Including A Radiant Energy Responsive Gas Discharge Device Patents (Class 250/374)
  • Patent number: 11953452
    Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector, such as a photon counting computed tomography detector, includes a semiconductor material plate, a plurality of anodes located on a first side of the semiconductor material plate, where the gaps (i.e., streets) between adjacent anodes are less than 15 ?m in width, and at least one cathode located on a second side of the semiconductor material plate. Ionizing radiation detectors according to various embodiments may have improved count rate stability (CRS) characteristics and a reduced number of Non-Conforming Pixels (NCPs) relative to conventional detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: REDLEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pramodha Marthandam, Michael Kevin Jackson
  • Patent number: 11826192
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus, comprising: a platform configured to support a human body on a first surface of the platform; a first set of radiation detectors arranged in a first layer, wherein the radiation detectors of the first set are attached to a second surface of the platform opposite the first surface; wherein the radiation detectors of the first set are configured to detect radiation from a radiation source inside the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 11686615
    Abstract: A method of measuring light intensity comprising exposing a photodiode to light to cause the photodiode to provide a current of a first polarity, supplying said current to an integrator to integrate said current to provide an integrated output voltage, and comparing the output voltage with a threshold voltage. Charge packages of opposite polarity are applied to said first polarity to reset the integration voltage prior to the start of the integration time. At the end of the integration time, the photodiode is disconnected from said integrator and a reference voltage coupled to the integrator input, whilst a resistance is coupled into the circuit until the comparison signal switches. The comparison signal is monitored to measure a time between the end of the integration time and the switching of the comparison signal to provide a measure of a residual voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Peter Bleim
  • Patent number: 11640006
    Abstract: A system for detecting a position of an ionizing radiation. The system includes a radiation detector including a plurality of cathode films, a plurality of anode strips sets, a plurality of insulator films, a conductive grid, and a drift region. Each set of the plurality of anode strips sets is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent cathode films of the plurality of cathode films. Each of the plurality of insulator films is disposed between a respective cathode film of the plurality of cathode films and a respective set of the plurality of anode strips sets. The conductive grid is disposed in parallel with the detection plane and exposed to the ionizing radiation. A drift region includes a region between the conductive grid and the detection plane. The radiation detector is configured to ionize a gas by generating an electric field inside the drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: AMIRKABIR UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Faiyaz Mohammadbaghery, Shahyar Saramad, Mojtaba Shamsaiezafarghandi
  • Patent number: 11630218
    Abstract: A two-dimensional imaging system and a two-dimensional or three-dimensional optical tomographic mapping system, each employing gas scintillation induced by ionizing radiation, i.e., radioluminescence, and corresponding methods, are disclosed. The systems may employ one or more cameras and corresponding UV filters (potentially solar blind filters) for imaging a radioluminescent scene. For two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping, the resultant UV images are spatially registered with one another and then reconstructed to form a three-dimensional tomographic map of the ionizing radiation. The two-dimensional map is a plane of the three-dimensional map. The UV images may be spatially registered by using a reference source, optionally, a calibrated reference source allowing dosimetry calculations for the ionizing radiation. Molecular nitrogen is the primary candidate for the radioluminescent gas, though a controlled ambient in a chamber of nitric oxide, argon, krypton, or xenon may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Z. Bentz, Richard Karl Harrison, Benjamin Tong Yee, Norman Kolb, Jeffrey B. Martin, Sean Donovan Fournier, Oskar Fick Searfus, Christopher Murzyn, Christopher Blair Saltonstall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11573337
    Abstract: A radiation detection device includes a detection element including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode on the first surface, a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode in a first direction, a third electrode adjacent to the first electrode in a second direction; a fourth electrode adjacent to the third electrode in the first direction and adjacent to the second electrode in the second direction and a fifth electrode on the first surface and between the first and second electrode, between the first and third electrode, between the second and fourth electrode, and between the third and fourth electrode; a wiring layer on the second surface and including a first wiring, a second wiring, a third wiring, and a fourth wiring; and a circuit element opposite to the wiring layer and connected to the first to fourth wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimada, Tomohisa Motomura, Toru Tanimori, Atsushi Takada
  • Patent number: 11474043
    Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring a composition of a gas circulating through a plasma-based detector, the plasma-based detector having a discharge chamber defining an internal volume and having discharge electrodes configured to apply a plasma-generating field across the discharge chamber. The method includes ramping a voltage until it reaches a breakdown voltage to generate a plasma, detecting the presence of the plasma, determining a pressure based on the breakdown voltage upon detection of the presence of the plasma, operating the detector at an operation voltage greater than the breakdown voltage, performing measurement(s) on the plasma, generating a detector signal based the measurement(s) and compensating the detector signal based on the determined pressure to obtain a compensated detector signal, the compensated detector signal being representative of the composition of the gas. A plasma-based detector for measuring the composition of the gas is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MECANIQUE ANALYTIQUE INC.
    Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Lamontagne
  • Patent number: 11307172
    Abstract: An ion detection assembly is described that includes a drift chamber, an inlet assembly, and a collector assembly. The drift chamber is formed of substantially non-conductive material and/or semi-conductive material. A patterned resistive trace is deposited on one or more of an interior surface or an exterior surface of the drift chamber. The patterned resistive trace is configured to connect to a source of electrical energy. The inlet assembly and the collector assembly are in fluid communication with the drift chamber. The inlet assembly includes an inlet for receiving a sample, a reaction region for ionizing the sample, and a gate for controlling entrance of the ionized sample to the drift chamber. The collector assembly includes a collector plate for collecting the ionized sample after the ionized sample passes through the drift chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal, Inc.
    Inventors: Bohdan Atamanchuk, Volodimir Bondarenko, Vlad Sergeyev, Henryk Zaleski, Daniel Levin, Mark Piniarski, Igor Kubelik, Qunzhou Bian, Simon Feldberg, Douglas J. Green, Brian Boso, Atin J. Patel
  • Patent number: 11262462
    Abstract: A method of detection of radiation is described. The method comprises providing at least one source of radiation; providing at least one detector capable of detecting radiation from the source; causing said source to emit radiation along a predetermined radiation path towards said detector; during a measurement period, detecting successive count events corresponding to photons from the source detected by the detector; measuring a duration of each such count event to determine a dead time associated with each count event; calculating a total dead time for the measurement period as the sum of each determined dead time associated with each count event; determining a photon count rate from the total number of count events during the measurement period; calculating a corrected count rate by applying a correction factor based on subtracting the total dead time from the measurement period. A method of scanning an object and apparatus for performing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Nathan Myers
  • Patent number: 11181647
    Abstract: A Detection element includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, substrate comprising: a substrate provided with a through hole having inner diameters that differ from each other at two points along the thickness of substrate; a through electrode disposed in through hole; a first electrode connected to through electrode and disposed on the first surface; a patterned electrode connected to through electrode and disposed on the second surface; and a second electrode disposed on the first surface and spaced apart from the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Motomura, Osamu Shimada, Ryoichi Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 11156569
    Abstract: A X-ray fluorescence spectrometer of the present invention simultaneously generates an analytical pulse-height width profile and a narrow pulse-height width profile that are distributions of intensities of secondary X-rays (7) against scan angles (2?) set by an interlocking unit (10) on the basis of a differential curve which is output by a multichannel pulse-height analyzer (13), as well as a predetermined analytical pulse-height width for an analytical line that is a primary reflection line and a predetermined narrow pulse-height width that is narrower than the analytical pulse-height width. Identification of the analytical lines is performed for the analytical pulse-height width profile and the narrow pulse-height width profile, and any analytical line identified only in the narrow pulse-height width profile is added to the analytical lines identified in the analytical pulse-height width profile to obtain an identification result of the analytical lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasujiro Yamada, Shinya Hara, Takashi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11150359
    Abstract: A Detection element includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, substrate comprising: a substrate provided with a through hole having inner diameters that differ from each other at two points along the thickness of substrate; a through electrode disposed in through hole; a first electrode connected to through electrode and disposed on the first surface; a patterned electrode connected to through electrode and disposed on the second surface; and a second electrode disposed on the first surface and spaced apart from the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Motomura, Osamu Shimada, Ryoichi Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 11061164
