X-ray Or Gamma-ray System Patents (Class 250/370.09)
  • Patent number: 9356085
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus including a shield layer and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate having a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. A plurality of first thin film transistors (TFTs) are disposed in the display area of the substrate and a plurality of second TFTs disposed in the peripheral area of the substrate. A shield layer is positioned above the second TFTs and extended to an edge portion of the substrate. The shield layer includes a plurality of through holes in a portion that does not overlap with the second TFTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yang-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9354333
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus, comprising a housing including a first plate portion and a second plate portion arranged to face each other, a scintillator configured to convert radiation into light, supported by a supporting portion arranged in a side of the second plate portion in the housing, a sensor panel including a sensor array in which a plurality of sensors for detecting light are arrayed, interposed between the scintillator and the first plate portion in the housing, and a member interposed between the first plate portion and the sensor panel in the housing, wherein the sensor panel is arranged to position an outer edge of the sensor panel outside an outer edge of the scintillator, and the member is arranged to position an outer edge of the member inside the outer edge of the scintillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Inoue, Shinichi Takeda, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe
  • Patent number: 9348036
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes a radiation detector, a power source, a current detector, and a bias voltage adjuster. The detector includes a semiconductor layer having a compound semiconductor directly converting incoming radiation photons to electric charges and a pair of electrode layers stacked individually on both surfaces of the semiconductor layer. One layer of the paired electrode layers has plural collecting electrodes which enable the semiconductor layer to have one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arrayed pixels. The power source applies a direct-current bias voltage between the electrodes such that the electric charge is collected to one electrode of the electrodes. The current detector detects current supplied from the power source when the power source applies the bias voltage between the electrodes. The bias voltage adjuster changes a value of the bias voltage applied by the power source depending on a value of the current detected by the current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TAKARA TELESYSTEMS Corp.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yamakawa, Daisuke Hashimoto, Tatsuya Nagano, Masahiro Tsujita
  • Patent number: 9347628
    Abstract: A light energy reuse type light-emitting device with low power consumption is provided by converting light from a light-emitting device into electric power efficiently for reuse. Also, a light energy reuse type light-emitting device with high yield is provided. A light-blocking film of the light-emitting device is replaced to a photoelectric conversion element, so that light is converted into electric power. That is, conventionally, light is not emitted in a portion of a light-blocking film. In the disclosed invention, light which is not emitted can be converted into electric power by a photoelectric conversion element, and can be reused. Therefore, a light-emitting device with low power consumption is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9337233
    Abstract: Embodiments of a photodiode array are provided herein. In some embodiments, a photodiode array may include a semiconductor layer configured to convert photons into analog electrical signals; and a passive layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, wherein the semiconductor layer is coupled to the first surface, and wherein the passive layer is configured to have a signal receiving component coupled directly to the second surface of the passive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sabarni Palit, James Wilson Rose, Peter Micah Sandvik, Jonathan David Short, Ching-Yeu Wei, Xingguang Zhu
  • Patent number: 9335422
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging device including: a detector that detects an irradiation start of radiation irradiated in imaging of a radiographic image; a derivation unit that derives an irradiation amount of radiation that will be irradiated within a specific period of time based on input data; a controller that makes a power supply amount to the detector smaller and lowers detection sensitivity to radiation irradiation start in the detector the larger the radiation irradiation amount derived by the derivation unit; and an imaging unit that images the radiographic image after radiation irradiation start has been detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasufumi Oda
  • Patent number: 9322939
    Abstract: Low cost large area photodetector arrays are provided. In a first embodiment, the photodetectors comprise an inorganic photoelectric conversion material formed in a single thick layer of material. In a second embodiment, the photodetectors comprise a lamination of several thin layers of an inorganic photoelectric conversion material, the combined thickness of which is large enough to absorb incoming x-rays with a high detector quantum efficiency. In a third embodiment, the photodetectors comprise a lamination of several layers of inorganic or organic photoelectric conversion material, wherein each layer has a composite scintillator coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Simha Levene, Ami Altman, Naor Wainer, Cornelis Reinder Ronda, Eliav Itshak Haskal, Dagobert Michel De Leeuw
  • Patent number: 9322937
