Including Emission Detection Patents (Class 250/586)
  • Patent number: 11016405
    Abstract: A toner for electrophotography includes a toner particle including a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, and an additive material including a quantum dot-inorganic particle composite. The additive material is attached to an external surface of the toner particle. The quantum dot-inorganic particle composite includes quantum dot particles and inorganic particles present between the quantum dot particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Jin-mo Hong
  • Patent number: 10656544
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for electrophotography. The toner includes a toner particle including a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, and an additive attached to an external surface of the toner particle. The additive includes a quantum dot-inorganic particle composite including a quantum dot and an inorganic particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L.P.
    Inventor: Jin-mo Hong
  • Patent number: 10598848
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film with a glass core layer and a thickness less than 0.5 millimeters, a plurality of strips extending from a lightguide region forming a light input surface, a light emitting region, and a light source positioned to emit light into the light input surface. In one embodiment, the light emitting device comprises a cladding layer optically coupled to the glass core layer. In one embodiment, a largest dimension of the light emitting region in a plane comprising the light emitting region divided by an average thickness of the glass core layer in the light emitting region is greater than 500. The light source may comprise a peak wavelength between 350 nanometers and 400 nanometers or between 800 nanometers and 1200 nanometers. The glass core layer may be a borosilicate glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventors: Zane A. Coleman, Anthony J. Nichol
  • Patent number: 10529069
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes: an image area signal generator that refers to information from an image forming apparatus to set lengths of turning on and off of a sub-scanning image area signal that determines turning on and off of reading, and generates the sub-scanning image area signal to indicate a start of image formation; a reader that reads an image; an inspector that compares a read image generated through reading with an expected-value image; and a controller that controls the image area signal generator, the reader, and the inspector, wherein, when a deviation equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value is detected at positions of sub-scanning on corresponding images during the comparison, the controller adjusts an OFF period of the sub-scanning image area signal to eliminate a positional deviation of sub-scanning on the corresponding images between the read image and the expected-value image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Masao Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10466409
    Abstract: A light emitting device disclosed herein includes a light source and component thermally coupled to the component. The device further includes a lightguide formed from a film. The lightguide includes an array of strips extending from an area of the film. The array of strips is positioned adjacent the array of protruding teeth, the component thermally conducts heat from the light source, and the component at least partially restrains the film relative to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: FLEx Lighting II, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony John Nichol, Zane A. Coleman
  • Patent number: 10316250
    Abstract: Highly luminescent nanostructures, particularly highly luminescent quantum dots, comprising a nanocrystal core are provided. Also provided are methods of increasing the sphericity of nanostructures comprising subjecting nanocrystal cores to an acid etch step, an annealing step, or a combination of an acid etch step and an annealing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenzhou Guo, Christian Ippen, Charles Hotz, Rose Beeler, Jared Lynch, Shihai Kan, Jonathan Truskier, Minghu Tu
  • Patent number: 9864182
    Abstract: A microscope and method for high resolution scanning microscopy of a sample, having: an illumination device for the purpose of illuminating the sample, an imaging device for the purpose of scanning at least one point or linear spot across the sample and of imaging the point or linear spot into a diffraction-limited, static single image below a reproduction scale in a detection plane. A detector device for detecting the single image in the detection plane for various scan positions is also provided. An evaluation device for the purpose of evaluating a diffraction structure of the single image for the scan positions is provided. The detector device has a detector array which has pixels and which is larger than the single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kleppe, Ralf Netz, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ralf Wolleschensky, Yauheni Novikau
  • Patent number: 9487499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making fused ring compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthols, and fused ring indenopyran compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthopyrans, that each employ an unsaturated compound represented by the following Formula II. Referring to the unsaturated compound of Formula II: Ring-A can be selected from optionally substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl); m can be, for example, from 0 to 4; R1 for each m can be selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., C1-C6 alkyl) optionally interrupted with at least one linking group (e.g., —O—); and R3 and R16 can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, such as C1-C8 alkyl. When Ring-A is a phenyl group, the unsaturated compound represented by Formula II can be referred to as an unsaturated indanone acid/ester compound, or an indenone acid/ester compound (depending on whether R16 is hydrogen, or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar
  • Patent number: 9459392
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to illumination converters that are capable of converting light from one geometrical format to another. In particular, the described illumination converters are capable of converting a circular source such as an LED to a linear source useful in an edgelit waveguide, which can be used in a backlight for a display. The converter consists of a waveguide plate (210) with two edges (220, 218) oriented towards each other at 45° such that a the waveguide plate consists of a rectangular part (204) attached to a triangular part (202). The triangular part is rolled into a coil around a central axis (250) and one side of the coil is used for coupling in of the light from a source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 9139571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making fused ring compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthols, and fused ring indenopyran compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthopyrans, that each employ an unsaturated compound represented by the following Formula II. Referring to the unsaturated compound of Formula II: Ring-A can be selected from optionally substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl); m can be, for example, from 0 to 4; R1 for each m can be selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., C1-C6 alkyl) optionally interrupted with at least one linking group (e.g., —O—); and R3 and R16 can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, such as C1-C8 alkyl. When Ring-A is a phenyl group, the unsaturated compound represented by Formula II can be referred to as an unsaturated indanone acid/ester compound, or an indenone acid/ester compound (depending on whether R16 is hydrogen, or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar
  • Publication number: 20150008347
    Abstract: A scanning optical system that can be made compact and can provide a sufficiently small beam diameter on a surface to be scanned is provided. In a scanning optical system including a galvanometer mirror that reflects and deflects a light beam emitted from a light source and a f? lens that focuses the deflected light beam on a surface to be scanned, the f? lens includes, in order from the galvanometer mirror side, a first lens which is a spherical lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens which is a spherical lens having a negative refractive power, and a third lens which is a spherical lens having a positive refractive power. The f? lens satisfies conditional expression (1) below: 1.542?f/f1?7.828??(1), where f is a focal length of the entire f? lens system, and f1 is a focal length of the first lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Hiromi ISHIKAWA, Yasunori OHTA, Tomoki INOUE
  • Patent number: 8698117
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formulas (I) and (II), Ring-A of Formulas I and II can be, for example, an aryl group, and Q? and Q?? can each be independently selected from groups, such as, halogen, —OH, —CN, amine groups, amide groups, carboxylic acid ester groups, carboxylic acid groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, carbonate groups, sulfide groups, and sulfonic acid ester groups. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds, such as represented by Formula II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar, Darrin R. Dabideen
  • Patent number: 8629419
    Abstract: A method and to a corresponding apparatus reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate (1), the storage phosphor plate (1) being irradiated with stimulation light (3) and so being stimulated into emitting emission light which is collected by a detector (9) during several measuring times and being converted into corresponding emission light signals (S, R). In order to guarantee high reliability when examining sensitivity fluctuations, in particular with different types of detectors, provision is made such that reference measurements are taken by the detector (9) during several reference measuring times and several reference signals are thus produced, the individual reference measuring times falling respectively between the measuring times, and the reference signals being used for examining the sensitivity of the detector (9) to emission light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare NV
    Inventors: Horst Scherer, Thomas Hartmann, Stephan Mair, Heinz-Josef Romanski
  • Patent number: 8558207
    Abstract: A photostimulable plate reading device. The device includes: at least one photostimulable plate carrying image data and having two opposite surfaces; an illuminator for homogeneously illuminating a first one of the two opposite surfaces of the at least one photostimulable plate with light emitted in a first wavelength range, the illumination causing the at least one photostimulable plate both to emit light in a second wavelength range by photostimulated luminescence and to scatter light in the first wavelength range; a filter for preventing the light scattered in the first wavelength range from passing and for allowing the light emitted in the second wavelength range to pass, the filter facing a second one of the two opposite surfaces of the at least one photostimulable plate; and a detector composed of a two dimensional array of pixels for detecting the light allowed to pass and for obtaining image data therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Berger, Jean Marc Inglese, Sergey Zaslavsky, Moshe Cohen-Erner, Tan Wang