    Abstract: A system, method, and algorithm for detecting and identifying special nuclear material (SNM) (including fissionable material), explosives, or drugs is disclosed. This material detection system relies on active interrogation of material using a short, intense neutron pulse, and characterization of the resulting prompt gamma response in two short time windows, the first concurrent with and the second immediately following the end of the neutron pulse, optionally subject to a total transit delay time of the neutrons from the neutron source to the target and from the target to the gamma detector. A high data rate analysis system implements data stream analysis and statistical correlations of the two short time window gamma responses to rapidly detect or identify SNM, explosives, or drugs. The duration of the neutron pulse is so short that minimal dose results. Various shields help to minimize the background signal falling on the gamma detector to improve sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Derzon, Aaron Powledge, Lorenzo Gutierrez, Markku J. Koskelo, Paul C. Galambos, Nathan Price, Carlton F. Brooks
  • Patent number: 11037426
    Abstract: Devices work as both area lighting and ionizing radiation detectors. The lighting is adjustable in response to radiation detection, warning nearby users about radiation. Multiple devices can be plugged into electrical outlets throughout a plant or building to replace conventional lighting like lightbulbs or CFLs. Each device can transmit alerts to notify nearby users and transmit data to processors for aggregation and analysis. The data can be sent wirelessly, over fiber optic cable, as power line communications or otherwise. The data can be multiplexed along a single line. The devices may be in known locations or located based on an ID in the data. This data can be used to locate radiation sources and facilitate analysis and alerting at the location. Operators may respond to the radiation detection by issuing commands to the devices to change lighting output, adjust radiation detection parameters, and take corrective or ameliorative action in the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Eric P. Loewen, Scott L. Pfeffer, Maria E. Pfeffer, Seth Ryan Paul Strege
  • Patent number: 11029420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detecting unit for detecting ionizing radiation. The device comprises a converter unit for the amplification of ionizing radiation and a read-out unit, wherein the converter unit comprises a converter and a gas-electron multiplier, wherein said converter comprises a substrate with an ionizing radiation-receiving major surface and an electron-emitting major surface and a stack of accelerator plates in contact with the electron-emitting major side, wherein said stack comprises a plurality of perforated accelerator plates wherein the perforations of the perforated accelerator plates are aligned to form a matrix of blind holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kristofer Maad, Mauritz Andersson
  • Patent number: 10996346
    Abstract: An ?-ray measuring device which is provided with: a box-shaped chamber that has a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a cathode film which is provided within the box-shaped chamber; a plurality of anode wires which are arranged parallel to each other at a distance from the cathode film, while being electrically connected to each other and having a diameter of from 1 ?m to 30 ?m (inclusive); and a plurality of cathode wires which are arranged parallel to each other at a distance from the anode wires, while being electrically connected to the cathode film and having a diameter of from 1 ?m to 30 ?m (inclusive).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sawada, Ichiro Shiono
  • Patent number: 10983888
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating dynamic sparse exponential histograms. The system includes a network-based service and a data compression engine to generate a sparse exponential histogram (SEH) representation of a distribution of a plurality of data values of a performance metric of the network-based service. The data compression engine is configured to, map each data value to a bin of an exponential histogram. Responsive to a determination that the mapped bin is not indicated in the SEH representation and that a bin quantity limit would be exceeded by adding the mapped bin, the data compression engine is configured to increase a bin size parameter by a scaling factor to expand data value ranges of the bins, merge bins indicated in the SEH representation according to the expanded data value ranges to reduce the quantity of bins indicated in the SEH representation, and indicate the scaling factor in the SEH representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Giuliano, Gary Taylor, Richard Nel-Boland, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10914844
    Abstract: Provided are a signal processing device for X-ray analysis and an adjustment method for a signal processing device for X-ray analysis, which are capable of performing correction of a time constant with high precision and simply and quickly performing adjustment work required for performing the correction. The signal processing device for X-ray analysis includes: a differentiating circuit configured to use a first time constant to convert a signal output from an X-ray detector into an analog differential wave; an AD converter configured to convert the analog differential wave into a digital differential wave; a waveform shaping digital filter configured to use a second time constant to shape the digital differential wave; and a histogram generation unit configured to acquire a feature value of a shaped waveform based on pulse heights in two regions of the shaped waveform, to generate a histogram representing an acquisition frequency for each feature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tada, Yukio Sako
