Including Beam Control Patents (Class 250/390.1)
  • Patent number: 11747493
    Abstract: A high-resolution imaging apparatus that includes a multi-purpose high-energy particle sensor array to initially stop high-energy particles and then transfer the down-converted photons into near zero energy photoelectrons is described, as well as the method to produce the same. The imaging apparatus is a segmented scintillator structure optically coupled to a closely placed photocathode structure for high-efficiency conversion of high-energy particles with an arbitrary spatial distribution to the corresponding distribution of photoelectrons, emitted with a very low spread in energy and momentum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Amir Massoud Dabiran
  • Patent number: 10706984
    Abstract: An x-ray and/or gamma radiation absorbing slat, for use in an anti-scatter grid having a layer configuration, includes a film-shaped substrate of a metallic material on the basis of at least one heavy metal and at least one coating layer of a material on the basis of at least one metal from the group tin, antimony, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, iridium, platinum, gold or bismuth. The material of the coating layer differs from the material of the film-shaped substrate. An anti-scatter grid for x-ray and/or gamma radiation, a method for producing an x-ray and/or gamma radiation absorbing slat and a method of producing an anti-scatter grid, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Plansee SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Glatz, Heinrich Kestler, Bernhard Tabernig
  • Patent number: 9629230
    Abstract: A method of controlling e-beam transport where electron bunches with different characteristics travel through the same beam pipe. An RF kicker cavity is added at the beginning of the common transport pipe or at various locations along the common transport path to achieve independent control of different bunch types. RF energy is applied by the kicker cavity kicks some portion of the electron bunches, separating the bunches in phase space to allow independent control via optics, or separating bunches into different beam pipes. The RF kicker cavity is operated at a specific frequency to enable kicking of different types of bunches in different directions. The phase of the cavity is set such that the selected type of bunch passes through the cavity when the RF field is at a node, leaving that type of bunch unaffected. Beam optics may be added downstream of the kicker cavity to cause a further separation in phase space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC, ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: David R. Douglas, Lucas J. P. Ament
  • Patent number: 9000392
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cellular thermal neutron detector, comprising: a cellular structure comprised of one or more hollow regular hexagonal prism-shaped cellular units, wherein a neutron absorbing material is coated on an inner side of a pipe wall of each of the cellular units. Since the neutron-sensitive cellular structure is employed, the present invention can perform thermal neutron detection without using the scarce nuclide 3He, and effectively reduce the manufacture costs of the thermal neutron detector. Further, the present invention has characteristics such as a reduced or eliminated neutron detecting dead zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Yigang Yang, Hejun Zhou, Yi Liu, Qinjian Zhang, Yongqiang Wang
  • Publication number: 20150060686
    Abstract: At least one pair of hodoscope radiation monitors arranged to simultaneously monitor a target region that contains a source of radiation. The hodoscopes are preferably arranged so that their fields of view of the region are approximately orthogonal. The fields of view of the two detectors will overlap in a region that contains the source of radiation. Each of the two detectors will record radiation from the overlap region and, in addition, will record background radiation emanating from other regions within detector fields of view. The present invention provides statistical correlation techniques to estimate the extent to which unusually high radiation originates in the overlap region, irrespective of background in the field-of-view of individual hodoscope detectors. The source of radiation might be spontaneous, might be from an activation process, or might be scattered in from an external beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander DeVolpi
  • Publication number: 20140209808
    Abstract: A radiation-monitoring diagnostic hodoscope system for producing an approximate image of radiation-detecting components within or external to a pressure vessel of an operating, damaged, or shutdown nuclear-power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander De Volpi
  • Publication number: 20140151569
    Abstract: A method and a device examine a sample with radiation emitted from a radiation source, which is directed to the sample carried by a sample holder via a beam-forming unit and detected by a detector and evaluated in an evaluating unit. Prior to the examination of the sample, at least one of the following components, including the radiation source, beam-forming unit, sample holder, detector, and a primary beam stop, are oriented and/or positioned in terms of spatial location in relation to at least one of the other components and/or in relation to a predefined fixed point and/or in relation to the optical path with a control unit via actuating drives. The radiation intensity measured by the detector, in a predefined detector range, and/or a value derived therefrom is used for establishing a control variable conferred from the control unit to the actuating drives assigned to the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: ANTON PAAR GMBH
    Inventors: HEIMO SCHNABLEGGER, JOSEF GAUTSCH, WOLFGANG GIGERL
  • Patent number: 8735844
    Abstract: A dispersed release of neutrons is generated from a source. A portion of this dispersed neutron release is reflected by surfaces of a plurality of nested, axisymmetric mirrors in at least an inner mirror layer and an outer mirror layer, wherein the neutrons reflected by the inner mirror layer are incident on at least one mirror surface of the inner mirror layer N times, wherein N is an integer, and wherein neutrons reflected by the outer mirror are incident on a plurality of mirror surfaces of the outer layer N+i times, where i is a positive integer, to redirect the neutrons toward a target. The mirrors can be formed by a periodically reversed pulsed-plating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: Boris Khaykovich, David E. Moncton, Mikhail V. Gubarev, Brian D. Ramsey, Darell E. Engelhaupt