  • Patent number: 8502169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for detecting the emission of a target particle (6) at an emission wavelength, said device comprising: a photo-detector (2, 2A, 2B) comprising a sensitive detection surface having a high optical index; wherein said target particle (6) can be positioned in the vicinity of said sensitive surface in an analysis medium (13) having a low optical index; said device being characterized in that it further comprises: a mask (3) covering said sensitive surface, said mask including at least one area (4) opaque at said emission wavelength and at least one hole (5), said hole being capable of receiving the target particle; and in that the mask includes at least one interface; 7 said device further comprising at least one groove (10, 10A, 10B) provided at said interface, each of said at least one groove surrounding each of said at least one hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-CNRS, Universite d'Aix-Marseille
    Inventors: Hervé Rigneault, Pierre-François Lenne, Jérôme Wenger, Evgueni Popov, Thomas Ebbesen
  • Patent number: 8278637
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Patent number: 8227256
    Abstract: Two-color (two-photon) excitation with two confocal excitation beams is demonstrated with a Raman shifter as excitation light source. Two-color excitation fluorescence is obtained from Coumarin 6H dye sample (peak absorption=394 nm, peak fluorescence=490 nm) that is excited using the first two Stokes outputs (683 nm, 954 nm, two-color excitation=398 nm) of a Raman shifter pumped by a 6.5 nsec pulsed 532 nm-Nd:YAG laser (Repetition rate=10 Hz). The two Stokes pulses overlap for a few nanoseconds and two-color fluorescence is generateven with focusing objectives of low numerical apertures (NA?0.4). We observed the linear dependence of the two-color fluorescence signal with the product of the average intensities of the two Stokes excitation beams. The two-color fluorescence distribution is strongly localized around the common focus of the confocal excitation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Caesar A. Saloma, Wilson O. Garcia, Jonathan A. Palero
  • Patent number: 7982202
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus for obtaining an image from a phosphor sheet has a cylindrical drum having an inner axis and having an inner surface that is concave with respect to the axis. A light collector is coupled to a transport mechanism that is actuable to translate the light collector along a direction parallel to the axis. The light collector has a beam generator with a light source and a rotatable beam deflector that is actuable to provide a rotating scanning beam. There are first and second cylindrical hoops circumferentially disposed about the axis and spaced apart from each other along the direction of the axis to define a slot aligned with the rotating scanning beam as it scans the phosphor sheet. At least one light detector is disposed to detect light stimulated from the phosphor sheet by the scanning beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Boutet, Christopher M. Muir, Peter A. Newman
  • Patent number: 7825394
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for retrieving information from a storage medium. A first portion of the surface of the storage medium is exposed to stimulating light which diffuses in the storage medium under a second portion of the surface adjacent the first portion. The second portion of the surface is shielded from exposure to the stimulating light. Stimulated light corresponding to the information is received with at least one detector positioned to receive the stimulated light via the second portion of the surface of the storage medium. The stimulated light is released from the storage medium in response to the stimulating light diffused under the second portion of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Michel Sayag
  • Patent number: 7825395
    Abstract: A method reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer where an X-ray picture is obtained and made up from a number of pixels. The method includes the steps of: irradiating the storage phosphor layer with a stimulation light beam which is moved along a line over the storage phosphor layer to stimulate the storage phosphor layer into emitting emission light; collecting emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer, and converting the emission light collected into a corresponding detector signal S; deducing a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S, where the number of deduced detector signal values D is greater then a predetermined number of pixels of the X-ray picture along the line; and deducing a picture signal value B for each pixel of the X-ray picture along the line from at least two of the detector signal values D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Axel Kasper
  • Patent number: 7683358
    Abstract: A reference light source produces a reference light having a predetermined light intensity. A sensitivity measuring device acquires a detection signal from an operation, in which the reference light having been produced by the reference light source is photoelectrically detected with the photomultiplier. The sensitivity measuring device measures a sensitivity of the photomultiplier in accordance with a relationship between the thus acquired detection signal and a reference signal, which has been set previously and which has a level in accordance with the predetermined light intensity of the reference light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiko Satoh, Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 7504649