  • Patent number: 10788594
    Abstract: A discriminator (118) includes a set of comparators (120, 2021, 2023, . . . , 202N), a window width generator (124, 214, 2141, . . . , 214N), and a set of reference signal generators (122, 2121, 2122, 2123, . . . , 212N). In response to the discriminator being in a window based spectrum measurement mode, a first reference signal generator for a first comparator generates a reference signal that is supplied to the first comparator and that is added with the window width with a result of the addition supplied to the second comparator. The first comparator compares a peak height of a pulse indicative of an energy of detected radiation with the supplied reference signal and produces a first output indicating which of the peak height or the reference signal is greater. The second comparator compares the peak height with the supplied result of the addition and produces a second output indicating which of the peak height or the result of the addition is greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Christoph Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10627285
    Abstract: A light/voltage converter circuit for converting intensity fluctuations of light into an alternating voltage measurement signal includes a photodiode configured to detect the light and a transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil is connected in a series circuit to the photodiode, and the alternating voltage measurement signal is applied to the secondary coil. An electrical network is configured to block direct current and conduct alternating current. The electrical network is connected in parallel with the series circuit consisting of the primary coil of the transformer and the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Vishnu Vardhan Krishnamachari, Patric Mrawek, Bernd Widzgowski
  • Patent number: 10620325
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a different radiation measuring sensor and a manufacturing method thereof. The different radiation measuring sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one bottom electrode formed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor, a plurality of top electrodes formed on a top surface of the semiconductor and electrically connected to the bottom electrode, and sensing films formed on the plurality of top electrodes and reacting with different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Han Soo Kim, Jang Ho Ha, Manhee Jeong, Young Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10617889
    Abstract: A particle beam detector system can comprise a particle beam generator, a particle beam fluence and position detector array based on Micromegas technology, and data readout electronics coupled to the position detector array. The particle beam fluence and position detector array can comprise a sealed, gas-filled, ionizing radiation detector chamber. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be disposed within the ionizing radiation detector chamber, the PCB comprising a multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads comprising three planar coordinate grids, X, Y, and ST (stereo) situated on separate layers of the PCB. The multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads can comprise a first footprint. A dielectric lattice structure can be disposed over the PCB and the multi-layer array arrangement of sensors. A conductive mesh structure can comprise a second footprint disposed over the dielectric lattice structure and extending over an entire area of the first footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: RADIATION DETECTION AND IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Evgeny Galyaev
  • Patent number: 10471279
    Abstract: Particle therapy systems and methods for particle dose imaging are provided. A particle therapy system includes a particle beam source for generating a particle beam; and at least one particle detector including an ionization chamber having a mesh electrode. The at least one particle detector is configured to receive the particle beam and to generate an ionization current responsive to the received particle beam. The ionization current may be used to characterize the particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Robert Hollebeek, Derek Dolney
  • Patent number: 10453661
    Abstract: An ion filter is used for a gas detector including a gas electron multiplier. The ion filter includes: an insulating substrate; a first patterned conductive layer on one main surface of the insulating substrate; and a second patterned conductive layer on another main surface of the insulating substrate. The ion filter has a plurality of through-holes formed along a thickness direction of the insulating substrate on which the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer are formed. The one main surface of the insulating substrate is disposed on an upstream side in a movement direction of electrons in the gas detector. The other main surface of the insulating substrate is disposed on a downstream side in the movement direction of the electrons in the gas detector. The first patterned conductive layer has a line width thicker than a line width of the second patterned conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Arai