  • Patent number: 8642944
    Abstract: A nuclear tool includes a tool housing; a neutron generator disposed in the tool housing; and a solid-state neutron monitor disposed proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator. A method for constructing a nuclear tool includes disposing a neutron generator in a tool housing; and disposing a solid-state neutron monitor proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Saenger, Bradley A. Roscoe, Zilu Zhou, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 8525123
    Abstract: An ultra low-k dielectric material layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a grid of wires is placed at a distance above a top surface of the ultra low-k dielectric material layer and is electrically biased such that the total electron emission coefficient becomes 1.0 at the energy of electrons employed in electron beam curing of the ultra low-k dielectric material layer. In another embodiment, a polymeric conductive layer is formed directly on the ultra low-k dielectric material layer and is electrically biased so that the total electron emission coefficient becomes 1.0 at the energy of electrons employed in electron beam curing of the ultra low-k dielectric material layer. By maintaining the total electron emission coefficient at 1.0, charging of the substrate is avoided, thus protecting any device on the substrate from any adverse changes in electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Kam L. Lee, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Publication number: 20130168565
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cellular thermal neutron detector, comprising: a cellular structure comprised of one or more hollow regular hexagonal prism-shaped cellular units, wherein a neutron absorbing material is coated on an inner side of a pipe wall of each of the cellular units. Since the neutron-sensitive cellular structure is employed, the present invention can perform thermal neutron detection without using the scarce nuclide 3He, and effectively reduce the manufacture costs of the thermal neutron detector. Further, the present invention has characteristics such as a reduced or eliminated neutron detecting dead zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yigang Yang, Hejun Zhou, Yi Liu, Qinjian Zhang, Yongqiang Wang
  • Patent number: 8384314
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave having a phase velocity and an amplitude is provided by an electromagnetic wave source to a traveling wave linear accelerator. The traveling wave linear accelerator generates a first output of electrons having a first energy by accelerating an electron beam using the electromagnetic wave. The first output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a first beam of x-rays. The electromagnetic wave can be modified by adjusting its amplitude and the phase velocity. The traveling wave linear accelerator then generates a second output of electrons having a second energy by accelerating an electron beam using the modified electromagnetic wave. The second output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a second beam of x-rays. A frequency controller can monitor the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave from the input to the output ends of the accelerator and can correct the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave based on the measured phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Accuray, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dennis Treas, Roger Heering Miller, Juwen Wang
  • Patent number: 8232748
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave having a phase velocity and an amplitude is provided by an electromagnetic wave source to a traveling wave linear accelerator. The traveling wave linear accelerator generates a first output of electrons having a first energy by accelerating an electron beam using the electromagnetic wave. The first output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a first beam of x-rays. The electromagnetic wave can be modified by adjusting its amplitude and the phase velocity. The traveling wave linear accelerator then generates a second output of electrons having a second energy by accelerating an electron beam using the modified electromagnetic wave. The second output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a second beam of x-rays. A frequency controller can monitor the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave from the input to the output ends of the accelerator and can correct the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave based on the measured phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Accuray, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dennis Treas, Roger Heering Miller, Juwen Wang
  • Patent number: 7820992
    Abstract: A neutron chopper according to the present invention includes a housing which internally forms a sealed space, the housing having window portions through which neutrons pass, a fixed shaft which is fixed inside the housing, a rotor which is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft, the rotor provided with a blocking portion which can block neutrons passing through the housing, and a motor which is provided inside the housing for rotating the rotor of the neutron chopper, where a stator of the motor is fixed to the fixed shaft, and a rotor of the motor receives a rotating force from the stator around the fixed shaft, and is fixed to the rotor of the neutron chopper. The neutron chopper is formed with small size, and neutron guides are easily disposed closely, consequently vacuum leak is hardly occurred in the neutron chopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100025594
    Abstract: A neutron moderator includes a neutron generator; a neutron moderating material arranged on one side of the neutron generator; a gamma ray shielding material covering an external surface of the neutron moderating material; and a thermal neutron absorbing material covering the external surface of the neutron moderating material except a side where the neutron generator is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Nukatsuka, Yasuhiro Iwamura, Michio Katoh, Kazuya Nishimura, Hidenori Sawamura
  • Publication number: 20090283691
    Abstract: A downhole tool for performing measurement of a formation. The tool comprising a housing surrounding a source for generating neutrons and a detector for detecting the neutrons. A shield is located outside of, or embedded in, the housing and focuses the neutrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 7351952