    Abstract: A method for detecting ionizing radiation using a pixelated semi-conductor detector. When the radiation interacts with the detector, the affected pixel is determined, together with the instant of impact for this pixel. A first instant before and a second instant after the instant of impact are deduced from this. The deviations of the signals coming from an assembly of pixels adjacent to the affected point are then measured, with the deviations being measured between the first and second instants. The position of the point of interaction of the radiation with the semi-conductor is estimated from the deviations thus measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Silvere Lux, Guillaume Montemont
  • Patent number: 9322936
    Abstract: An X-ray line detector includes a housing having an upper part a lower part and a linear inlet slot for X-ray radiation to be detected. At least one detector element including a plurality of linearly arranged photodiodes is disposed opposite the inlet slot. Each photodiode is arranged on a printed circuit board mounted on a base carrier disposed in the housing. Each photodiode has a multiplicity of pixels including respective active areas of equal width arranged equidistantly in relation to each other with distances between the active areas being equidistant. Adjacent printed circuit boards are spaced apart from each other at a distance such that edge pixels on the respective adjacent printed circuit boards are disposed at a distance from one another corresponding to a sum of the width of the active area of a pixel and twice the distance between adjacent pixels of a photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Yxlon International GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Bavendiek
  • Patent number: 9316746
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a radiography system and a radiography method. A radiation output device has a plurality of radiation sources disposed along a predetermined plane. Also, in accordance with whether an imaging state is a still image mode or a moving picture mode, at least one of the radiation sources that outputs radiation among the plurality of radiation sources is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nishino, Yasunori Ohta, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa, Kouichi Kitano, Naoto Iwakiri
  • Patent number: 9316751
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus (400) includes a detector array (412) with at least one detector tile (418). The detector tile includes a photosensor array (422) with a two dimensional array of individual photosensitive detector pixels (424) located within a non-photosensitive area (426). The imaging apparatus also includes readout electronics (432) coupled to the photosensor array and including individual readout channel wells (602, 604) corresponding to the individual detector pixels. The imaging apparatus also includes an anti-aliasing filter (800) for a detector pixel that is located in at least one of a region of the photosensor array corresponding to the detector pixel or a region of the readout electronics corresponding to the detector pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Anthony Chappo, Randall Peter Luhta
  • Patent number: 9310495
    Abstract: An photon (energy) identifying radiation imaging device, for imaging x-ray, gamma ray and charged radiation in medical, dental and industrial applications. The imaging device includes a detector substrate and a readout substrate. The detector substrate has a plurality of detector pixels and the readout substrate has a plurality of corresponding pixel readout circuits. Each pixel readout circuit has circuitry for processing an input analog signal and also has one or more buffers for temporarily storing values corresponding to the signal of at least two individual incoming radiation events. The readout substrate includes a digital controller having digital processing units for carrying out off-pixel digital signal processing and data/rate reduction prior to readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: OY AJAT LTD.
    Inventors: Konstantinos Spartiotis, Tuomas Pantsar, Charalampos Lampropoulos, Theofanis Orfanoudakis
  • Patent number: 9291721
    Abstract: A photon counting detector and a photon counting and detecting method using the same is provided. The photon counting detector includes readout circuits configured to count photons in multi-energy radiation incident to a sensor, the photons being counted with respect to each of a plurality of energy bands of the multi-energy radiation, the readout circuits respectively corresponding to pixels of a region onto which the multi-energy radiation is irradiated, each of the readout circuits being configured to count photons in a predetermined one of the energy bands, at least one of the readout circuits being configured to count photons in at least one of energy bands other than the predetermined one of the energy bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-wook Han, Dong-goo Kang, Young-hun Sung
  • Patent number: 9287877
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of reconfiguration, including: a plurality of logic units which configure an array and are connected to each other, wherein each logic unit includes a pair of a first and a second memory cell units, each of the first and the second memory cell units operates as a logic element when truth value table data is written in, which is configured so that a logic calculation of an input value specified by a plurality of addresses is output to a data line, and/or operates as a connection element when truth value table data is written in, which is configured so that an input value specified by a certain address is output to a data line to be connected to an address of another memory cell unit, a latter stage of the first memory cell unit includes a sequential circuit which synchronizes with a clock, and the logic units include, for each pair of the first and the second memory cell units, a selection unit which selectively outputs an address to the first or the second memory cell unit in ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Satou, Koshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9282939