  • Patent number: 10346786
    Abstract: A method for creating a score or value based on the difference between non-expert and expert usage based data. The score or value may be used in variety of situations such as assessing risk, training, operator classification, and identifying expertise level of an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. Lakowske, Donald K. Wedding, Jr., Daniel K. Wedding
  • Patent number: 10302781
    Abstract: A narrow thermal neutron detector includes a slidably receivable ionization thermal neutron detector module within an overall housing body. An active sheet layer of the ionization thermal neutron detector module can be tensioned across its width. The ionization thermal neutron detector module can include module upper major surface extents and module lower surface extents such that, when installed within the housing body, the module upper major surface extents are in a first spaced apart confronting relationship with housing upper major surface extents to define a first clearance and module lower major surface extents are in a second spaced apart confronting relationship with housing lower major surface extents to define a second clearance to accommodate housing flexing due to ambient pressure change. The housing body can be formed with a single opening for receiving the ionization thermal neutron detection module or with opposing first and second opposing end openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Silverside Detectors, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Inglis, Alison Forsyth, Thomas Nadovich, Timothy Teal, Philip Taber, Hidefumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 10274608
    Abstract: A method is described for determining the polarization state of a sensor of an X-ray detector. In the method, the X-ray detector is illuminated with a sequence of light pulses wherein the individual pulses of the light pulse sequence have a different intensity. It is further determined at what intensity of the light pulses, charge pulses generated by the sensor of the X-ray detector exceed a threshold voltage of a signal detection circuit. Also described is a method for obtaining and/or setting functional data of a sensor of an X-ray detector and/or of a sensor illumination unit. Furthermore, an X-ray detector is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christian Schroeter, Peter Sievers
  • Patent number: 10265545
    Abstract: A particle beam detector system can comprise a particle beam generator, a particle beam fluence and position detector array based on Micromegas technology, and data readout electronics coupled to the position detector array. The particle beam fluence and position detector array can comprise a sealed, gas-filled, ionizing radiation detector chamber. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be disposed within the ionizing radiation detector chamber, the PCB comprising a multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads comprising three planar coordinate grids, X, Y, and ST (stereo) situated on separate layers of the PCB. The multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads can comprise a first footprint. A dielectric lattice structure can be disposed over the PCB and the multi-layer array arrangement of sensors. A conductive mesh structure can comprise a second footprint disposed over the dielectric lattice structure and extending over an entire area of the first footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: RADIATION DETECTION AND IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Evgeny Galyaev
  • Patent number: 10234373
    Abstract: A resistive type particle detection device includes a cathode, an amplification micro-gate, and an anode composed of a flat insulator including resistive tracks arranged on a face of the flat insulator facing the amplification micro-gate and reading tracks arranged on the opposite face of the flat insulator, the reading tracks being connected to a reading system. In a non-limiting embodiment, the resistive type particle detection device further includes a conductive track positioned between two resistive tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Stephan Aune
  • Patent number: 10197686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high voltage conversion and multiplication for ionizing radiation detection are disclosed. According to an aspect, an electronic device comprises at least one detector configured for detecting ionizing radiation. Further, the electronic device comprises a translator assembly coupled to the at least one detector and configured to convert a voltage from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, wherein the at least one detector operates at the first voltage level. Further, the translator assembly is configured to voltage isolate the at least one detector operating at the first voltage level from a coupled electronic circuit operating at the second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IRI
