Composition Analysis Patents (Class 378/53)
  • Patent number: 11958082
    Abstract: Method, device and computer program for managing units of bulk material of an ore mine with a throughput of a few tons of bulk material per minute, wherein a material property of each unit, in particular on a conveyor system, is determined, an entry for each unit containing the respective material property of the unit and the position of each unit are stored in a database, and additional includes at least one (i) determining a transport path downstream for the each unit based on the respective entry in the database, (ii) adapting the subsequent processing of each unit based on the material property of the unit, and creating a virtual model of the repository if a unit is supplied to a repository, where a position of each unit is stored, together with its respective material property, in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: INNOMOTICS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Dirscherl, Dan Niculae Fodor, Torsten Hellmuth, Holger Titz
  • Patent number: 11946870
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for distributed ledger for physical material. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a first set of information regarding a physical material to be verified, the first set of information including hundreds of values for channels of a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the physical material in response to an irradiation of the physical material; obtaining a second set of information regarding the physical material to be verified; sending the first and second sets of information over the communication network to a verification computer system; receiving verification information; initiating addition of information usable to identify the first set of information and the digital signature to a distributed digital ledger; receiving confirmation of the addition of the information useable to identify the first set of information and the digital signature to the distributed digital ledger; and reporting that the physical material has been verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAT International Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine E. McManus, James W. Dowe, III
  • Patent number: 11896425
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying blood vessels in ultrasound images and displaying blood vessels in ultrasound images are described. In some embodiments, the method is implemented by a computing device and includes receiving an ultrasound image that includes one or more blood vessels, and determining, with a neural network implemented at least partially in hardware of the computing device, diameters of the one or more blood vessels in the ultrasound image. The method includes receiving a user selection of an instrument size, and indicating, in the ultrasound image, at least one blood vessel of the one or more blood vessels based on the instrument size and the diameters of the one or more blood vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Davinder S. Dhatt, Christopher Aleksandr White, Adam Benjamin Pely, Thomas Michael Duffy, Paul Tomotaro Danset, Diku Pranav Mandavia
  • Patent number: 11761910
    Abstract: A method of detecting defects on a surface or interface of a part is provided. The method includes: providing data from an X-ray scan of the part; processing the scan data to obtain an original 3D or 2D model of a surface or interface topology of the part; and filtering the original 3D or 2D model of the surface or interface topology to identify deviations from the expected surface or interface topology of the part. The identified deviations may be produced by surface or interface defects on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Andrew J Lodge, Akhil Mulloth
  • Patent number: 11737704
    Abstract: A computerized method for estimating bone mineral density, z and t-scores and/or fracture risk by receiving single-energy x-rays of the thoracic spine, chest x-ray, lumbar spine, whole body x-ray, hip, arm, leg, hand or foot in addition to imaging technical parameters and clinical parameters such as patient demographics, medical history, and other risk factors. The results are presented to a user for the diagnosis or screening of osteoporosis and/or risk stratification of osteoporotic fractures. A classifier may be trained using a dataset of single energy x-rays correlated to results from dual energy x-ray readings performed in the same patient and of the same body part, along with fracture incidence, to correlate the inputs provided to the desired output. A classifier may also be trained to predict fracture risk directly from x-ray image data and optionally additional patient characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: 16 BIT INC.