    Abstract: A cassette holder of an imaging stand is provided with first and second catch members for catching and holding an electronic cassette from above and below. The first catch member has a multi connector connected to a multi terminal of the electronic cassette. The multi connector is offset with respect to a center line of an imaging surface of the cassette holder. The multi terminal is offset with respect to a center line of an irradiation surface of the electronic cassette in the same direction by the same amount as those of the multi connector. In a state where said electronic cassette mounted on a tray is loaded into the cassette holder, the center line of the irradiation surface coincides with the center line of the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tajima, Yusuke Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9274895
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit including a configuration memory and self-scrubber logic coupled to read the configuration memory to detect compromised data stored in the configuration memory. The apparatus also includes a watchdog unit external to the processing unit and coupled to the self-scrubber logic to detect a failure in the self-scrubber logic. The watchdog unit is coupled to the processing unit to selectively reset the processing unit in response to detecting the failure in the self-scrubber logic. The apparatus also includes an external memory external to the processing unit and coupled to send configuration data to the configuration memory in response to a data feed signal outputted by the self-scrubber logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher K. Wojahn
  • Patent number: 9270907
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus including an accumulation unit to accumulate electrical charge in accordance with radiation for each pixel circuit of a plurality of pixel circuits. An output unit outputs an analog signal for each pixel circuit by sampling and holding an electrical signal in accordance with a voltage of an accumulation unit for each pixel circuit. The output unit stops the output during a reset operation of the accumulation unit. A selection unit selects pixel circuits that output the analog signals. The selection unit stops the selection during a reset operation of the accumulation unit. A determination unit determines whether a total time of an exposure time and an output time required to output the analog signals corresponding to all the pixel circuits is longer than an imaging interval that is based on a synchronization signal representing a radiation generation timing input from an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Naito, Hidehiko Saito
  • Patent number: 9263591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electronic component, in particular a field-effect transistor (FET), comprising at least one substrate, at least one dielectric, and at least one semiconducting metal oxide, wherein the dielectric or a precursor compound thereof based on organically modified silicon oxide compounds, in particular based on silsequioxanes and/or siloxanes, can be processed out of solution, and is thermally treated at a low temperature from room temperature to 350° C., and the semiconductive metal oxide, in particular ZnO or a precursor compound thereof, can also be processed from solution at a low temperature from room temperature to 350° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Friederike Fleischhaker, Veronika Wloka, Thomas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9250333
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiographic imaging device, radiographic imaging system, a program for controlling the radiographic imaging device, and a method for controlling the radiographic imaging device that may accurately detect start of irradiation of radiation even noises are generated by interference or the like. When radiation is irradiated, electric signals outputted from radiation detection pixels in charge accumulation period are detected by signal detection circuit during detection period. Control section determines whether time variation of the electric signals feature pre-specified characteristics of noise. If not, the start of the irradiation of radiation has been properly detected, the charge accumulation period continues, and radiographic image is imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 9252181
    Abstract: A color image sensor is disclosed. In one aspect, the color image sensor includes: a photo-sensitive cell having a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a chalcogenide material located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; and an image sensing circuit for measuring the wavelength or intensity of incident light based on an electric characteristic value generated from the photo-sensitive cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Su Youn Lee, Byung Ki Cheong, Doo Seok Jeong
  • Patent number: 9246047
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which charge capacity of a capacitor is increased without a reduction in aperture ratio is provided. In a transistor including a light-transmitting semiconductor film and a capacitor in which a dielectric film is provided between a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes and the dielectric film are formed using a light-transmitting material. A semiconductor film which is formed on the same surface as the semiconductor film of the transistor is used as one of the pair of electrodes. The dielectric film included in the capacitor is formed using a gate insulating film. The other of the pair of electrodes is formed using a light-transmitting semiconductor film or a light-transmitting conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9227087