    Inventor: Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 10168435
    Abstract: A system includes a pulse counter having a selectable pulse counter read-out rate, a pulse counter read-out (PCRO) storage register that stores a PCRO count, and a pulse-burst counter that has a pulse-burst counter read-out rate that is faster than all but the fastest selectable pulse counter read-out rate, a subtractor module in electronic communication with the pulse counter and the PCRO that subtracts the PCRO count from the pulse counter read-out count to output an uncorrected pulse count, a selection module in electronic communication with the pulse-burst counter that selects the pulse counter read-out rate in response to input from the pulse-burst counter, a multiplexer in electronic communication with the subtractor module and the selection module, the multiplexer selecting from among at least two dead-time correction transforms, the transform corresponding to the selected pulse counter read-out rate, and a control-and-readout module that outputs a dead-time corrected pulse rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO EBERLINE LLC
    Inventors: Greg Holger Nelson, Phillip Edward Beeson, Alan John Laing
  • Patent number: 10134571
    Abstract: A detector (100) comprises an upstream ionization chamber (110), a downstream detector chamber (120) and a signal processor (160). The ionization chamber (110) comprises a first electrode (111), a second electrode (112) and an ionization chamber gas (114). The detector chamber (120) comprises a converter unit (130) adapted to convert incident radiation (6) into electrons (8), an electron amplification device (140) adapted to produce further electrons (9) from the electrons (8), a read-out device (150) adapted to generate a signal representative of the incident radiation (6) and a detector chamber gas (121). The signal processor (160) is adapted to generate a corrected signal by processing the signal representative of the incident radiation (6) based on a current signal representative of an ionization current measured between the first electrode (111) and the second electrode (112) and induced by the incident radiation (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: C-Rad Imaging AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Norberg, Daniel Muñoz
  • Patent number: 10132936
    Abstract: Disclosed in an alpha particle detection apparatus using a dual probe structured ionization chamber and a differential amplifier, the apparatus including: an ionization chamber forming electric field thereinside by bias power applied to a surface thereof; a main probe unit absorbing ionic charges generated in an occurrence of alpha (?) decay in the ionization chamber; a guard ring unit absorbing leakage current generated between the ionization chamber and the main probe unit and flowing the leakage current to a ground; an auxiliary probe allowing surrounding noise to be introduced therein; first and second preamplifiers amplifying fine electrical signals to a predetermined magnitude; and a differential canceling a noise signal and outputting an alpha particle detection signal by amplifying a voltage difference between the preamplified electrical signals. As such, it is possible to effectively detect alpha (?) particles which are a type of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FTLAB CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Jun Ko, Young Gweon Kim
  • Patent number: 10109380
    Abstract: An in-core nuclear detector for detecting the neutron population surrounding the detector. The detector is an ion chamber having a cylindrical outer electrode that is insulated from a central electrode and capped to contain an Argon gas. An electron radiator that produces prompt neutron capture gamma radiation that is substantially, directly proportional to the local neutron population is disposed between the outer tubular electrode and the central electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Heibel
  • Patent number: 10094935
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine examination apparatus is a nuclear medicine examination apparatus incorporating a Compton camera using gas amplification. The Compton camera has a chamber in which a gas is sealed. The nuclear medicine examination apparatus includes sensors that output signals each representing a gas state in the chamber and a controller that controls the gas state in the chamber on the basis of output signals from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Ota
  • Patent number: 10042059
    Abstract: A radiation detector using gas amplification, includes: an insulator having a first surface and a second surface positioned at a back surface side of the first surface; a first electrode layer that is provided on the first surface of the insulator and has a circular opening portion; a pixel electrode positioned inside the opening portion; a second electrode layer provided on the second surface of the insulator; and a via hole conductor that has one end surface thereof bonded to the second electrode layer through the interior of the insulator and has the other end surface thereof bonded to the pixel electrode, in which at least a part of the other end surface side of the via hole conductor exhibits a column or truncated cone shape and an outer diameter of the via hole conductor becomes smallest at the one end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Oota, Tomohisa Motomura, Motonori Oono