    Abstract: The radiographic image conversion panel includes a recording layer formed of a first accumulative phosphor that is irradiated with a radiation as a first primarily exciting light beam to excite primarily and accumulate energy, and is irradiated with a first secondarily exciting light beam to excite secondarily and generate a stimulating light beam and a correction marker for detecting a position formed of a second accumulative phosphor that is irradiated with a second primarily exciting light beam to excite primarily and accumulate the energy, and is irradiated with a second secondarily exciting light beam to excite secondarily and generate light with a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the first secondarily exciting light beam. The radiographic image acquisition system uses the radiographic image conversion panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Hasegawa, Seiji Tazaki, Takao Kuwabara, Tatsuya Taneichi
  • Publication number: 20090045360
    Abstract: A luminescent marking material includes a luminescent material, which includes quantum dots, and a vehicle for delivering the luminescent material to an object. A method of embedding information on a substrate includes assigning information to luminescent material, which includes quantum dots, forming luminescent marking material by combining luminescent material and marking material, and creating an image on a substrate with the luminescent marking material. A system that embeds and recovers information on a substrate includes an image forming device containing such a luminescent marking material for forming an image on the a substrate and a document reading device including a radiation emitting unit, which emits radiation that causes the luminescent marking material to illuminate, and a reader that detects the data on the substrate while the luminescent marking material is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jordan H. WOSNICK, Daryl W. VANBESIEN, Gabriel IFTIME
  • Patent number: 7485889
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for capturing information contained in a phosphor layer, comprising an irradiation device (4) for irradiating the phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) which is adapted to stimulate emission light (7) in the phosphor layer (1), the irradiation device (4) including with the normal (L) on the phosphor (1) layer a first angle of inclination (?S), and comprising a detection device (10) for capturing emission light (7) stimulated in the phosphor layer (1), the detection device (10) including with the normal (L) on the phosphor layer (1) a second angle of inclination (?D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Reiser, Robert Fasbender, Magath Niang
  • Patent number: 7465949
    Abstract: A device can read out X-ray information stored in a phosphor layer with an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with stimulation light which can stimulate the phosphor layer into emitting emission light, and a detector for collecting emission light coming from the phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into an analogue detector signal S. In order to increase reliability and resolution when digitising the detector signal, at least two analogue to digital converters are provided which can be operated in different conversion ranges and so can convert the analogue detector signal S into different digital part signal values. Moreover, an analysis device is provided for establishing a digital detector signal value D from the digital part signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Kahlert, Werner Nitsche, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Patent number: 7446332
    Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes a condenser optical system which converges stimulated emission emitted from a radiation image convertor panel upon exposure to stimulating light. A photodetector receives the stimulated emission converged by the condenser optical system and has a sensitivity to light longer in wavelength than the stimulating light and a stimulating light cut filter is disposed in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel to transmit the stimulated emission and to cut the stimulating light. A longer wavelength light cut filter which transmits the stimulated emission and attenuates the intensity of light components longer in wavelength than the stimulating light is provided in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7433448
    Abstract: In a method for correcting pixels of an x-ray image data set, an x-ray exposure of a subject is acquired with an x-ray device that uses a storage film having a luminescent storage material layer serving as a radiation detector. The sensitivity of the luminescent storage material layer changes dependent on the accumulated x-ray radiation dose to which the storage layer has been exposed. After acquiring the x-ray exposure, the storage film is readout with a readout device and an x-ray image data set is generated that corresponds on a pixel-by-pixel basis with the x-ray exposure. Each pixel of the x-ray image data set is corrected with a correction value allocated to the corresponding pixel in the x-ray exposure, the correction value being adapted to the accumulated x-ray radiation dose to which the region of the storage film, containing the corresponding pixel, was exposed prior to acquiring the x-ray exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reiner Franz Schulz
  • Patent number: 7397059
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radiation image reading system. The system includes a radiation source for irradiating a radiation toward a subject. The radiation source has a size “D”. A radiation detector in which large number of detecting devices for detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject are arranged in an array form, for generating an image signal of the subject by detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject by each of the detecting devices. An aperture of each of the detecting devices has a size “A”. Also included is a sampling section for sampling the image signal. The size A of the aperture fulfills a condition of B?A?2B. B is a size of a penumbra on the radiation detector. The size B of the penumbra is represented by B=Dx (R2/R1), where R1 is a distance from the radiation source to the subject and R2 is a distance from the subject to the radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Ishisaka