    Inventors: Mark Cicero, Alexander Bilbily, Daniel Eftekhari
  • Patent number: 11734409
    Abstract: Examples of determining electronic component authenticity via electronic signal signature measurement are discussed. Reference pin identifiers corresponding to pins of a known authentic electronic component are determined. Measurement values corresponding to characteristics of pins of an electronic component are obtained, and pin identifiers based on the measurement values are generated. Accordingly, an indication that the electronic component is authentic can be provided based at least in part on a comparison of the pin identifiers and the reference pin identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Yunghsiao Chung, Feng Yu, Stephen Edward Saddow
  • Patent number: 11714053
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor apparatus configured for conveying a material and a water content measurement system positioned about the conveyor apparatus for determining water content in the material. A dimension characteristic measurement system for detecting one or more dimension characteristics of the material is provided and a computer device is configured to manipulate data received from the water content measurement system and the dimension characteristic measurement system to determine a water content of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Wewage Hiran Linus Dep, Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 11707246
    Abstract: A method of imaging includes obtaining a first image including projection data representing an intensity of X-rays detected by a plurality of detectors at a first X-ray exposure setting, the X-rays being emitted from an X-ray source; based on a detection result of a first object in the first image: determining a background region of interest (ROI) around the first object, the background ROI including background ROI pixels having a first intensity value corresponding to the intensity of the X-rays; and converting, for each pixel of the background ROI pixels, the first intensity values of the background ROI pixels to a normalized X-ray attenuation factor; and determining a second X-ray exposure setting for use in obtaining a second image based on the background ROI pixels converted to the normalized X-ray attenuation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Weifeng Shang, Joseph Manak, John Baumgart
  • Patent number: 11693146
    Abstract: A calculation method for a dual-energy X-ray imaging system is provided. The calculation method for the dual-energy X-ray imaging system includes the following steps. A plurality of material attenuation coefficient ratio of the dual-energy projection image are established according to the reference materials with known material characteristics. The effective atomic number of each reference material and the material attenuation coefficient ratio are used to establish a calibration data set. A rational polynomial approximation method is adopted to obtain the characteristic model related to the material attenuation coefficient ratio of the reference material and the effective atomic number of the reference material. The material attenuation coefficient ratio of the dual-energy projection image of unknown material is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN, R.O.C
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Chang, Yu-Ching Ni, Sheng-Pin Tseng
  • Patent number: 11523618
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor system including a first conveyor leading to an inspection point, the first conveyor including a diversion mechanism configured to divert an object based on failing to meet an inspection parameter. The system includes a second conveyor configured to transport a container configured to receive the object from the diversion mechanism. A control module is configured to co-register an image of the object captured at the inspection point with container ID data of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO, LLC
    Inventors: Norbert Hartwig, Michael A. Evans, Kristofer Loper, Christopher Sisemore
  • Patent number: 11519867
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes an x-ray sensor including an x-ray source having a high voltage power supply for emitting an x-ray spectrum and an x-ray detector for providing a measured x-ray signal value responsive to the x-rays received after transmission through a coated substrate including a sheet material having a coating material thereon. A second sensor is a beta gauge or infrared sensor for providing a second sensor signal that includes data for determining a total weight per unit area of the coated substrate or of the sheet material A computing device receives the measured x-ray signal value and the second sensor signal configured to implement an x-ray based calculation that utilizes absorption coefficients for the coating material and sheet material, the measured x-ray signal value, the x-ray spectrum, and the weight measure as a calculation constraint, for computing at least the weight per unit area of the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gertjan Hofman, Tobias Nebel, Sebastien Tixier, Michael Hughes
  • Patent number: 11519868
    Abstract: A method of analysing granular material in a slurry, the method comprising: compacting the granular material in the slurry to form one or more pucks; irradiating said pucks with X-Ray radiation and detecting X-ray energy transmitted through said one or more irradiated pucks; irradiating a reference material with X-Ray radiation, said reference material having known material characteristics and detecting X-ray energy transmitted through said reference material; comparing X-ray energy transmission through said one or more pucks with the reference material to compute, using a processing unit, one or more particle characteristics of the granular material in the one or more pucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sorterra Global Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jan Verboomen, Steven Verboomen
  • Patent number: 11391682
    Abstract: An Auger electron microscope includes a processing unit, and the processing unit performs processing of: acquiring an actually measured Auger spectrum obtained by measuring a test specimen containing an analysis target element; acquiring a plurality of first standard Auger spectra obtained by measuring a plurality of standard specimens each containing the same analysis target element but in different chemical states; calculating, based on a test specimen measurement condition that is a measurement condition when the test specimen has been measured and a standard specimen measurement condition that is a measurement condition when the standard specimens have been measured, a plurality of second standard Auger spectra under the test specimen measurement condition from the plurality of first standard Auger spectra; and performing curve fitting calculation of the actually measured Auger spectrum by using the plurality of calculated second standard Auger spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsutsumi, Tatsuya Uchida
  • Patent number: 11350895