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a neutron beam includes a plurality of columnar prisms 1 that are made of a material having a refractive index of less than 1 for a neutron beam, and are arranged so as to be multi-layered. The columnar prisms 1 each have an approximately right-triangle-shaped section, and are three-dimensionally multi-layered such that respective surfaces 1a, 1b, 1c of the columnar prisms are in parallel to one another. Stick-shaped members 5 are made of the above material, the stick-shaped members 5 are set in a plurality of grooves formed on a jig 6 that have the same shape, and upper surfaces of the grooves are flattened at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Shinya Morita, Hitoshi Ohmori, Yutaka Yamagata, Sei Moriyasu, Hirohiko Shimizu, Takayuki Oku
  • Patent number: 7295650
    Abstract: A method for operating an X-ray or neutron-optical system and beam stop comprising an X-ray or neutron source (1) from which corresponding radiation is guided as a primary beam (2) to a sample (4) under investigation, with an X-ray or neutron detector (6) for receiving radiation diffracted or scattered from the sample (4), wherein the source (1), the sample and the detector are disposed substantially on one line (=z-axis) and wherein a beam stop (5; 31; 41) is provided between the sample and the detector whose cross-sectional shape is adjusted to the cross-section of the primary beam is characterized in that the beam stop is disposed to be displaceable along the z-direction for optimum adjustment of the amounts of useful and interfering radiation impinging on the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bruker AXS GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Lange, Rolf-Dieter Schipper
  • Patent number: 7214948
    Abstract: A high measuring resolution along with a large irradiation surface and a high beam intensity are required for structural analysis of material according to the small angle neutron scattering measuring technique. However, with known diaphragm collimators, the necessary beam divergence cannot be reached without an unacceptable loss of intensity. The inventive neutron optical component (1) comprises a plurality of successively arranged pinhole diaphragms embodied as grating diaphragms (7), each grating diaphragm (7) comprising a plurality of diaphragm apertures (14). In this way, the neutron beam is divided into individual beams which are each improved in terms of the convergence thereof. Furthermore, the channels defined by the course of the grating diaphragms (7) by means of respectively identically positioned diaphragm apertures (14) are narrowed according to the convergence cone provided by the structure of the measuring instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin GmbH.
    Inventors: Ferenc Mezei, Daniel Clemens, Lounis Mokrani
  • Patent number: 6765978
    Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is provided by a series of substrates covered by a solid-state detector stacked on an absorbing layer. As many as 12 substrates that convert neutrons to protons are covered by a layer of absorbing material, acting as a proton absorber, with the detector placed within the layer to count protons passing through the absorbing layer. By using 12 detectors the range of neutron energies are covered. The flat embodiment of the neutron spectrometer is a chamber, a group of detectors each having an absorber layer, with each detector separated by gaps and arranged in an egg-crate-like structure within the chamber. Each absorber layer is constructed with a different thickness according to the minimum and maximum energies of neutrons in the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Stanley Kronenberg, George J. Brucker
  • Patent number: 6703620
    Abstract: This invention has the ability to create Fourier-based images with only two grid pairs. The two grid pairs are manipulated in a manner that allows (1) a first grid pair to provide multiple real components of the Fourier-based image and (2) a second grid pair to provide multiple imaginary components of the Fourier-based image. The novelty of this invention resides in the use of only two grid pairs to provide the same imaging information that has been traditionally collected with multiple grid pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6580080
    Abstract: A neutron beam controlling apparatus includes a plurality of multilayered plate members, each having on one or both of its surfaces, one or more minute protruding portions. Each of the protruding portions is a long and narrow protrusion extending in an area-wise direction and having both an inclined surface that is inclined against the beam axis of neutron beam and serves as an incident plane or an outgoing plane for the neutron beam and a surface approximately normal to the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Hirohiko Shimizu, Takayuki Oku, Yuji Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6577697
    Abstract: A system and method for rapidly analyzing elemental abundances in rock or soil samples (14) under field conditions. The system uses a portable neutron source (12) to allow neutron activation analysis of elements having identifiable radioactive decay characteristics. A radiation detector (18) detects radiation released by the sample (14) and provides radiation testing results to an amplifier (26) for computing the concentration of trace elements in the sample with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: English C. Pearcy, Mark S. Jarzemba, James R. Weldy
  • Patent number: 6445772
    Abstract: Fourier telescopes permit observations over a very broad band of energy. They generally include synthetic spatial filtering structures, known as multilayer grids or grid pairs consisting of alternate layers of absorbing and transparent materials depending on whether neutrons or photons are being imaged. For hard x-rays and gamma rays, high (absorbing) and low (transparent) atomic number elements, termed high-Z and low-Z materials may be used. Fabrication of these multilayer grid structures is not without its difficulties. Herein the alternate layers of the high-Z material and the low-Z material are inserted in a polyhedron, transparent to photons of interest, through an open face of the polyhedron. The inserted layers are then uniformly compressed to form a multilayer grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6345080
    Abstract: The boron concentration can be measured without intervention into the cooling circuit of a nuclear power station. A mobile emitter and a mobile receiver are provided, with the interposition of at least one coolable region, for placement on a coolant-carrying component of the cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Bauer, Klaus Nopitsch, Eduard Gehring