  • Patent number: 10037860
    Abstract: An ion filter used for an electron multiplier includes an insulating substrate; a first conductive layer formed on one main surface of the substrate; and a second conductive layer formed on another main surface of the substrate. The ion filter has a plurality of through-holes formed along a thickness direction of the substrate. The one main surface of the substrate is disposed at a downstream side in a moving direction of electrons in a chamber of the electron multiplier and the other main surface of the substrate is disposed at an upstream side in the moving direction of electrons in the chamber of the electron multiplier. A first thickness of the first conductive layer formed on the one main surface of the substrate is thicker than a second thickness of the second conductive layer on the other main surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Arai
  • Patent number: 9991104
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform dead time correction. An observed ion count rate is obtained using a non-paralyzable detection system of a mass spectrometer. The detection system includes an ion detector, a comparator/discriminator, a mono-stable circuit and a counter. The non-paralyzable detection system exhibits dead time extension at high count rates. The extension of the dead time occurs because the mono-stable circuit requires a rising edge to trigger and can only be triggered again after the output pulse from the comparator/discriminator has gone low. This allows a second comparator/discriminator pulse arriving just before the end of the dead time started by a first comparator/discriminator pulse to extend the dead time to the trailing edge of the second comparator/discriminator pulse. A true ion count rate is calculated by performing dead time correction of the observed ion count rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce Andrew Collings, Martian Dima, Gordana Ivosev
  • Patent number: 9966224
    Abstract: Quantitative Secondary Electron Detection (QSED) using the array of solid state devices (SSD) based electron-counters enable critical dimension metrology measurements in materials such as semiconductors, nanomaterials, and biological samples (FIG. 3). Methods and devices effect a quantitative detection of secondary electrons with the array of solid state detectors comprising a number of solid state detectors. An array senses the number of secondary electrons with a plurality of solid state detectors, counting the number of secondary electrons with a time to digital converter circuit in counter mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jyoti Agrawal, David C. Joy, Subuhadarshi Nayak
  • Patent number: 9873004
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently performing daily maintenance or quality assurance on proton therapy systems. Specifically, a system is provided which includes a solid-state phantom, a plurality of ionization chambers disposed within the solid-state phantom, and a measuring device coupled to the plurality of ionization chambers and operable to perform radiation measurements of proton beams received within the plurality of ionization chambers. Measurements of proton beams received in the ionization chambers may be used to derive the dose at the ionization chambers and be subsequently compared to pre-generated target data (e.g., data corresponding to proper treatment according to a radiation therapy treatment plan). If the data obtained through the maintenance procedure does not conform to the target data, the proton beam generator may be further calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Heese
  • Patent number: 9823339
    Abstract: A time of flight (TOF) camera comprises a light source for illuminating an object with light and a plurality of light-sensitive pixels for collecting return image light reflected by the object. Further, each light-sensitive pixel of the TOF camera may comprise a photoelectric cathode for generating electrons responsive to return image light incident on the pixel and a plurality of anodes for collecting electrons generated at the photoelectric cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: David Cohen
  • Patent number: 9720110
    Abstract: A neutron detector for detecting neutrons includes an exterior shell bounding and sealing an interior volume. The exterior shell serves as a cathode. A central structure extends longitudinally within the exterior shell. The central structure serves as an anode and is maintained at a first voltage. The neutron detector includes an insulating portion extending between the central structure and the exterior shell and longitudinally past a shell end of the exterior shell towards a structure end of the central structure. A guard structure extends circumferentially around an outer insulating surface. The guard structure is positioned on the insulating portion between the shell end and the structure end. The guard structure is maintained at a second voltage such that a leakage current on the outer insulating surface is absorbed by the guard structure. A method of detecting neutrons with the neutron detector is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Larrick, Mark Edwin Burns