  • Patent number: 7385217
    Abstract: A radiation image photographing system with high convenience, efficiency, reliability and expandability wherein when a part of components is broken down, another component can substitute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetake Tezuka
  • Patent number: 7368747
    Abstract: A storage phosphor reader includes a multicassette autoloader for vertically oriented storage phosphor cassettes, the autoloader having a front, back, and opposite sides. The autoloader includes an input bin for receiving multiple vertically oriented storage phosphor cassettes stacked together in face-to-face contact such that said cassette faces face front and back; wherein each of said cassettes contains a storage phosphor which is removable from said cassette; and an output bin located beside said input bin, said output bin having a storage phosphor read location at which a storage phosphor is removed from and replaced in a storage phosphor cassette positioned at said storage phosphor read location, and having an output region for read cassettes to be subsequently removed from said output bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kralles, William C. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 7335904
    Abstract: A process for reading a radiation image out of a radiation image storage panel which has a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals of europium activated cesium halide stimulable phosphor in which a radiation image is recorded, is performed by the steps of: exposing the storage panel to stimulating light in a stimulating energy of 2 to 10 J/m2; photoelectrically collecting a stimulated emission given off from the storage panel; and converting the collected emission into a radiation image in the form of a series of electric image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakashima, Yuichi Hosoi, Munetaka Kato
  • Patent number: 7329892
    Abstract: Images are obtained with a reading device, such that an efficient pixel existence range of efficient pixels capable of being read out within a read-out sensitivity range of the reading device varies for different images, and such that the efficient pixel existence range in each image contains an overlapping area, which overlaps with the efficient pixel existence range in one of the other images. Correction processing is performed on the images, which have the common overlapping area, for correcting pixel values of pixels in at least either one of the images, such that the pixel values of the pixels in the overlapping area of one of the images become identical with the pixel values of the pixels in the overlapping area of the other image. A single image is composed from the images having been obtained from the correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7319234
    Abstract: Structural noise is accurately removed by a radiographic image correcting apparatus. A correction image data set, generated from a reference image data set obtained from a stimulable phosphor sheet onto which radiation has been uniformly irradiated, that includes at least four times the amount of structural noise compared to quantum noise, is recorded in a memory means. A correcting means corrects a radiographic image data set, employing the correction image data set recorded in the memory means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Kanegae
  • Patent number: 7312467
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray picture stored in a phosphor layer includes: an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam to be moved along a line over the phosphor layer, and in so doing stimulating the phosphor layer into emitting emission light; a detector for collecting the emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into a detector signal S; a processing unit for deducing picture signal values B for pixels of the picture along the line from the detector signal S; and two or more sensors located at different reference positions to collect reference times when the light beam is located at the different reference positions. The processing unit deduces a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S to deduce the picture signal values B between the two reference times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Rainer Nebosis, Axel Kasper
  • Patent number: 7247873
    Abstract: A quality control system for an irradiation apparatus includes a radiation image reading system. The radiation image reading system reads out a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor panel which is disposed in a predetermined position to receive irradiation of position check radiation from an irradiation system and irradiation of uniform radiation from the irradiation system to an area larger than the area exposed to the position check radiation and to receive irradiation of position check light in a visible region from a position check light irradiation system after receiving the irradiation of the uniform radiation and to form a radiation image. A relative position obtaining system obtains the relation between the irradiating position of the position check radiation and the irradiating position of the position check light on the basis of the radiation image read by the radiation image reading system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7247875
    Abstract: A process for the collection and presentation of an X-ray image stored in a phosphor layer, includes the steps of: collecting information in an area of the phosphor layer and in an area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; dividing the information collected into image information and edge information, taking into account a run of the information collected, whereby the image information corresponds to the information collected in the area of the phosphor layer, and the edge information corresponds to the information collected in the area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; and presenting the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Haug, Detlef Brautmeier, Horst Scherer