    Abstract: A system and method for material decomposition of a single energy spectrum x-ray dataset includes accessing the single energy spectrum x-ray dataset, receiving a user-selection of a desired energy for decomposition, and decomposing the single energy spectrum x-ray dataset into material bases as a linear combination of energy dependence function of selected basis materials and the corresponding spatial dependence material bases images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Guang-Hong Chen, Yinsheng Li
  • Patent number: 11266368
    Abstract: A system for radiographic tissue density evaluation includes a cassette for exposure to an X-ray source, where the cassette is configured to obtain information to perform intensity standardization of a captured radiographic image of a subject, a calibration bar with a predetermined radiographic signature on or within the cassette to serve as reference for performing the intensity standardization, and a software program to perform analysis on and to provide a display of the captured radiographic image. The cassette also includes a radio-opaque backing with a spatial homogenous X-ray radiographic signature used to estimate a source-detector geometrical inhomogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCARLET IMAGING RADIOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Scott Echols, Edward Hsu
  • Patent number: 11172894
    Abstract: A medical processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. Based on a first number of X-ray datasets that correspond to the first number of energies and that are acquired by scanning a subject with X-rays, the processing circuitry generates a second number of virtual monochromatic X-ray datasets, which is a number larger than the first number. Based on the second number of virtual monochromatic X-ray datasets, the processing circuitry estimates quantities of the second number of reference materials mixed or a mixing ratio between the second number of reference materials for each of multiple positions in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11150203
    Abstract: A method for analyzing flow of a multiphase fluid through a flowmeter is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes transmitting two beams of electromagnetic radiation along different paths through a multiphase fluid and detecting the two transmitted beams with detectors. The method also includes determining a gas fraction and a water-in-liquid ratio of the multiphase fluid. The gas fraction is determined based on the detected first beam of electromagnetic radiation and the water-in-liquid ratio of the multiphase fluid is determined based on the detected second beam of electromagnetic radiation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianhua Zhu, Charles Toussaint, Cheng-Gang Xie, Massimiliano Fiore, Alexander Vilstrup
  • Patent number: 11134910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mammography device capable of recognizing a target person, the mammography device including: a body unit; an arm frame connected to the body unit, and rotating in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; an X-ray generator placed at a top of the arm frame, and emitting X-rays; a mammography plate provided at a position corresponding to the X-ray generator, and obtaining an X-ray image of a breast of a target person; a compression unit placed between the X-ray generator and the mammography plate, and moving vertically to compress a target part; a sensor unit placed inside the mammography plate, and detecting whether the target person is present; and a control unit controlling an operation of the arm frame on the basis of whether the target person is detected by the sensor unit. Accordingly, a safety accident that may occur in a mammography process using the mammography device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: VIEWORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seok Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 11029416
    Abstract: Method of real-time adaptive digital pulse signal processing for high count rate gamma-ray spectroscopy applications includes receiving a preamplifier signal at a pulse deconvolver, the preamplifier signal including resolution deterioration resulting from pulse pile-up. The method further includes generating a deconvoluted signal, by the pulse deconvolver, from the preamplifier signal, the deconvoluted signal having less resolution deterioration as compared to the received preamplifier signal. The method furthermore includes shaping of the deconvoluted signal by a trapezoid filter, the shaping comprising adjusting a shaping parameter of the trapezoid filter for an incoming signal based on a time separation from a subsequent incoming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Ayman I. Hawari, Shefali Saxena
  • Patent number: 10921231
    Abstract: An apparatus to determine the concentration of a target component in a mixture, the apparatus including at least one acoustic transducer located within the mixture, a controller generating a signal for the at least one acoustic transducer that's generating an acoustic signal in the mixture and transmitting same toward the target component within the mixture, wherein the acoustic signal is generated with a known power level, and a processor for measuring change in the power level of the at least one acoustic transducer as the acoustic signal is transmitted through the mixture, wherein the magnitude of the change in signal power determines the concentration of the target component in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FloLevel Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Robert Sidney Stirling
  • Patent number: 10908098
    Abstract: A method is provided for isolating and labeling discrete features in a spectral radiographic image recorded as a set of images in different energy channels. The disclosed method involves creating a profile for each of at least some pixels in the spectral radiographic image. The profiles are sequences of pixel values, in which each pixel value is a photon count or a similar radiographic exposure value indicative of the attenuation of a portion of the scanning beam in a respective energy channel. Iterative hierarchical clustering is used to cluster the pixels on the basis of their respective profiles. Labels are assigned to one or more of the resulting clusters. In implementations, each label can be associated with an inferred material composition or with an inference that the material composition is unknown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Steven Jimenez, Jr., Isabel Gallegos, Adriana Stohn, Srivathsan Koundinyan, Kyle Thompson
  • Patent number: 10901114
    Abstract: There is provided a method for assigning an attribute to x-ray attenuation including scanning in an x-ray scanning device first and second reference materials each having known atomic composition, dimensions and orientation in the scanning device. The device emits x-rays which pass through the first reference material with first reference material path lengths and the second reference material with second reference material path lengths. The x-rays are detected by detectors to provide a plurality of dual-energy attenuation images having dual-energy x-ray attenuation information. The dual-energy x-ray attenuation information in the dual-energy attenuation images is associated with the first and second reference material path lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: VOTI INC.
