581 results about "Line source" patented technology

Radiant energy line source(s) (e.g., laser diode array) and anamorphic relay receiving radiant energy therefrom and directing that energy to a substrate in a relatively uniform line image. The line image is scanned with respect to the substrate for treatment thereof. Good uniformity is provided even when the line source is uneven. Optionally, delimiting aperture(s) located in the anamorphic relay focal plane and a subsequent imaging relay are includeable to permit substrate exposure in strips with boundaries between adjacent strips within scribe lines between circuits. An anamorphic relay focal plane mask with a predetermined pattern can be used to define portions of the substrate to be treated with the substrate and mask scanning motions synchronized with each other. Control of source output, and position / speed of the substrate, with respect to the line image, allows uniform dose and required magnitude over the substrate.

A wireless X-ray detector for a digital radiography system with remote detection of impinging radiation from the system X-ray source onto a sensor panel having amorphous or crystalline silicon photodiodes or metal insulated semiconductor (MIS) sensors. Changes in current in the photodiode bias supply circuit is sensed to generate a signal indicating presence of radiation. Improved detection of X-ray cessation is achieved either by leaving at least one line of sensors connected between the bias supply circuit to a virtual ground during charge accumulation or by using an X-ray presence detector circuit that increases the sensitivity of the detector circuit to bias circuit current changes occurring after onset of the radiation.

A system and methods are provided for imaging an object, based on activating an array of discrete X-ray sources in a prescribed temporal pattern so as to illuminate the object with a beam varying in spatial orientation, and detecting X-rays of the beam after interaction with the object and generating a detector signal. An image of the object may then be constructed on the basis of the time variation of the detector signal. The discrete X-ray sources may be moved during the course of inspection, moreover, the prescribed temporal pattern may constitute a Hadamard code. The discrete sources may be carbon nanotube x-ray sources.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for performing small angle x-ray scattering metrology. This system includes an x-ray source for generating x-rays and illumination optics for collecting and reflecting or refracting a portion of the generated x-rays towards a particular focus point on a semiconductor sample in the form of a plurality of incident beams at a plurality of different angles of incidence (AOIs). The system further includes a sensor for collecting output x-ray beams that are scattered from the sample in response to the incident beams on the sample at the different AOIs and a controller configured for controlling operation of the x-ray source and illumination optics and receiving the output x-rays beams and generating an image from such output x-rays.

A method and apparatus for financial planning and control are disclosed that are capable of real-time response to changing market conditions. The disclosed method provides financial management and control tools that allow an organization to rapidly (on weekly or monthly frequencies, for example) realign financial resources throughout the organization in response to changing market and business conditions. The method links critical external information directly to company decision-making activities to allow a business to better align resources to capitalize upon opportunities or minimize the impact of adverse business conditions. The disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises several modules, including the TopLine Planner(TM) module, BizPlan(TM) module, and SpendCap Manager(TM) module. The TopLine Planner(TM) module receives inputs from and provides information to sales, marketing and manufacturing, and is coupled to the BizPlan(TM) module. The TopLine Planner(TM) module dynamically revises topline forecast information by capturing current outlook information from front line sources. Revenue information is passed between the TopLine Planner(TM) module and the BizPlan(TM) module. The BizPlan(TM) module rapidly refreshes expense plan information by using business rules and constraints. The BizPlan(TM) module is coupled to the SpendCap Manager(TM) module, and expense information is passed between the modules. The SpendCap Manager(TM) module distributes resources to all business managers and receives requests for increases in the allocation of resources.

The invention relates to an X-ray device which includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector which are mounted at a respective end of a common holding device. The holding device being attached to the room by way of a supporting device. In order to realize a more flexible construction of such X-ray devices that are widely used and are usually provided with a holding device in the form of a C-arm and nevertheless maintain a high positioning accuracy. The invention further relates to a supporting device constructed with a plurality of hinged, serially interconnected supporting members. The supporting device is formed notably by a serial manipulator, for example, a conventional robot arm.