  • Patent number: 7244955
    Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a storage phosphor screen, an illumination source and a two dimensional imager. The radiation source is configured to irradiate the storage phosphor screen, and the storage phosphor screen is configured to store the radiation energy. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen. The two dimensional (2D) imager is configured to capture a two dimensional image from the storage phosphor screen using the stimulated emission photons. A method of reading a storage phosphor screen is also provided. The method includes illuminating at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen using an illumination source to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clifford Bueno, Nelson Raymond Corby, Jr., Kenneth Gordon Herd
  • Patent number: 7211818
    Abstract: An image signal is read out by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor which emits stimulated emission in proportion to the stored energy of radiation upon exposure to stimulating light and a solid image sensor having a photoconductive material layer which exhibits electric conductivity upon exposure to the stimulated emission from the stimulable phosphor sheet. Stimulating light is caused to scan a stimulable phosphor sheet which has been exposed to radiation and has stored an image, the photoconductive material layer is caused to be exposed to stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating light. Then electric charges generated in the photoconductive material layer upon exposure to the stimulated emission is detected by applying an electric field to the photoconductive material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Imai, Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7211785
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus including a cylindrical member and an optical system. The cylindrical member rotates about a rotational axis and has an outer surface to support a storage phosphor sample thereon. The optical system moves in translation parallel to the rotational axis to scan the sample. The optical system comprises an opening, an excitation beam, an integrating member, and a single detector. The excitation beam is directed through the opening to impinge on a sample and cause light to be emitted from the sample. The integrating member reflects the emitted light using an interior three-dimensional polynomial surface providing diffuse reflection. The single detector is disposed adjacent the integrating member for collecting the reflected emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Amir Berger, Moshe B. Haim, Sergey Zaslavasky
  • Patent number: 7208750
    Abstract: A radiation image reading apparatus includes an image reading section for reading a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with exciting light in a main scanning direction, and a conveying section having a windable member to hold the stimulable phosphor sheet, a supporting member to support the windable member, and a driving section to move the windable member so as to convey the stimulable phosphor sheet to the image reading section in a sub scanning direction. The apparatus further includes a vibration damping mechanism being in contact with the windable member to damp vibration of the windable member, and a vibration refraining mechanism being in contact with the vibration damping mechanism to refrain vibration of the vibration damping mechanism itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Umemura
  • Patent number: 7186996
    Abstract: A system has been described for reading out stimulable phosphor screens, plates or panels, whether or not differing from each other in phosphor composition or phosphor layer arrangement, after exposing said screens to X-rays. Said system comprises at least one source of stimulating radiation, an array of transducer elements arranged for detecting light emitted upon stimulation and for converting said light into a signal representation of said image. Said system further comprises filtering means for preventing light, emitted by said source of stimulation light, from being detected by said transducer elements, wherein said filtering means transmits light with a high transmission efficiency for emitted blue light upon stimulation and low transmission for radiation from the stimulating laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Luc Vanmaele, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7187754
    Abstract: In an operating method for a medical installation, in particular an x-ray installation. In activation state of the medical installation, a control and evaluation device determines, upon input of a control command, a useful image of a subject. For this purpose, the control and evaluation device receives raw image of the subject acquired by a detector in a first detector mode, and determines the useful image therefrom on the basis of correction data. In a waiting state of the medical installation, the control and evaluation device updates the correction data for the first detector mode repeatedly after the expiration of a basic time interval since the last driving of the detector. For this purpose, the control and evaluation device receives raw data acquired by the detector and uses it to update the correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Hahm, Martin Spahn
  • Patent number: 7180085
    Abstract: A reading assembly includes a stimulating light beam system having a plurality of laser diodes and a CCD line sensor having a plurality of CCDs. The laser diodes and the CCDs are disposed in a predetermined range of distances from the stimulable phosphor sheet along a main direction in order to cope with a deformation of the stimulable phosphor sheet in the main direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Otokuni