    Abstract: A teletherapy control system constituted of: a teletherapy management server; and a computerized tomography unit in communication with the teletherapy management server, the teletherapy management server arranged to: obtain at least one reference image of a target area; obtain from the computerized tomography unit at least one scout image of the target area; compare the obtained at least one scout image of the target area with the obtained at least one reference image of the target area; identify the location coordinates of the target area responsive to the comparison of the obtained scout image with the obtained at least one reference image; and output a control signal to a positioning device responsive to the identified location coordinates of the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: P-CURE Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Marash, Guy Lavi
  • Patent number: 9229117
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensor units each including a plurality of photoelectric converters, a substrate configured to support the plurality of sensor units, and a scintillator, wherein the scintillator comprises scintillator grains configured to convert radiation into light and a binder configured to make the scintillator grains adhere to each other, and the scintillator includes first portions provided between the plurality of sensor units and a second portion provided on the plurality of sensor units and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Takeda, Masato Inoue, Satoru Sawada, Takamasa Ishii, Taiki Takei, Kota Nishibe, Shoshiro Saruta
  • Patent number: 9207332
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a counting digital x-ray detector for recording x-ray images of an object irradiated by x-ray radiation with at least one detector module, which includes a flat direct converter for converting x-ray radiation into an electrical signal and a matrix with a plurality of counting pixel elements, wherein each counting pixel element includes a charge or signal input, a conversion facility for converting the electrical signal into a count signal, a digital counter for detecting and storing the count signal and a control and readout unit, and wherein the x-ray image detector is embodied such that each pixel element of the x-ray image detector is connected to the corresponding electrodes of the detector material of the direct converter via contacts and in this way is embodied switchably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Spahn
  • Patent number: 9184189
    Abstract: To reduce adverse effects on actual operation and to reduce adverse effects of noise. A structure including an electrode, a wiring electrically connected to the electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the electrode in a plane view, an insulating layer provided between the electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer in a cross-sectional view, and a functional circuit to which a signal is inputted from the electrode through the wiring and in which operation is controlled in accordance with the signal inputted. A capacitor is formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a wiring or an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Uochi, Daisuke Kawae
  • Patent number: 9184223
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a signal transmission line, a pad and a buffer. The pixels display an image. The signal transmission line is electrically connected to at least one of the pixels to transmit a signal. The pad is electrically connected to the signal transmission line. The pad has greater width than the signal transmission line. The buffer is disposed between the signal transmission line and the pad. A first end of the buffer adjacent to the pad is wider than a second end of the buffer adjacent to the signal transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae-Gon Kim
  • Patent number: 9148549
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and image processing method according to the present disclosure are characterized to obtain N number of image data regarding a same object, each N number of image data consisting of a plurality of pixels; remove noise data of among N number of pixel data regarding pixels in a same location, from the N number of image data; and generate an image of the object using data excluding the noise data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: SNU PRECISION CO., LTD., UMECHA CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Kue Lim, Souk Kim, Chang-Yong Um, Hyung-Bae Park
  • Patent number: 9140809
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes a radiation detector including a scintillator for converting radiation that has passed through a subject into visible light, and a substantially cuboid shaped photoelectric transducer board for converting the visible light into radiographic image information, and a casing housing the radiation detector therein. The casing is of a substantially cuboid shape and includes an upper plate, a lower plate, and a frame interconnecting the upper plate and the lower plate. The frame has a recess defined therein, which faces and is spaced from a corner of the photoelectric transducer board, the recess being concave in a direction away from the corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakahashi
  • Patent number: 9137470
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for improving overall chip speed by providing one or more sampling circuits in an ROIC so that signal processing and signal reading out operations may occur simultaneously instead of successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Luxen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eun-Hwa Kim, Jin-Woong Jeong, Young-Jae Kim, Chol-Ho Kwak, Seul-Yi Soh, Myung-Jin Soh
  • Patent number: 9134431
    Abstract: A radiation detector 100 has a plurality of single-photon-counting imaging cells, including an imaging cell 1 configured to generate a detection signal in accordance with the intensity of radiation, a digitization circuit 5 configured to digitize the detection signal, a data read structure 11 configured to count the digitized detection signal and to keep the result as a data bit, and a send-out register 13 configured to control the input of a predetermined data bit output from the data read structure 11 by a data shift in accordance with a first clock Pck, to keep the input data bit as a result of the control, and to send out the kept data bit by a data shift in accordance with a second clock Sck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Sakumura, Yuji Tsuji, Pawel Grybos, Piotr Maj, Robert Szczygiel