A micro-miniature x-ray apparatus comprises: a first chip subassembly including a source of x-rays including both Bremsstrahlung photons and characteristic x-rays; a second chip subassembly including a filter for transmitting the characteristic x-rays and blocking the Bremsstrahlung photons; a third chip subassembly including a movable element for focusing or collimating the transmitted characteristic x-rays into a beam and means for controlling the position of the focusing element. In one embodiment, the controlling means include a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS). In another embodiment, the position of the movable element determines how the x-ray beam is steered to the focal area. In still another embodiment, the x-ray source includes a field emitter electron source and a target responsive to the electrons for generating x-rays. In this case, the x-ray beam is also steered by selectively energizing the anode segments. In yet another embodiment, the movable element includes a Fresnel zone plate; in still another embodiment it includes an array of poly-capillaries. Advantageously, our x-ray source, including its focusing, collimating and steering components, can be fabricated small enough to be mounted at the end of a catheter. In addition, in some embodiments it can also fabricated sufficiently inexpensively to be disposable after each use.

A differential phase-contrast X-ray imaging system is provided. Along the direction of X-ray propagation, the basic components are X-ray tube, filter, object platform, X-ray phase grating, and X-ray detector. The system provides: 1) X-ray beam from parallel-arranged source array with good coherence, high energy, and wider angles of divergence with 30-50 degree. 2) The novel X-ray detector adopted in present invention plays dual roles of conventional analyzer grating and conventional detector. The basic structure of the detector includes a set of parallel-arranged linear array X-ray scintillator screens, optical coupling system, an area array detector or parallel-arranged linear array X-ray photoconductive detector. In this case, relative parameters for scintillator screens or photoconductive detector correspond to phase grating and parallel-arranged line source array, which can provide the coherent X-rays with high energy.

A projection-based x-ray imaging system combines projection magnification and optical magnification in order to ease constraints on source spot size, while improving imaging system footprint and efficiency. The system enables tomographic imaging of the sample especially in a proximity mode where the same is held in close proximity to the scintillator. In this case, a sample holder is provided that can rotate the sample. Further, a z-axis motion stage is also provided that is used to control distance between the sample and the scintillator.

A light emitting diode (LED) based illumination system with particular application to large scale side lighted liquid crystal displays (LCD). The invention uses on board closed loop intensity control in conjunction with red, green and blue (R,G,B) LED die and a hybrid non-imaging optical system to overcome substantial temperature dependence, loss in intensity with time, increased system cost and complexity, and decreased dynamic range. The invention obtains a large color gamut in excess of 110% of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) recommendation. A high performance thermal management design, the use of “chip on board” technology, compact and efficient collection optics, and on board closed loop intensity control increase and maintain luminous performance and decrease cost relative to less efficient RGB LED approaches. One or more line sources can be generated for applications other than in lighting LCD displays.

An X-ray inspection system and methodology is disclosed. The system comprises a conveyor, an X-ray source that exposes an item under inspection to X-ray radiation and at least one X-ray detector that detects X-ray radiation modified by the item. The X-ray source and X-ray detector may be movable in any of first and second dimensions. The X-ray source may also be moved in a third dimension to zoom in and out on regions of interest in the item order inspection. The system further comprises a controller that controls movement of the X-ray source and X-ray detector, independently of each other, in any of collinear and different directions, to provide a plurality of X-ray views of the item at varying examination angles of the X-ray radiation. A processor coupled to the controller may be configured to receive and process detection information from the X-ray detector and to provide processed information to an operator interface. The operator interface may also receive instructions from an operator input and provide the instructions to the controller.

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process with a stationary X-ray source arranged to generate X-rays from a plurality of X-ray source positions around a scanning region, a first set of detectors arranged to detect X-rays transmitted through the scanning region, and at least one processor arranged to process outputs from the first set of detectors to generate tomographic image data. The X-ray screening system is used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray diffraction based screening, X-ray back-scatter based screening, or Trace Detection based screening.