    Inventors: Emmanuel St-Aubin, Philippe Desjeans-Gauthier, Ola El Bakry, Simon Archambault, William Awad
  • Patent number: 10879035
    Abstract: A scanning electron microscope includes an FIB column, an SEM column, and a control unit which controls the FIB column and the SEM column. The control unit performs: processing to control the FIB column so that a cross-section of a specimen S is repeatedly exposed at predetermined intervals; processing to perform a first measurement to acquire a first image by irradiating a cross-section of the specimen S with an electron beam each time when a cross-section of the specimen S is exposed; and processing to perform a second measurement to acquire a second image by irradiating a cross-section of the specimen S with an electron beam each time when a cross-section of the specimen S is exposed n times (n is an integer of 2 or more).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Mizuno, Toshikatsu Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10845615
    Abstract: A method of generating a three dimensional surface profile of a food object is provided wherein a food object is exposed with a conical X-ray beam while the food object is conveyed. The attenuation of the X-rays after penetrating through the food object is detected, and the detection is performed using a plurality of sensors arranged below the food object. The plurality of sensors are positioned at predetermined angular positions in relation to the X-ray source. For each of the plurality of sensors, the detected attenuation is converted into a penetration length of the X-ray beam, and the penetration length indicates the length from where the X-ray beam enters and leaves the food object. Surface coordinates are sequentially determined using the penetration lengths and the angular positions as input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MAREL ICELAND EHF
    Inventor: Tómas Thorsteinsson
  • Patent number: 10820865
    Abstract: A method includes generating spectral projection data of a subject, including at least first spectral projection data corresponding to a first energy range and second spectral projection data corresponding to a second energy range, wherein the first and the second energy range are different. The method further includes constructing an image from a combination of the spectral projection data, and constructing a set of basis images for the 5 energy ranges and from the spectral projection data. The method further includes constructing a multi-dimensional histogram from the set of basis images, wherein the multi-dimensional histogram includes at least two axes, a first corresponding to a first basis component and a second corresponding to a second basis component, and the multi-dimensional histogram includes a set of clusters, including one cluster for each material 10 represented in the spectral projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIOPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shlomo Gotman, Liran Goshen, Robert E. Lenkinski, Matthew A. Lewis, Todd C. Soesbe, Duan Xinhui
  • Patent number: 10776749
    Abstract: A system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments (40), including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having several lockable compartments (28i) of different sizes, wherein said at least one electronic locker unit comprises a weighing shipment module (50) located inside each compartment (28i) and made up of an arrangement of several thin flexible force sensors, linked together to circuit board, located under upper bearing plate and attached to bottom of the compartment within respective active measuring areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Samira Bouzit-Benbernou
  • Patent number: 10667777
    Abstract: Systems and process are provided to make X-ray radiographs sufficiently quantitative and standardized for bone and other biological material or non-biologic material density evaluations. The X-ray radiograph methodology and system provide a cost effective diagnostic tool that may be used with existing X-ray radiography sources already present in many clinics and hospitals to ultimately produce large volumes of scientifically valid data and useful diagnostic and prognostic information. A calibration bar is added to a conventional X-ray film cartridge and images thereof subsequently incorporated into radiographs for interpretation or a cartridge is designed to integrate a calibration function. The calibration standard affords a standard against which material density is measured. A software program is provided to interpret tissue densities (including bone) to ultimately identify values compared to preselected thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Scott Echols, Edward Hsu
  • Patent number: 10653382
    Abstract: A control unit of a console performs a control process of displaying a plurality of images predetermined from at least one of a first radiographic image or a second radiographic image as a simple image, a bone part ES image which is a difference image between the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image and in which a bone tissue is highlighted, a soft part ES image which is a difference image between the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image and in which a soft tissue is highlighted, and a DXA image on a display unit while switching the images and a control process of displaying a derivation result of the bone density and a derivation region on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Tajima
  • Patent number: 10650783