  • Patent number: 9121951
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a scintillator panel which exhibits excellent cuttability and can be cut without the occurrence of problems such as the separation of a scintillator layer and which can give radiographic images such as X-ray images with excellent sensitivity and sharpness. The scintillator panel of the invention includes a reflective layer and a scintillator layer formed by deposition on a support, and the reflective layer includes light-scattering particles and a specific binder resin and has a specific thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tadashi Arimoto, Kiyoshi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9119584
    Abstract: A radiation image capture device is provided with a radiation detection panel including optoelectronic conversion elements, a signal processing board that performs signal processing of the signals provided by the radiation detection panel, a flexible printed circuit, and a casing. One end of the flexible printed circuit is connected to the radiation detection panel and the other end is connected to the signal processing board. The flexible printed circuit includes a base film fowled of an insulating resin film, wiring disposed over the base film, a coating layer formed of an insulating resin disposed over the wiring, and a shield layer provided between the base film and the wiring and/or between the wiring and the coating layer. An insulator is interposed between the shield layer and the wiring, and the shield layer is connected to a fixed potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9116094
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of non-destructively testing a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element includes providing a PCD element including a plurality of bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions, at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions including one or more interstitial constituents disposed therein. The method further includes exposing the PCD element to neutron radiation from a neutron radiation source, receiving a portion of the neutron radiation that passes through the PCD element, and determining at least one characteristic of the PCD element at least partially based on the portion of the neutron radiation received. For example, the at least one characteristic may be the presence and distribution of metal-solvent catalyst, residual metal-solvent catalyst, an infiltrant, residual infiltrant, or other interstitial constituents within a PCD element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, Kenneth E. Bertagnolli
  • Patent number: 9113827
    Abstract: An intraoral x-ray imaging device produces and transfers intraoral images of a patient to a network and which includes intraoral housing, an x-ray image sensor which is disposed in the intraoral housing, a digital high-bit generator which generates digital high bit depth grayscale sensor data and which is disposed inside the intraoral housing, a digital low-bit generator which converts the digital high bit depth grayscale sensor data to low bit depth grayscale sensor data and which is disposed inside the intraoral housing and a communication device which couples the digital low-bit generator to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventor: Jordan C. Christoff
  • Patent number: 9097812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, etc. having a structure for capturing a high-resolution image even when any row selecting wiring is disconnected. The solid-state imaging device (1) comprises a photodetecting section (10), a signal reading-out section (20), a row selecting section (30), a column selecting section (40), an overflow preventing section (50), and a controlling section (60). The photodetecting section (10) has M×N pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns, and each of the pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N includes a photodiode that generates charge of an amount according to an incident light intensity and a reading-out switch connected to the photodiode. Each of the N pixel portions Pm,1 to Pm,N belonging to an m-th row is connected to the row selecting section (30) and the overflow preventing section (50) by an m-th row selecting wiring LV,m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuki Fujita, Harumichi Mori, Ryuji Kyushima, Masahiko Honda
  • Patent number: 9088742
    Abstract: An X-ray detector is disclosed. According to one aspect, the X-ray detector includes a plurality of light sensing pixels each including a photodiode for generating an electrical detection signal corresponding to incident light and a switching device for transmitting the detection signal. The X-ray detector additionally includes a gate driver for supplying a gate pulse to the switching device via a plurality of gate lines. The gate pulse may be configured to turn on the switching device. The X-ray detector also includes a read out integrated circuit for reading out the detection signal from the plurality of light sensing pixels. During a scrubbing period, in which gate scanning is performed at least once to initialize the photodiodes of the plurality of light sensing pixels, a plurality of gate pulses are supplied to each gate line during each gate scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9069080