A lamp emits pulse-shaped visible light when a wait period begins. If a radiation emission switch is not pressed in the wait period, X-ray radiation is not emitted from an X-ray source, and no charges are accumulated in photoelectric conversion elements of an X-ray imaging apparatus. In a non-read period, although signals are sequentially read from the photoelectric conversion elements, an output signal does not change. When the radiation emission switch is pressed in synchronization with a radiation-induced signal in a certain wait period, the X-ray source emits X-rays. After irradiation of X-rays, a photoelectric conversion period transitions to an actual read period. In the photoelectric conversion period, X-rays are emitted and transmitted X-ray information of a patient are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements of the X-ray imaging apparatus. In the actual read period, the accumulated information is read.

An EUV light source device for protecting a collection mirror from debris that is considered harmful to a mirror coating. The EUV light source device includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target injection unit and a target injection nozzle that supply the chamber with a material to become the target; a laser light source that applies a laser beam to the target so as to generate plasma; a collection mirror that collects the extreme ultra violet light emitted from the plasma; an X-ray source that ionizes neutral particles included in particles emitted from the plasma into charged particles; and plural magnets that generate a magnetic field within the chamber so as to trap at least the charged particles ionized by the X-ray source.

A cell that can be used as a dynamic memory cell for storing data used in programming a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is disclosed. The cell comprises a select transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain, the gate connected to said write bitline, the source connected to a floating point node, and the drain connected to a row wordline. A sense device determines the data stored on the floating point node. Finally, switch that is controlled by the floating point node is provided.

An EUV light source device for protecting a collection mirror from debris that is considered harmful to a mirror coating. The EUV light source device includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target injection unit and a target injection nozzle that supply the chamber with a material to become the target; a laser light source that applies a laser beam to the target so as to generate plasma; a collection mirror that collects the extreme ultra violet light emitted from the plasma; an X-ray source that ionizes neutral particles included in particles emitted from the plasma into charged particles; and plural magnets that generate a magnetic field within the chamber so as to trap at least the charged particles ionized by the X-ray source.

The invented voltage regulator is a solid state low voltage regulator for quartz halogen or low voltage incandescent lamps and quartz halogen or low voltage incandescent lamp or LED array circuits wherein the volt regulator reduces a conventional mains power line source of, for example, a 115 volt AC to 480 V AC power source, to within a range of from 11.0 volts to 12.5 volts, preferably 11.6 volts, wherein the lamps, and LED arrays have consistent color, consistent light output, the lamp filaments and LED arrays are exposed to soft start operating currents and lamp and array life can be increased. The voltage regulator utilizes an AC rectifier circuit to provide a pulsing DC voltage, a DC voltage sensing circuit, a soft start oscillator circuit, an internal DC voltage oscillator reference circuit and an AC power line control circuit.

A differential phase-contrast X-ray imaging system is provided. Along the direction of X-ray propagation, the basic components are X-ray tube, filter, object platform, X-ray phase grating, and X-ray detector. The system provides: 1) X-ray beam from parallel-arranged source array with good coherence, high energy, and wider angles of divergence with 30-50 degree. 2) The novel X-ray detector adopted in present invention plays dual roles of conventional analyzer grating and conventional detector. The basic structure of the detector includes a set of parallel-arranged linear array X-ray scintillator screens, optical coupling system, an area array detector or parallel-arranged linear array X-ray photoconductive detector. In this case, relative parameters for scintillator screens or photoconductive detector correspond to phase grating and parallel-arranged line source array, which can provide the coherent X-rays with high energy.

A radiation imaging system includes an X-ray source, first and second absorption gratins disposed in a path of X-rays emitted from the X-ray source, and an FPD. The second absorption grating is stepwise slid in an X direction relatively against the first absorption grating. Whenever the second absorption grating is slid, the FPD captures a fringe image and produces image data. A correction section corrects the image data for spatial variation of X-ray transmittance of the first and second absorption gratings. A phase contrast image generator produces a phase contrast image from the corrected image data. An X-ray absorption contrast image generator calculates a value related to an average of the corrected image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and produces an X-ray absorption contrast image from the value.