    Abstract: A technique for enhancing an image includes manipulating a base image to highlight pixels showing a particular material based on the energy absorption information of each pixel. In another technique, pixels in a base image are each converted to an output value to produce a converted image. Another technique allows imaging an obstructed object within a base image which is made of pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I0. An obstruction region contains pixels representing a combined signal I3 having traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer. Knowing a layer signal I2 representing a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of the obstruction region, the layer signal I2 may be removed from the combined signal I3, in order to reveal the original signal I1 representing an image of the obstructed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: VOTI INC
    Inventors: William Awad, Simon Archambault
  • Patent number: 10643172
    Abstract: A hybrid system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments, including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having a control desk and several lockable compartments of different sizes, wherein the electronic locker unit comprises a shape measurement module located inside each compartment for acquiring the shipment content's shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Samira Bouzit-Benbernou
  • Patent number: 10614997
    Abstract: A system for collecting information from a sample, the system includes an X-ray detector configured to mount to an electron microscope, the X-ray detector including a detection tip with a detection material positioned in the detection tip. The detection material includes a compound semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: EDAX, Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick Paul Camus
  • Patent number: 10595804
    Abstract: A control unit acquires first radiographic image data and second radiographic image data and derives bone density from an image of a derivation region of a DXA image which is a difference image between a first radiographic image and a second radiographic image. Then, the control unit derives an evaluation value of the accuracy of derivation of the bone density, on the basis of at least one of the first radiographic image, the second radiographic image, and a bone part ES image, a soft part ES image, and a DXA image which are generated using the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Tajima
  • Patent number: 10564113
    Abstract: A method for identifying a material contained in a sample. The sample is subjected to irradiation via ionizing electromagnetic radiation, for example X-rays. The sample is inserted between a source emitting the radiation and a spectrometric detector configured to acquire a spectrum of the radiation transmitted by the sample. The spectrum is subject to different treatment operations to enable classification of the material. The steps are, consecutively: reducing dimensionality, followed by projecting along the predefined projection vectors. Projection makes it possible to establish classification parameters, on the basis of which classification is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Caroline Paulus
  • Patent number: 10545257
    Abstract: A device and method for material characterization are provided. In one aspect, the method includes detecting packets of radiation emanating from within or passing through one or more items of freight or baggage as a result of irradiation by incident radiation, using a plurality of detectors, each of the detectors being configured to produce an electrical pulse caused by the detected packets having a characteristic size or shape dependent on an energy of the packets. The method further includes processing each of the electrical pulses using one or more digital processors to determine the characteristic size or shape, generating a screening detector energy spectrum for each of the detectors of the energies of the packets detected, and measuring an effective atomic number Z of an unknown material associated with the one or more items of freight or baggage based on the screening detector energy spectra in comparison with calibration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Southern Innovation International Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Basil Scoullar, Christopher Charles McLean, Shane Michael Tonissen, Syed Khusro Saleem, Brendan Allman
  • Patent number: 10508998
    Abstract: High-contrast, subtraction, x-ray images of an object are produced via scanned illumination by a laser-Compton x-ray source. The spectral-angle correlation of the laser-Compton scattering process and a specially designed aperture and/or detector are utilized to produce/record a narrow beam of x-rays whose spectral content consists of an on-axis region of high-energy x-rays surrounded by a region of slightly lower-energy x-rays. The end point energy of the laser-Compton source is set so that the high-energy x-ray region contains photons that are above the k-shell absorption edge (k-edge) of a specific contrast agent or specific material within the object to be imaged while the outer region consists of photons whose energy is below the k-edge of the same contrast agent or specific material. Scanning the illumination and of the object by this beam will simultaneously record and map the above edge and below k-edge absorption response of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. J. Barty
  • Patent number: 10510319
    Abstract: A technique for enhancing an image includes manipulating a base image to highlight pixels showing a particular material based on the energy absorption information of each pixel. In another technique, pixels in a base image are each converted to an output value to produce a converted image. Another technique allows imaging an obstructed object within a base image which is made of pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I0. An obstruction region contains pixels representing a combined signal I3 having traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer. Knowing a layer signal I2 representing a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of the obstruction region, the layer signal I2 may be removed from the combined signal I3, in order to reveal the original signal I1 representing an image of the obstructed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: VOTI INC.