    Abstract: A vehicle and ladar sensor assembly system is proposed which makes use of forward mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to identify obstacles and to identify potential collisions with the vehicle. A low cost assembly is developed which can be easily mounted within a body panel cutout of a vehicle, and which connects to the vehicle electrical and computer systems through the vehicle wiring harness. The vehicle has a digital processor which interprets 3D data received from the ladar sensor assembly, and which is in control of the vehicle subsystems for steering, braking, acceleration, and suspension. The digital processor onboard the vehicle makes use of the 3D data and the vehicle control subsystems to avoid collisions and steer a best path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Stettner, Patrick Gilliland, Andrew Duerner
  • Patent number: 9069087
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a light-sensitive device, for example, a digital X-ray detector including an array of light-sensitive points. The light-sensitive device includes a column conductor, line conductors, and light-sensitive points. Each light-sensitive point is connected between the column conductor and one of the line conductors, and includes a light-sensitive element converting a photon flux into electrical charges, and a transistor transferring the electrical charges to the column conductor based on control of a signal received by the corresponding line conductor. The method depends on the presence of a capacitor for cross-coupling between the drain and source of each transistor in the off state. The capacitor provides a potential variation to the column conductor upon receiving photons. The method comprises comparing the potential variation with a threshold, and reading the light-sensitive points in the event that the result of the comparison is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Trixell
    Inventors: David Blanchon, David Couder, Benoît Candiard
  • Patent number: 9058047
    Abstract: Provided is a startup circuit which allows a reference voltage generating circuit to start up and reach a stable equilibrium state in an extremely short period. The startup circuit is configured to hold voltage which is substantially the same as internal voltage of the reference voltage generating circuit in the stable equilibrium state even when power is not supplied to the startup circuit. The voltage is output from the startup circuit to the reference voltage generation circuit when the reference voltage generating circuit is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9054015
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging device 1 includes an imaging photodetecting section 10, a trigger photodetecting section 20, a row selection section 30, a column selection section 40, a holding section 50, a pixel data output section 60, a trigger data output section 70, and a control section 80. In a shutter method of the solid-state imaging device 1, the start of a charge accumulation period is common to all rows of the imaging photodetecting section 10, while the end of the charge accumulation period varies row by row of the imaging photodetecting section 10, and there is a signal readout period subsequent to the charge accumulation period in each row of the imaging photodetecting section 10. Accordingly, a solid-state imaging device that can perform high-accuracy imaging even when the incident period of light to be imaged is considerably short is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ihori, Yukinobu Sugiyama, Keisuke Nakao
  • Patent number: 9046617
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation flat panel detector configured to detect radiation incident thereupon and to generate a radiation image, a control unit configured to control a drive of the radiation flat panel detector, a heat insulation member arranged between the radiation flat panel detector and the control unit, an external housing configured to accommodate therein the flat panel detector and the control unit, a first heat transfer member configured to transfer heat from the radiation flat panel detector to a first surface of the external housing, and a second heat transfer member configured to transfer heat from the control unit to a second surface of the external housing different from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Gonda
  • Publication number: 20150146853
    Abstract: A radiation imaging device includes plural individual detectors defining an irregular rectangular active area responsive to x-rays and with different widths along a length of the active area. The individual detectors may be of different rectangular shapes and mounted on a motherboard. The motherboard may be formed of a first module mounting a first of two individual detectors and a second module detachable connected to the first module and mounting a second of two individual detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: KONSTANTINOS SPARTIOTIS, TOM SCHULMAN, TUOMAS PANTSAR
  • Patent number: 9042512
    Abstract: An approach is disclosed for acquiring multi-sector computed tomography scan data. The approach includes activating an X-ray source during heartbeats of a patient to acquire projection data over a limited angular range for each heartbeat. The projection data acquired over the different is combined. An image having good temporal resolution is reconstructed using the combined projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhye Yin, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jed Douglas Pack, Kyle Morgan Champley, Kai Zeng
  • Publication number: 20150139397
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an imaging system. The image sensor array includes multiple image sensor sheets configured in an array grid. Each image sensor sheet of the multiple image sensor sheets can include a flexible substrate layer, and the flexible substrate layer can include a first flexible substrate side and a second flexible substrate side opposite the first flexible substrate side. Meanwhile, each image sensor sheet of the multiple sensor sheets can include multiple image sensors over the first flexible substrate side, the multiple image sensors can include multiple flat panel image detectors configured in a sheet grid, and the image sensor array can include an approximately constant pixel pitch. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, Acting on behalf of Arizona Stat