  • Patent number: 7176476
    Abstract: A device for acquiring information contained in a phosphor layer comprises a light source (2) for irradiating the phosphor layer (1) with excitation light (3) that is suitable for exciting emission light (4) in the phosphor layer (1), a detector (6) for detecting the emission light (4) that has been excited in the phosphor layer (1), and a filter device (8), arranged between the phosphor layer (1) and the detector (6), that is substantially transparent in a first wavelength range (W1) of the emission light (4) and substantially non-transparent in a second wavelength range (W2) of the excitation light (3). To increase the reliability during the acquisition of the emission light, the filter device (8) is made substantially non-transparent in at least a third wavelength range (W3) having longer wavelengths than the second wavelength range (W2) of the excitation light (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA- Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lind, Ralph Thoma, Georg Reiser, Christian Schulz
  • Patent number: 7170079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reading out information items stored in a phosphor layer, in which the phosphor layer is excited to emit emission light and the emission light is sensed by a detector and the detector is moved relative to the phosphor layer. During this process, the detector consecutively senses the emission light emitted in each case by individual regions of the phosphor layer. To reduce the dark noise and the movement blur, provision is made that the detector senses the emission light emitted by a region during an integration time that is less than a forward-travel time for the movement of the detector by the width of the region in the forward-travel direction (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Fasbender, Herbert Gebele, Michael Weinberger
  • Patent number: 7161166
    Abstract: Light emitted by a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is detected with a line sensor comprising line sensor constituting units arrayed such that their certain regions overlap each other. A test image, in which edge patterns are embedded at positions corresponding to the overlapping regions of the line sensor constituting units, is read out, and test image signal components are acquired from each of the line sensor constituting units. Position matching processing is performed on radiation image signal components of a radiation image signal representing the radiation image, which have been obtained from the line sensor constituting units, and in accordance with edge pattern signal components, which represent the edge patterns and are contained in the test image signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7129511
    Abstract: A scanning module (8) and scanning system, wherein the system includes a housing (10) having a channel (12), a cylindrical center chamber (25) in communication with the channel including a mirrored surface, a first opening (14) communicating with the cylindrical chamber and a second opening (16) communicating with the cylindrical chamber, an analog to digital converter (54) adapted to receive a signal from the light detector (58a), a control processing unit adapted to receive the signal from the analog to digital converter (58b), wherein the control processing unit stores the signal (58c) and an output device (56) adapted to receive the signal from the control processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Seung-Ho Baek, Rongguang Liang, Roger S. Kerr
  • Patent number: 7126147
    Abstract: A storage phosphor imaging system comprising: a source for producing stimulating radiation directed to a storage phosphor storing a latent image; a resonant microcavity converter for converting emitted radiation from the storage phosphor to radiation at a longer wavelength than the emitted radiation but with an angular intensity distribution that is substantially narrower than a Lambertian distribution; and a detector for detecting the longer wavelength radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David P. Trauernicht, Keith B. Kahen
  • Patent number: 7102149
    Abstract: The inspection method comprises: preparing a storage fluorescent inspection sheet that has stored and recorded a radiation inspection image which has a density pattern in which one or more low-density and high-density regions having a contrast difference of at least 1:20 are arrayed in a horizontal scanning direction; obtaining an image inspection signal representing the radiation inspection image, by photoelectrically reading the radiation inspection image from the storable fluorescent inspection sheet; and inspecting the influence of stray light, based on an image reproduced from the image inspection signal. An inspection image plate has contrast differences of high-density and low-density regions of at least 1:20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kuroda, Hiroyuki Karasawa
  • Patent number: 7091512
    Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus is provided with a line sensor which detects stimulated emission emitted from a radiation image convertor panel upon exposure to a line-like stimulating light beam extending in a main scanning direction and reads out a radiation image recorded on the radiation image convertor panel while moving the line sensor and the radiation image convertor panel relatively to each other in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. The line sensor includes a CCD having a number of light receiving portions two-dimensionally arranged along the main scanning direction and outputs electric charges obtained by photoelectrically converting the stimulated emission received by the light receiving portions after binning the electric charges in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Arakawa