    Inventors: William Awad, Simon Archambault
  • Patent number: 10497593
    Abstract: The invention provides a beam intensity/positioning monitor substrate comprising a first metal foil in physical contact with a second metal foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventor: Randy Alkire
  • Patent number: 10473596
    Abstract: An X-ray inspection apparatus includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a stage. A dose rate calculation unit of a control section calculates a dose rate at any position in an inspection space, a stage face information storage unit 32 stores stage face information, an irradiation history monitoring unit monitors a movement locus, a stage face cumulative irradiation dose calculation unit calculates cumulative irradiation dose distribution data, a stage face imaging range calculation unit calculates a stage face imaging range of the X-ray detector, and a dose distribution image display control unit extracts the cumulative irradiation dose distribution data in an imaging range and displays an image thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Goro Kambe
  • Patent number: 10463329
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector and processing circuitry. The X-ray tube exposes an X-ray toward an object. The X-ray detector acquires two X-ray detection data sets by counting X-ray photons, having transmitted the object, in at least two X-ray energy bands depending on a K absorption edge of an X-ray absorber taken into the object. The processing circuitry is configured to input information to specify the X-ray absorber, set the at least two X-ray energy bands based on the input information to specify the X-ray absorber and generate at least one frame of X-ray image data by data processing including subtraction processing of the two X-ray detection data sets. The X-ray absorber has been depicted in the at least one frame of the X-ray image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichirou Nagai
  • Patent number: 10416099
    Abstract: A method for performing x-ray absorption spectroscopy and an x-ray absorption spectrometer system to be used with a compact laboratory x-ray source to measure x-ray absorption of the element of interest in an object with both high spatial and high spectral resolution. The spectrometer system comprises a compact high brightness laboratory x-ray source, an optical train to focus the x-rays through an object to be examined, and a spectrometer comprising a single crystal analyzer (and, in some embodiments, also a mosaic crystal) to disperse the transmitted beam onto a spatially resolving x-ray detector. The high brightness/high flux x-ray source may have a take-off angle between 0 and 105 mrad. and be coupled to an optical train that collects and focuses the high flux x-rays to spots less than 500 micrometers, leading to high flux density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Sigray, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenbing Yun, Srivatsan Seshadri, Sylvia Jia Yun Lewis, Janos Kirz, Alan Francis Lyon, Benjamin Donald Stripe
  • Patent number: 10354561
    Abstract: The present invention includes a label, a label sheet and a method for manufacturing the label. The label includes a paper facestock having first and second surfaces and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive proximal to the second surface. The label can be adhered to a substrate having pre-applied indicia to cover the indicia and the label is opaque enough to prevent the viewing of the covered indicia while matching the color of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CCL LABEL, INC.
    Inventors: Alan W. Maule, Brian R. McCarthy, Martin Utz, Andrew J. Conti, Linwood G. Koger, Kenneth J. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10345249
    Abstract: An x-ray spectrometer system includes: an excitation source that produces excitation particles and irradiates a sample with the excitation particles such that the sample produces x-rays; thermal detectors that: detect the x-rays from the sample; and produce digital x-ray data in response to detecting the x-rays from the sample, the x-ray data including x-ray pulses; and an analyzer that includes a multichannel receiver that receives, in parallel, the digital x-ray data from the thermal detectors and that: rejects pulse pileup in the digital x-ray data and produces pass data from the digital x-ray data; subjects the pass data to an optimal filter to produce filter data; determines a pulse height of x-ray pulses in the filter data to produce pulse data; combines the pulse data to produce combined data; and calibrates the combined data to produce calibrated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventors: Terrence J. Jach, Stephen M. Thurgate
  • Patent number: 10209378
    Abstract: A laser photopeak location system comprises a gamma-ray spectrometer and a processor. The processor computes a plurality of correlation coefficients based on a comparison of a pulse-height spectrum of the gamma-ray spectrometer with an array of values. The processor locates one or more photopeaks of the pulse-height spectrum based on at least one of the plurality of correlation coefficients. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Galford, Weijun Guo
  • Patent number: 10191181
    Abstract: A multi-channel system for truck scanning, includes an impulse radiation source; and a plurality of detection circuits, each detection circuit comprising a scintillator, a photodiode, a supplemental circuit, an integrator and an ADC, connected in series. A current of the photodiode is proportional to radiation from the impulse radiation source. A data storage device stores outputs of the ADCs and provides the outputs to a computer that converts them to a shadow image of the scanned truck. The supplemental circuit isolates a capacitance of the photodiode from the integrator, filters out low frequency signals from the photodiode, amplifies the signal from the photodiode and reduces a bandwidth of the photodiode seen by the integrator. The supplemental circuit reduces an influence of capacitance of the photodiode on system noise, increases a signal-to-noise ratio of the system, and reduces an influence of photodiode temperature changes on a quality of the scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Adani Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Vitaliy Yevgenievich Yamniy, Vladimir Nikolaevich Linev, Kirill Olegovich Yamniy