A multi-battery charging system for reduced fuel consumption and emissions for an automotive vehicle. The system starts the vehicle with a start battery in a fuel savings manner, removing electrical torque from the alternator shaft, and allows a second (run) battery to provide all or some of the current required by the vehicle loads as a fuel savings measure. The system also utilizes an electrically heated catalytic converter (EHC) and a third (EHC or storage) battery to provide a 3 to 15 second preheat and / or a 20 second current, during vehicle start, to the EHC heater coil, e.g., of a small EHC located in series with a standard catalytic converter for emissions reduction to reduce emissions during start. The start battery is recharged after start and switched out of the system fully charged for future vehicle starts. The run battery is recharged when its charge level drops below a predetermined level with an on board battery charging device powered from a 115 volt or 220 volt ac power line source external to the vehicle.

In an interactive display table that uses infrared (IR) light to detect an object on an interactive display surface, IR light sources within the table are controlled in response to the level of ambient IR light passing through the interactive display surface. Light from the IR light sources that is reflected the regions disposed inside the table and peripherally around the interactive display surface is captured in an image that also includes the ambient IR light passing through the interactive display surface. A signal corresponding to the image is processed, so that the relative levels of the IR light can be compared. The IR light sources are then controlled so that the level of IR light reflected from the regions exceeds the level of ambient IR light by at least a predefined amount.

An x-ray source assembly includes an anode having a spot upon which electrons impinge based on power level supplied to the assembly, and an optic coupled to receive divergent x-rays generated at the spot and transmit output x-rays from the assembly. A control system is provided for maintaining intensity of the output x-rays dynamically during operation of the x-ray source assembly, notwithstanding a change in at least one operating condition of the x-ray source assembly, by changing the power level supplied to the assembly. The control system may include at least one actuator for effecting the change in the power level supplied to the assembly, by, e.g., controlling a power supply associated with the assembly. The control system may also change the temperature and / or the position of the anode to maintain the output intensity.

We disclose a compact source for high brightness x-ray generation. The higher brightness is achieved through electron beam bombardment of multiple regions aligned with each other to achieve a linear accumulation of x-rays. This may be achieved by aligning discrete x-ray sources, or through the use of novel x-ray targets that comprise a number of microstructures of x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate with high thermal conductivity. This allows heat to be more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray generating material, and in turn allows bombardment of the x-ray generating material with higher electron density and / or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness.The orientation of the microstructures allows the use of an on-axis collection angle, allowing the accumulation of x-rays from several microstructures to be aligned to appear to have a single origin, also known as “zero-angle” x-ray emission.

The present application discloses an X-ray imaging apparatus for determining a surface profile of an object under inspection that is positioned at a distance from the apparatus. The X-ray imaging system has an X-ray source for producing a scanning beam of X-rays directed toward the object, a detector assembly for providing a signal representative of an intensity of X-rays backscattered from the object, and processing circuitry to determine a time difference between when the X-ray source is switched on and when the backscattered X-rays arrive at the detector assembly. The processing circuitry is adapted to output data representative of the surface profile of the object under inspection.

A system and method for dual energy CT spectral imaging that provides for accurate blood vessel stenosis visualization and quantification is disclosed. The CT system includes an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward a region-of-interest of a patient that includes a blood vessel in a stenosed condition and having a plaque material therein. The CT system also includes an x-ray detector to receive x-rays emitted by the x-ray source and attenuated by the region-of-interest, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the x-ray detector, and a computer programmed to obtain a first set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a first chromatic energy level, obtain a second set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a second chromatic energy level that is higher than the first chromatic energy level, and identify plaque material in the region-of-interest by analyzing the second set of CT image data.

An X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray source, first and second absorption gratings, and an FPD. The first absorption grating passes X-ray emitted from the X-ray source to form a G1 image. The second absorption grating modulates intensity of the G1 image at each of relative positions to form two or more fringe images. The relative positions differ in phase with respect to a period pattern of the G1 image. The FPD detects two or more frames of image data of the fringe images. A defective pixel detector reads two or more frames of image data stored in a memory and obtains a characteristic value of an intensity modulated signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis based on the read image data. The defective pixel detector detects a defective pixel based on the characteristic value obtained.