  • Patent number: 9709531
    Abstract: A system for assaying a sample for Molybdenum-99 content includes an inner ionization chamber including a well configured to receive the sample, an outer ionization chamber concentric with the inner ionization chamber, attenuating material positioned in the well, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to determine a first Molybdenum-99 content value of the sample based on a first current measured in the inner ionization chamber, determine a second Molybdenum-99 content value of the sample based on a second current measured in the outer ionization chamber, and determine a final Molybdenum-99 content value based on the first and second Molybdenum-99 content values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Bartlett Graves, Bryan Scott Petrofsky, Sumit Verma
  • Patent number: 9625591
    Abstract: A detector probe for detecting ionizing radiation includes at least one detector (14) mounted on a support (12), and an electrically operated source of heat (18) arranged on the support in proximity to the detector so that the temperature of the detector may be changed by operation of the heat source. The detector probe may be used in the manufacture of a level gauge or density profiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY PLC
    Inventors: Robert Shaun Field, Geoffrey Stuart Howe, Simon Lambert
  • Patent number: 9594171
    Abstract: A detector for radiation, particularly high energy electromagnetic radiation is provided. The detector includes a converting section including a cathode for converting the radiation incident on the converting section in electrons by the photoelectric effect. The detector further includes a gas electron multiplier for generating an electron avalanche from electrons which are generated by the converting section and enter the gas electron multiplier, the gas electron multiplier including a first electrode, a dielectric layer and a second electrode, the first electrode being disposed at a first side of the dielectric layer adjacent to the converting section and the second electrode being disposed at a second side of the dielectric layer opposite to the first side. The gas electron multiplier includes a number of holes filled with gas, the holes extending through the first electrode, the dielectric layer and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Irina Astafieva, Oliver Heid, Timothy Hughes
  • Patent number: 9581619
    Abstract: A method of and device for processing a radiation pulse are described based on: detecting an event at the detector; producing a pulse; determining for the pulse: a pulse height measurement representative of pulse magnitude; a pulse width measurement representative of pulse duration; assigning the pulse to one of at least two classes based on the determined pulse height/pulse width; applying to each pulse an algorithm specific to its particular class to produce an output pulse height/pulse width profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kromek Limited
    Inventors: Paul Scott, Ian Radley
  • Patent number: 9575039
    Abstract: A curved gaseous particle detector includes a stack of two layers that are curved and maintained together by a frame formed of two spars defining a plane. The two spars are connected together by at least two curved bars outside of the plane and the frame being placed between the two layers of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Sandrine Cazaux, Thierry Lerch, Stephan Aune
  • Patent number: 9568613
    Abstract: A method, system and/or apparatus for remotely monitoring the operation of a radiation sensor may include a radiation sensor configured to detect a presence of radiation in the area, the radiation sensor including a Geiger-Muller tube, a test signal generator configured to generate a high frequency test signal used to test the radiation sensor, the high frequency test signal transmitted to the radiation sensor, and a test signal detector configured to detect a response of the radiation sensor to the test signal, and determine whether the radiation sensor is operating correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Droba, Oscar L. Meek
  • Patent number: 9401983
    Abstract: A chemical alert system for generating an alarm is described including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated with the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Moritz Lechner, Rafael Santschi
  • Patent number: 9369603
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and diagnosing method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a scanner configured to scan a manuscript disposed on an upper surface of a plate by using a scan module, and a cover unit disposed on the upper surface of the plate and configured to block external light from being supplied to the scan module while the scanner scanning the manuscript. The cover unit is disposed such that a sheet used for diagnosis and correction for the image forming apparatus disposed corresponds to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dae-gun Ko