises: a radiation sensitive film, a top electrode on the radiation sensitive film, and an array of pixel units electrically coupled to the radiation sensitive film. Each pixel unit comprises: a pixel electrode (which is configured to collect a charge signal in a pixel area of the radiation sensitive film), a storage capacitor, a reset transistor, a buffer transistor, a column strobe transistor, and a row strobe transistor. The column strobe transistor and the row strobe transistor are connected in series between the buffer transistor and the signal line, and transfer the voltage signal of the corresponding pixel unit in response to a column strobe signal and a row strobe signal. The radiation detector may be used for, for example, X-ray digital imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Lan Zhang, Zhiqiang Chen, Ziran Zhao, Wanlong Wu, Yuanjing Li, Zhi Deng, Xiaocui Zheng
  • Patent number: 8785873
    Abstract: A detection apparatus comprising a substrate; a switching element arranged over the substrate and including a plurality of electrodes; a conductive line arranged over the substrate and electrically connected to a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes of the switching element; and a conversion element including a semiconductor layer arranged over the switching element and the conductive line and arranged between two electrodes, one electrode of the two electrodes being electrically connected to a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes of the switching element, is provided. The one electrode of the conversion element is arranged over the switching element and the conductive line through a space formed between the one electrode and the first electrode of the switching element or between the one electrode and the conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiori Mochizuki, Minoru Watanabe, Takamasa Ishii, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8785869
    Abstract: A system and method for providing emission mammography are provided. The system includes a first gamma emission detector and a second gamma emission detector. The first and second gamma emission detectors are configured to compress an object therebetween. The system further includes a radioactive transmission source. At least one of the first and second gamma emission detectors is configured to detect gamma ray photons from the radioactive transmission source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian James McParland
  • Patent number: 8785868
    Abstract: An “intelligent” UV curing assembly is disclosed. The “intelligent” assembly permits automated monitoring of performance parameters, part lifetime, and inventory control of internal parts. The “intelligent” assembly includes an on lamp microprocessor. The on lamp microprocessor may be configured to recognize the internal parts, record accumulated working time of each part, and sample and process data from the plurality of “intelligent” sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc.
    Inventors: Yixin Yang, William E. Johnson, III, Pradyumna Kumar Swain, Michael Kenneth West, Charles Hudson Wood, David Xu, Darrin Leonhardt, Mahmood Gharagozloo
  • Patent number: 8766200
    Abstract: A portable radiation detector is described having an elastomeric enclosure that provides some degree of mechanical shock resistance. In one embodiment, the enclosure encloses some or all of the electronic components of the detector and provides protection against drops and other mechanical shock for the enclosed components. One or more support or stiffening structures may also be provided to protect against impacts, to distribute static loads, and/or to impart a shape to the detector when handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Ryan Konkle, Christopher Jay Morse
  • Patent number: 8766201
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device for detecting nuclear radiation levels, where the device has image capturing means comprising a sensor capable of receiving nuclear radiation and converting same to a value indicative of the nuclear radiation level. The device also comprises a shutter translatable from a first orientation covering the sensor (in which radiation level monitoring is allowed) to a second orientation revealing the sensor (in which radiation level monitoring is disallowed). The device may be a modified cellular telephone, satellite telephone, personal digital assistant or tablet personal computer provided with a digital camera, such that camera functionality is maintained and permitted when the shutter is in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Kai Kaletsch
  • Patent number: 8759776
    Abstract: A TeraMOS sensor based on a CMOS-SOI-MEMS transistor, thermally isolated by the MEMS post-processing, designed specifically for the detection of THz radiation which may be directly integrated with the CMOS-SOI readout circuitry, in order to achieve a breakthrough in performance and cost. The TeraMOS sensor provides a low-cost, high performance THz passive or active imaging system (roughly in the range of 0.5-1.5 THz) by combining several leading technologies: Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-Silicon on Insulator (SOI), Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and photonics. An array of TeraMOS sensors, integrated with readout circuitry and driving and supporting circuitry provides a monolithic focal plane array or imager. This imager is designed in a commercial CMOS-SOI Fab and the MEMS micromachining is provided as post-processing step in order to reduce cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventor: Yael Nemirovsky
  • Patent number: 8759782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiographic imaging including, provided at an insulating substrate, sensor portions for radiation detection that generate charges due to receive radiation or light converted from radiation, first signal lines that are connected to the sensor portions for radiation detection and through which flow electric signals that correspond to the charges generated at the sensor portions for radiation detection, and second signal lines having a substantially same wiring pattern as the first signal lines. Detection of radiation is carried out on the basis of a difference between an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, or a difference between values of digital data obtained by digitally converting an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8748834
    Abstract: A radiographic image capture system includes: a radiographic image capture section, an output section and a generation section. The radiographic image capture section has plural radiographic imaging devices are placed adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction. Each of the radiographic imaging devices independently performs an imaging action, a preparatory action that is performed before the imaging action, and a transition action in which the radiographic imaging device transitions, in response to a transition command, from a first state in which the radiographic imaging device performs the preparatory action to a second state in which the radiographic imaging device performs the imaging action. The output section outputs the transition command to the plurality of radiographic imaging devices when imaging condition data has been input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8742359
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an imaging area formed by arranging a plurality of imaging blocks each including a pixel array, a plurality of vertical signal lines, a horizontal output line commonly provided for the plurality of vertical signal lines to read out signals read out to the plurality of vertical signal lines, a first scanning circuit, and a second scanning circuit, wherein signals of the pixels of a selected row in the pixel array are read out to the plurality of vertical signal lines in accordance with a driving pulse from the first scanning circuit, the signals read out to the plurality of vertical signal lines are sequentially read out to the horizontal output line in accordance with a driving pulse from the second scanning circuit, and a length in a row direction of the pixel array is smaller than a length in a column direction of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Arishima, Yuichiro Yamashita, Masaru Fujimura, Shin Kikuchi, Shoji Kono, Shinichiro Shimizu