    Inventors: Joseph T. Smith, John Stowell
  • Patent number: 9035236
    Abstract: A method is proposed herein to detect high atomic number materials, such as Special Nuclear Materials, within a container based on muon tomography. The container is modeled as a plurality of volume elements. Information related to an initial trajectory and a final trajectory of each muon passing through the container is received. Additionally, a set of initial outer prong vectors and a set of final outer prong vectors are created. Then, a plurality of vector combinations are created from a selected initial vector and a selected final vector. A metric is determined and associated with each vector combination. A subset of the plurality of vector combinations is associated with each volume element and an estimated scattering density is determined and assigned to the volume element. Based on the estimated scattering density assigned to the volume elements, a three dimensional image of the container may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Vinicius Anghel, Guy Jonkmans, Cybele Jewett, Martin Thompson
  • Patent number: 9035264
    Abstract: An X-ray detector and a heat dissipating method are provided. The heat dissipating method comprises providing an optical sensing panel over an internal support of the X-ray detector and providing a digital printed circuit board directly on a back cover, so that there is a gap between the digital printed circuit board and the optical sensing panel that is fixed by the internal support. The X-ray detector comprises an optical sensing panel bonded to the outer side of an internal support; and a digital printed circuit board bonded to the inner side of a back cover, wherein there is a gap between the digital printed circuit board and the optical sensing panel that is fixed by the internal support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Tao Chen, Xiaojie Wang
  • Patent number: 9029794
    Abstract: An X-ray matrix imager is configured to operate based on a multiple-gate-line driving scheme and a shared-data-line driving scheme. The X-ray matrix imager includes a matrix with multiple pixels, multiple gate line sets, multiple data lines, multiple gate drivers, multiple row multiplexers, and multiple pull-down units. Each gate line sets includes a first gate line coupled to a first pixel and a second gate line coupled to a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel. Each data line is coupled to the multiple gate line sets for receiving charges accumulated on the pixels. Each row multiplexer is configured to selectively couple a corresponding gate driver to the first gate line or the second gate line in a corresponding gate line set. Each pull-down unit is configured to couple the first gate line to a constant voltage when the first gate line is not coupled to the corresponding gate driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weisfield, Ivan P. Mollov, Pieter Gerhard Roos
  • Patent number: 9029793
    Abstract: An imaging device (6) for scan-imaging radiation includes an imaging cell array (3) comprising an array of detector cells generating charge in response to incident radiation (1) and an array of pixel circuits each pixel circuit associated with a respective detector cell. The pixel circuit includes circuitry for accumulating plural radiation hit on an associated detector cell and transfer circuitry shifting upon command the accumulated value of all pixels by one step in one dimension (e.g., row by row). The imaged object (2) moves at a speed VOPT (7) with respect to the radiation source and the imaging detector (or source and detector move at ?VOPT with respect to the object) on which the accumulated values are shifted are with VTDI (8). VTDI may equal VOPT in value and direction. Thus, a value is accumulated in a moving information package using multiple pixels (10) and referring directly to a location on the moving object. The accumulated values are read out along one edge of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Konstantinos Evangelos Spartiotis, Stefan Jurthe, Markku Tapio Eräluoto
  • Patent number: 9025730
    Abstract: Systems and methods for braking and releasing one or more pivot joints used in an X-ray positioning device are described. The systems and methods use a support arm that extends between a main assembly of the x-ray positioning device and an X-ray imaging assembly with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are disposed nearly opposite to each other. The support arm includes one or more pivot joints (such as horizontal, lateral, and/or orbital pivot joints) that allow the imaging assembly to move with respect to the main assembly. The pivot joints can each be connected to an automated braking system that is capable of selectively locking and unlocking a corresponding pivot joint, as indicated by a user-controlled switching mechanism. The braking systems containing multiple pivot joints can be individually controlled by separate switching mechanisms or simultaneously controlled by a single switching mechanism. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Ellis Barker, John Matthew Simmons
  • Patent number: 9025729
    Abstract: An FPD is provided with an ammeter for measuring current on a wired connection of a bias line that applies a bias voltage to pixels. A control circuit compares the measured value of the ammeter and a threshold value. When the measured value of the ammeter is equal to or larger than the threshold value, the control circuit judges that an emission of X-rays from an X-ray source is started. Until before the start of the X-ray irradiation is detected, the control circuit stops supplying electric power to a signal processing circuit, and turns on all TFTs. Once the start of the X-ray irradiation is detected, the control circuit turns off all the TFTs, and makes the FPD shift to a charge accumulation operation. Thereafter, the control circuit turns on a processing power source to start supplying the electric power to the signal processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kondou