  • Patent number: 10078150
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for automatically detecting and quantifying materials in containers (e.g., luggage, storage containers, equipment or componentry for processing or handling). An X-ray radiograph of a container is generated. A set of materials of interest (e.g., plutonium, steel) is selected to determine if the object comprises or contains materials of interest. An estimate of the areal densities or thicknesses of each of the selected materials of interest is obtained by minimizing an objective function with respect to the areal densities or thicknesses for each of the selected materials of interest. Adaptive regularization is implemented in the objective function to improve optimization results by adding a constraint to the objective function, where the constraint penalizes the objective function for solutions that do not line up with a prior belief about the solution form (e.g., the solution should not be negative or especially noisy).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Deinert, Andrew J. Gilbert, Benjamin S. McDonald, Sean M. Robinson, Ken D. Jarman, Tim A. White
  • Patent number: 10018578
    Abstract: An X-ray analysis device includes an electron gun, an X-ray optical member, a first detection unit and a second detection unit, and a distance changing mechanism. The X-ray optical member guides characteristic X-rays emitted from a sample to at least any one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit. The first detection unit is formed such that energy resolution is given relative priority over counting efficiency in contrast to the second detection unit. The second detection unit is formed such that counting efficiency is given relative priority over energy resolution in contrast to the first detection unit. The distance changing mechanism changes the distance between each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit and the X-ray optical member in an axial direction of an optical axis of the X-ray optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Keiichi Tanaka, Atsushi Nagata, Kazuo Chinone
  • Patent number: 9880115
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a material, comprising: arranging a piece of the material near a source of ionizing photons and a detector; irradiating the piece with photons and acquiring, via the detector, two energy spectra of a photon flux that has been diffused into the material at various depths, the ratio of the photon paths in the material before and after diffusion remaining constant; determining a combined attenuation function with the spectra and the paths; selecting a plurality of energy ranges from said function; calculating, in each range, a quantity that is representative of the function; and estimating, from at least two of said quantities, a physical characteristic of the material by comparison with the same quantities obtained from known materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Caroline Paulus, Joachim Tabary
  • Patent number: 9863897
    Abstract: There is provided an X-ray nondestructive testing device which irradiates X-rays to an article, the article including a substrate having a predetermined X-ray absorption coefficient and a measurement target object disposed therein and having another X-ray absorption coefficient differing from that of the substrate, the device including: an X-ray source configured to irradiate the X-rays to the article; a detector configured to detect the transmission amounts of the X-rays passed through the article at at least paired different locations; a detection position specifying designator configured to specify the paired different locations as a set of paired locations based on a pre-stored design information; a driving mechanism configured to move the detector to the set of paired locations; and an operation calculator configured to calculate the thickness of the measurement target object based on the transmission amounts of the X-rays detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Naozo Sugimoto, Toshihiko Nishizaki, Masahiro Inoue, Masuo Amma, Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9772426
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inspection system that has a radiation source, a detector array, an inspection region, and a processing unit, where the processing unit a) obtains a radiographic image, b) segments the radiographic image based on radiation attenuation or transmission, c) identifies at least one segmented area on the radiographic image, d) filters the at least one segmented area using at least one geometric filter, e) generates feature vectors using the filtered segmented area; and f) compares the feature vectors against predefined values to determine whether a high-atomic-number object is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Armistead, Jr., William Chang, Edward D. Franco, Joseph Bendahan, Jolyon A. Browne
  • Patent number: 9752996
    Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable X-ray inspection device having two line sensors, in which accurate inspection results can be obtained even when there is displacement of the mounting position of the line sensors. The X-ray inspection device is provided with a conveyor unit for conveying an article, an X-ray emitter, a first line sensor, a second line sensor, a detection unit, and a corrected-image generation unit. The X-ray emitter emits X-rays to the article conveyed by the conveyor unit. The first line sensor detects, in a low energy band, X-rays that have passed through the article. The second line sensor detects, in a high energy band, X-rays that have passed through the article. The detection unit detects positional displacement of the second line sensor with respect to the first line sensor in horizontal direction and vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Sugimoto, Osamu Hirose